A Florida woman who previously worked for the state’s Department of Children and Families has been charged with first-degree murder and multiple counts of child abuse. The woman called emergency services after she found her adopted daughter unresponsive in her home. But investigators allege that the girl’s adoptive mother left her body at the home for several hours.
Once they arrived at the scene, the police say they saw evidence the girl was abused. Police also allege that the woman tried to cover up some of that abuse before their arrival. Currently, she is in jail awaiting trial.
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The police are calling the incident 'horrific.'
The Highlands County Sheriff’s Office released a statement about the “horrific crime” that took place in Sebring, Florida, on November 15, 2024. Diane Natasha Mack, 34, was arrested in connection with the death of her 13-year-old adoptive daughter. EMS found the teen unresponsive by the front door of Mack’s home, and pronounced her dead at the scene.
Something seemed off about the woman's version of events.
In the statement, Sheriff Paul Blackman said the woman told him she found the girl on the morning of Thursday, November 14. But later, she told investigators that it was around 3 p.m. Regardless of time, Blackman claims that Mack drove the other four children in her care from Sebring to Titusville before returning and calling emergency services for her 13-year-old daughter.
The details are disturbing.
“As bad as that is, it only gets worse,” Blackman said. “The girl, who was nude except for a diaper, had clearly been severely abused. She was extremely emaciated and obviously malnourished. Her body was covered in wounds in all stages of healing, including open lacerations that were clearly recently suffered.”
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Mack allegedly tried to rid her home of evidence that showed the girl being abused.
Police have not released the name of the teen who died. She was reportedly homeschooled. Further investigation at the home allegedly showed that Mack had kept the girl restrained in the garage. While there was no indication of how long she was kept in there, authorities claim she was secured to the garage door and monitored through a security camera.
“While her child lay dead on the floor, the suspect had clearly used pool chlorine in an effort to destroy evidence in the garage before calling 911,” Blackman said of Mack. “This is one of the most disturbing crime scenes I have encountered in more than 30 years of law enforcement. There are no words I can say that can truly convey the nightmare that this child’s life must have been.”
Mack is currently being held without bail.
The sheriff revealed that the woman had previously worked for Florida’s Department of Children and Family. She worked as a guardian ad litem, someone who is hired to speak for children who can’t speak for themselves.
“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,” he said.
“Parents have a duty to love our children and make sure no harm comes their way. To see a child treated this way is not only heartbreaking, it is infuriating. I can assure you that we will do everything in our power to make sure that there is justice for this child,” Blackman added.
Mack faces charges of first-degree murder while engaged in aggravated child abuse as well as aggravated child abuse, kidnapping, and destroying evidence. She is held without bail.
If you suspect child abuse, you can call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-422-4453 (1-800-4-A-Child), or go to Childhelp.org. The hotline is available 24/7.
