Matthew Dylewski, 34, was sentenced by a New York judge on June 25, 2026, after admitting to neglecting his three-year-old daughter, Joycelynn Ann Dylewski, who died on February 19, 2025, due to severe living conditions in their Corinth apartment. The conditions included a lice infestation and unsanitary living spaces, as evidenced by photographs showing debris and garbage. Judge James Davis stated, "You failed as a parent. Your entire job was to keep her safe."
In March 2026, both parents pleaded guilty to criminally negligent homicide, and Joycelynn's death was ruled a homicide due to acute and chronic neglect. Dylewski received a sentence of 16 months to four years in prison. During the sentencing, he expressed regret, saying, "I wish it was me that died to this day."
Joycelynn's mother, Samantha Dylewski, 33, was also sentenced to 16 months to four years in prison on June 8, 2026. Investigators found that Joycelynn suffered from severe neglect, including dental issues and a lice infestation that led to anemia and damage to her heart and organs. First responders found her unresponsive due to breathing difficulties, and she was pronounced dead at the hospital. The couple's four surviving children were placed with relatives, and a protective order was issued preventing the parents from contacting them until 2038.
In response to the case, New York State Senator Jim Tedisco and Assemblyman Matt Simpson proposed "Joycelynn's Law," aimed at increasing the maximum prison sentence for criminally negligent homicide of a child to 20 years to life. Tedisco remarked that Joycelynn deserved a happy childhood and criticized the current sentencing as insufficient justice.