On Monday morning, March 18, an Ohio mother was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for leaving her 16-month-old daughter alone for over a week on her vacation, which ultimately resulted in the girl’s death.

On June 6, 2023, Kristel Candelario, 32, abandoned her daughter Jailyn at her Cleveland home. According to authorities, she didn’t come back until June 16.

Prosecutors claim that Candelario visited Puerto Rico and Detroit. When she came back ten days later, the girl was not responding, so she phoned the police.

At the house, the youngster was declared deceased. According to a news release from the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office, she was found in a playpen that was covered in feces and urine.

Jailyn was neglected as a child and starved to death, according to forensic pathologist Elizabeth Mooney, who also declared Jailyn’s death to be a homicide.

Candelario entered a guilty plea on February 22 to one count each of aggravated murder and endangering children.

Candelario was recently given a life sentence without the opportunity to serve a parole for heinous murder and an eight to twelve year term for harming children.

Judge Brendan Sheehan of the County Common Pleas Court informed Candelario that by abandoning her baby without nourishment, she had done “the ultimate betrayal.”

Sheehan stated, “You should live the rest of your life in a cell with no freedom, just as you didn’t let Jailyn out of her confinement.” “The prison will at least provide you with food and liquids that you denied her,” is the only thing that will be different.

Candelario, who has battled depression and other mental health conditions, claimed to have asked for forgiveness every day.

“I’m in a lot of pain because of my baby Jailyn’s passing,” she remarked. “I’m deeply hurt by everything that took place. I’m not trying to defend what I did, but no one realized how much pain and suffering I was going through. My daughter and God have both pardoned me.

Candelario’s parents also spoke throughout the court proceedings.

Mandelario stated, “My heart is ripped apart in 1,000 pieces.” “I’m here to share with the world that my daughter was raised in a home with s

trong moral principles.”