Authorities in Texas have arrested three young women, including two sisters, after accusing them of carrying out a fatal stabbing that left a 32-year-old mother of five dead following a violent confrontation in broad daylight. While investigators are still working to determine exactly what sparked the deadly encounter, the details that have emerged so far are incredibly disturbing.
According to the Del Rio Police Department, officers were called to Val Verde Regional Medical Center at approximately 2:10 p.m. back on Thursday after receiving reports of a woman suffering from multiple stab wounds.
Police say the attack itself happened on East 10th Street in Del Rio before the victim, later identified as Caroline Peña (pictured above, left), was rushed for medical care. Because of the severity of her injuries, she was transferred to a hospital in San Antonio for emergency treatment. Tragically, she died later that evening.
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Investigators say surveillance footage and witness interviews quickly helped identify three suspects: sisters Kitty Mia Diaz, 21, and Amaya Cookie Diaz, 19, along with 21-year-old Kyandra Renee Faz (all pictured above, right, in their subsequent mugshots). As the investigation rapidly unfolded, police took all three women into custody.
The Del Rio PD said:
“At approximately 4:00 p.m., officers located and arrested Kitty Mia Diaz and Amaya Cookie Diaz without incident. A short time later, officers located and arrested Kyandra Renee Faz in connection with the investigation … Following the victim’s death, [they] were each charged with murder.”
One detail that has attracted significant attention came from video obtained by KENS 5 News, which reportedly showed the sisters being led away in handcuffs while least one of the accused women appeared to be smiling during the arrest — an image that has generated strong reactions as the case continues to develop.
You can see more of that here (below):
WTF…
And even more here (below):
As reported later by TMZ, Del Rio Police Chief Frank Ramirez said investigators believe this was not a random act of violence. Instead, all four women allegedly knew one another and had some type of dispute.
Ramirez told the outlet that investigators believe Peña had gone to one of the suspects’ homes for a reason before an argument allegedly broke out.
While police have not disclosed what the disagreement may have involved, Ramirez said investigators believe one of the suspects allegedly pulled out a knife and stabbed Peña in the torso. He said the investigation remains active, and cops’ understanding of the events could evolve as additional evidence is gathered.
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Additional reporting from KENS 5 News stated that Peña suffered multiple stab wounds, including two to her back and another to her side. Her friend Tina described the devastating injuries to the media outlet in heartbreaking terms:
“One of the stab wounds ended up puncturing her lungs, which was the fatal cause.”
Beyond the criminal investigation, the loss has left an entire family trying to cope with an unimaginable tragedy. A GoFundMe created to support Peña’s loved ones explained what happened after the attack:
“Her nephew rushed her to the hospital, and she was airlifted to San Antonio, but she did not survive. The loss has devastated her family. … Three women have been charged with murder, and investigators say additional charges are possible, though a motive has not been established.”
Perhaps the most painful reality of all is the family Peña leaves behind. She was the mother of five children — reportedly including two with autism, per People — and those closest to her are now trying to provide those kids with stability while navigating overwhelming grief.
The fundraiser shared this emotional message:
“Now, five children are waking up without their mother. Two of them have autism and cannot fully process what her absence means yet. All five will carry this loss for the rest of their lives. The funds raised will help support Caroline’s children and family as they navigate this unimaginable grief and begin to rebuild.”
At this point, authorities have not announced a motive, and the case remains under investigation.
Meanwhile, the three suspects are being held pending further court proceedings as cops continue working to piece together what happened during the deadly confrontation.
In the meantime, you can visit the GoFundMe page HERE.
Such a terrible, terrible story…
[Image via GoFundMe/Facebook/Del Rio Police Department]