A Texas teenager accused of stabbing a 32-year-old mother of five to death in broad daylight has been released from custody after posting a $2 million bond.
Amaya “Cookie” Diaz, 19, alongside her sister Kitty Mia Diaz, 21, and their associate Kyandra Renee Faz, 21, were taken into custody following the June 25 killing of Caroline “Caro” Peña.
While all three face criminal charges stemming from the attack, Amaya Diaz, the alleged primary assailant wielding the weapon, was released from the Val Verde County Correctional Facility in Del Rio on Tuesday.
The Val Verde County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that the Diaz family provided a $200,000 cash deposit to secure the $2 million bond through a local agency. A representative from El Amigo Bonding noted that the specific financial arrangements remain confidential, while referencing heightened tensions within the community following the release.
“We know that when someone gets killed, problems will happen. And it’s already happening, so [the Diaz family] has to lie low,” the representative stated. “But we know that justice will prevail. Justice always prevails.”
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According to court filings, the fatal confrontation occurred outside a residence on East 10th Street in Del Rio and was captured on security camera footage. The criminal complaint states that Peña arrived at the location in a pickup truck before a secondary vehicle containing the Diaz sisters pulled up.
“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 states.
Law enforcement officials allege that Kitty Diaz and Faz subsequently joined the assault before the parties dispersed. Peña was transported to a local medical facility and later transferred to a hospital in San Antonio, where she succumbed to her injuries. She is survived by five children, ranging in age from three to 16.
Following the incident, police noted that the suspects allegedly showered and changed clothing prior to their arrest. Video footage from the arrest showed the suspects smiling as they were led away in handcuffs.
“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,” the complaint states.
The Diaz sisters have not yet entered formal pleas to charges of murder and tampering with evidence, while Faz has pleaded not guilty. Amaya Diaz is scheduled for arraignment on November 4 following a previous court hearing that reduced her initial bond from $5 million to $2 million. Faz remains held in custody on a $5.2 million bond ahead of a pre-trial hearing scheduled for December 11.