Two sisters were seen smiling eerily as they were taken into custody by police following the brutal killing of a mother of five.
Amaya Cookie Diaz, aged 19, and Kitty Mia Diaz, aged 21, were apprehended in Del Rio, a Texan city close to the Mexican border, shortly after allegedly fatally stabbing Caroline Peña in broad daylight. Video footage captured outside the suspects’ residence depicted Kitty grinning while being escorted to a patrol car by two officers on Thursday afternoon.
Amaya was also observed laughing after reportedly shouting at a camera to stop recording. Another individual, Kyandra Renee Faz, aged 21, was also taken into custody in connection with the homicide, as per the Del Rio Police Department.
According to a spokesperson from the Del Rio Police Department, “On June 25, 2026, at around 2:10 p.m., officers from the Del Rio Police Department responded to Val Verde Regional Medical Center following a report of a woman suffering from multiple stab wounds.” The spokesperson added, “Upon arrival, it was determined that the assault took place in the 800 block of East 10th Street. Due to the seriousness of her injuries, the victim was urgently transported to a medical facility in San Antonio.”
The motive behind the murder has not been disclosed yet. Investigators have collected surveillance footage and interviewed numerous witnesses. The department further stated, “At approximately 4:00 p.m., Kitty Mia Diaz and Amaya Cookie Diaz were located and apprehended without incident.
“Shortly after, Kyandra Renee Faz was also located and arrested in connection with the investigation. All three suspects were taken to the Del Rio Police Department for processing and booking.”
At around 9:00 p.m. on the same day, it was reported that the victim had succumbed to her injuries and was pronounced deceased. Following this development, Faz and the Diaz sisters were each charged with murder.
All three individuals were transferred to the GEO Correctional Facility and are awaiting legal proceedings. Independent journalist Michael Elizondo mentioned that upon hearing about police presence in the area, he hurried to the Diaz sisters’ residence.
Elizondo stated, “I wasn’t sure what was happening, but I sensed it was serious. When I saw the first girl being placed in the car, I thought, ‘Whatever.’…But the behavior of the second girl caught my attention. That girl appeared cheerful…She was smiling and acting as if nothing had occurred.”
“Suddenly, I saw the window roll down, and the girl was sticking out her face, sticking out her tongue, and goofing around,” Elizondo added.