The Highlands County Sheriff’s Office is investigating what Sheriff Paul Blackman called a “horrific crime” that took place in Sebring.

Deputies were called to 4015 Bianca Street in the Sun ‘n Lake community of Sebring at 12:19 a.m. Friday, November 15. When they arrived, they found a 13-year-old girl unresponsive on the floor next to the front door. She was pronounced dead at the scene by emergency services.

Her foster mother, Diane Natasha Mack, 34, told deputies she found the girl unconscious Thursday morning, but later said it was closer to 3 p.m. Regardless of when she made the discovery, she still took the time to drive the four other children who lived in the house to Titusville and back to Sebring before she called for help to her child, who was lying unconscious on the floor of the house.

“As bad as this is, it’s only getting worse,” Sheriff Blackman said. “The girl, who was naked except for a diaper, had clearly been seriously abused. She was extremely emaciated and clearly malnourished. His body was covered in wounds in all stages of healing, including open lacerations that had clearly been sustained recently.

Further investigation of the home revealed evidence that the girl, who was home-schooled, had been restrained in the garage. Detectives don’t yet know how long she was held there, but it appears she was tied to the garage door and monitored from inside the home by a security camera installed in the garage.

“As his child lay dead on the floor, the suspect had clearly used pool chlorine in an attempt to destroy evidence in the garage before calling 911,” Sheriff Blackman said.

“This is one of the most disturbing crime scenes I have encountered in over 30 years of law enforcement. There are no words I can say that can truly express the nightmare that this child’s life must have been.

“Parents have a duty to love their children and ensure that no harm comes to them. Seeing a child treated this way is not only heartbreaking, but also infuriating. What makes the situation even more appalling is that the suspect is not only a former employee of the Department of Children and Families, but also worked as a guardian ad litem. That someone whose job it was to look out for the well-being of children would treat their own child in this manner is simply unbelievable,” said Sheriff Blackman.

The agency’s critical incident stress management resources are available to all deputies and detectives who have a duty to investigate this matter.

“This is something that no amount of law enforcement experience can prepare you to deal with,” Sheriff Blackman said. “I can assure you that we will do everything in our power to ensure justice is served for this child. »

Currently, the suspect is charged with first degree murder while engaging in aggravated child abuse, as well as aggravated child abuse, kidnapping and destruction of evidence. She is being held without bail in the Highlands County Jail.