A 19-year-old Texas woman accused of fatally stabbing a 32-year-old mother of five in broad daylight has been released from custody after posting a $2 million bond.
Amaya “Cookie” Diaz was arrested alongside her sister, Kitty Mia Diaz, 21, and their alleged associate, Kyandra Renee Faz, 21, in connection with the June 25 killing of Caroline “Caro” Peña.
All three women face criminal charges stemming from the incident. However, Amaya Diaz, who is accused of being the primary assailant, was released from the Val Verde County Correctional Facility in Del Rio on Tuesday after securing the bond.
According to the Val Verde County Sheriff’s Office, the Diaz family provided a $200,000 cash deposit through a local bonding agency to secure the $2 million bond.
A representative of El Amigo Bonding said the specific financial arrangements surrounding the bond remain confidential, while acknowledging heightened tensions in the community following Diaz’s 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 said. “But we know that justice will prevail. Justice always prevails.”
Security Footage Captures Fatal Confrontation
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 alleges that Peña arrived at the location in a pickup truck before another vehicle carrying the Diaz sisters pulled up.
The complaint describes the moments leading up to the alleged stabbing.
“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.
Investigators allege that Kitty Diaz and Faz subsequently joined the assault before the individuals involved dispersed.
Peña was taken to a local medical facility before being transferred to a hospital in San Antonio, where she later died from her injuries.
She leaves behind five children, ranging in age from three to 16.
Suspects Allegedly Changed Clothes Before Arrest
Following the incident, investigators reportedly observed that the suspects had showered and changed their clothing before their arrests.
According to the criminal complaint, the Diaz sisters were no longer wearing the clothes allegedly seen in the security footage, and their hair appeared wet when officers encountered them.
“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.
Footage of the arrests also reportedly showed the suspects smiling as they were led away in handcuffs.
Court Proceedings Continue
The Diaz sisters have yet to enter formal pleas to the charges of murder and tampering with evidence, according to the information provided in the court proceedings. Faz, meanwhile, has pleaded not guilty.
Amaya Diaz is scheduled for arraignment on November 4, following an earlier court hearing at which her bond was reduced from $5 million to $2 million.
Faz remains in custody on a $5.2 million bond, with a pretrial hearing scheduled for December 11.
As the legal proceedings continue, the case remains a source of concern following the death of Peña, a mother of five whose life was cut short in the alleged attack.
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