A new development has emerged in the case involving Amaya “Cookie” Diaz, the 19-year-old Texas woman accused of fatally stabbing a mother of five, after she was released from custody while awaiting trial.
Diaz, known by the nickname Cookie, was released on Tuesday, October 6, after her family reportedly paid $200,000 toward a $2 million bond. Her release comes more than three months after the incident involving 32-year-old Caroline “Caro” Peña in Del Rio, Texas, a case that has drawn widespread attention because of the circumstances surrounding the confrontation and the questions that remain unanswered.
Although Diaz is now out of jail, the charges against her remain in place, and the legal proceedings are continuing. Her release does not mean she has been cleared of the allegations.
Peña, a mother of five, suffered multiple stab wounds during a confrontation on June 25. She was initially taken to a local hospital before being transferred to a medical facility in San Antonio, where she later succumbed to her injuries that evening.
Investigators have focused much of their attention on surveillance footage recorded near the location where the confrontation occurred. According to the criminal complaint, the footage showed Peña arriving at a residence on East 10th Street in a black Dodge pickup truck. Diaz and her older sister, 21-year-old Kitty Mia Diaz, reportedly arrived shortly afterward in a black Chrysler 300.
Authorities allege that Cookie approached Peña while holding an object believed to be a knife and struck her in the back during the confrontation. Investigators further allege that Kitty and their friend, 21-year-old Kyandra Renee Faz, subsequently became involved in the altercation.
The circumstances leading up to the confrontation remain unclear. Faz reportedly told investigators that Peña had arrived at her residence looking for a fight, but authorities have not publicly established what initially triggered the dispute or fully explained the relationship between Peña and the three defendants.
That unanswered question remains an important part of the case as investigators and prosecutors prepare for the next stages of the legal process.
All three women were arrested on the day of the incident. Investigators also alleged that the Diaz sisters had changed their clothes and showered before officers took them into custody. Those circumstances contributed to evidence-tampering allegations that the sisters now face alongside the first-degree murder charges.
The case drew additional attention after images and video of the sisters being taken into custody circulated publicly. Their expressions during the arrests prompted reactions online, although such images alone do not establish what happened or determine the outcome of the criminal proceedings.
Cookie’s release has now created a new chapter in the case. Her bond was previously reduced from $5 million to $2 million, allowing her family to arrange for her release through a bonding process. A representative of the bonding company declined to disclose the specific financial arrangements, describing those details as confidential.
However, Cookie is not the only defendant whose bond has changed. Her sister, Kitty, also had her bond reduced to $2 million but remains in custody. Faz, meanwhile, is being held on a $5.2 million bond and has pleaded not guilty to the charges against her.
The different circumstances surrounding the three defendants mean their legal situations are no longer identical, even though they face allegations connected to the same incident.
For Peña’s family, the case carries consequences far beyond the courtroom. She leaves behind five children who must now navigate life without their mother. Friends and people who knew her have remembered her as a devoted parent, and her loss has deeply affected those who were close to her.
The fact that the incident occurred during daylight hours in a residential area has also raised concerns among members of the local community. Residents have been left searching for answers about how the confrontation unfolded and what could have led to such a serious outcome.
At this stage, authorities have not announced a definitive motive. Investigators have relied on surveillance footage, witness accounts and other evidence to reconstruct the events, while the prosecution prepares to move forward with the charges.
Cookie is scheduled for an arraignment hearing on November 4, 2026. That proceeding will mark another important step as the case advances toward trial. Kitty’s next court date has not been announced, while Faz is scheduled for a pretrial hearing on December 11.
The coming weeks could bring further developments as the defendants’ attorneys review the evidence and prepare their legal strategies. Questions about the confrontation, the roles allegedly played by each defendant and the evidence gathered by investigators will remain central to the proceedings.
For now, Cookie’s release on bond is the latest major development in a case that continues to affect Peña’s family and the Del Rio community. While one defendant has returned home to await her next court appearance, the legal questions surrounding the June 25 incident remain unresolved.
The next significant milestone will be the November 4 hearing, when attention is expected to return to the courtroom and the case moves closer to its next stage.