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

Deputies arrived at 12:19 p.m. Friday, Nov. 15, at 4015 Bianca St. in Sebring’s Sun ‘n Lake district. was called to the address. When they arrived, they found a 13-year-old girl unresponsive on the floor near the front door. He was pronounced dead at the scene by emergency services teams.

Her stepmother, 34-year-old Diane Natasha Mack, told deputies she found the girl unresponsive Thursday morning, but later said it was closer to 3 p.m. Regardless of when he made the discovery, he said he still made time to ride the quad. Other children living in the Titusville home returned to Sebring before calling for help for their child, who was lying unresponsive on the floor of the home.

“As bad as this is, it gets worse,” Sheriff Blackman said. “The girl, who was naked except for her diaper, had clearly been seriously abused. He was extremely skinny and clearly malnourished. “His body was covered in wounds in every stage of healing, including open cuts that were clearly visible recently.”

Further investigation of the home revealed evidence that the homeschooled girl was being kept in the garage. Detectives don’t yet know how long he was held there, but it appears he was pinned to the garage door and monitored from inside the house by a security camera mounted in the garage.

“As the child lay dead on the ground, it was apparent that the suspect used chlorine in the pool 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 my 30-plus years of law enforcement. There are no words that can truly convey the nightmare of this boy’s life.

“Parents have a duty to love our 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 incident even more terrifying is that the suspect is not only a former employee of the Department of Children and Families, but also worked as a guardian. It is inconceivable that someone whose job it is to care for the welfare of children would treat his own child in this manner,” Sheriff Blackman said.

The agency’s Critical Incident Stress Management resources are available to all deputies and detectives assigned to investigate this case.

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

As of now, the suspect is charged with first-degree murder, as well as aggravated child abuse, kidnapping, and destruction of evidence. He is being held in the Highlands County Jail without bail.