A close friend of a Texas mother who was fatally stabbed in broad daylight says she wishes she had answered a phone call from her just before the attack.

According to the Del Rio Police Department, 32-year-old Caroline Peña died at a hospital after she was stabbed at around 2 p.m. on June 25 along East 10th Street in Del Rio.

Following an investigation that included surveillance footage and witness interviews, police arrested sisters Kitty Mia Diaz, 21, and Amaya Diaz, 19, along with 21-year-old Kyandra Renee Faz. All three have been charged with murder. It has not been publicly confirmed whether they have entered pleas or retained attorneys.

As investigators continue working to determine a motive, Peña’s loved ones are mourning the loss of the mother of five.

Her best friend, Christina Salinas, told local television station KENS 5 that the two usually spoke every morning. She said she missed a call from Peña on the day of the attack and has struggled with the thought that answering it might have changed what happened.

Salinas also recalled seeing Peña before she was airlifted to the hospital, describing the experience as heartbreaking. She said that despite the criminal charges, nothing can replace the loss of her longtime friend.

Another friend, Zelina Ochoa, said she remains shaken by the fact that the attack occurred on a busy street in the middle of the day. She remembered Peña as a generous person who was always willing to help others, even if it meant giving away her last possession.

Ochoa said she and Peña became mothers as teenagers and supported one another through the challenges of raising children, making the loss especially difficult for those who knew her best.

A GoFundMe campaign created to support Peña’s family had raised more than $5,000 as of June 30, as friends, relatives, and members of the community continue to rally around her five children and loved ones.

Source: People