CLEVELAND (AP) 鈥 An Ohio mother whose 16-month-old daughter died after being left home alone in a playpen for 10 days last summer while she went on vacation was sentenced Monday to life in prison with no chance of parole.
Kristel Candelario, 32, had pleaded guilty last month to aggravated murder and child endangerment as part of a plea deal with Cuyahoga County prosecutors, who dismissed two murder counts and a felonious assault charge.
Authorities have said Candelario left her daughter, Jailyn, in their Cleveland home when she went on vacation to Detroit and Puerto Rico in June 2023. When she returned 10 days later, she found the girl was not breathing in the playpen and called 911. Emergency responders found the child was 鈥渆xtremely dehydrated鈥 and pronounced her dead shortly after they arrived.
An autopsy by the Cuyahoga County medical examiner鈥檚 office determined that the toddler died of starvation and severe dehydration.
County Common Pleas Court Judge Brendan Sheehan told Candelario she committed 鈥渢he ultimate betrayal鈥 by leaving her daughter alone without food.
鈥淛ust as you didn鈥檛 let Jailyn out of her confinement, so too you should spend the rest of your life in a cell without freedom,鈥 Sheehan said. 鈥淭he only difference will be, the prison will at least feed you and give you liquid that you denied her.鈥
Candelario, who has struggled with depression and related mental health issues, said she has prayed daily for forgiveness.
鈥淭here鈥檚 so much pain that I have in regards to the loss of my baby, Jailyn,鈥 she said. 鈥淚鈥檓 extremely hurt about everything that happened. I am not trying to justify my actions, but nobody knew how much I was suffering and what I was going through ... God and my daughter have forgiven me.鈥
