Samantha and Matthew Dylewski, of upstate New York, have been sentenced to up to four years in prison for their role in the death of their 3-year-old daughter, Joycelynn Ann Dylewski. The child died on February 19, 2025, from severe neglect, including a fatal lice infestation, according to authorities.

The parents pleaded guilty to criminally negligent homicide earlier this year. Samantha Dylewski was sentenced on June 8, and Matthew Dylewski was sentenced this month. Both received a minimum of 16 months of incarceration. They are prohibited from having contact with their four surviving children until 2038.

Investigators found Joycelynn with rotting teeth and bugs on her face. An autopsy revealed the lice infestation caused anemia, which damaged her heart and organs. The child also had clonidine, a blood pressure medication, in her system. The combination of these factors led to her death, which was ruled a homicide by Saratoga County Sheriff Jeffrey Brown.

Horrifying images from the family's Corinth apartment showed it packed with garbage and debris, leading to the property being condemned. An investigator reportedly found cockroaches in the child's belongings and her teeth described as "rotten and black."

In the immediate aftermath of their daughter's death, Samantha Dylewski shared a GoFundMe on Facebook requesting money to "Help Give Jocelyn a Beautiful Goodbye." She also posted from her husband's account, acknowledging they had been charged but attributing it to their home not being "immaculate."

"We just had to see our beautiful princess for the last time so let me my husband children and the rest of my family grieve in piece," she wrote in the post. The fundraiser has since been removed.

At Matthew Dylewski's sentencing, Saratoga County Judge James Davis told him, "She was a 3-year-old, and you failed in the most horrific way. She was completely reliant upon you. This was completely preventable, and it’s unconscionable, and I want you to think about that fact."

During her sentencing, Samantha Dylewski stated, "As their mother, it’s my duty to protect them from harm, and I failed."