Connecticut Mother and Boyfriend Charged After 12-Year-Old Daughter’s Body Found in 40-Gallon Tote: ‘The Smell Became So Bad’
NEW BRITAIN, CONNECTICUT — A Connecticut mother and her boyfriend face murder charges after investigators say they abused, starved, and killed a 12-year-old girl, then hid her body in a 40-gallon plastic tote that they later tried to dump at a cemetery.
The child, Jacqueline “Mimi” Torres-Garcia, had been homeschooled and isolated, leaving her disappearance unnoticed for months. Her mother, Karla Garcia, 29, and Garcia’s boyfriend, Jonatan Nanita, 30, are now accused of one of the most disturbing child abuse cases in the state’s recent history, according to Farmington and New Britain police.
Body Found Emaciated and Folded in Container
Court documents reveal the 12-year-old’s body was found folded in half inside a tote, her legs pressed against her torso. Police said her skin was glued to her bones — the result of severe malnutrition, not decomposition.
When discovered, Jacqueline weighed just 26 pounds.
“She died sometime in her bed, but [Garcia] wasn’t sure when,” the mother reportedly told police.
“The smell became so bad that they began staying at hotels.”
Investigators believe the child’s body was first kept in the family’s basement before being moved when Garcia and Nanita relocated to New Britain. They allegedly planned to bury the tote at a cemetery, but when the odor grew overwhelming, Nanita instead dumped it behind an abandoned home.
Abuse, Starvation, and Lies to Police
Detectives said the couple repeatedly blamed each other when questioned. Garcia initially claimed her daughter was visiting friends, before later admitting the child had died after an argument over Garcia’s pregnancy.
Garcia told police that Nanita “kicked Jacqueline in the head” after the girl pushed her down a staircase. She claimed she never saw her daughter again after that.
Nanita, meanwhile, said Garcia asked him to dispose of a blood-stained tote, claiming he later dumped it because of the smell.
“Garcia admitted they stopped feeding Jacqueline for about two weeks before her death,” investigators wrote in her arrest warrant.
The couple also allegedly used zip ties to restrain the girl and forced her to sleep on dog pee pads instead of using a bathroom.
Aunt Also Charged After Witnessing Abuse
Garcia’s sister, Jackelyn Garcia, 28, faces child cruelty and unlawful restraint charges after admitting she witnessed the abuse. She reportedly saw her niece zip tied on multiple occasions and even took photos of the girl’s deteriorating state.
“When I last saw her, she was already skinny,” Jackelyn said. “She was always in the corner of the house.”
Police said Jackelyn knew about the tote and heard Nanita say he needed to get rid of it “because it was beginning to smell.”
Failed Dumping Attempt and Discovery
Nanita allegedly tried to bury the tote near the cemetery where Garcia’s mother was buried, but couldn’t find a spot. He then left it in the backyard of an abandoned building in New Britain.
His new girlfriend later told police she remembered seeing him transporting the foul-smelling tote, realizing afterward it might have contained a body.
“She remembered the tote smelled bad,” the warrant said. “After thinking about it, she believed it contained a body.”
Community Outrage and Police Reaction
Jacqueline’s biological father, Victor Torres, said he hadn’t spoken to his daughter since her birthday in January 2024 — months before her death. He and his wife said they didn’t know she was missing until January 2025, when police reached out.
“In 35 years, this is one of the worst cases we’ve had,” said Farmington Police Chief Paul Melanson.
“No child should ever have to endure such suffering.”
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