Amaya “Cookie” Diaz, a 19-year-old charged in the fatal stabbing of a Texas mother of five, has been released from jail after her family posted bond earlier this week. She remains free while the case moves toward trial.

Diaz, along with her sister Kitty Mia Diaz, 21, and their friend Kyandra Renee Faz, 21, faces first-degree murder charges in connection with the death of 32-year-old Caroline “Caro” Peña. The incident occurred in broad daylight on June 25, 2026, outside a residence in the border city of Del Rio. According to police, Cookie was the person who stabbed Peña during the confrontation.

Investigators say the sequence of events began when Peña arrived at Faz’s home. Surveillance footage later obtained by authorities shows Peña’s black Dodge pickup pulling up to the residence, followed shortly by Cookie and Kitty arriving in another vehicle. Video captures Cookie exiting the pᴀssenger side of a black Chrysler 300 while holding an object believed to be a knife. She is then seen confronting Peña and striking her in the back, after which blood became visible on Peña’s clothing. Kitty and Faz allegedly joined the altercation and took part in beating Peña before the three fled the scene.

Peña was driven to a local hospital by her nephew. She later died from her injuries roughly seven hours after the attack, around 9 p.m., at a hospital in San Antonio. All three women were arrested the same day and charged with first-degree murder as well as tampering with evidence.

Cookie and her sister initially faced $5 million bonds each. Those amounts were later reduced to $2 million during a previous court hearing. This week, the Diaz family paid $200,000 in cash to secure Cookie’s release on the $2 million bond. Officials from the Val Verde County Sheriff’s Office and the correctional facility confirmed she was freed on Tuesday. Her sister Kitty remains in custody on the same bond amount. Faz, who has pleaded not guilty, continues to be held on a higher $5.2 million bond.

Neither Cookie nor Kitty has entered a plea on the charges. Cookie’s arraignment is scheduled for November 4. Kitty’s next court date has not yet been set. Faz has a pre-trial hearing scheduled for December 11.

Police have not publicly disclosed a motive for the attack or detailed any prior relationship between the three defendants and Peña. The case attracted significant attention after video emerged of the Diaz sisters smiling while being taken into custody hours after Peña’s death.

A representative from the bonding company involved in Cookie’s release noted that tensions connected to the case had already begun to surface and indicated the family would need to keep a low profile as the legal process continues.

The prosecution is expected to move forward in the coming months as the defendants await further court proceedings.

Source : New York Post