Del Rio, Texas — Investigators say the fatal stabbing of Caroline “Caro” Peña, a 32-year-old mother of five, was not a random act of violence, as new details continue to emerge about the ᴅᴇᴀᴅly confrontation that claimed her life.

According to Del Rio Police Chief Frank Ramirez, the three women charged in the killing all knew Peña prior to the attack. Speaking to TMZ, Ramirez confirmed that Kitty Mia Diaz, 21, Amaya “Cookie” Diaz, 19, and Kyandra Renee Faz, 21, had an existing relationship with the victim, though he declined to elaborate on the nature of that connection.

The three women have each been charged with first-degree murder following the fatal attack, which occurred Thursday afternoon in Del Rio, a city along the Texas-Mexico border.

Investigators allege that the violence erupted during a confrontation outside Faz’s residence. According to a criminal complaint obtained by The New York Post, Faz told officers that Peña had arrived at her home intending to start a fight. However, police have not publicly identified what led to the dispute or why tensions escalated.

Surveillance footage reviewed by investigators reportedly shows Peña arriving in her black Dodge pickup truck before Kitty and Cookie Diaz pulled up in a black Chrysler 300 moments later.

Authorities say Cookie immediately exited the pᴀssenger side of the vehicle and confronted Peña while holding what investigators believe was a knife. The footage allegedly shows Cookie stabbing Peña in the back, after which blood became visible on the victim’s clothing.

Prosecutors further allege that Kitty Diaz and Kyandra Faz then joined the ᴀssault, beating Peña before all three suspects fled the scene.

Peña was rushed to a local hospital by her nephew before being transferred to a medical facility in San Antonio. Despite doctors’ efforts, she died from her injuries at approximately 9:00 p.m. that evening.

Chief Ramirez emphasized that Peña’s decision to go to Faz’s residence should not be interpreted as placing responsibility on the victim for what occurred.

Arrest Video Draws Public Attention
Only a few hours after the fatal stabbing, the three suspects were taken into custody.

Video recorded outside the Diaz sisters’ home captured the arrests and quickly spread across social media. In the footage, Kitty Diaz is seen smiling briefly as officers escort her to a patrol vehicle. Her younger sister, Cookie, also appeared to smile and laugh, at one point sarcastically telling the person recording, “Stop recording!”

Independent journalist Michael Elizondo, who filmed the arrests, later described Cookie’s demeanor as strikingly carefree.

“I saw the first girl going into the car, and I thought, ‘Whatever.’ But the second one caught my eye. That girl was in a happy mood… She was all smiling, goofing off like nothing happened.”
Chief Ramirez also criticized the sisters’ behavior following their arrests.

“My impression is it didn’t look good, and you would think there would be a little more remorse in a situation like that. It looked callous,” he told TMZ.
Suspects Remain Behind Bars
All three defendants made their initial court appearances on Friday, where they requested court-appointed attorneys.

A judge set bond at $5 million each, and the women remain in custody as prosecutors continue building their case.

The investigation into Caroline Peña’s death remains ongoing, and authorities have not yet publicly disclosed the motive behind the fatal confrontation. As loved ones continue mourning the loss of the mother of five, investigators are working to determine exactly what led to the ᴅᴇᴀᴅly encounter.

Source: New York Post