Topline: Court records detail starvation and restraint before the girl’s death; suspects held on multimillion‑dollar bonds.
Published: November 19, 2025 12:05 pm ET
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Left: Jackelyn Garcia, Center: Karla Garcia, Right: Jonatan Nanita (via WFSB)
NEW BRITAIN, CT — A 12‑year‑old Connecticut girl died from abuse and starvation, and authorities found her remains in a plastic container. Her mother, aunt, and the mother’s former boyfriend now face murder charges.
Authorities determined that remains found in a plastic bin at an abandoned house belonged to Jacqueline “Mimi” Torres‑Garcia, dead for nearly a year. Police arrested Karla Garcia, Jackelyn Garcia, and Jonatan “JoJo” Nanita soon after, in mid‑October.
The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner ruled the child’s cause of death as fatal child abuse with starvation. The manner of death was ruled a homicide, as reported by NBC Connecticut.
Investigators believe the girl died in the fall of 2024 when her family lived in Farmington, Connecticut. The young girl was never reported missing, police said as per WWNY.
Arrest and search warrants contain chilling details about the conditions the child faced before her death, the Associated Press reported. Authorities allege the girl was not given food for two weeks before she died.
The girl weighed only 26 to 27 pounds at the time of her death, according to an affidavit reviewed by PEOPLE. She was often restrained with zip ties, police allege.
The remains were discovered on Oct. 8, 2025. New Britain Police officers were called to an abandoned building in response to a report of suspicious behavior.
Authorities discovered a 40‑gallon plastic bin at the abandoned house. Inside, they found the child’s body sealed in a plastic bag, wrapped in a comforter and sheets, and placed within a laundry basket. The remains were later identified as Jacqueline “Mimi” Torres‑Garcia.
Police allege that the family kept the girl’s remains in a basement for several months in 2024. They took her remains with them when they moved from Farmington in March 2025.
Jonatan Nanita, 30, the ex-boyfriend of Karla Garcia, allegedly brought the container holding the girl’s body to the abandoned property, according to police. The drop-off of the body occurred on Oct. 8, the same day officers were called to the location.
According to the affidavit, Nanita’s current girlfriend told police he drove to a cemetery at the end of September and picked up a plastic bin. She told police he put the bin in the trunk of his car, drove it to New Britain, and left it at the property.
The girlfriend told people she thought there was a body inside because the bin “smelled bad,” the affidavit states.
Karla Garcia, the 29-year-old mother of the girl, was arrested on Oct. 12. She was charged with murder with special circumstances, conspiracy to commit murder with special circumstances, improper disposal of a dead body, and intentional cruelty to a child under the age of 19.
The mother pleaded not guilty to all counts and is currently being held on a $5 million bond.
Jackelyn Garcia, the girl’s 28-year-old aunt, was arrested the same day, Oct. 12. She faces charges of intentional cruelty to a child under the age of 19, risk of injury to a child, and first-degree unlawful restraint. She also pleaded not guilty and is being held on a $1 million bond.
Nanita was taken into custody on Oct. 13 on a felony arrest warrant, according to the New Britain Police Department. Police accuse Nanita of killing the child along with Karla Garcia.
Nanita faces additional charges of tampering with evidence and disposal of a body. He pleaded not guilty and remains in custody on bonds totaling $5.75 million, online jail records show.
The three individuals appeared in court on Nov. 14 for separate hearings. Karla Garcia is scheduled to return to court on Dec. 19. Her sister, Jackelyn Garcia, has a court date scheduled for Dec. 12. Nanita is scheduled to return to court on Dec. 16.
Attorneys for the three people have not publicly commented on the charges.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
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Connecticut Police Charge Three After Remains of 12-Year-Old Girl Found Stuffed in Plastic Bin
Court records detail starvation and restraint before the girl’s death; suspects held on multimillion‑dollar bonds.
By Kate Byrd
Published: November 19, 2025 12:05 pm ET
Left: Jackelyn Garcia, Center: Karla Garcia, Right: Jonatan Nanita (via WFSB)
NEW BRITAIN, CT — A 12‑year‑old Connecticut girl died from abuse and starvation, and authorities found her remains in a plastic container. Her mother, aunt, and the mother’s former boyfriend now face murder charges.
Authorities determined that remains found in a plastic bin at an abandoned house belonged to Jacqueline “Mimi” Torres‑Garcia, dead for nearly a year. Police arrested Karla Garcia, Jackelyn Garcia, and Jonatan “JoJo” Nanita soon after, in mid‑October.
The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner ruled the child’s cause of death as fatal child abuse with starvation. The manner of death was ruled a homicide, as reported by NBC Connecticut.
Investigators believe the girl died in the fall of 2024 when her family lived in Farmington, Connecticut. The young girl was never reported missing, police said as per WWNY.
Arrest and search warrants contain chilling details about the conditions the child faced before her death, the Associated Press reported. Authorities allege the girl was not given food for two weeks before she died.
The girl weighed only 26 to 27 pounds at the time of her death, according to an affidavit reviewed by PEOPLE. She was often restrained with zip ties, police allege.
The remains were discovered on Oct. 8, 2025. New Britain Police officers were called to an abandoned building in response to a report of suspicious behavior.
Authorities discovered a 40‑gallon plastic bin at the abandoned house. Inside, they found the child’s body sealed in a plastic bag, wrapped in a comforter and sheets, and placed within a laundry basket. The remains were later identified as Jacqueline “Mimi” Torres‑Garcia.
Police allege that the family kept the girl’s remains in a basement for several months in 2024. They took her remains with them when they moved from Farmington in March 2025.
Jonatan Nanita, 30, the ex-boyfriend of Karla Garcia, allegedly brought the container holding the girl’s body to the abandoned property, according to police. The drop-off of the body occurred on Oct. 8, the same day officers were called to the location.
According to the affidavit, Nanita’s current girlfriend told police he drove to a cemetery at the end of September and picked up a plastic bin. She told police he put the bin in the trunk of his car, drove it to New Britain, and left it at the property.
The girlfriend told people she thought there was a body inside because the bin “smelled bad,” the affidavit states.
Karla Garcia, the 29-year-old mother of the girl, was arrested on Oct. 12. She was charged with murder with special circumstances, conspiracy to commit murder with special circumstances, improper disposal of a dead body, and intentional cruelty to a child under the age of 19.
The mother pleaded not guilty to all counts and is currently being held on a $5 million bond.
Jackelyn Garcia, the girl’s 28-year-old aunt, was arrested the same day, Oct. 12. She faces charges of intentional cruelty to a child under the age of 19, risk of injury to a child, and first-degree unlawful restraint. She also pleaded not guilty and is being held on a $1 million bond.
Nanita was taken into custody on Oct. 13 on a felony arrest warrant, according to the New Britain Police Department. Police accuse Nanita of killing the child along with Karla Garcia.
Nanita faces additional charges of tampering with evidence and disposal of a body. He pleaded not guilty and remains in custody on bonds totaling $5.75 million, online jail records show.
The three individuals appeared in court on Nov. 14 for separate hearings. Karla Garcia is scheduled to return to court on Dec. 19. Her sister, Jackelyn Garcia, has a court date scheduled for Dec. 12. Nanita is scheduled to return to court on Dec. 16.
Attorneys for the three people have not publicly commented on the charges.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
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Editor Picks
Latest Articles
Connecticut Police Charge Three After Remains of 12-Year-Old Girl Found Stuffed in Plastic Bin
Court records detail starvation and restraint before the girl’s death; suspects held on multimillion‑dollar bonds.
By Kate Byrd
Published: November 19, 2025 12:05 pm ET
Left: Jackelyn Garcia, Center: Karla Garcia, Right: Jonatan Nanita (via WFSB)
NEW BRITAIN, CT — A 12‑year‑old Connecticut girl died from abuse and starvation, and authorities found her remains in a plastic container. Her mother, aunt, and the mother’s former boyfriend now face murder charges.
Authorities determined that remains found in a plastic bin at an abandoned house belonged to Jacqueline “Mimi” Torres‑Garcia, dead for nearly a year. Police arrested Karla Garcia, Jackelyn Garcia, and Jonatan “JoJo” Nanita soon after, in mid‑October.
The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner ruled the child’s cause of death as fatal child abuse with starvation. The manner of death was ruled a homicide, as reported by NBC Connecticut.
Investigators believe the girl died in the fall of 2024 when her family lived in Farmington, Connecticut. The young girl was never reported missing, police said as per WWNY.
Arrest and search warrants contain chilling details about the conditions the child faced before her death, the Associated Press reported. Authorities allege the girl was not given food for two weeks before she died.
The girl weighed only 26 to 27 pounds at the time of her death, according to an affidavit reviewed by PEOPLE. She was often restrained with zip ties, police allege.
The remains were discovered on Oct. 8, 2025. New Britain Police officers were called to an abandoned building in response to a report of suspicious behavior.
Authorities discovered a 40‑gallon plastic bin at the abandoned house. Inside, they found the child’s body sealed in a plastic bag, wrapped in a comforter and sheets, and placed within a laundry basket. The remains were later identified as Jacqueline “Mimi” Torres‑Garcia.
Police allege that the family kept the girl’s remains in a basement for several months in 2024. They took her remains with them when they moved from Farmington in March 2025.
Jonatan Nanita, 30, the ex-boyfriend of Karla Garcia, allegedly brought the container holding the girl’s body to the abandoned property, according to police. The drop-off of the body occurred on Oct. 8, the same day officers were called to the location.
According to the affidavit, Nanita’s current girlfriend told police he drove to a cemetery at the end of September and picked up a plastic bin. She told police he put the bin in the trunk of his car, drove it to New Britain, and left it at the property.
The girlfriend told people she thought there was a body inside because the bin “smelled bad,” the affidavit states.
Karla Garcia, the 29-year-old mother of the girl, was arrested on Oct. 12. She was charged with murder with special circumstances, conspiracy to commit murder with special circumstances, improper disposal of a dead body, and intentional cruelty to a child under the age of 19.
The mother pleaded not guilty to all counts and is currently being held on a $5 million bond.
Jackelyn Garcia, the girl’s 28-year-old aunt, was arrested the same day, Oct. 12. She faces charges of intentional cruelty to a child under the age of 19, risk of injury to a child, and first-degree unlawful restraint. She also pleaded not guilty and is being held on a $1 million bond.
Nanita was taken into custody on Oct. 13 on a felony arrest warrant, according to the New Britain Police Department. Police accuse Nanita of killing the child along with Karla Garcia.
Nanita faces additional charges of tampering with evidence and disposal of a body. He pleaded not guilty and remains in custody on bonds totaling $5.75 million, online jail records show.
The three individuals appeared in court on Nov. 14 for separate hearings. Karla Garcia is scheduled to return to court on Dec. 19. Her sister, Jackelyn Garcia, has a court date scheduled for Dec. 12. Nanita is scheduled to return to court on Dec. 16.
Attorneys for the three people have not publicly commented on the charges.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
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