Tragic Update in Del Rio: Mother of Five Caroline “Caro” Peña Succumbs to Injuries After Brutal Broad-Daylight Stabbing – Three Women Now Face Murder Charges in Shocking Attack

The small border city of Del Rio, Texas, is reeling from a heartbreaking and violent tragedy that has left a mother of five dead and three young women facing the most serious charges possible.

Caroline “Caro” Peña, 32, died on Thursday evening, June 25, 2026, after being stabbed multiple times in a broad-daylight attack on the 800 block of East 10th Street. She was rushed first to a local hospital and then airlifted to San Antonio for emergency treatment, but succumbed to her injuries around 9 p.m. that night.

What began as a criminal investigation into an assault has now escalated dramatically: three women — sisters Kitty Mia Diaz, 21, and Amaya “Cookie” Diaz, 19, along with their 21-year-old friend Kyandra Renee Faz — have been charged with first-degree murder.

All three were arrested shortly after the incident and are being held on $5 million bonds each. Court documents reveal that Amaya “Cookie” Diaz is accused of being the one who actually wielded the knife during the attack.

The incident unfolded in the middle of the afternoon in a busy area, shocking residents of the tight-knit community near the Mexican border. Peña was reportedly driven to the hospital by her nephew after the stabbing, and friends say she was still conscious and fighting for life when they saw her at the medical center.

One close friend, Christina Salinas, shared the devastating detail that Peña had tried calling her just minutes before the attack — a call that went unanswered. “I feel like if I would have answered that call, honestly I would have been there with her,” Salinas told local media, expressing the guilt and grief that many in the victim’s circle are feeling. “I wish it was all a dream.”

Peña is remembered by those who knew her as a generous, kind-hearted mother who would give her last possession to help someone in need. She leaves behind five children, including a 17-year-old son on the cusp of graduation, and a twin sister.

The three accused women were taken into custody without incident. Video footage circulating online showed one of the suspects smiling as she was escorted to a patrol car — a detail that has only added to the public’s outrage and heartbreak.

Del Rio Police have confirmed that the investigation remains active, and additional charges could still be filed as detectives continue gathering evidence and interviewing witnesses. No motive has been publicly disclosed yet, and authorities are urging anyone with information to come forward.

This case has quickly become one of the most talked-about crimes in the region, with the community mourning a beloved mother while demanding justice. A GoFundMe has been established to support Peña’s children and family as they navigate this unimaginable loss.

As the legal process moves forward, the three suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. The focus now turns to the courtroom, where the full details of that fateful afternoon will be examined.

Our thoughts remain with Caroline Peña’s five children, her twin sister, and all who loved her. A life taken far too soon in an act of senseless violence has left an entire community searching for answers and leaning on each other for strength.

This story is developing. We will continue to follow the legal proceedings and bring updates as more information becomes available.