AUSTIN, Texas (Gray News) – Police in Texas have revealed more information about what happened to a Texas A&M sophomore who was found dead Saturday after attending a tailgate party.

In a Thursday morning news conference, police said they found substantial evidence that 19-year-old Brianna Aguilera died by suicide.

Her body was found outside an apartment complex early Saturday morning after officials said she fell from a 17th-floor unit.

Police said while they typically do not comment publicly about a suicide, national attention surrounding Aguilera’s death has caused a swell of inaccurate information and speculation.

“It is not common for a police department to speak publicly about a death by suicide. But inaccurate information has circulated and been reported,” said Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis. “And that has led to additional harm of innocent people, bullying included, and their families. There have also been statements suggesting the police have failed to do our jobs. Those statements are not accurate.”

Police said Aguilera attended a tailgate party earlier in the evening and was asked to leave around 10 p.m. because of her level of intoxication.

The camera system at the apartment complex she returned to helped establish a timeline of what happened next.

Surveillance video showed Aguilera arriving at the apartment complex at 11 p.m. and going to a unit on the 17^th floor.

Around 12:30 a.m., a large group of people left the apartment, leaving Aguilera and three other young women inside.

Phone records show Aguilera had a one-minute phone call with an out-of-town boyfriend from 12:43 to 12:44 a.m. Witnesses said she argued on the phone, which was later confirmed by the boyfriend.

Just two minutes later, at 12:46 a.m., police responded to a 911 call reporting Aguilera’s body was found outside.

Aguilera was pronounced dead at the scene at 12:56 a.m. Police said she had trauma “consistent with having fallen from a higher floor.”

Further investigation of Aguilera’s phone found she had written and deleted a suicide note dated Nov. 25, which was dedicated to specific people in her life.

Friends told police Aguilera had made suicidal comments beginning in October. A text message to a friend earlier in the evening of her death also indicated thoughts of suicide, police said.

Police said at no point during the investigation did any evidence point to criminal activity.

Investigators said after speaking with friends and family, it was “very apparent” how loved Aguilera was, and that “every friend and witness has been nothing but forthcoming and open.”

Despite the police ruling, Aguilera’s family has hired legal representation to investigate the circumstances surrounding her death, according to KGNS.

Aguilera was originally from the Laredo area and was a graduate of United High School, where she was a cheerleader and honors student, KBTX reports.

A GoFundMe was set up by family members to help cover funeral expenses.

If you or someone you know needs help, the National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline in the U.S. is available by calling or texting 988.

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AUSTIN, Texas – The family of a 19-year-old Texas A&M student who was found dead outside a West Campus apartment building has hired prominent attorneys to conduct an independent investigation, saying they do not believe the circumstances surrounding her death have been adequately examined by police.

What we know:

Brianna Aguilera of Laredo was found unresponsive around 12:47 a.m. on Nov. 29 outside the 21 Rio Apartments near the University of Texas at Austin, according to Austin police. She was pronounced dead at the scene about 10 minutes later. Aguilera had been in Austin for the Texas vs. Texas A&M football game.

Austin police have said there is no indication of suspicious or criminal circumstances and are treating the case as a death investigation, not a homicide. Detectives said the cause of death will be determined by the Travis County Medical Examiner’s Office.

Family disputes the findings

But Aguilera’s parents dispute that assessment. In a statement posted this week, the Buzbee Law Firm and Gamez Law Firm said they have been retained by Brianna’s parents, Manuel Aguilera and Stephanie Rodriguez, to “assist them in determining what happened to their daughter.”

Attorneys lead independent probe

What they’re saying:

“This is an unimaginable and very suspicious tragedy,” the firm wrote. “Brianna’s parents firmly believe there is much more information that needs to be discovered. They feel certain this was not an accident. This was certainly not a suicide.”

Rodriguez previously told KSAT that her daughter was afraid of heights and would not have jumped from a high floor. She also criticized detectives for what she described as a lack of thoroughness in the early stages of the investigation.

Friday news conference

What’s next:

The law firm said it will hold a news conference Friday at 1 p.m. in Houston to discuss the case. Both parents are expected to attend. Attorneys are also asking anyone with information about Aguilera’s whereabouts or activities on Nov. 28 to come forward.

The Austin Police Department has said detectives “continue to interview witnesses, gather evidence, and work carefully through the details of the incident,” and pledged to share new information as it becomes available. 

The investigation remains ongoing.

AUSTIN, Texas — Engineers at The University of Texas at Austin are leading an academic and industry all-star team that aims to revolutionize the production of semiconductor chips with a new 3D printing method. The new approach, which the researchers are calling Holographic Metasurface Nano-Lithography (HMNL), aims for faster, more efficient and environmentally friendly production of advanced electronics.

HMNL has applications ranging from smartphones to robotics to aerospace. It can create designs that were previously impossible, such as 3D printed capacitors, which store energy in electronic devices, or electronic packages that fit into unconventional spaces. For example, it would make it possible to embed artificial intelligence in customized configurations to fit the specifications of robots or rockets.

“Our goal is to fundamentally change how electronics are packaged and manufactured,” said Michael Cullinan, an associate professor in the Cockrell School of Engineering’s Walker Department of Mechanical Engineering, who is leading the team. “With HMNL, we can create complex, multimaterial structures in a single step, reducing production time from months to days.”

The team, comprising researchers at the University of Utah, Applied Materials, Bright Silicon Technologies, Electroninks, Northrop Grumman, NXP Semiconductors and Texas Microsintering, has received a $14.5 million grant from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) to pursue this work.

Electronics manufacturing today is a complex, time-consuming process that involves layering materials one step at a time. This approach not only limits design flexibility but also generates significant material waste. HMNL offers a faster, more sustainable alternative.

The key to this technical leap lies in metasurfaces, which are ultra-thin optical masks capable of encoding high-density information. When exposed to light, these metasurfaces create holograms that enable the simultaneous patterning of a hybrid resin made of metal and polymer into intricate 3D structures. The process is so precise that it can achieve resolutions smaller than the width of a human hair.

Additionally, by eliminating multiple production steps and reducing material waste, the process minimizes the environmental footprint of industrial activities. The increased speed will make it easier to develop unique prototypes.

The researchers created four prototypes as part of this project for a variety of applications:

• Commercial electronics: A fan-out module for consumer devices, showcasing faster production and improved design flexibility.
• Defense systems: Advanced prototypes for high-frequency communication and reconfigurable electronics.
• Nonplanar designs: Electronics packages that fit into challenging spaces.
• Active packages: Structures that serve mechanical and electrical functions, such as precise beam-pointing systems for optical applications.

“This isn’t just about making electronics faster or cheaper; it’s about unlocking new possibilities,” said Cullinan.

The researchers plan to commercialize the technology through Texas Microsintering Inc., a startup founded by Cullinan.