The mother and aunt of a 12-year-old girl whose remains were found last week in an advanced state of decomposition in a storage bin outside of an abandoned home in New Britain were arrested Sunday after investigators alleged that the girl suffered “prolonged physical abuse and malnourishment” before she was killed last fall.
Police are also looking for the mother’s boyfriend who is wanted on an active arrest warrant charging him with murder.
Karla Garcia, 29, of Tremont Street, New Britain and mother of 12-year-old Jacqueline “Mimi” Torres was apprehended on Sunday night, investigators from the New Britain and Farmington police departments said at a news conference Monday.
Garcia faces charges of murder with special circumstances, conspiracy to commit murder with special circumstances, risk of injury to a minor, intentional cruelty to a person under 19 years old, first-degree unlawful restraint, tampering with physical evidence and improper disposal of a body. She was being held in lieu of $5 million bail and was expected to face a judge in Superior Court in Litchfield on Tuesday.
Karla Garcia is facing charges of murder with special circumstances, conspiracy to commit murder with special circumstances, first-degree unlawful restraint, risk of injury to a child, tampering with physical evidence, intentional cruelty to a child under 19 and improper disposal of a body in connection with the death of her 12-year-old daughter. (Courtesy of Farmington Police Department)
Garcia’s sister, 28-year-old Jackelyn Garcia of Tremont Street, New Britain, was also arrested late Sunday on charges of first-degree unlawful restraint, risk of injury to a minor and intentional cruelty to a person under 19 years old. She was held in lieu of $1 million bail ahead of a scheduled court appearance on Tuesday.
Investigators are seeking the public’s help finding Karla Garcia’s boyfriend, identified as 30-year-old Jonatan Nanita. He is wanted on a warrant on the same charges Karla Garcia faces and a warrant held by New Britain police on tampering with evidence charges, police said.
According to police, investigators believe Nanita was spotted outside an abandoned home at on Clark Street last Wednesday by an anonymous caller who reported “suspicious behavior” that included dropping off a number of items and a large storage bin at the property, which had been vacant for more than two years and had no known ties to any of the suspects. At the news conference, New Britain Mayor Erin Stewart said police had “no idea” what they were walking into when they responded to the home and looked in the bin.
Jackelyn Garcia, the sister of Karla Garcia. has been charged with first-degree unlawful restraint, risk of injury to a child and intentional cruelty to a child under 19 in connection with the death of her 12-year-old niece. (Courtesy of Farmington Police Department)
“On a personal note as a mother, it makes me sick to my stomach,” Stewart said.
According to New Britain Police Chief Matt Marino, officers found remains in an “advanced state of decomposition” and contacted the New Britain State’s Attorney’s Office. Police secured the home and its surroundings as a crime scene as members of the Connecticut State Police Central District Major Crime Squad responded.
With assistance from the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, the remains were identified as those belonging to Torres, whose nickname was “Mimi,” family members told the Courant. Investigators have been tight-lipped about releasing information, citing the need to protect the investigation, but said for the first time on Monday that they believe she may have been dead since fall 2024 while her family was still living in Farmington.
Police said they believe 12-year-old Jacqueline “Mimi” Torres may have been dead since fall 2024 while her family was still living in Farmington. (Courtesy of Farmington Police Department)
According to Farmington Police Chief Paul Melanson, investigators believe Jacqueline’s body was kept in the family’s basement before they relocated to New Britain. He said Jacqueline is believed to have suffered “prolonged physical abuse and malnourishment” before she died.
Melanson declined to say where police believe the body was kept before Nanita allegedly left it outside the abandoned home. Investigators have accused Karla Garcia and Nanita of killing the girl.
“No child should ever have to endure such suffering,” Melanson said, adding that this is “one of the worst cases” he has seen in his 35-year career in law enforcement.
New Britain Mayor Erin Stewart at a news conference Monday providing updates on the investigation into the death of Jacqueline Torres. (Justin Muszynski/Hartford Courant)
According to Stewart, there were no missing persons reports ever filed for Jacqueline despite several of her family members telling authorities they had not seen her since last fall. No school officials raised concerns about her disappearance either, Stewart said, adding that investigators believe Jacqueline was relocated from one school system to another and was most recently listed as being homeschooled.
Without elaborating, Stewart said the state Department of Children and Families had involvement with Jacqueline prior to her death.
Marino said investigators were able to identify multiple other children tied to Jacqueline’s family and were able to confirm during the investigation that they were safe.
New Britain Police Chief Matt Marino speaks at a news conference Monday announcing two arrests in the death f Jacqueline Torres. (Justin Muszynski/Hartford Courant)
The medical examiner’s office has not released a report identifying Jacqueline’s cause and manner of death, but officials with the office did make a “verbal report” to investigators which was not disclosed at the news briefing. In addition to information about Nanita’s whereabouts, authorities are also calling on the public to come forward with more information that could help the investigation, officials said.
Anyone with information has been asked to contact New Britain police at 860-826-3000 or Farmington police at 860-675-2400.
To protect the integrity of the investigation, police said a judge granted an order sealing the arrest warrants affidavits tied to the case, officials said. Police believe the investigation into Jacqueline’s death will likely last several more weeks and months and possibly even years.
Jacqueline “Mimi” Torres was most recently listed as being homeschooled, according to officials. (Courtesy of Farmington Police Department)
“Our prayers and our thoughts go to the family,” Stewart said.
Detectives in New Britain and Farmington have been working closely on the investigation with help from state police as well as the State’s Attorney Offices in New Britain and Litchfield.
“From the beginning, every agency that was involved in this investigation has been in constant communication with one another and worked tirelessly towards one common goal,” Stewart said. “And I can say that now our goal has always been to seek justice for Jacqueline Torres.”
The home on Clark Street in New Britain where police found human remains that were identified as belonging to a child. (Justin Muszynski/Hartford Courant)
Family members of Jacqueline gathered last week outside the Clark Street home where they were joined by members of the community in putting together a makeshift memorial for the young victim which included dozens and dozens of candles, stuffed animals and balloons. Though they did not wish to say much, the family expressed disgust at what happened to her.
“This is some documentary (expletive),” said Tanisha Delgado, who identified herself as Jacqueline’s aunt. “This is something you’d see on Netflix.”
Officials said Monday that the only prior involvement those charged in Jacqueline’s death had with police did not rise much above the level of traffic infractions. According to civil court records, Jacqueline’s parents were involved in a custody dispute in 2023.
State Sen. Jason Perillo and Stephen Harding issued a statement following the news briefing demanding answers, saying the system failed Jacqueline.
“An outrageous, horrific and unspeakable tragedy,” the statement said. “As we join together to mourn the senseless loss of Jacqueline ‘Mimi’ Torres and condemn this vile act, we also demand justice and accountability.
“The system failed Mimi on multiple levels,” the senators added. “We owe it to her to demand answers. Thorough investigations must be conducted. How could this happen? How can future failures and tragedies be prevented?”
State Rep. Bobby Sanchez, who is running for mayor of New Britain, also issued a statement last week demanding answers from DCF, police and the school system.
Officials with the Consolidated School District of New Britain last week said they were aware of “unconfirmed reports” that Jacqueline may be a former student.
A spokesperson for DCF did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Monday.
Interim DCF commissioner Susan I. Hamilton issued a statement last week offering thoughts and prayers to Jacqueline’s family.
“We are profoundly saddened by the report we received late Wednesday night regarding the circumstances surrounding the untimely death of an adolescent girl,” Hamilton said, adding that the agency was “unable to comment any further at this time.”
