CLEVELAND (AP) 鈥 Prosecutors in Ohio have announced murder charges against a woman in the death of her 16-month-old daughter, who authorities say was left alone for 10 days while the woman went on vacation.
The Cuyahoga County prosecutor鈥檚 office said Monday that Kristel A. Candelario, 31, was indicted last week on one count of aggravated murder, two counts of murder and one count each of felonious assault and endangering children.
Prosecutors alleged that Candelario left the child 鈥渁lone and unattended鈥 at her Cleveland home June 6 to vacation in Detroit and Puerto Rico and didn鈥檛 return until the morning of June 16. Authorities say she called police after finding the child unresponsive upon her return.
Cleveland police and fire personnel responded and the victim, who was described as 鈥渆xtremely dehydrated,鈥 was pronounced deceased.
鈥淚t is unfathomable that a mother would leave her 16-month-old child alone without any supervision for 10 days to go on a vacation,鈥 Prosecutor Michael O鈥橫alley said in a statement.
鈥淎s parents, we are supposed to protect and care for our children,鈥 O'Malley wrote. 鈥淚magining this child鈥檚 suffering, during her last days of life alone, is truly horrifying and we will do everything in our power to seek justice on her behalf.鈥
It鈥檚 unclear whether Candelario has an attorney. Court records did not list an attorney for her and the county public defender鈥檚 office said Friday that it was not, as of that point, representing her.
