I-Team: Cleveland mother who went on vacation, leaving daughter to die, gets life in prison

CLEVELAND (WJW) — The FOX 8 I-Team has found a local mother is headed to prison for life, as punishment for going on vacation and leaving her child home alone to die.

Now, we’ve uncovered a chilling jailhouse phone call, and we’ve seen video and pictures tied to the travels of Kristel Candelario.

On Monday, Judge Brendan Sheehan sentenced Candelario to life in prison with no chance for parole — justice for Jailyn.

Candelario went away for 10 days. She left her toddler, Jailyn, home alone, and the girl died. At sentencing, Candelario faced a judge and spoke through an interpreter.

“Every day, I ask forgiveness from God and for my daughter, Jailyn,” she said.

Cleveland police homicide detective T.J. Powell told the judge, “This is, by far, the most horrific case I’ve ever investigated.”

Sgt. Teresa Gomez said, “Jailyn died a long and agonizing death, afraid and alone, while her mother enjoyed the beach and sunshine.”

Cleveland police found Candelario had gone to Puerto Rico and to Michigan.

She left her little girl in a home on Cleveland’s west side in a playpen with no food. The child also had nobody taking care of her.

Yet, police body camera video shows Candelario spoke calmly to police while making up a story after coming home and finding her daughter had died.

“She sleeps every day, 12 hours,” she said of her daughter.

An officer asked, “What was going on last night?”

Candelario answered, “Last night, she was crying a lot.”

The I-Team uncovered this investigation last year, just as it began. The case sparked outrage nationwide.

Now, we’ve learned what detectives dug into to be able to prove their case. They found key evidence after watching more than 600 security videos.

“Animals take care of their infants better,” Assistant Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Anna Faraglia said.

Cuyahoga County prosecutors showed video captured as Candelario left with a suitcase. Cameras showed the trail of her car. Plane tickets showed her trip.

Candelario’s attorney referred to mental health issues. Through the interpreter, she said,
“I am not trying to justify my actions. But nobody knew how much I was suffering.”

But consider the mother’s words on a jailhouse phone call, transcribed by Cuyahoga County prosecutors:

“There are people who have gone free here, killing people … I mean intentionally, and mine was practically … I mean an accident … it is not like I did it intentionally … it’s not like I picked up a gun or a bat.”

Judge Sheehan cut through it.

“You could have found someone to watch her while you were gone,” he said, adding it would’ve been easy to avoid all of this.

He sent Candelario to prison for life on charges of aggravated murder and child endangering. Again, she will have no chance for parole.

The judge pointed out he saw no remorse. In fact, some of Candelario’s last words included,
“God and my daughter have forgiven me.”

Police said Candelario has another child, but she had been away with relatives.

Officers and other first responders packed the courtroom hoping to be a voice for Jailyn.