The parents of a three-year-old New York girl who died after suffering a severe lice infestation sought donations from the public in the aftermath of her death.
Joycelynn Dylewski died on February 19, 2025, after the infestation at her family’s home in Corinth, New York, became so extreme that she developed anemia.
Her parents, Samantha and Matthew Dylewski, were sentenced this week to a maximum of four years in prison after pleading guilty to criminally negligent homicide.
A day after Joycelynn’s death, her mother shared a GoFundMe campaign seeking contributions to help cover funeral expenses.
Samantha, 33, posted the fundraiser on her Facebook page after her mother, Kim Decker, first shared the link to the donation page. The campaign has since been removed.
“Anything helps.. grandma loves you Joycelynn,” Decker wrote at the time.
Samantha later reposted the link, writing: “My heart really can’t take this mommy need her baby girl back!”
It remains unclear how much money was raised before the fundraiser was deleted. GoFundMe has been contacted for comment.
Little Joycelynn Dylewski became so infested by the parasitic insects at her family’s home in Corinth, New York, that she became anemic and died on February 19, 2025
A day after her death, her mother, Samantha Dylewski, shared a GoFundMe page to her Facebook that asked the public for money. The fundraiser has since been taken down
That same day, Samantha shared two other posts about the loss of her daughter.
‘Someone please wake me the f*** yo [sic] from this nightmare!!! PLEASE,’ she said alongside several sad-faced emojis.
She also posted a picture of her late child with the caption: ‘Mommy and daddy’s sweet girl! We miss u so much! This isn’t fair!!’
The adorable toddler was found struggling to breathe inside her family’s apartment before being rushed to the hospital where she died.
Her cause of death was ruled a homicide after a medical examiner found deeply disturbing evidence that she suffered from acute and chronic neglect.
Joycelynn was so ravaged by lice that she developed the blood condition anemia, which destroyed her heart and other organs, according to the Times Union.
She also had clonidine, a blood pressure medication, in her system, the medical examiner found.
At the time of Joycelynn’s death, Samantha, 33, suggested that it was Joycelynn and her siblings’ fault that she died.
The adorable toddler was found struggling to breathe inside her family’s filthy apartment (pictured) before being rushed to the hospital where she died
Samantha also shared other posts following her daughter’s death in 2025
Samantha referred to Joycelynn’s death as a ‘nightmare’ that she can’t wake up from
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The mother told investigators that the little girl ‘fought her too much when she tried to apply treatment’ to her lice-infected scalp, seemingly placing blame on her dead daughter.
She also told police that clonidine pills were left out by her son and that is how Joycelynn ingested them, per the report.
But, text messages between Samantha and Matthew showed that they had a conversation about the drug, Saratoga County First Assistant District Attorney Jennifer Buckley said in court.
‘Her husband tells her she can give it to Joycelynn. Shortly after Joycelynn’s death, there’s an internet search on the cellphone to search for how long it would stay in the system,’ Buckley said, according to the outlet.
Samantha also claimed that her daughter had a weak heart, but according to Buckley, Joycelynn’s heart was normal.
Disturbing photos shared by Phoenix Property Maintenance, the cleaning company that was tasked with cleaning the place up after Joycelynn’s death, showed the full extent of the messy apartment.
The walls were also covered in grime, garbage was scattered all over the place and the carpets were stained and matted.
One image showed expired food items and wrappers strewn across a bedroom.
On top of their criminally negligent homicide conviction, the married couple was also issued a full restraining them from communicating their four surviving children, whom they cannot talk to or see until 2038
Another showed garbage bags and crumbs surrounding a teal couch, along with what appeared to be children’s toys.
Other insects, including a dead cockroach, were found on the little girl’s body. Her teeth were also ‘rotten and black,’ an investigator said, Saratoga County Judge James R Davis said when he imposed Samantha’s sentence in early June.
There were also flies, rotting food, and a kitchen sink that was clogged with muck inside the squalid home.
On Monday, Matthew was handed the same sentence as his wife – up to four years in prison over the death of their youngest child. His wife was sentenced earlier this month.
They were also issued a full restraining order from their four surviving children, whom they cannot talk to or see until 2038.
Her defense attorney, Matthew Maiello, did not speak during her sentencing, but Samantha did address the court.
‘As their mother, it’s my duty to protect them from harm, and I failed. I also failed my other children. Many things have happened things that I should have know to do and actions I should have taken.
Other insects, including a dead cockroach, were found on the little girl’s body. Her teeth were also ‘rotten and black,’ an investigator said
Samantha Dylewski, 33, and her husband, Matthew Dylewski, 34
‘Since that day, I can’t find the words to express all my emotions I feel, but 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,’ Samantha concluded.
During his sentencing hearing on Monday, Matthew told the court that he wishes it was him that was dead, not Joycelynn.
‘I totally wish that it didn’t happen. I wish it would be that I died instead of my daughter. I still think that to this day. I constantly think about it.
‘Nothing is ever going to change. I still want to die so I can be with her.’
