Mom talks about kid’s dying, DCF employee arrest
Selena went by means of foster care and was adopted by a DCF employee, but it surely was that DCF employee investigators mentioned killed the 13-year-old lady. The Highlands County Sheriff’s Workplace mentioned she was abused, malnourished and tied up in a storage.
SEBRING, Fla. – Selena, 13, by no means actually had an opportunity to be a baby. She went by means of foster care earlier than being adopted by a Florida Division of Kids and Households (DCF) employee.
It was that DCF employee that investigators say killed the 13-year-old. The Highlands County Sheriff says the kid was abused, malnourished and tied up in a storage.
The main points are disturbing, and Selena’s delivery mom, Jennifer Kellum, says the identical DCF employee adopted each Selena and her 12-year-old sister.
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Jennifer Kellum pictured that day together with her daughters at a park.
Kellum says she was in communication together with her adoptive mom and says the plan was at all times reunification, however earlier than that might occur, Selena was murdered.
Now, Kellum is anxious concerning the whereabouts of her 12-year-old daughter.
The charged DCF employee is 34-year-old Diana Natasha Mack, in accordance with Highlands County deputies.
Mugshot of Diana Natasha Mack.
Deputies say the 13-year-old was discovered unresponsive and very emaciated within the storage and that her physique was lined with a number of wounds.
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Investigators say she was discovered nude, carrying solely a diaper, and had been secured to the storage door.
“I used to be disgusted. I used to be, like, very disgusted about it,” Kellum mentioned. “Why would it’s important to do it to an harmless youngster that (had) a incapacity? If that was the case, she ought to have referred to as me. She texted me on Messenger throughout the summer season.”
Screenshots present Kellum and Mack speaking about reuniting Selena and her 12-year-old with their two youthful siblings, whom Kellum does have custody of.
Screenshots between Kellum and Mack present the 2 speaking about reuniting Selena and her 12-year-old with their two youthful siblings.
Then, rapidly, she says the messages stopped in Might.
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Kellum explains that Selena and her 12-year-old had been faraway from her custody in 2015, however she continued to see them, most lately in 2021, and deliberate to reunite with them.
She says she was most disturbed by the truth that Mack had as soon as labored for the DCF.
“I am actually damage as a result of she’s a DCF caseworker, so you need to belief that then she wasn’t going to harm (any) youngsters,” Kellum mentioned. “However I imply, she did. She’s killed (one among) mine.”
Kellum is now shifting her focus to her 12-year-old daughter, who Mack additionally adopted.
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“She means all the things to me. She wants to return dwelling to her household. I need my youngster dwelling,” Kellum mentioned. “I received my different two youngsters. My child must be dwelling.”
Mack is being charged with first-degree homicide, aggravated youngster abuse, and destroying proof.
Investigators say there’s proof Mack used pool chlorine to destroy proof within the storage earlier than calling 911.
Mack stays within the Highlands County Jail, being held with out bond.
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