Mother sentenced to life for her toddler's death blames mental health for leaving child alone to go on vacation

Kristel Candelario, the Ohio mom sentenced to life in prison for the death of her toddler whom she left alone for more than a week while she went on vacation blamed her mental problems for abandoning her daughter, she said in an interview with Noticias Telemundo.

Kristel Candelario, who was sentenced to life in prison for the death of her toddler — whom she left alone for more than a week while she went on vacation — blamed her mental problems for the decision to abandon her daughter.

Candelario spoke with Noticias Telemundo on Wednesday from prison in Cleveland, Ohio, where she’s serving her sentence for the death of her 16-month-old daughter, Jailyn.

Candelario’s attorneys said they’re aiming for the court to take her mental state into account in a future appeal of her case.

When asked how it’s possible for a mother to abandon a 16-month-old baby in a house, unattended, for 10 days to go on vacation, Candelario said, “The answer is a bit difficult for the rest of the world to understand and in particular for the people who question and point out that I have committed a diabolical act, as was mentioned in court.”

Jailyn Calendario.via WKYC“I gave my testimony. I took the blame for my actions. I was experiencing emotional stress,” she said, adding she had been experiencing relationship issues with the girl’s father.

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/latino/ohio-mother-death-toddler-left-alone-vacation-rcna144461

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