Authorities in Florida are investigating the death of a 4-year-old boy who was found dead inside his home with multiple stab wounds, a case that has deeply shaken a St. Petersburg community.
Police were called to a residence on Tanglewood Drive Northeast around 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 27, after a 16-year-old girl discovered her younger brother, Finley Cullom, inside the home, according to WFLA and Fox 13 Tampa Bay, citing the St. Petersburg Police Department.
The teenage girl contacted police after walking into what officials described as a horrific scene.
“She walked into the house, she sees blood everywhere, she sees her 4-year-old brother,” St. Petersburg Police Chief Anthony Holloway said.
When officers arrived, they also found the child’s mother, 43-year-old Diana Cullom, injured with stab wounds throughout her body. She was transported to a hospital and later interviewed by investigators.
Based on evidence at the scene, authorities believe the child was stabbed by his mother. Chief Holloway said investigators are still determining whether Cullom’s injuries were self-inflicted.
On Wednesday, Jan. 28, Diana Cullom was taken into custody and charged with first-degree murder, according to WFLA, citing the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office.
Investigators also recovered a knife and a note at the scene that are believed to belong to Cullom. Officials have not disclosed the contents of the note or released information about her mental health history. The events leading up to the incident remain under investigation.
Police said the child’s father was not home at the time of the stabbing.
Chief Holloway emphasized the emotional impact the case has had on both officers and neighbors, noting that many responding officers are parents themselves.
“You have a 16-year-old coming home from school and finding her brother and her mother, and then you have the father arriving afterward,” Holloway said. “Right now in the neighborhood, everybody’s heart is heavy.”
Authorities also confirmed there was no prior history of police calls to the home, adding to the shock surrounding the case. The investigation remains ongoing.
Full of anger .Remove her for the safety of others.Demons among us
Something affecting Amerikan females…
they’re angry, they’re bitter, they’re pro-socialism, they’re overweight, they’re prone to violence, they’re not attractive.
Love these Florida stories.