Samantha and Matthew Dylewski were sentenced to up to four years in prison for the death of their three-year-old daughter, Joycelynn, who died on February 19, 2025, from complications stemming from a severe lice infestation.
The parents pleaded guilty to criminally negligent homicide in the case that unfolded in Corinth, New York. The medical examiner ruled Joycelynn's death a homicide, citing evidence of acute and chronic neglect. The infestation had caused the toddler to develop anemia, which fatally damaged her heart and other organs.
Following the child's death, Samantha Dylewski, 33, shared a GoFundMe page on Facebook seeking donations for funeral expenses. Her mother had initially posted the link, with Samantha reposting it and expressing her grief. The fundraiser was later taken down, and it is unclear how much money was raised.
In court, prosecutors presented text messages between the parents discussing clonidine, a blood pressure medication found in Joycelynn's system. The mother had initially told investigators that her son left the pills out and Joycelynn ingested them, but messages suggested the parents discussed giving the medication to the child. Prosecutors also noted that Samantha Dylewski claimed her daughter had a weak heart, but the medical examiner found Joycelynn's heart to be normal.
Disturbing images from the family's apartment revealed a squalid living environment with grime on the walls, scattered garbage, stained carpets, and expired food. Investigators also found insects, including a dead cockroach, on the child's body, and her teeth were described as rotten and black. Other issues within the home included flies and a clogged kitchen sink.
In addition to their prison sentences, the Dylewskis were issued a restraining order preventing them from contacting or seeing their four surviving children until 2038.
During her sentencing, Samantha Dylewski addressed the court, stating, "As their mother, it's my duty to protect them from harm, and I failed. I also failed my other children." She added, "I don't want sympathy. I do not want forgiveness. I don't deserve any of that. The only thing I'll ever want is my baby girl."
Matthew Dylewski, during his sentencing, expressed regret and wished he had died instead of his daughter, stating, "I still think that to this day. I constantly think about it."