A judge has sentenced the parents of a three-year-old girl to prison after she died from severe neglect in a filth-filled home that was later condemned. Matthew Dylewski, 34, and Samantha Dylewski, 33, pleaded guilty to criminally negligent homicide in the death of their daughter Joycelynn Ann Dylewski in Corinth, upstate New York.
Horrific Conditions Found in Home
Investigators described appalling conditions when they examined Joycelynn’s body on February 19, 2025. Bugs were found on her face and scalp, and a cockroach reportedly fell from her hat when it was removed. Her teeth were described as 'rotten and black' by local reports. The family’s apartment was overwhelmed with rubbish and debris, leading officials to condemn the property.
Authorities determined that Joycelynn developed anaemia caused by an untreated lice infestation, which damaged her heart and other organs. She had also been given clonidine, a medication for high blood pressure. The combination of these factors led to her death, according to authorities.
Sentencing and Judge's Remarks
Matthew Dylewski appeared before Saratoga County Judge James Davis and received a sentence of one and one-third to four years in prison, as reported by the Albany Times Union. Samantha Dylewski received the same sentence days earlier. Addressing Matthew Dylewski, Judge Davis said, 'You failed as a parent. Your entire job was to keep her safe.' He added that Joycelynn was 'completely reliant' on her parents and that the tragedy was 'completely preventable' and 'unconscionable.'
During his sentencing, Matthew Dylewski told the court, '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… Nothing is ever going to change. I still want to die so I can be with her.'
Mother's Admission and Impact on Siblings
When Samantha Dylewski was sentenced, Judge Davis noted that Joycelynn’s suffering occurred over a prolonged period and that even the couple’s other children witnessed the neglect. 'It’s a gift to have a child. You had several children, and all of them suffered at your hands,' he said. Samantha Dylewski admitted in court, 'As their mother, it’s my duty to protect them from harm, and I failed.'
The couple is also barred from having any contact with their four surviving children until 2038. The case highlighted the severe consequences of parental neglect and the failure to provide basic care for a vulnerable child.
