New York couple has been sentenced to four years in prison after admitting to criminally negligent homicide in connection with the death of their three-year-old daughter, whose death authorities linked to prolonged neglect and untreated medical conditions.
Joycelynn Ann Dylewski died in February last year after being taken to hospital from her family’s home in Corinth, New York, where emergency responders were called following reports that she was struggling to breathe.
Investigators from the Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office later determined that the child had suffered from a severe lice infestation that had gone untreated for an extended period. Authorities said the condition contributed to severe anaemia, which ultimately caused significant damage to her heart and other organs.
Officials also found that Joycelynn had not received medical treatment during the 10 months preceding her death. Investigators further alleged that she had been given clonidine, a prescription medication used to treat high blood pressure, despite it not being prescribed to her.
Her parents, Matthew Dylewski and Samantha Dylewski, pleaded guilty earlier this year to criminally negligent homicide. During sentencing, James Davis criticised the couple for failing to protect their daughter. “You failed as a parent,” Davis said. “Your entire job was to keep her safe.”
The judge also described the child’s death as preventable and said she had suffered over a prolonged period. “She was a three-year-old, and you failed in the most horrific way,” Davis said. “She was completely reliant upon you … This was completely preventable, and it’s unconscionable, and I want you to think about that fact.”
Authorities said the family lived in unsanitary conditions, with rooms reportedly filled with large amounts of rubbish and debris. The property was later condemned. In a statement, Jim Tedisco said the child died as a result of “acute and chronic neglect.”
At sentencing, Matthew Dylewski expressed remorse over his daughter’s death. “I totally wish that it didn’t happen,” he said. “I wish it would be that I died instead of my daughter. I still think that to this day … I constantly think about it. Nothing is ever going to change.”
Samantha Dylewski also acknowledged her responsibility as a parent. “As their mother, it’s my duty to protect them from harm, and I failed,” she told the court.
Judge Davis imposed the maximum sentence available, ordering both parents to serve four years in prison. The court also barred them from having contact with their four surviving children until 2038. “Your daughter suffered over a long period of time,” Davis said. “Even the other children could see that she suffered because of your neglect. It’s a gift to have a child. You had several children, and all of them suffered at your hands.”