Woman, 43, Charged with Murder of 4-Year-Old Son at Florida Home

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Authorities in Florida have arrested Diana Cullom, 43, on suspicion of murdering her four-year-old son Finley CullomThe boy was reportedly found suffocated to death at a property in St. Petersburg by his 16-year-old sister on Tuesday, Jan. 27Diana Cullom was taken to the hospital for multiple stab wounds prior to her arrest

EDITOR’S NOTE: This story has been updated. Police in St. Petersburg, Fla., initially said that Joseph Cullom, 4, was stabbed to death, but in an updated press release, they have said he was suffocated to death.

Authorities in Florida are investigating the death of a four-year-old boy who was found dead in his home due to suffocation.

At around 3:30 p.m. local time on Tuesday, Jan. 27, officers were called to a property off Tanglewood Drive Northeast in St. Petersburg, where 4-year-old Finley Cullom was found suffocated to death, the St. Petersburg Police Department (SPPD) said in an updated press release. (Initially, police said the child had been stabbed to death.)

A 16-year-old girl had contacted the police after finding her brother’s body, the outlets added.

“She walked into the house, she sees blood everywhere, she sees her 4-year-old brother…,” St. Petersburg Police Chief Anthony Holloway told WFLA.

Officers arrived at the home to find Joseph’s mother, 43-year-old Diana Cullom, also injured with self-inflicted stab wounds, according to police. “There was blood at the scene and throughout the house,” police stated in the release.

On Wednesday, Jan. 28, Diana was taken into custody and charged with murder in the first degree, WFLA reported, citing the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO).

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Diana Cullom mugshot.

Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office

A knife and a note found at the scene are believed to belong to the mother, Holloway said at a press conference, per Fox 13. The events leading up to the incident, along with Diana’s mental history, have not been disclosed at this time.

According to officials, Joseph’s father was not at home at the time of the incident, per Fox 13 Tampa Bay.

“A lot of these officers, they have kids, and then you have the 16-year-old who’s coming home from school and finding her brother and her mother. And then you’re just having a father come here,” said Holloway. “So right now in the neighborhood, everybody’s heart is heavy.”

There is no history of calls for service at the home where Joseph was found, Holloway added to WFLA.