Tragic Death of Texas Mother Following Attack
A Texas mother of five, Caroline “Caro” Peña, was allegedly murdered on the street by sisters Cookie and Kitty Diaz. Just moments before the attack, she attempted to call her best friend, Cristina Salinas, a fact that now weighs heavily on Salinas, who believes she could have intervened.
Peña, 32, placed a call to Salinas around 1:35 p.m. on Thursday, but Salinas missed it. Just minutes later, the attack occurred in Del Rio, Texas. “If I had answered that call, I honestly think I would have stayed with her,” Salinas reflected, revealing the deep regret she feels. “That wouldn’t have happened.”
Salinas, who works in adult daycare, is grappling with her loss and often recalls their early morning chats. “If I had finished work a few minutes earlier, I wouldn’t have let you go alone,” she expressed. “My heart hurts, B. You’re gone, but you’re not forgotten.”
She shared a last photo of the friends together, taken shortly before Peña’s tragic death. Despite being alive when taken to a medical facility, Peña succumbed to her injuries hours later. Salinas said she recognized her friend even from social media images showing Peña injured, “I knew right away it was her.”
“It feels like a part of me was ripped away and I can’t get it back,” Salinas said, lamenting the loss of her friend. “No matter how much justice is served, I still don’t have any friends here alive.”
Salinas posted video footage of Peña’s last visit to her home, reminiscing, “I miss you coming over to my house. We just eat, laugh, and relax. I wish it was all a dream.”
Kitty and Amaya Cookie Diaz, aged 19 and 21, were arrested shortly after the attack, along with their friend, Candra Renee Faz, 21. All three now face murder charges.
Surveillance footage captured a disturbing scene as Kitty Diaz appeared elated while being taken into custody, while an independent journalist noted that Amaya was “in a happy mood” during the arrest.
Details regarding the motive behind the violent incident are still unclear.
