An Ohio mother who was found responsible for her 16-month-old daughter's death said at her sentencing hearing that her dead daughter and God had 'forgiven' her, as a judge handed down a life sentence, according to a report.
Kristel Candelario, 32, was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Candelario left her 16-month-old girl at home alone so she could go on vacation in Michigan and Puerto Rico for ten days.
Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court Judge Brendan J. Sheehan announced his ruling during an emotional hearing Monday morning, reported WKYC.
"As a court, I have to remember Jailyn, where you did not," Judge Sheehan said. "Just as you didn't let Jailyn out of her confinement until she died, so too you should spend the rest of your life in a cell without freedom. The only difference will be that prison will at least feed you and give you liquids that you denied her."
The judge told Candelario she committed "the ultimate act of betrayal."
"Leaving your baby terrified, alone, unprotected to suffer what I heard was the most gruesome death imaginable with no food, no water, no protection and lying in her own feces," he said. "Miss Candelario, you know the responsibility of parenthood. You have a child already. You raised another child. I've witnessed here before me, your parents who've shown you love and respect and education. They came here to help you, to advocate for you. More than what you've done for your own child. The evidence that I've witnessed here before this court shows that this time, you simply chose not to be here because you wanted to have fun. You decided you needed a vacation. What followed was absolute depravity. You left your baby, Jailyn, trapped in a pack-and-play without food and water for ten days. This wasn't simply an oversight. You could've saved Jailyn's life many times. You could've found someone to watch her while you were gone. You could've taken her with you. While you were in Detroit or Puerto Rico, you could've called someone in Cleveland and told them that Jailyn needed help."
According to the Cuyahoga County prosecutor's office, the case built around the 32-year-old began June 6, 2023, when she left her daughter "alone and unattended at her residence near Lorain Avenue and West 97th Street in Cleveland."
She returned to the child ten days later, June 16, to find her daughter unresponsive and proceeded then to call the police.
Jailyn was immediately pronounced dead by authorities on the scene.
"This case is one of those truly unimaginable cases that will stick with me for many years to come," said Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Michael C. O'Malley. "As prosecutors, 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."
Candelario herself offered a statement before sentencing. Through an interpreter, she addressed the court, "God and my daughter have forgiven me."
"There's so much pain that I have in regards to the loss of my baby, Jailyn," she said. "I'm extremely hurt about everything that happened. I am not trying to justify my actions, but nobody knew how much I was suffering and what I was going through. Every day, I ask forgiveness from God and from my daughter, Jailyn. I'm a person who believes in God, and I recognize today that all of us are sometimes subject to the enemy. God and my daughter have forgiven me."
She also spoke to her eldest daughter in court and expressed the love she holds for her and their family.
