Jailyn Candelario: A Child Left Alone

A 16-month-old child, a ten-day absence, and a death caused by neglect

Introduction

On June 16, 2023, emergency responders entered a home in Cleveland, Ohio, and found a 16-month-old girl unresponsive inside a playpen. Her name was Jailyn Candelario. She had been left alone in the apartment for more than a week. By the time help arrived, it was far too late.

What followed was an investigation that revealed a prolonged period of abandonment, documented through surveillance footage, travel records, and medical findings. The case would ultimately result in one of the most severe sentences available under Ohio law.

Illustrated sketch of Jailyn Candelario.

Jailyn Candelario

Jailyn Candelario was born in early 2022. She lived with her mother, Kristel Candelario, in a Cleveland apartment. At just over a year old, Jailyn was completely dependent on adult care for food, hydration, safety, and comfort.

Medical records later showed that Jailyn had been growing normally earlier in 2023. Two months before her death, she had been weighed at a pediatric appointment and showed no signs of medical distress.

Illustrated sketch of Jailyn Candelario.

The Departure

On June 6, 2023, Kristel Candelario left the apartment. Travel records later confirmed she went first to Detroit, Michigan, and then traveled to Puerto Rico. The trip lasted approximately ten days.

Investigators determined that no childcare arrangements were made. Jailyn was left alone in the apartment, confined to a playpen. A few bottles of milk were placed nearby, but no plan existed for feeding, hydration, diaper changes, or supervision.

No one was assigned to check on the child.

Illustrated sketch of Kristel Candelario.

The Days Alone

Surveillance footage from neighboring residences captured sounds and movement inside the apartment in the days following Kristel’s departure. Audio recordings documented a young child crying and screaming, sometimes late at night and into early morning hours.

The footage showed that Jailyn remained alive for several days after being left alone.

No one intervened.

Discovery

On June 16, 2023, Kristel Candelario returned to the apartment and called 911. First responders arrived and found Jailyn unresponsive in her playpen. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

Police immediately noted the condition of the environment. The playpen liner was soiled, and there was no evidence that the child had received food or water for an extended period.

Medical Findings

The Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner ruled Jailyn’s cause of death as starvation and severe dehydration.

At the time of her death, Jailyn weighed approximately seven pounds less than she had at her previous doctor visit two months earlier. The medical examiner noted signs consistent with prolonged neglect, including dehydration, emaciation, and physical deterioration.

There were no signs of blunt force trauma. Jailyn’s death was attributed entirely to neglect.

The Criminal Case

Kristel Candelario was arrested and charged with multiple counts, including aggravated murder and child endangerment.

In February 2024, she pleaded guilty to aggravated murder and child endangerment. Other charges were dismissed as part of a plea agreement.

During court proceedings, the defense referenced Candelario’s history of depression and anxiety and acknowledged that she had stopped taking prescribed medication prior to the trip. The defense did not dispute the facts of the case or the cause of death.

Illustrated courtroom sketch of Kristel Candelario.

Sentencing and Court Statements

On March 18, 2024, Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Judge Brendan Sheehan sentenced Kristel Candelario to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

During sentencing, the judge spoke directly to Candelario and described her actions as an “ultimate act of betrayal.” He emphasized that Jailyn was completely dependent on her mother and was left without food, water, or human contact.

The judge told Candelario that just as she confined her daughter to a playpen and denied her basic care, she would now spend the rest of her life confined in a prison cell. He stated that the difference would be that the prison would provide food and water, something Jailyn was denied during her final days.

The judge made clear that the sentence was intended to reflect the prolonged suffering endured by the child and the irreversible consequences of abandonment.

During the same hearing, Candelario’s defense attorney acknowledged that mental health struggles did not excuse what occurred. While he explained that untreated depression and anxiety formed part of the background leading up to the incident, he stated that these factors did not justify her actions or diminish her responsibility.

The court rejected any suggestion that mental health could mitigate the severity of the crime, concluding that the deliberate decision to leave a dependent child alone for days warranted the maximum penalty.

Aftermath and Impact

The case sparked widespread public grief and anger, particularly after details emerged showing that Jailyn survived alone for several days, crying for help that never came.

Advocates for child welfare cited the case as an example of how extreme neglect can occur unnoticed, even in populated residential areas. The tragedy prompted renewed discussions about parental accountability, community awareness, and the vulnerability of young children.

Illustrated sketch of Jailyn Candelario.

Remembering Jailyn

Jailyn Candelario was sixteen months old. She relied entirely on the adults in her life for survival. Her death was not sudden, and it was not accidental. It occurred over days, behind closed doors.

Her case stands as a reminder of the consequences of neglect and the cost paid by those who cannot protect themselves.