Smiling ‘killer’ teen accused of stabbing mom-of-five to death is freed after she posted a $2m bond

Published: 11:23 EDT, 9 October 2026 | Updated: 11:23 EDT, 9 October 2026

A teenage Texas girl accused of stabbing a mother of five to death in broad daylight was freed from jail after posting a $2million bond.

Amaya ‘Cookie’ Diaz, 19, her sister, Kitty Mia Diaz, 21, and their friend, Kyandra Renee Faz, 21, are accused of murdering 32-year-old Caroline ‘Caro’ Peña on June 25.

All three were arrested shortly after the gruesome attack, and the teen, who allegedly wielded the knife, was pictured smirking and giggling as she was led in handcuffs to a police SUV.

Smiling ‘killer’: Amaya ‘Cookie’ Diaz is pictured smirking and giggling as she was led in handcuffs to a police SUV after the gruesome killing

But authorities released Amaya Diaz from the Val Verde County Correctional Facility in Del Rio on Tuesday.

The Val Verde County Sheriff’s Office and Correctional Facility confirmed to the New York Post that the Diaz family paid $200,000 to secure the teen’s $2 million bond. Meanwhile, her older sister remains behind bars.

Typically, bail bond companies charge around 10 per cent of the total bond amount to secure a defendant’s release.

But the specific details of the teen’s posting ‘are confidential only between the family who requested it,’ a representative from El Amigo Bonding told the Post.

The representative also suggested there were ‘problems already’.

Victim: Caroline ‘Caro’ Peña, 32, pictured, was allegedly killed by Amaya ‘Cookie’ Diaz, Kitty Mia Diaz, and Kyandra Renee Faz

‘We know that when someone gets killed, problems will happen. And it’s already happening, so [the Diaz family] has to lie low,’ the employee said.

‘But we know that justice will prevail. Justice always prevails,’ he added.

The Diaz sisters have yet to enter pleas to their murder and tampering with evidence charges, while Faz has pleaded not guilty.

They were taken into custody on the same day of the slaying; however, Kitty and Amaya decided to take a shower before they were placed in cuffs.

‘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,’ police claimed in the complaint.

Footage of the trio’s arrest showed the suspects smiling in their new outfits.

Amaya also smiled and smirked as police led her away.

While the reason Pena met up with her attackers at a home on the 800 block of E. 10th Street remains unclear, the victim’s uncle has revealed that the women all knew each other.

Accused: Kitty Mia Diaz, left, and Kyandra Renee Faz both face murder and tampering with evidence charges

Reaction: Kitty also appeared to smile as she was placed into a police vehicle

‘It’s a small town. I knew one of their uncles. Their family, everyone has a connection, so it’s even harder. I worked with (the uncle) for 30 years. They were close to us. What can you do,’ the unnamed uncle said in a phone interview with the Daily Mail from Del Rio.

The uncle did not speculate on the motive behind the attack; however, police revealed the whole confrontation and killing were captured on video from cameras at Faz’s house.

‘Carolina was observed arriving at Kyandra’s residence and exiting a black Dodge pickup truck,’ the criminal complaint stated.

‘Shortly after, a black Chrysler 300 arrives on scene, from which Amaya and Kitty exit and confront Carolina. Within the video footage, Amaya is observed exiting the front passenger seat of the vehicle and approaching Carolina.’

Amaya allegedly arrived with a knife in her hand.

‘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 reads.

Case: Cookie allegedly wielded the knife on the day of the slaying

Horrific: A photo appears to the last moments of Pena, pictured right, after she was attacked by two sisters, with blood seeping through her shirt

Kitty and Faz then allegedly joined in the assault before all four women separated and left.

Pena was taken to a local hospital before being transferred to a hospital in San Antonio due to the severity of her wounds. She died hours later, leaving behind five children, aged three to 16.

Two of Peña’s children are autistic and are being cared for by relatives following their mother’s death.

A photograph taken of the women after the attack was posted on a local Facebook page before later being removed. The image shows Pena’s white top covered in blood.

Zelina Ochoa, the victim’s friend, said the image was especially difficult to process because she believes it illustrated the imbalance between the alleged attackers and the victim.

‘It’s a very powerful picture because it shows, you know, these three girls showed up with their weapons, and Caro showed up with nothing but her hands,’ Ochoa said.

Cookie’s arraignment is scheduled for November 4, after she previously appeared in court and had her bond lowered from $5 million to $2 million. Her sister’s bail was also lowered, and she has not yet had her next court date scheduled.

Faz is scheduled for a pre-trial hearing on December 11 and remains in custody on a $5.2 million bond.