An Ohio woman, aged 32, from Cleveland, confessed on Thursday, February 22, 2024, to being responsible for her 16-month-old daughter’s death. The child was left unattended for ten days while the mother was vacationing in Detroit, Michigan, and Puerto Rico.
Kristel A. Candelario entered her plea, admitting to a single count of aggravated murder and one count of child endangerment. This admission forms part of a plea bargain with the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office, which will dismiss additional charges against her. These dropped charges encompass two counts of murder and one count of felonious assault.
These charges to which Candelario has confessed carry stern penalties. The murder charge could lead to a life sentence, and the child endangerment charge could add up to 12 years to her sentence. Moreover, should she be released at any point, Candelario will be put on probation for a period ranging from 18 months to three years.
Prosecutors consider this legal resolution a significant triumph, given the unsettling nature of the case. Michael C. O’Malley, the County Prosecutor, underscored the seriousness of the situation, pointing to the unthinkable conditions leading to the toddler’s death. O’Malley emphasized the necessity of advocating for the victims, viewing this conviction as a step toward justice for young Jailyn.
The case was first brought to attention on June 16, 2023, when the Cleveland Police Department responded to a distress call at a house on West 97th Street. Upon her return home, Candelario found her daughter unresponsive and promptly alerted the authorities.
Investigative findings revealed no signs of bodily harm on Jailyn, but she was discovered to be severely dehydrated. Police reported the appalling conditions in which the child was abandoned, noting that her playpen was filled with urine and feces-soaked linens and dirty blankets.
As a crucial element of the case, Candelario admitted to leaving her daughter unattended for an extended duration while she was on vacation. The autopsy report determined that the child succumbed to starvation and acute dehydration after approximately ten days of neglect. Candelario’s sentencing hearing is slated for March 18, where the final verdict will be delivered.
