A mother from Cleveland, Ohio, has been sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of release after her 16-month-old daughter died while the family was away on vacation. Kristel Candelario, 31, pled guilty earlier this year to charges connected to the death of Jailyn, her toddler, who passed away in June of the previous year.
Court records indicate that Candelario left Jailyn alone and unsupervised in the family residence from June 8 to June 16, 2023, a period during which she reportedly traveled for vacations to Puerto Rico and Detroit, Michigan. Police documents show that Candelario admitted to the Cuyahoga County Sheriff’s Office that she had left the child unattended while she was away. Investigators found Jailyn in deteriorating conditions, wrapped in soiled blankets and surrounded by feces and urine, highlighting the neglect involved in the case.
According to the county medical examiner, Jailyn died from starvation and severe dehydration caused by prolonged neglect. The child weighed 13 pounds (approximately 5.8 kilograms) at the time of death, a loss of about 7 pounds since a routine medical check just under two months earlier, the examiner noted during the sentencing hearing.
The county prosecutor described Jailyn as a beautiful child who was taken from the world due to what he called the unimaginable selfishness of her mother. During the court proceedings, prosecutors emphasized the profound impact of the loss on the family and community, while Candelario expressed remorse by telling the court that she prays daily for both God and Jailyn.
The sentence handed down was life imprisonment without the possibility of parole, with no option for early release. The case has drawn attention to concerns about child neglect and the responsibilities of guardians, as authorities continue to stress the importance of safeguarding vulnerable children and ensuring they receive proper care even when caregivers are dealing with personal or legal troubles.