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Matthew and Samantha Dylewski of Corinth pleaded guilty on Tuesday (March 31) to criminally negligent homicide after the death of their three-year-old daughter, Joycelynn Ann Dylewski. The plea was entered in Saratoga County Court, with sentencing set for June 5.
According to Times Union, the couple admitted to neglecting Joycelynn to the point that her body shut down, leading to her death in February 2025. An autopsy found Joycelynn died from complications of chronic neglect. Saratoga County Sheriff’s investigators reported that the child was living in unsanitary and unsafe conditions, including significant bug infestation, at the family's Main Street apartment. The home was condemned by village authorities the same day the Dylewskis were arraigned.
Both parents were initially charged with five counts of endangering the welfare of a child—one for Joycelynn and four for their surviving children—along with criminally negligent homicide, as reported by WNYT. After their arrest, they were released on bail and ordered not to contact their other children. However, their bail was revoked in September 2025 after a judge determined they had violated that order by contacting the children electronically.
District Attorney Brett Eby told NEWS10 that the investigation was thorough and ongoing, with overwhelming proof of guilt leading to the plea. Both Matthew, 34, and Samantha, 33, now face between one and one-third and four years in state prison, which is the maximum sentence for the charge.
The surviving children remain under protection, and the condemned apartment emphasizes the severity of the neglect. The Dylewskis' sentencing will bring closure to a case that has drawn significant local concern.