An Ohio toddler, Jailyn, met a tragic fate after being left alone for 10 days while her mother embarked on a vacation. The judge presiding over the case described it as the ‘ultimate act of betrayal.’
As Jailyn’s cries echoed through the quiet streets of Cleveland, her mother, Kristel Candelario, was hundreds of miles away in Puerto Rico, enjoying her time with a male friend. Prosecutors revealed that Jailyn was left alone in a playpen with minimal provisions, her screams captured by a neighbor’s doorbell camera.
Upon her return, Candelario discovered her daughter’s lifeless body, her excruciating final days marked by abandonment, starvation, and extreme thirst. Forensic pathologist Elizabeth Mooney recounted the harrowing details in a Cleveland courtroom, describing the unimaginable suffering Jailyn endured.
Despite efforts to shift blame onto mental health struggles, Candelario was sentenced to life in prison without parole. Judge Brendan Sheehan rebuked her actions, emphasizing the sacred bond between a mother and child that was shattered by her negligence.
Lead detective T.J. Powell paid tribute to Jailyn’s memory, affirming that she will never be forgotten. The tragedy serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of neglect and the importance of safeguarding the most vulnerable among us.
Gary P Hernal started college at UP Diliman and received his BA in Economics from San Sebastian College, Manila, and Masters in Information Systems Management from Keller Graduate School of Management of DeVry University in Oak Brook, IL. He has 25 years of copy editing and management experience at Thomson West, a subsidiary of Thomson Reuters.
