Diana Elizabeth Cullom, 43, faces first-degree murder charges for suffocating her 4-year-old son, Finley Cullom, with a plastic bag in their St. Petersburg, Florida home. A 16-year-old daughter discovered the scene upon returning from school Tuesday afternoon around 3:30 p.m., finding blood everywhere and her brother dead in her mother’s arms on a bed.
Incident Details
Police responded to the 1700 block of Tanglewood Drive NE for a report of someone bleeding. Cullom had self-inflicted stab wounds, initially leading investigators to suspect she stabbed her son, but autopsy confirmed suffocation with no stab wounds on the child. Authorities found a note written by Cullom but have not disclosed its contents; she provided a statement after Miranda warnings, redacted from public reports.
Arrest and Background
Cullom was hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries, released overnight, and booked into Pinellas County Jail early Wednesday. Her husband, a local dentist, co-owner of Crescent Lake Family Dentistry where she assisted, was not home; the couple had four children and shared interests in family, outdoor activities, and charity. No motive has been released.
