A 3-year-old girl died from severe neglect in an upstate New York apartment described as having "horrific" conditions, including a fatal lice infestation. Her parents, Matthew Dylewski, 34, and Samantha Dylewski, 33, were recently sentenced for their role in the child's death.
Joycelynn Ann Dylewski died on February 19, 2025, in the family's Corinth apartment. Investigators found bugs on the child's face and scalp, and her teeth were described as "rotten and black." A cockroach was discovered in her winter hat. The child was also diagnosed with anemia, which damaged her heart and organs due to the lice infestation, and was given clonidine, a blood pressure medication. The combination of these factors led to her death, according to reports.
Saratoga County Judge James Davis sentenced Matthew Dylewski to one and a third to four years in prison. "You failed as a parent," Davis told Dylewski. "Your entire job was to keep her safe. 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."
The apartment was reportedly filled with garbage and debris, leading to the property being condemned. The parents had previously pleaded to criminally negligent homicide earlier this year.
Samantha Dylewski received her sentence on June 8 from the same judge. "Your daughter suffered over a long period of time," Davis stated. "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."
Both parents are prohibited from having contact with their four surviving children until 2038. Matthew Dylewski expressed remorse at his sentencing, stating, "I wish it would be that I died instead of my daughter. I still think that to this day."
Samantha Dylewski acknowledged her failure, saying, "As their mother, it's my duty to protect them from harm, and I failed."