Texas
Sisters, friend charged in Texas mom’s stabbing death
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Two sisters and a friend were charged with murder after a 32-year-old Texas mother of five was stabbed multiple times in broad daylight and later died, authorities said.
Kitty Mia Diaz, 21; Amaya Cookie Diaz, 19; and Kyandra Renee Faz, 21, were arrested Thursday on charges of murder in connection with the fatal attack, the Del Rio Police Department wrote in a press release posted to Facebook.
The victim was identified as Caroline “Caro” Peña, 32, according to local media reports.
“She was one of those people that she was born to be a mom,” Peña’s childhood friend, Zelina Ochoa, told KENS 5, fighting back and wiping off tears. “She really loved being a mom.”
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Kyandra Renee Faz, 21; Amaya Cookie Diaz, 19; and Kitty Mia Diaz, 21 have been arrested for the murder of Caroline Peña, 32. (Del Rio, Texas, Police Department)
Del Rio is a city of 35,000 in southwest Texas near the Mexican border.
Police said officers responded around 2:10 p.m. Thursday to Val Verde Regional Medical Center after receiving a report that a woman had arrived with multiple stab wounds from an assault at a busy intersection.
“This wasn’t something that happened in a back alley; this happened at the corner near Sonic on one of our busiest roads in broad daylight,” Ochoa told KENS 5.
Because of the severity of her injuries, the woman was taken to a San Antonio medical facility for emergency treatment, police said. Investigators were notified around 9 p.m. that she had died after being stabbed twice in the back and a third time in her stomach.
BELFAST BURNS AFTER SUDANESE MIGRANT ARRESTED IN BRUTAL KNIFE ATTACK
Kyandra Faz, 21, was a friend of the pair of sisters arrested in connection of the stabbing murder of Caroline Peña, 32. (Del Rio, Texas, Police Department)
Detectives reviewed surveillance video, processed evidence and interviewed witnesses before identifying Kitty Diaz, Cookie Diaz and Faz as suspects, police said. Kitty Diaz and Cookie Diaz were arrested without incident around 4 p.m. local time Thursday, and Faz was arrested a short time later.
Another friend, Christina Salinas, told the outlet she missed a call from Peña shortly before the stabbing and later recognized her in a photo suffering from the wounds circulating on a community page.
“I feel like if I would have answered that call, honestly I would have been there with her,” Salinas said. “It wouldn’t have gotten like that.”
Police have not publicly released a motive.
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Amaya Diaz, 19, was one of the sisters arrested in connection of the stabbing murder of Caroline Peña, 32. (Del Rio, Texas, Police Department)
Salinas said she rushed to the hospital and was able to say goodbye before Peña was flown to San Antonio.
“That girl, she was a fighter: She was still standing her ground,” Salinas said.
All three suspects were booked at the Del Rio Police Department before being transported to the GEO Correctional Facility, where police said they remained pending court hearings.
The investigation remains active, and police said additional charges could be filed as detectives continue gathering evidence.
Kitty Diaz, 21, was one of the sisters arrested in connection of the stabbing murder of Caroline Peña, 32. (Del Rio, Texas, Police Department)
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Peña is survived by her five children – the oldest a 17-year-old son – and a twin sister, according to reports.
“If you needed something and she had it, even if it was her last, she’d give it to you,” Ochoa told KENS 5.
Texas Game Wardens are searching Benbrook Lake for a missing man in a possible drowning, but high winds and choppy water are slowing rescue efforts, an official said Saturday.
The call about the potential drowning came in around 1 p.m.
“It’s still very early, and I don’t have much shareable information yet,” said Maggie Berger, a spokesperson for the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, just after 3 p.m.
Berger said updates would be released as soon as they become available.
State urges safety awareness
She said the possible fatality at Benbrook Lake is one of several that Texas Game Wardens are working on this weekend across the state.
As a result, she said the department is urging the public to review water and boating safety guidance.
In 2025, Texas recorded 178 reportable boating incidents that led to 50 deaths and 77 serious injuries.
Eighty‑four percent of those who died were not wearing a life jacket, and Texas Game Wardens made 223 Boating While Intoxicated arrests last year.
Basic precautions for boaters
Texas Game Wardens urge boaters to follow basic safety steps before heading out:
- Wear a life jacket – it must be U.S. Coast Guard–approved, and children under 13 must wear one while the boat is moving.
- Stay sober on the water – never operate a vessel under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
- Use the engine cut‑off switch – if your boat has one, the operator needs to wear the lanyard or keep the fob on their person.
- Travel at a safe speed and keep a lookout for other boats, swimmers, and hazards.
- Complete a boater education course – required for anyone born on or after Sept. 1, 1993.
- Check the weather and be ready for sudden changes.
- Share a float plan with someone you trust.
- Avoid overloading the boat – too much weight can make a vessel unstable.
Rules for paddlers statewide
State rules require anyone in a paddlecraft to have a life jacket that meets U.S. Coast Guard standards, and kids younger than 13 must keep theirs on at all times.
Paddlers also need to carry a whistle or another device that can make a loud sound, and they must display a white light visible from every direction when they’re on the water after dark, during low‑light hours or in poor visibility.
Anonymous tips encouraged
The department is also asking the public to quickly report any unsafe or illegal activity on the water, noting that tips can be submitted anonymously. Rewards of up to $1,000 are available for information that leads to convictions for violations of boating, fishing, or wildlife laws.
People can send a tip by texting TXOGT and their information to 847411, using the Texas OGT app on iOS or Android, or calling the anonymous hotline at 800‑792‑GAME (4263). Tipsters are encouraged to include any details, photos, or videos that could help investigators.
CBS News Texas will provide updates as more information becomes available.
Beekeeper Christie Ray arrived at the scene and was stunned. She knew a swarm of honeybees had escaped after a truck overturned on a Texas road, but nothing prepared her for what she saw.
About 20 million bees were flying in groups so large they resembled dark clouds. So many sat on a tree branch that it broke. The air smelled like honey, beeswax and bananas, the odor bees release when they sting.
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