The murder case centers on court records, surveillance video and a still unknown motive.
DEL RIO, Texas — Three young women are jailed on murder charges after police said a 32-year-old mother of five was stabbed in broad daylight and died hours later at a San Antonio hospital.
The death of Caroline Raquel Peña has drawn attention in Del Rio, a southwest Texas city near the Mexican border, because police say the attack happened in public and was captured on surveillance video. Amaya “Cookie” Diaz, Kitty Mia Diaz and Kyandra Renee Faz each face a murder charge.
Police said the case began when officers were called to Val Verde Regional Medical Center on June 25 after Peña arrived with multiple stab wounds. She was later flown to San Antonio for treatment. Investigators said they were notified around 9 p.m. that Peña had died from wounds to her back and stomach.
Detectives said video from a nearby home helped identify the suspects. Court records say Peña was seen outside Faz’s home before the attack. Investigators allege Amaya Diaz arrived in a black Chrysler 300, got out with a knife and stabbed Peña. They say Kitty Diaz and Faz then joined in the assault before the three women left.
Police arrested the Diaz sisters around 4 p.m. local time the same day. Faz was arrested a short time later. Authorities said the women were booked at the Del Rio Police Department and later taken to the GEO Correctional Facility. Each was held on a $5 million bond and had requested a court-appointed attorney.
The criminal complaint says investigators also examined what happened after the stabbing. Police said they found evidence tied to clothing and reviewed claims that the suspects changed clothes or tried to clean up after the attack. Authorities have not said whether a weapon has been recovered.
Peña’s friends said the killing left her family and community shaken. Ochoa said the attack did not happen in a hidden area but near one of the city’s busiest roads. Salinas said Peña remained conscious after the stabbing and called her “a fighter.” Peña is survived by five children and a twin sister.
Police have not publicly named a motive. The next steps include continued evidence review, possible additional charges and future court hearings for the three defendants.
Author note: Last updated July 3, 2026.