Authorities: Mother of stabbed 4-year-old arrested, charged with murder

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The 43-year-old mother of a 4-year-old child found stabbed to death was taken into custody early Wednesday and charged with first-degree murder.

City police responded to a call about a dead child and an injured adult on Tuesday afternoon.

The location was a home in the 1700 block of Tanglewood Drive NE.

Police said a 16-year-old girl called around 3:30 p.m. to say she found her 4-year-old brother inside the home and that he had stab wounds. The boy died.

The woman, identified by police as Diana Cullom, was taken to Bayfront Hospital with injuries. Preliminary reports, according to police, say that Cullom stabbed the child and herself.

“Preliminary investigation leads toward the mom, but again, we’re going to make sure that we investigate everything,” said Chief Anthony Holloway. “But with the note and the way the scene is right now, the mom appears to be the suspect. But again, we’re not going to say definitely yet until we get all of the information.”

The father wasn’t at the home and was called to the scene, according to investigators.

Police said a note was found at the scene, but they didn’t provide details about what it said.

The police chief added that there is no threat to the public.

The investigation is still underway.

Stay with Spectrum Bay News 9 on-air, online and the Spectrum News app for udpates.