Matthew Dylewski and Samantha Dylewski have been sentenced to four years in prison after pleading guilty to criminally negligent homicide in the death of their three-year-old daughter, Joycelynn Ann Dylewski. The child died in February last year from complications of severe anaemia caused by a prolonged untreated lice infestation, compounded by living in squalid conditions and lack of medical care.
Details of the case
Emergency responders were called to the family's home in Corinth, New York, after reports that the toddler was struggling to breathe. She was taken to hospital but later died. Investigators from the Saratoga County Sheriff's Office determined that Joycelynn had suffered from a severe lice infestation that went untreated for an extended period, leading to severe anaemia that damaged her heart and other organs. Authorities also found that she had not received medical treatment in the 10 months before her death and had been given clonidine, a prescription blood pressure medication not prescribed to her.
Court proceedings and sentencing
The parents pleaded guilty earlier this year. During sentencing, Judge James Davis criticised them for failing to protect their daughter. “You failed as a parent,” Davis said. “Your entire job was to keep her safe.” He described the death as preventable and said the child suffered over a prolonged period. “She was a three-year-old, and you failed in the most horrific way,” Davis added. “She was completely reliant upon you … This was completely preventable, and it’s unconscionable, and I want you to think about that fact.”
Living conditions and neglect
Authorities reported that the family lived in unsanitary conditions, with rooms filled with rubbish and debris. The property was later condemned. Jim Tedisco stated that the child died as a result of “acute and chronic neglect.” At sentencing, Matthew Dylewski expressed remorse: “I totally wish that it didn’t happen. 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 their mother, it’s my duty to protect them from harm, and I failed.”
Maximum sentence imposed
Judge Davis imposed the maximum sentence of four years in prison for both parents. The court also barred them from contacting 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.”
