by FARMINGTON, CONNECTICUT — A small Connecticut town is reeling after investigators uncovered the body of a 12-year-old girl inside a 40-gallon plastic tote, allegedly hidden by her mother and her mother’s boyfriend. Authorities say the shocking discovery followed months of horrific abuse and starvation that led to the girl’s death.
According to arrest warrants released by the Farmington Police Department, Karla Garcia, 29, and Jonatan Nanita, 30, are both charged with murder after the death of Garcia’s daughter, Jacqueline “Mimi” Torres-Garcia, sometime in the fall of 2024.
“The skin appeared to be glued to the bones,” investigators wrote in the warrant. “The condition of the corpse was due to severe malnourishment, not decomposition.”
Girl Suffered Abuse and Starvation Before Death
Police say Torres-Garcia endured months of physical abuse and starvation while being homeschooled and isolated from others. Her body was allegedly kept in the family’s Farmington basement before Garcia and Nanita moved and brought the tote to New Britain in March 2025.
When discovered, the girl weighed just 26 to 27 pounds, with police confirming she died from malnutrition rather than external injuries. Garcia reportedly admitted that her daughter died in bed but claimed she didn’t know exactly when it happened.
“She stated Jonatan Nanita came downstairs one day and told her that Jacqueline ‘was not breathing anymore,’” the warrant reads. “The smell became so bad that they began staying at hotels and with other friends.”
Couple Tried to Conceal the Death
During questioning, both suspects blamed each other and provided conflicting accounts. Initially, Garcia told detectives that her daughter was “fine and visiting a friend.” Later, she admitted that an argument had turned violent after Torres-Garcia became upset about her mother’s new pregnancy.
Garcia claimed that Nanita kicked the girl in the head, after which she disappeared. Nanita, however, said Garcia asked him to dispose of a tote from her home after he saw blood along the staircase and walls.
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Investigators said Nanita’s new girlfriend later recalled seeing him drive to a cemetery, pick up a tote, and dump it behind an abandoned home on Clark Street — where the remains were eventually found.
Aunt Also Charged in the Case
Police also arrested Jackelyn Garcia, 28, Karla’s sister, on charges including risk of injury to a child, unlawful restraint, and child cruelty. She allegedly admitted to seeing the girl zip tied and deprived of food, though she denied direct involvement in the abuse.
“Jackelyn admitted to seeing her niece zip tied on a couple of occasions,” the warrant says. “She stated when she last saw her, she was already skinny.”
Detectives said Jackelyn even took photos showing Torres-Garcia in a malnourished state, lying on dog pee pads. She later told investigators that Garcia complained about the smell coming from the tote and instructed Nanita to move it.
Police Call It One of the Worst Cases in Decades
Farmington Police Chief Paul Melanson described the investigation as “one of the worst cases we’ve had in 35 years,” adding that “no child should ever have to endure such suffering.”
Torres-Garcia’s biological father, Victor Torres, and stepmother, Frances Melendez, told WFSB News that they only discovered the girl was missing in January 2025, months after her death. Victor said the last time he spoke to his daughter was on her 12th birthday, January 29.
Both Karla Garcia and Jonatan Nanita face murder charges, while Garcia’s sister remains under investigation for her role in the abuse and concealment of the child’s death.
This case has stunned Connecticut and reignited debate over the oversight of homeschooled children. Should there be more frequent welfare checks for children not enrolled in traditional schools?
Join the discussion and share your thoughts in the comments at race-day-live.com — your voice could help drive awareness and change.
