Court Records Reveal Prior Federal Conviction of Defendant in Caroline Peña Homicide Case
Newly reviewed court records have revealed that one of the three women charged in the fatal stabbing of Caroline “Caro” Peña has a prior federal conviction unrelated to the Texas homicide case.
The records show that one of the defendants previously pleaded guilty in a federal human smuggling case in 2023. Prosecutors have not alleged that the prior conviction is connected to the events surrounding Peña’s death, and the homicide investigation remains focused on the circumstances of the June 29 incident in Del Rio.
Peña, a 32-year-old mother of five, died after suffering multiple stab wounds during an altercation outside a residence.
Authorities have charged 21-year-old Kitty Mia Diaz, 19-year-old Amaya “Cookie” Diaz, and 21-year-old Kyandra Renee Faz with murder. All three defendants remain in custody and are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
According to federal court records, one of the defendants was previously prosecuted for participating in a human smuggling operation near the U.S.-Mexico border.
Prosecutors in that case alleged that Border Patrol agents stopped a vehicle and discovered migrants concealed inside the trunk during an enforcement operation. The defendant later pleaded guilty to a federal offense arising from that investigation and was sentenced in accordance with federal law.
The prior conviction has attracted renewed public attention following the homicide charges.
Legal experts, however, note that evidence of previous criminal convictions generally cannot be used to prove that a defendant committed a separate offense simply because of past misconduct. Whether such evidence is admissible during any future murder trial would depend on the applicable rules of evidence and decisions made by the court.
Investigators in the Peña homicide have not indicated that the earlier federal case provides a motive for the fatal confrontation.
Instead, prosecutors continue focusing on surveillance footage, witness testimony, forensic evidence, and physical evidence recovered during the homicide investigation.
According to court documents filed in the murder case, detectives allege the confrontation escalated into a fatal assault during the afternoon of June 29.
The prosecution contends that surveillance video captured portions of the incident and that investigators have gathered additional forensic evidence from the scene and from the defendants’ residence. Those allegations remain subject to proof through the judicial process.
Authorities have also alleged that efforts were made to remove or destroy potential evidence after the incident.
Those claims, outlined in arrest affidavits, will likewise be examined during future court proceedings, where defense attorneys will have the opportunity to challenge the prosecution’s evidence.
The homicide investigation remains active.
Prosecutors have stated that they continue reviewing digital evidence, laboratory testing, and witness interviews while determining whether additional charges or filings may be appropriate as the case progresses.
Meanwhile, Peña’s family continues mourning the loss of the mother of five.
Relatives and friends have remembered her as a devoted parent whose children were the center of her life. Community members have gathered for vigils and memorial services while expressing hope that the legal process will provide accountability.
Legal analysts emphasize that the prior federal conviction and the current homicide prosecution are separate legal matters.
The defendants’ criminal responsibility for Peña’s death will ultimately be determined solely by the evidence presented in the ongoing Texas murder case, where prosecutors bear the burden of proving each charge beyond a reasonable doubt.
