When a teenage girl returned home from school on a seemingly typical Tuesday afternoon, she was confronted with a deeply distressing scene: her 4-year-old brother lay lifeless in their mother’s arms, both covered in blood. This tragic incident unfolded in Florida, as reported by local authorities.

The St. Petersburg Police Department has charged 43-year-old Diana Elizabeth Cullom with the first-degree murder of her son, Finley Cullom. According to the police, the mother of four allegedly suffocated her young son using a plastic bag, an accusation that has shocked the community.

Chief Anthony Holloway recounted the harrowing discovery to reporters, describing the chaos and devastation the teenage girl must have felt upon entering her home. “She walked into the house, saw blood everywhere, and her 4-year-old brother… you come to the conclusion,” he said, as reported by WFLA.

Law enforcement was alerted around 3:30 p.m. to a residence on Tanglewood Drive NE after receiving a call about a person bleeding. Upon arrival, officers discovered the tragic scene: young Finley was deceased, and his mother was suffering from what appeared to be self-inflicted stab wounds. Despite the severity of the incident, Cullom’s injuries were not life-threatening, and she was promptly taken to the hospital for treatment. She has since been released and is currently being held in the Pinellas County Jail.

Initially, the sheer amount of blood led investigators to suspect that Cullom had stabbed her son. However, further investigation clarified that suffocation with a plastic bag was the cause. In addition, a note believed to be written by Cullom was discovered at the scene, though its contents have not been disclosed by the authorities.

Cullom provided statement to authorities after receiving her Miranda rights, but that was redacted from the initial police report. Cops have not released a motive for the slaying or revealed what led to the killing.

Cullom’s husband, a local dentist, was not at home at the time, police say. Cullom helped her husband start Crescent Lake Family Dentistry, according to her biography. They had four children together.

“In her free time she loves to spend time with friends and family, including her seven siblings, time with God, construction, fishing, architectural design and renovation projects, gardening, business ventures, charity work, travel, reading/research, music festivals and almost any outdoor activity,” the biography said.