Teen K.i.l.l.e.r’s Grin: 19-Year-Old Amaya “Cookie” Diaz Was the One Who Brutally S.t.a.b.b.e.d Texas Mom of Five to D.e.a.t.h in Broad Daylight Horror
In the small border city of Del Rio, Texas, a horrifying act of violence unfolded in broad daylight on June 25, 2026, claiming the life of 32-year-old Caroline “Caro” Peña, a devoted mother of five children. What began as an apparent argument escalated into a fatal stabbing that has left the community in shock and raised urgent questions about the circumstances that led three young women to allegedly take a life so violently.
According to authorities, Peña arrived at a residence on the 800 block of East 10th Street around 2 p.m., reportedly looking to confront someone. An altercation quickly erupted involving 21-year-old Kyandra Renee Faz, whose home Peña visited, along with sisters Kitty Mia Diaz, 21, and Amaya “Cookie” Diaz, 19, who arrived on scene in a black Chrysler 300. Court documents reveal that it was the youngest of the trio, Amaya “Cookie” Diaz, who wielded the knife, repeatedly stabbing Peña in the back and stomach. Surveillance footage captured the moment blood soaked through Peña’s shirt as she was struck.
Despite the severity of her injuries — including two wounds to the back and one to the abdomen that punctured her lungs — Peña fought desperately for her life. She was rushed to Val Verde Regional Medical Center and later airlifted to a hospital in San Antonio for emergency treatment. Tragically, she succumbed to her injuries around 9 p.m. that evening. Friends who saw her in those final moments described her as still able to speak briefly, highlighting her resilience even as she battled for survival.
Peña was remembered by those who knew her as a loving and dedicated mother who “was born to be a mom.” Her oldest son, now 17, was nearing high school graduation, while she leaves behind four other children. Childhood friends painted a picture of a generous woman who would give her last possession to help others and cherished her role as a parent. The loss has devastated her family, including her twin sister, and sparked an outpouring of grief in the tight-knit Del Rio community.
The three suspects were arrested without incident later that afternoon. Video footage from the scene shows the Diaz sisters displaying unsettling smiles and even laughing as they were taken into custody, with one sarcastically telling bystanders to stop recording. All three — Kitty Mia Diaz, Amaya “Cookie” Diaz, and Kyandra Renee Faz — face first-degree murder charges. Each was given a $5 million bond following their court appearance. The investigation remains active, with authorities reviewing additional evidence to determine the full motive behind the confrontation. No clear reason for the dispute has been publicly disclosed.
This senseless tragedy has stunned residents in Del Rio, a quiet city near the Mexican border where such brutal public violence is rare. As the case moves forward, questions linger about what could drive such young individuals to such extreme actions and how a daytime argument on a residential street could end in irreversible loss. The five children left without their mother now face an uncertain future, while the community mourns a woman described as loyal, joyful, and deeply committed to her family. The search for justice continues as investigators piece together the final moments of Caroline Peña’s life.
