Neighbors shocked by murder, abuse allegations involving Sebring mother

HIGHLANDS COUNTY, Fla. (WFLA) — A 34-year old mother is accused of bringing about what Highlands County Sheriff Paul Blackman calls " one of the most disturbing crime scenes " in his more than 30 year law enforcement career.

"There are no words I can say that can truly convey the nightmare that this child's life must have been," he said.

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Neighbors, some of whom declined to go on the record, were shocked at the allegations.

"Totally shocked, cannot believe it," said Sebring's David Mullikin.

Mullikin said he never saw much of his neighbor, Diane Mack, but he did see some of her children.

"I saw the little girls that lived there. They go up and down on the street on their bikes almost every day. Matter of fact, I hadn't seen them lately do that. I had no idea there was a 13-year old kid in that house," said Mullikin.

On Friday, in the Sun 'n Lake community of Sebring, Mullikin's view was not of children playing, instead, it was a swarm of police activity.

"I couldn't even get out of my driveway. They came around, asking everybody questions and nobody saw anything odd," he said.

According to the Highlands County Sheriff's Office, Mack, 34, found her 13-year old adoptive daughter unresponsive, drove her four other children to a family member's home in Titusville and then called 911, after midnight Friday morning, after she returned home.

Deputies say she changed her story when asked what time she found her daughter unresponsive from Thursday morning to Thursday afternoon.

EMS declared the girl deceased on scene.

"As bad as that is, it only gets worse," said Sheriff Blackman.

Sheriff Blackman said the girl was emaciated, covered in wounds, including bed sores, and wearing only a diaper.

Evidence shows, the sheriff said, the girl was restrained in the garage.

"We don't yet know how long she had been there but it appears she was secured to the garage door and monitored from inside the home by a security camera," said Sheriff Blackman.

The sheriff said Mack used pool chlorine to try to destroy evidence in the garage before calling 911.

According to Mack's arrest report, handwritten documents were found in the home, appearing to be written by children as a form of punishment.

"One of them had verbiage referring on what not to do to get her 'butt' spanked by mom. Another note was authored about having choices and choices resulting in 'consequences' and being thrown out of the house. Additional similar writings were located in the residence with one having the date of November 10, 2024," reads the affidavit.

Mack is a former employee of the Department of Children and Families and former guardian ad-litem.

"That someone whose job it was to look after the welfare of children could treat their own child in this manner is simply beyond belief," said Sheriff Blackman.

Mack is being held on no bond, facing several charges including first degree murder while engaged in aggravated child abuse.