Kristel Candelario: Ohio mother pleads guilty to murder after leaving daughter alone in playpen while she went on vacation

CLEVELAND, OHIO: On Thursday, February 22, a woman from Cleveland, Ohio pleaded guilty to the aggravated murder of a toddler she left alone for more than a week while she enjoyed her vacation, according to prosecutors, per NECN. 

The Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner’s Office conducted an autopsy, concluding that the toddler died from starvation and severe dehydration.

Who was the accused? 

Kristel Candelario, 32, left her 16-month-old daughter, identified as Jailyn Candelario, "alone and unattended" at their home on June 6, 2023, as stated by Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Michael C O’Malley in a release on Thursday. She did not return home until June 16, 2023.

Upon her return, Candelario discovered Jailyn unresponsive, prompting her to contact the police.

According to officials, police found Jailyn in a dirty playpen, and she was pronounced dead. Police reported that she had been "extremely dehydrated."

Investigators discovered that Candelario had left her daughter alone while she went on vacation in Puerto Rico and Detroit.

In the case, Candelario entered a guilty plea to one count each of aggravated murder and endangering children. She is scheduled to be sentenced next month.

What did the prosecutor say? 

Prosecutor O’Malley said in a statement, "This case is one of those truly unimaginable cases that will stick with me for many years to come.”

“It is our job to represent the victims, and today we spoke on behalf of 16-month-old Jailyn,  who is no longer with us due to the selfish decisions her mother made. This conviction today, is the first step toward justice for Jailyn," the prosecutor added.

In a similar incident, in January this year, officials arrested a 45-year-old woman on suspicion of leaving her 15-year-old son alone in a "cluttered" house for a month without adequate heat.

True Crime Daily cited a news release from the Manheim Township Police Department, that on January 12, officers responded to the 900 block of North President Avenue to a report of a juvenile living alone.

The teen told police that his mother, Tiffani Bogroff, moved to New Jersey and would occasionally come home, which marked another negligent act by the mother.