Texas sisters who allegedly stabbed mother of five in broad daylight, couldn’t stop grinning when the police arrested them

Three women are currently behind bars facing murder charges following the death of a 32-year-old mother of five in Del Rio, Texas. Siblings Kitty Mia Diaz, 21, and Amaya Cookie Diaz, 19, along with their 21-year-old friend Kyandra Renee Faz, were taken into custody by local police on June 25, 2026, after allegedly stabbing Caroline “Caro” Peña in the middle of a busy street, in broad daylight, outside a Sonic restaurant.

According to the New York Post, the Del Rio Police Department stated that officers were first alerted to the situation when the victim arrived at Val Verde Regional Medical Center shortly after 2:10 PM on Thursday. Peña had sustained multiple stab wounds, and due to the severity of her injuries, she was airlifted to a medical facility in San Antonio for emergency surgery. Despite these efforts, she passed away around 9:00 PM that same evening.

The investigation into the attack reportedly led authorities to a residence in Del Rio, a city located near the Mexican border. Footage of the arrests taken outside the sisters’ home showed a bizarre reaction from the suspects. Kitty Diaz, who was barefoot and wearing a halter top, was seen grinning as officers led her to a patrol car. Her younger sister, Amaya, also appeared to be in a lighthearted mood.

A public altercation with no identified motive

Surveillance footage captured the moments leading up to the struggle, showing a bloodied Peña facing her alleged attackers outside of a Sonic drive-through. According to PEOPLE, medical reports indicated that Peña was stabbed twice in the back and once in the side of the stomach. One of the wounds punctured her lungs, which was identified as the fatal injury.

The arrests of the three suspects occurred later that afternoon. Kitty and Amaya Diaz were taken into custody around 4:00 PM without incident, while Faz was apprehended shortly thereafter. 

According to the New York Post, independent journalist Michael Elizondo, who arrived at the scene to document the police activity, described the scene as unsettling. He noted that the second sister seemed to be putting on a show for the cameras, giggling and sarcastically yelling “Stop recording!” at those filming. 

“That girl was in a happy mood. She was all smiling, goofing off like nothing happened,” Elizondo told the NY Post. He further observed that after being placed in the cruiser, the suspect stuck her face out of the window and continued to make faces at the camera.

The outlet noted that friends of the victim are struggling to make sense of the violence. Zelina Ochoa, a friend who had known Peña since they were both teen mothers in the Cradles in the Classroom program, expressed her frustration at the public nature of the attack. 

“This wasn’t something that happened in a back alley. This happened at the corner near Sonic on one of our busiest roads in broad daylight,” Ochoa stated. She remembered her friend as incredibly generous, noting that if Peña had something to give, she would share it, even if it was the last thing she owned.

Another friend, Christina Salinas, said she had missed a phone call from Peña at 1:35 PM, just minutes before the fatal confrontation. Salinas reportedly recognized her friend in a viral image showing a woman in a bloody shirt. “Her hair was in the same bun. When I saw that, that’s all I needed to see was the back of her shirt. I knew it was her right off the bat,” Salinas said. She described Peña as a fighter who stood her ground until the very end.

The community is now rallying to support Peña’s five children, who have been left behind by the tragedy. A GoFundMe page has been established, which highlights that two of the children have autism and are struggling to process the loss of their mother. 

The suspects remain at the GEO Correctional Facility as they await further court appearances. While the Del Rio Police Department has yet to establish a clear motive for the killing, the investigation remains ongoing. As of now, the three women have been charged with murder, and authorities have indicated that additional charges are possible as they continue to review evidence.

Two other cases are currently being processed for alleged stabbing. In one Illinois case, the primary suspect was just extradited to the US after 14 years for the murder of a bride. In the meantime, police are investigating the assault of a restaurant worker who was allegedly attacked by two Detroit sisters.