NEW BRITAIN, CT – The fate of 12-year-old Jacqueline “Mimi” Torres-Garcia remained a mystery for months, as a series of troubling signs and deceit unraveled into one of the most shocking cases to strike Connecticut in recent years. As investigators pieced together the final chapter of her short life, what emerged were allegations of harrowing abuse, deception, and a desperate attempt to conceal an unimaginable crime.
Authorities say Karla Garcia, Jacqueline’s mother, and her boyfriend, Jonatan Nanita, are accused of brutally abusing and murdering the girl in September 2024. Rather than turn themselves in or seek help, the pair is alleged to have stuffed Jacqueline’s body into a 40-gallon plastic bin, hiding it first in a local cemetery before abandoning it in a vacant house miles away.
All the while, prosecutors allege, Garcia and Nanita continued to collect Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits on behalf of the deceased child, deceiving the state well into 2025. Officials with Connecticut’s Department of Social Services say Garcia submitted renewal applications listing Jacqueline as a household member months after her death, omitting any mention of the girl’s tragic fate or Nanita’s presence in the home. Nanita reportedly claimed to be homeless, allowing him, too, to keep receiving government aid.
The investigation took a darker turn as police examined the living conditions surrounding Jacqueline’s final months. According to arrest affidavits, the child endured ongoing malnutrition and physical abuse. After her death, her body was allegedly kept in the basement, folded and contorted to fit inside the now-infamous tote, as Garcia, Nanita, and a host of enablers worked to keep her disappearance under wraps.
Homeschooling reportedly kept Mimi out of the public eye and allowed the couple to relocate to New Britain in March. Only after a disturbing odor was reported did authorities discover her remains—her tiny body weighing less than 30 pounds, her skin described in arrest records as “clinging to the bone,” a grim testament to severe starvation rather than simple decay.
Interviews with Garcia and Nanita quickly devolved into mutual accusations. Garcia told detectives she argued with Jacqueline—who was upset to learn of her mother’s pregnancy—and claimed a confrontation on the stairs led to Jonatan kicking her daughter in the head and dragging her off. She denied knowing anything about the tote or her daughter’s whereabouts, even as evidence mounted.
Police documents revealed additional family involvement. Jackelyn Garcia, Karla’s sister, faces charges after allegedly admitting to authorities that she witnessed her niece abused and restrained with zip ties. The warrant detailed how she saw Jacqueline, frail and emaciated, confined to a corner of the house and forced to use dog pads as a makeshift bathroom. Jackelyn admitted to photographing the girl in her distressed state.
Further, Jackelyn recounted incidents of violence, claiming she watched Nanita pick up Jacqueline and carry her away after an accident, hearing the child’s desperate cries. While she denied having a direct role in her niece’s death, she admitted to being aware of the plastic bin and described conversations about disposing of it once the smell became overwhelming.
Connecticut authorities say both Karla Garcia and Jonatan Nanita knowingly continued to receive benefits by submitting fraudulent documentation and omitting the truth about Jacqueline’s death and Nanita’s role in the household. The couple signed forms acknowledging the risk of severe penalties for false reporting, including hefty fines and prison sentences, yet still pressed forward in the deception, according to investigators.
Garcia and Nanita are now charged with murder in addition to larceny and providing false statements as part of their alleged SNAP benefits scheme. Jackelyn Garcia faces her own criminal charges tied to child cruelty and endangerment.
The case continues to unfold as officials work to ensure that all those responsible for Jacqueline Torres-Garcia’s tragic fate are brought to justice. Community leaders and authorities have expressed outrage and sorrow as details emerge, underscoring the need for vigilance and stronger protections for vulnerable children.