St. Petersburg, FL — A St. Petersburg mother is facing a first-degree murder charge after police say she suffocated her 4-year-old son inside their family home, a case that has left the community and first responders shaken.
Authorities identified the suspect as Diana Cullom, 43, who was formally charged Wednesday morning following her release from the hospital. The victim was her young son, Finley Cullom, according to the St. Petersburg Police Department.
Teen daughter made the devastating discovery
Officers were called to a home in the 1700 block of Tanglewood Drive Northeast around 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, after Cullom’s 16-year-old daughter returned home from school and made the horrifying discovery.
Police say the teenager found her mother holding Finley on a bed, with blood visible at the scene and throughout the house.
“This is an incredibly traumatic situation, especially for a child coming home from school to find this,” police officials said.
Medical examiner clarifies cause of death
Early information released by police suggested the child had been stabbed. However, investigators later clarified that the medical examiner found no stab wounds on the boy.
Instead, officials now say Finley was suffocated with a plastic bag.
“The medical examiner determined the child was suffocated, not stabbed,” police confirmed Wednesday morning.
Mother hospitalized with self-inflicted injuries
Police say Diana Cullom suffered self-inflicted stab wounds that were not life-threatening and was transported to Bayfront Hospital for treatment.
Those injuries were visible on her arms when she appeared in court for the first time on Wednesday following her arrest.
Knife and note found inside the home
During their investigation, officers recovered a knife and a handwritten note from inside the residence.
Anthony Holloway, the city’s police chief, addressed the discovery during a press briefing.
“It is our belief that the note was left by mom,” Holloway said.
Police have not disclosed the contents of the note, and investigators say the mother’s mental health history remains unknown at this stage.
First court appearance: no bond, no contact order
At her initial court appearance Wednesday, a judge ordered that Cullom be held without bond. The court also imposed a no-contact order preventing her from communicating with her teenage daughter.
Cullom stood silently during the hearing, her arms folded, as the charges were read.
Criminal defense attorney Kevin Hayslett, who represents Cullom, declined to comment following the hearing.
Family members attend emotional hearing
Cullom’s husband, Dr. Damian Cullom, sat in the front row of the courtroom along with several family members. Observers described the group as visibly emotional, with the boy’s father at times covering his mouth and holding his head in his hands.
Investigators confirmed Dr. Cullom, who owns Crescent Lake Family Dentistry, was not home at the time of the incident.
Police also noted there had been no prior calls for service at the residence.
“There is no history of police being dispatched to this home,” Holloway said.
Police emphasize emotional toll
Authorities acknowledged the emotional impact the case has had on everyone involved, including the officers who responded.
“A lot of these officers have kids, and then you have a 16-year-old coming home from school and finding her brother and her mother,” Holloway said. “Right now in the neighborhood, everybody’s heart is heavy.”
Police said victim services and counseling resources are being provided to the teenager as well as to responding officers and firefighters.
Investigation ongoing, plea expected
Cullom remains in jail as the investigation continues. Her attorney indicated Wednesday evening that a plea is forthcoming, though no timeline was given.
Authorities say they are still reviewing evidence, including the note found at the home, and working to understand what led up to the child’s death.
As the case moves forward, many questions remain unanswered, particularly regarding mental health warning signs and whether earlier intervention might have been possible.
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