Amaya “Cookie” Diaz, 19, has been released from a Texas jail after her family secured the bond required for her release while she awaits trial in the death of Caroline “Caro” Peña, a 32-year-old mother of five.

Diaz was released on Tuesday, October 6, after a $200,000 cash payment was reportedly made toward her $2 million bond, according to a report published by the New York Post on October 8.

Diaz and two co-defendants, her 21-year-old sister Kitty Mia Diaz and their 21-year-old friend Kyandra Renee Faz, face first-degree murder and evidence-tampering charges in connection with Peña’s death in Del Rio, Texas, on June 25, 2026.

The latest development has drawn renewed attention to the case as the defendants’ legal proceedings move forward. Diaz’s release does not mean the charges have been dropped, and she remains subject to the court process.

HOW COOKIE DIAZ WAS RELEASED
According to the latest report, the Diaz family arranged the payment required to secure Amaya’s release from the Val Verde County Correctional Facility.

Her bond had previously been reduced from $5 million to $2 million during an earlier court proceeding.

A representative of the bonding company told the New York Post that the specific details of the arrangement were confidential between the company and the family.

Diaz’s release is a significant change in her custody status, but it does not determine the outcome of the criminal case.

She is scheduled to appear for arraignment on November 4, 2026.

HER SISTER REMAINS IN CUSTODY
While Amaya has been released, her older sister, Kitty Mia Diaz, remains in custody.

Kitty, 21, is facing the same broad categories of charges connected to Peña’s death.

Her bond was also reduced from $5 million to $2 million, but she has not secured release under those terms.

Faz, also 21, remains in custody on a $5.2 million bond. She has pleaded not guilty, and a pretrial hearing is scheduled for December 11.

The three defendants are being prosecuted separately within the broader case, and their individual legal situations may change as court proceedings continue.

WHAT HAPPENED ON JUNE 25?
The investigation began on June 25, when Peña arrived at a hospital in the Del Rio area with serious injuries. She later died at a hospital in San Antonio.

According to the probable-cause affidavit described in earlier reporting, surveillance footage captured the confrontation at a residence on East 10th Street.

Investigators allege that Peña arrived at the property in a pickup truck before Amaya and Kitty Diaz arrived in a black Chrysler 300.

The complaint alleges that Amaya approached Peña while holding an object investigators believed to be a knife and attacked her. Kitty and Faz are accused of joining the confrontation.

These details come from allegations presented by investigators. They have not all been established through a trial verdict.

Authorities have not publicly confirmed a definitive motive for the confrontation.

INVESTIGATORS EXAMINED SURVEILLANCE FOOTAGE
Surveillance footage has played an important role in the investigation.

According to the criminal complaint, investigators reviewed video that captured the confrontation and helped them identify the people involved.

Authorities also alleged that the defendants left the scene afterward and that evidence of possible efforts to conceal what happened was discovered during the investigation.

The evidence-tampering charges are separate from the murder charges and will need to be addressed through the legal process.

The defense teams will have an opportunity to challenge the evidence and question the investigators’ interpretation of it.

A FAMILY IS LEFT TO GRIEVE
Peña’s death left five children without their mother.

Friends and relatives have described her as a devoted parent, and the case has had a significant impact on the Del Rio community.

The incident occurred in daylight in a public area, making the case particularly distressing for local residents.

People close to Peña have expressed grief over her death and concern about the future of her children.

As the criminal proceedings continue, her family is left waiting for the case to move through the courts.

THE MOTIVE REMAINS UNCLEAR
Investigators have not publicly explained what led to the confrontation or fully detailed the relationships between Peña and the three defendants.

According to the complaint, Faz told police that Peña had arrived at her residence looking for a confrontation.

That statement is part of the investigative record, but it does not by itself establish what happened before the incident or why it escalated.

Prosecutors will need to present evidence in court, while the defense will be able to challenge the state’s account.

Until that process takes place, the precise circumstances and motive remain unresolved.

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?
Amaya Diaz’s next major court date is scheduled for November 4, when she is expected to be arraigned.

Kitty Diaz remains in custody, while Faz is scheduled for a pretrial hearing on December 11.

The prosecution will continue preparing its case, and the defense teams are expected to review the evidence and challenge the allegations as the proceedings advance.

The $2 million bond allows Amaya to remain out of jail while awaiting further court action, subject to the applicable conditions. It does not mean she has been acquitted or that the case against her has ended.

For Peña’s family, the legal process continues after the loss of a mother of five.

The central questions surrounding the June 25 confrontation—including what led to it and the individual roles of the defendants—will have to be addressed through the court proceedings.

The case remains pending, and all defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty.

SOURCES
New York Post — Alleged teen killer Cookie freed on $2M bail as she awaits trial for stabbing mom of 5