"Vacationing Mom Sentenced to Life After Toddler's Tragic Death"

Kristel Candelario, sentenced to life in prison for leaving her toddler alone for over a week while she went on vacation, blamed her mental health issues for the decision. She claimed to have been experiencing emotional stress and relationship problems with the girl's father. Candelario's attorneys aim to have her mental state considered in a future appeal. Authorities found the 16-month-old child dead in a playpen surrounded by feces and urine, wrapped in dirty blankets and extremely dehydrated. The judge described Candelario's actions as the "ultimate act of betrayal."