Connecticut couple accused of killing 12-year-old girl and hiding her body in plastic tote

Farmington, CT – Authorities say a Connecticut mother and her boyfriend subjected a 12-year-old girl to months of abuse and starvation before killing her and concealing her body inside a 40-gallon storage container.

The newly released arrest warrants detail a harrowing timeline in the death of Jacqueline “Mimi” Torres-Garcia, whose remains were discovered months after she vanished from her family’s home.

Her mother, Karla Garcia, 29, and Garcia’s boyfriend, Jonatan Nanita, 30, are both charged with murder. Police allege the pair kept the child’s body hidden for months before attempting to dispose of it at multiple locations.

Key Points

Karla Garcia and Jonatan Nanita are charged with murdering 12-year-old Jacqueline “Mimi” Torres-Garcia
Warrants describe prolonged starvation and physical abuse before the child’s death
Investigators say the body was stored in a plastic tote and later abandoned at an empty house

Months of abuse and neglect

Investigators say Jacqueline endured severe malnutrition and physical abuse before dying sometime in late 2024. The girl’s remains weighed only about 27 pounds. Police wrote that the “skin appeared to be glued to the bones,” describing a level of deterioration caused not by decomposition but by starvation.

Jacqueline was homeschooled and lived with Garcia and Nanita in Farmington, which allowed her disappearance to go largely unnoticed. After the girl’s death, the couple allegedly kept her body in a basement tote before relocating to New Britain in March, taking the container with them.

Shifting stories and blame

When questioned, Garcia initially told investigators that her daughter was “visiting a friend.” She later admitted to arguing with Jacqueline about her pregnancy, claiming the girl pushed her down the stairs. Garcia said Nanita “became enraged,” kicked the girl in the head, and dragged her away. She told police she never saw her daughter again.

Nanita allegedly gave detectives a different version of events, pointing the blame back at Garcia. Both denied responsibility for the killing and the concealment of the child’s body.

Discovery of the tote

The warrants describe how the couple allegedly first tried to hide the plastic container in a cemetery before abandoning it behind a vacant home. When investigators recovered the tote, Jacqueline’s body was found folded at the waist, her knees pressed against her chest.

Police said Garcia admitted she eventually noticed the smell coming from the basement but avoided confronting Nanita about it. The pair began staying with friends and in hotels as the odor worsened.

Investigation continues

The girl’s death is being investigated as a case of prolonged abuse and neglect. Both Garcia and Nanita remain in custody on murder charges while investigators continue to piece together the timeline of Jacqueline’s final months. Officials have not yet determined the exact cause or date of death.

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