Mom Leaves Toddler Home Alone For 10 Days to Go On Vacation, Pleads Guilty To Murder

A 16-month-old baby who was left alone in the playpen for ten days didn’t deserve any of the treatment before death. Now, the baby rests in heaven with no hunger, thirst, pain, or longing. An Ohio mom leaves toddler home alone for ten days and has recently pleaded to aggravated murder. 

Ohio Mom Had Left Baby At Home Alone

A press release shared by the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office revealed that Kristin Candelario pleaded guilty to child endangerment and aggravated murder. She’s facing a life term in exchange for dismissing two murder counts as well as a felonious assault charge, with the sentencing set for March 18.

Kristin left her 16-month-old daughter, Jailyn, in their Cleveland home when she went on vacation in Detroit and Puerto Rico in June 2023. Kristin returned ten days later to find the girl not breathing and unresponsive in the playpen. Emergency responders, when they came to see the child, found her child “extremely dehydrated” and even pronounced her dead. Jailyn, the baby was discovered in a Pack-N-Play pen on a liner soiled with urine and feces with soiled blankets.

An autopsy performed on the baby determined that she died of starvation and severe dehydration.

A press release highlighted how Prosecutor Michael C. O’Malley stated, “This case is one of those truly unimaginable cases that will stick with me for many years to come. 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. This conviction today is the first step towards justice for Jailyn.”

The authorities arrested Candelario on June 17 and charged her with murder and related criminal offenses. Local station WEWS-TV’s updates reveal that Candelario was terminated from her position as a building substitute at Cleveland Elementary School Citizens Academy Glenville right after her arrest.

Parents are supposed to protect and care for children. Jailyn’s suffering during her last days of life alone shows how her death has been something truly horrifying. People are joining in masses to gain power to seek justice on her behalf.

Can Parents Leave Their Kids Home Alone?

It’s worth noting that leaving kids home alone or without supervision proves to be challenging for most parents. Also, it becomes tough to determine at what age it is appropriate to do so. According to experts, children under five years old can’t manage on their own. In addition to that, it’s good to note that teens aged 16 years old and above can. It’s not at all advisable to leave kids younger than ten years old alone. Most kids at this tender age don’t yet have the maturity and skills to respond to an emergency.

Parents can adopt strategies to determine if their child is ready to be left home without supervision.

Ask Few Things To Ask Yourself:

• Does the child demonstrate responsibility when dealing with tasks, including homework, household chores, and following directions?
• Is the child’s reaction appropriate to unexpected situations? Does the baby or toddler stay calm when things don’t go as planned?
• Does the child know, understand, and follow safety measures?
• Does the child display a sense of good judgment?
• Does the child understand and follow the rules?
• Is the child showing familiarity with emergency services in your area?
• Is the child knowledgeable about basic first aid?

If in doubt, it’s mandatory that you don’t leave your child home alone. In case there is no other option than absolutely leaving your child behind, try to arrange for someone you and your child trust to look after.