The state of Florida intends to seek the death penalty for the St. Pete mother accused of suffocating her four-year-old son.
A Florida state attorney filed on April 1 a notice of intent to seek the death penalty for 43-year-old Diana Cullom.
This comes ahead of a status hearing set for Monday, April 20, where a judge will check on the progress of Cullom’s court-ordered competency evaluation.
Cullom is charged with first-degree murder in her son’s death.
Diana Cullom charged with murder of 4-year-old son
St. Pete police officers responded to a call about a person bleeding on the afternoon of Jan. 27,
At the scene, officials said that they spoke to the 16-year-old sister of 4-year-old Finley Cullom, who said she got home from school and found her mother, Diana, holding him in bed.
Initially, police said that based on the evidence, Cullom stabbed her child. They provided a later update saying there were no stab wounds and that medical examiners determined he was suffocated with a plastic bag.
Diana Cullom did reportedly have self-inflicted stab wounds.
The 16-year-old sister also found a note in the house, which police believe was left by Cullom.
“She found a note in the house, so we believe that the scene is contained within the home,” St. Pete Police Chief Anthony Holloway said. “We don’t believe there is any danger to anyone in the community.”
In her first court appearance, a judge ordered that Cullom be held without bond.
The Cullom family owns the Crescent Lake Family Dentistry.