CHARGES CHANGED AFTER 9 PM: News of Caroline Peña’s death takes the case against 3 suspects to a new turn
CHARGES CHANGED AFTER 9 PM: News of Caroline Peña’s death takes the case against 3 suspects to a new turn
Amaya “Cookie” Diaz, Kitty Mia Diaz, and Kyandra Renee Faz were in police custody before Caroline Peña died at the hospital.
Around 9 PM, investigators received news that Caroline had passed away, and the charges against all three were subsequently upgraded to murder.
Just one announcement from the hospital completely changed what the three suspects faced next
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The moment the hospital called with devastating news, everything changed for the three young women already in police custody. Amaya “Cookie” Diaz, Kitty Mia Diaz, and Kyandra Renee Faz had been arrested earlier in the afternoon on the day of the attack, but it was not until around 9 PM on June 25, 2026, that investigators received confirmation that Caroline “Caro” Peña had passed away. That single announcement from the hospital triggered an immediate upgrade in charges, transforming the case from an aggravated assault investigation into a full homicide prosecution with three suspects now facing first-degree murder.
This pivotal shift marked a new and far more serious turn in what had already become one of the most closely watched cases in Del Rio, Texas. The three women, initially detained in connection with a violent confrontation, suddenly found themselves confronting the full weight of murder charges after Peña succumbed to her multiple stab wounds at a San Antonio hospital. The timing of her death, coming roughly seven hours after the attack, meant that the legal consequences escalated dramatically once the victim’s passing was officially confirmed.
The sequence of events that day had unfolded rapidly. Caroline Peña was attacked in broad daylight outside a residence. Her nephew rushed her to a local hospital, after which she was airlifted to San Antonio for advanced trauma care. Meanwhile, Del Rio police moved quickly, arresting the Diaz sisters and Kyandra Faz based on surveillance footage, witness statements, and other evidence gathered at the scene. At the time of their arrests, the charges reflected the understanding that Peña was still fighting for her life.
Everything changed the moment the hospital notified investigators of her death around 9 PM. Law enforcement immediately upgraded the charges against all three suspects to murder. This procedural step was not merely administrative — it fundamentally altered the trajectory of the case, the potential penalties the women could face, and the resources that would be devoted to the prosecution. First-degree murder in Texas carries the possibility of life in prison, making the stakes extraordinarily high for Amaya “Cookie” Diaz, Kitty Mia Diaz, and Kyandra Renee Faz.
The upgrade in charges also intensified public scrutiny. Many in the Del Rio community and across Texas viewed the timing as a solemn acknowledgment of the full human cost of the alleged crime. Caroline Peña, a 32-year-old mother of five known for her warmth and generosity, had become more than a victim of assault. Her death elevated the incident to a homicide that demanded full accountability. The fact that the three suspects were already in custody when the news broke meant there was no delay in updating their legal status, but it also meant they faced an immediate and profound shift in their circumstances.
Court records and police statements indicate that the investigation had been active and ongoing even before Peña’s death. Surveillance video, including doorbell camera footage showing Peña smiling on a phone call shortly before the confrontation, played a key role in identifying the suspects. Kyandra Faz’s statement that Peña had arrived at the residence intending to “pick a fight” added context, though prosecutors have maintained that no alleged provocation justified the use of deadly force. The discovery of blood-stained clothing in a washing machine and reports of the suspects changing and showering after the attack further strengthened the case as it transitioned from assault to murder.
The deleted photo that briefly circulated online — allegedly showing Peña still standing and fighting back with bare hands despite her blood-soaked shirt — has also become part of the broader narrative. Though the image is no longer publicly available, its description has contributed to the public’s understanding of Caroline’s final moments of resistance. Such details, combined with the hospital’s announcement at 9 PM, have fueled emotional responses and calls for justice from Peña’s family and the community.
For the three suspects, the upgrade to murder charges brought immediate practical consequences. Each was held on a $5 million bond, an amount reflecting the severity of the new accusations and concerns about flight risk or community safety. The high bail effectively ensured they would remain in custody as the case moved forward. Defense attorneys now face the daunting task of preparing for a homicide trial, where the stakes include potential life sentences rather than lesser penalties associated with assault charges.
Prosecutors, meanwhile, gained a stronger foundation for their case once Peña’s death was confirmed. The medical examiner’s findings, combined with the timeline of her treatment and passing, provided clear evidence linking the alleged attack directly to the cause of death. This forensic connection is expected to be central as the case proceeds toward trial.
The moment around 9 PM when the hospital called thus stands as a turning point. What began as a response to a violent confrontation became a murder investigation in the span of a single notification. That announcement did not just change the legal classification — it transformed the human dimension of the case, elevating Caroline Peña from a survivor of violence to a victim whose death demanded the most serious response the justice system could provide.
@thecrimedesk Two young sisters from Texas were seen smiling for the camera while they were taken into custody for allegedly stabbing a mother-of-five to death in broad daylight. Kitty Mia Diaz, 21, and her sister, Amaya Cookie Diaz, 19, were arrested on Thursday in Del Rio – about two hours outside of San Antonio – after Caroline Peña was savagely stabbed just hours earlier, the Del Rio Police Department said. crime
As the investigation continues and new details emerge — from forensic analysis of the scene to further witness testimony — the significance of that 9 PM update remains clear. It marked the moment when three young women already in custody saw their alleged crime reclassified in the most grave terms possible. For Caroline Peña’s family, it was the devastating confirmation of their worst fears. For the community of Del Rio, it was the point at which a shocking assault became an unforgettable tragedy.
The case against Amaya “Cookie” Diaz, Kitty Mia Diaz, and Kyandra Renee Faz continues to evolve, but the turning point that came after 9 PM on that June evening will remain one of its defining moments.
