Authorities have announced murder charges against two sisters and a friend in connection with the fatal stabbing of a 32-year-old Texas mother of five. The victim sustained multiple stab wounds during a daylight assault and later succumbed to her injuries.
Kitty Mia Diaz, 21, Amaya Cookie Diaz, 19, and Kyandra Renee Faz, 21, were taken into custody on Thursday. The Del Rio Police Department confirmed their arrests on murder charges in a press release, detailing their alleged involvement in the deadly incident.
Local media outlets identified the deceased as Caroline "Caro" Peña, 32.
Zelina Ochoa, a childhood friend of Peña's, spoke to KENS 5, describing the victim's dedication to her children. "She was one of those people that she was born to be a mom," Ochoa recounted, visibly emotional. "She really loved being a mom."
Del Rio, a community of approximately 35,000 residents, is situated in southwest Texas, close to the Mexican border.
Details of the Fatal Assault
Law enforcement officials stated that officers were dispatched to Val Verde Regional Medical Center on Thursday at approximately 2:10 p.m. The response followed a report that a woman had been admitted with numerous stab wounds, sustained during an assault at a prominent intersection.
Emphasizing the public nature of the crime, Ochoa told KENS 5, "This wasn’t something that happened in a back alley; this happened at the corner near Sonic on one of our busiest roads in broad daylight."
Due to the critical nature of her injuries, Peña was airlifted to a medical facility in San Antonio for urgent care, according to police. Investigators were later informed around 9 p.m. that she had succumbed to her wounds, which included two stab wounds to her back and one to her stomach.
Investigation Leads to Arrests
Detectives conducted a thorough investigation, which involved reviewing surveillance footage, processing forensic evidence, and interviewing witnesses. These efforts led to the identification of Kitty Diaz, Cookie Diaz, and Faz as the primary suspects. Kitty Diaz and Cookie Diaz were apprehended without resistance around 4 p.m. local time on Thursday, with Faz's arrest occurring shortly thereafter.
The motive behind the assault has not been publicly disclosed by law enforcement.
Following their arrests, all three suspects were processed at the Del Rio Police Department. They were subsequently transferred to the GEO Correctional Facility, where they are currently being held pending upcoming court hearings, according to police.
Authorities confirmed that the investigation remains active. Police indicated that further charges could be brought as detectives continue to collect and review evidence.
Friends Remember Caroline Peña
Christina Salinas, another friend of Peña's, shared with the outlet that she had missed a phone call from Peña just prior to the attack. Salinas later recognized Peña in a photograph showing her injuries, which had begun circulating on a local community social media page.
Salinas expressed her anguish, stating, "I feel like if I would have answered that call, honestly I would have been there with her. It wouldn’t have gotten like that."
Salinas recounted rushing to the hospital, where she was able to bid farewell to Peña before her transfer to San Antonio.
Salinas described her friend's resilience, remarking, "That girl, she was a fighter: She was still standing her ground."
Reports indicate that Peña is survived by her five children, including a 17-year-old son, and a twin sister.
Ochoa further highlighted Peña's generous spirit to KENS 5: "If you needed something and she had it, even if it was her last, she’d give it to you."
