Smiling sister freed on bail after alleged fatal stabbing of mother

A 19-year-old Texas woman accused of fatally stabbing a mother of five in broad daylight has been released from jail after a $2 million bond was posted on her behalf.

Amaya “Cookie” Diaz, 19, her sister, Kitty Mia Diaz, 21, and their friend, Kyandra Renee Faz, 21, are accused of killing 32-year-old Caroline “Caro” Peña on June 25.

All three women were arrested soon after the killing. Amaya, who authorities allege wielded the knife, was released Tuesday from the Val Verde County Correctional Facility in Del Rio.

The Val Verde County Sheriff’s Office and the correctional facility confirmed to the New York Post that the Diaz family paid $200,000 to secure the bond. Kitty Diaz remains in custody.

Bail bond companies typically charge about 10 percent of a defendant’s total bond to arrange a release.

A representative of El Amigo Bonding told the Post that the specific arrangements for Amaya’s bond were “confidential only between the family who requested it.”

The representative also indicated that “problems already” had emerged.

“We know that when someone gets killed, problems will happen. And it’s already happening, so [the Diaz family] has to lie low,” the employee said.

“But we know that justice will prevail. Justice always prevails,” he added.

The Diaz sisters have not yet entered pleas to the murder and evidence-tampering charges. Faz has pleaded not guilty.

The three suspects were taken into custody the day of the killing. Police said, however, that Kitty and Amaya showered before they were handcuffed.

“While speaking with Kitty and Amaya, it was observed that they were no longer wearing the clothing originally seen on the video footage, and they had recently showered, as their hair was wet,” police alleged in the complaint.

Video from the arrests appeared to show the three women smiling in different clothing.

Amaya also appeared to smile and smirk as officers escorted her away.

It remains unclear why Peña met the women at a home in the 800 block of East 10th Street. Her uncle has said, however, that the victim and the three suspects knew one another.

“It’s a small town. I knew one of their uncles. Their family, everyone has a connection, so it’s even harder. I worked with (the uncle) 30 years. They were close to us. What can you do,” the unnamed uncle told Our News Outlet in a phone interview from Del Rio.

The uncle did not speculate on the motive behind the attack, however, police revealed the whole confrontation and killing was captured on video from cameras at Faz’s house. 

‘Carolina was observed arriving at Kyandra’s residence and exiting a black Dodge pickup truck,’ the criminal complaint stated.

‘Shortly after, a black Chrysler 300 arrives on scene, to which Amaya and Kitty exit and confront Carolina. Within the video footage, Amaya is observed exiting the front passenger seat of the vehicle and approaching Carolina.’

Amaya allegedly arrived with a knife in her hand.

‘Within the video footage, Amaya is observed with an object believed to be a knife in her right hand. Amaya and Carolina get into an altercation, and Amaya is observed striking Carolina in the back, where blood can be observed on the back of her shirt,’ the complaint reads.

Kitty and Faz then allegedly joined in the assault before all four women separated and left.

Peña was taken to a local hospital before being transferred to a hospital in San Antonio due to the severity of her wounds.

She died hours later, leaving behind five children, ages three to 16.

Two of Peña’s children are autistic and are being cared for by relatives following their mother’s death.

A photograph taken of the women after the attack was posted on a local Facebook page before later being removed.

The image shows Pena’s white top covered in blood.

Zelina Ochoa, the victim’s friend, said the image was especially difficult to process because she believes it illustrated the imbalance between the alleged attackers and the victim.

‘It’s a very powerful picture because it shows, you know, these three girls showed up with their weapons and Caro showed up with nothing but her hands,’ Ochoa said.

Cookie’s arraignment is scheduled for November 4 after previously appearing in court to have her bond lowered from $5 million to $2 million. Her sister’s bail was lowered as well and has not had her next court date scheduled yet. 

Faz is scheduled for a pre-trial hearing on December 11 and remains in custody on $5.2 million bond.