Sickening Footage Captures Texas Sisters “Cookie” and “Kitty” Grinning as They’re Arrested for Allegedly Hacking Mother of Five to Death in Broad Daylight

In a chilling display captured on police bodycam and surveillance video, two young Texas sisters flashed broad smiles as officers led them away in handcuffs—moments after authorities say they and a friend viciously stabbed a 32-year-old mother of five to death in the middle of a busy Del Rio street. The June 26, 2026, attack has left the border town reeling, with the sisters—Amaya “Cookie” Diaz, 19, and Kitty Mia Diaz, 21—along with their 21-year-old friend Kyandra Renee Faz, now facing murder charges in one of the most brazen daylight slayings in recent South Texas memory.

Caroline “Caro” Peña, a beloved Del Rio resident and mother of five, was stabbed multiple times in broad daylight near a busy intersection on Thursday afternoon. Witnesses described a frenzied ᴀssault that left Peña bleeding profusely; she was rushed to Val Verde Regional Medical Center but succumbed to her injuries shortly after 2 p.m. The brutality of the attack—described by police as a “hacking” with multiple stab wounds—has shocked a community already grappling with border-related violence and everyday crime. No motive has been publicly disclosed, though investigators are exploring possible personal disputes or random escalation.

The most disturbing element emerged in the arrest footage released by Del Rio police and widely circulated on social media. Officers located and arrested the Diaz sisters around 4 p.m. without incident. Video shows the young women grinning and appearing almost nonchalant as they are escorted to patrol cars—expressions that have been labeled “sickening” by viewers and commentators across platforms. Faz was taken into custody shortly afterward. All three were booked at Del Rio Police Department before being transferred to the GEO Correctional Facility, where they remain pending magistration.

The sisters’ apparent lack of remorse in the moments after the alleged murder stands in stark contrast to the life they are accused of destroying. Peña, remembered by friends as a devoted mother who “was born to be a mom” and could “turn your day around,” leaves behind five children now facing an unimaginable future. Her death in broad daylight on a public street raises urgent questions about public safety, the ease with which everyday disputes can turn lethal, and the chilling psychology of perpetrators who appear unfazed by their alleged actions.

Prosecutors have charged all three women with murder, with additional charges possible as the investigation continues. Del Rio Police Department officials have emphasized that surveillance video, witness statements, and physical evidence quickly led them to the trio. The case is being handled by local authorities, with no indication yet of federal involvement despite Del Rio’s proximity to the U.S.-Mexico border.

The footage of the smiling sisters has ignited a firestorm online, with many expressing outrage at the perceived callousness. “How can anyone smile after allegedly doing something so horrific?” one commenter asked, echoing sentiments shared across Facebook and Instagram. Others point to the youth of the accused—two barely out of their teens—as evidence of a deeper societal failure in impulse control, mental health support, and conflict resolution among young adults.3

This tragedy also spotlights the vulnerability of mothers in high-stress environments. Peña, described as a twin and a pillar of her family, was simply living her life when the attack occurred. The randomness and savagery of the stabbing in a public space serve as a grim reminder that no community is immune to sudden violence. Local leaders are calling for increased street-level policing and community programs to de-escalate conflicts before they turn ᴅᴇᴀᴅly.

As the legal process unfolds, the Diaz sisters and Faz face the full weight of Texas justice. Murder carries the possibility of life imprisonment or, in aggravated circumstances, the death penalty—though prosecutors have not yet indicated their intentions. The families of both victim and accused are left to grapple with the aftermath: one side mourning an irreplaceable mother, the other confronting the reality of young lives potentially ruined by one horrific act.

The smiling arrest footage will likely become a defining image in this case—evidence not just of the crime, but of the apparent detachment of the accused. In a world already saturated with violence, this story demands reflection on accountability, the sancтιтy of life, and the urgent need to protect families like Peña’s from preventable tragedy. Del Rio mourns a mother of five; the justice system now seeks answers—and punishment—for an attack that has sickened an entire community. The smiles may fade in the courtroom, but the scars left behind will endure.