Prosecutors said prolonged neglect, untreated lice, anemia and lack of medical care contributed to the child’s death.
CORINTH, N.Y. — A New York couple has been sentenced after admitting responsibility in the death of their 3-year-old daughter, whose untreated medical problems and severe neglect shocked investigators and prompted renewed calls for tougher penalties in child neglect cases.
Matthew Dylewski, 34, and Samantha Dylewski, 33, each pleaded guilty to criminally negligent homicide in connection with the February 2025 death of their daughter, Joycelynn Ann Dylewski. Authorities said the child lived in unsanitary conditions, suffered from a severe lice infestation that caused life-threatening anemia, had severely decayed teeth, and had not received medical care for about 10 months before her death. Both parents received prison sentences ranging from 16 months to four years.
Investigators responded to the family’s apartment in Corinth after reports that the child was having trouble breathing. She was taken to a hospital, where she later died. The Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office launched an investigation that uncovered what officials described as prolonged neglect inside the family’s home. According to investigators, Joycelynn’s hair was heavily matted with lice, her teeth were badly decayed, and insects were found on and around her. Medical investigators determined that the untreated infestation caused severe anemia, which damaged her heart and other organs. Authorities also said the prescription medication clonidine was present in her system even though it had not been prescribed to her.
Court proceedings revealed additional details about the conditions inside the apartment. Testimony described rooms packed with garbage and debris, leading local officials to condemn the property after the investigation. Prosecutors said the evidence showed the child’s declining health would have been visible over an extended period. An investigator testified that Joycelynn’s teeth appeared black from extensive decay, and authorities said she had gone months without professional medical treatment despite obvious signs that she was seriously ill. Officials emphasized that the girl’s condition worsened over time rather than resulting from a sudden medical emergency. They also noted that four other children were removed from the family’s custody during the investigation.
At sentencing hearings held this month, Saratoga County Judge James Davis sharply criticized both parents for failing to protect their daughter. Addressing Matthew Dylewski, the judge said the child depended entirely on her parents for care and described the death as preventable. During separate hearings, both parents expressed remorse. Matthew Dylewski told the court he wished he had died instead of his daughter, while Samantha Dylewski acknowledged that she failed in her responsibility to protect her children. The court also ordered that neither parent may have contact with their surviving children until 2038.
The case has drawn widespread attention because medical experts say deaths associated with untreated lice infestations are extremely rare. Authorities stressed that the infestation itself was not the only factor. Instead, investigators concluded that prolonged neglect, the resulting severe anemia, lack of medical treatment, poor living conditions and other medical findings combined to produce the fatal outcome. Lawmakers in New York have cited the case while proposing legislation known as “Joycelynn’s Law,” which would significantly increase penalties for criminally negligent homicide involving the death of a child. Supporters argue that existing sentencing laws do not adequately reflect the seriousness of prolonged child neglect resulting in death.
The investigation also highlighted the broader condition of the home and the circumstances surrounding the family. Officials described the apartment as unsafe for children, with widespread filth and evidence of long-term neglect. The sentencing judge said the evidence demonstrated that Joycelynn suffered over an extended period before her death. Prosecutors argued that multiple opportunities existed to obtain medical treatment or improve the child’s living conditions, but those opportunities were never taken. Defense statements focused on the parents’ expressions of remorse, but the court concluded that the seriousness of the neglect warranted the maximum sentence allowed under the plea agreement.
The criminal case has now concluded with both parents serving state prison sentences, while proposed legislation inspired by Joycelynn’s death remains under consideration. The case continues to be cited by lawmakers and child welfare advocates as an example of the devastating consequences of prolonged neglect.
Author note: Last updated June 26, 2026.