Mother Charged With Murder For Leaving 16-Month-Old Home Alone While She Went On Vacation

In Cleveland, Ohio, a tragic incident occurred in which a mother was charged with murder for reportedly leaving her 16-month-old daughter alone at home for more than a week while she traveled to Detroit and Puerto Rico.

The Cuyahoga County Sheriff's Office claims that from June 8 to June 16, 31-year-old Kristel Candelario left her toddler alone in their home on West 97th Street without a babysitter. On June 16, after returning from the eight-day holiday, she noticed her 16-month-old daughter, Jailyn, was not breathing.

Sadly, Jailyn was declared dead on the spot. She was found in a playpen with soiled blankets and a saturated bottom liner that was full of pee and feces, and examination by investigators revealed that she was very dehydrated.

The Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner's Office will identify the precise cause of Jailyn's demise.

Candelario's neighbors, Iris and her 13-year-old daughter Suleym, expressed profound sorrow over Jailyn's tragic passing. Since they initially encountered Jailyn in August 2022, they allegedly took care of her numerous times. 

Jailyn was allegedly left with them for more than a month by Candelario, who failed to provide them with any kind of support or communication.

The neighbors of Candelario described times when they were left in charge of Jailyn's welfare and struggled to meet her needs. They expressed their sorrow and grief over Jailyn's passing, calling her an amazing and charming young girl.

Candelario reportedly admitted to leaving Jailyn at home alone, according to the investigators. She is being held in the Cuyahoga County Jail on a $1 million bond after being accused of killing her daughter. June 28 is the date of her subsequent court appearance.