A mother of a toddler has been charged with murder after admitting to leaving her one-year-old daughter alone and unattended for around 10 days, where she ultimately died.
The baby died as a result of "extreme dehydration," while her mother left her behind to go on a vacation in Puerto Rico and Detroit, Michigan, NBC News reported.
Kristel Candelario, a 31-year-old from Ohio, was arrested on June 17 and charged with one count of murder in the tragic death of her young daughter Jailyn.
Cleveland police officers and Emergency Medical Services received a call around 8:00 a.m. on June 16 regarding a baby girl who was found lifeless.
The woman who called claimed to be the baby's mother and said that when she returned home, she found her in unresponsive.
The paramedics pronounced the baby dead upon arrival when they got to the home. In a press release, the police said that investigators "did not find any signs of foul play, but the initial investigation revealed that Jailyn was completely dehydrated."
Crime scene not for the faint of heart: The conditions in which this baby was left alone
"Blankets soiled with urine and feces" were found in the two's home, and according to the autopsy performed on the baby's body, the medical examiner concluded: "The girl was left unattended for about 10 days and as a result died of extreme dehydration," according to local media outlets.
The incident report stated that "Candelario admitted to leaving Jailyn at home completely alone and unsupervised from June 8 to June 16, while she was traveling in Puerto Rico and Detroit."
According to reports, this was not the first time the mother had left the toddler completely alone. Candelario previously left her in the care of the neighbors for six weeks. During this time, she was allegedly only supposed to leave the baby with her neighbors for a few days - but only returned after a month, according to local NBC affiliate WKYC.
"I wish she would have just asked us to watch her [during that time]. I wish for her to pay for what she did," Candelario's neighbor told WKYC.