An Ohio mother has pleaded guilty to aggravated murder after her 16-month-old daughter died while left alone in their Cleveland home for 10 days.
The toddler's tragic death came after her mother went on vacation to Puerto Rico, the Daily Mail reports.
Accepting a plea deal, 32-year-old Kristel Candelario admitted to the murder charge and one count of endangering children, as revealed in a report by the AP. The plea deal saw two additional murder counts and a felonious assault charge being dropped.
Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Michael C. O'Malley revealed chilling details of the case, stating that Candelario left her daughter, Jailyn, "alone and unattended" in a Pack-N-Play playpen on June 6, only to return home on June 16.
Upon her return, she discovered Jailyn unresponsive and immediately called 911.
Tragically, Jailyn was pronounced deceased at the scene, with an autopsy later revealing she died of starvation and severe dehydration.
The investigation conducted by the Cleveland Division of Police's Homicide Unit uncovered that Candelario left her child unattended so she could embark on a vacation to Detroit, Michigan, and then Puerto Rico.
The Mail reports that one photo from Candelario's vacation sees her posing on a beach while wearing a t-shirt that reads: "The time that is enjoyed is the true time lived."
Prosecutors further revealed disturbing conditions in which Jailyn was found, stating, "Jailyn was discovered in a Pack-N-Play pen on a liner soiled with urine and feces and soiled blankets."
Candelario's guilty plea marks the first step toward justice for little Jailyn, according to Prosecutor O'Malley, who expressed the gravity of the case, stating: "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."
In a statement to Cleveland.com, Candelario's attorney, Patrick Milligan, described the emotional toll of the hearing, emphasizing his client's remorse and acceptance of responsibility. Milligan also hinted at mitigating factors that would be addressed during sentencing, emphasizing: "Hopefully, people will realize that she is not the monster that some see her as."
While Candelario's legal team cited mental health issues, they did not provide further details.
Speaking to CNN, one of Candelario's neighbors claimed that this was not the first time that the mother had left her daughter alone for a substantial amount of time. They adds that there were "plenty of people" in the local area who would have happily watched the child.
"She could have knocked on any of our doors and asked us to take care of Jailyn and we would have," the neighbor said.
Candelario faces life in prison without parole and is set to be sentenced on March 18, marking the culmination of a tragic case that has left a community in mourning.
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