A Texas community is mourning the loss of 32-year-old Caroline “Caro” Peña, a devoted mother of five, who died after a violent stabbing attack in Del Rio. As the investigation continues, friends are remembering her as a loving parent who fought courageously until the very end.

According to police, sisters Kitty Mia Diaz, 21, and Amaya “Cookie” Diaz, 19, along with their 21-year-old friend Kyandra Renee Faz, have each been charged with murder in connection with Peña’s death. The three women are being held on a combined $15 million bond following the attack, which investigators say took place around 2 p.m. Thursday in the border city of Del Rio, Texas.

Peña was rushed to a local hospital before being airlifted to San Antonio, where she later died from her injuries Thursday evening.

Her longtime friend, Zelina Ochoa, said she first realized something terrible had happened after seeing a pH๏τo from the scene posted on a local Facebook page. The image, which was later removed, reportedly showed Peña standing despite suffering serious injuries.

According to Ochoa, the pH๏τo captured a heartbreaking moment in which Peña remained on her feet even after being wounded.

“She had just collapsed and she stood right back up,” Ochoa told the New York Post. “She was a fighter.”
Ochoa said the image left a lasting impression because, in her words, Peña faced the attackers with nothing but her own strength.

“It’s a very powerful picture because these three girls showed up with their weapons, and Caro showed up with nothing but her hands,” she said. “She didn’t show up there thinking that today was going to be her last day.”
The attack reportedly occurred at one of Del Rio’s busiest intersections, in broad daylight near a Sonic Drive-In, where numerous drivers and pedestrians were present.

Ochoa said comments posted online by people claiming to have witnessed the incident suggested the violence unfolded with little warning.

“There was really no verbal altercation,” she recalled. “It went from 0 to 100 very quickly.”
She added that many bystanders appeared stunned by how rapidly the attack unfolded.

“Everybody was like, ‘Wait, hold on, what did we just witness?'”
Authorities have not yet announced a possible motive, leaving friends and family searching for answers.

Ochoa described Peña as someone who avoided conflict and focused her life on raising her children.

“Caro was not the type to go to clubs or be involved in drama,” she said. “She was the one friend who always tried to bring peace among everyone.”
She added that it remains difficult to understand why the attack occurred.

Peña was a stay-at-home mother raising five children ranging in age from 3 to 17. According to her friend, two of the children have special needs, while a GoFundMe campaign created to support the family states that three of the children are autistic.

Ochoa expressed heartbreak over the impact the tragedy will have on the children.

“She was one of those people who was born to be a mom,” she said. “Her life was her children.”
She also reflected on the difficult future awaiting Peña’s family.

“Her kids are only going to have a tombstone.”
A GoFundMe campaign established to help provide financial support for Peña’s children began receiving donations shortly after her death.

As of Friday, Kitty Mia Diaz, Amaya “Cookie” Diaz, and Kyandra Renee Faz remained in custody at the local jail while the investigation continues. Authorities have not released additional details regarding a possible motive or the circumstances leading up to the fatal encounter.

The charges against the three defendants are allegations, and they are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.