Ohio woman Kristel Candelario admitted guilt in the aggravated murder of her one-year-old daughter Jailyn, whom she left alone for 10 days while she traveled to Detroit and Puerto Rico. Prosecutor Michael C. O’Malley described the case as “truly unimaginable,” emphasizing the selfishness of Candelario’s actions. Candelario, 32, faces a life sentence without parole after accepting a plea deal to drop murder and assault charges.

On June 6, 2023, Candelario left her children unattended, returning on June 16 to find Jailyn unresponsive. Emergency responders discovered the child deceased in a playpen surrounded by soiled bedding. The medical examiner determined Jailyn’s cause of death as severe dehydration and starvation.

Candelario’s lawyers, Derek Smith and Patrick Milligan, acknowledged her remorse and mental health struggles. They refrained from further comment, awaiting sentencing on March 18. Despite no prior convictions, Candelario remains incarcerated on a $1 million bond.

The tragic incident underscores the importance of adult supervision for children, eliciting sympathy and prayers for the grieving family.