An autopsy report revealed that a young girl, Jacqueline Torres-Garcia, known as Mimi, had only consumed a single blueberry before her tragic death. Jacqueline was discovered lifeless in the basement of an abandoned property in New Britain, Connecticut, on October 8. The autopsy findings indicated severe malnutrition and muscle atrophy at the time of her passing.
The examination unveiled that the 11-year-old had minimal body fat and weighed a mere 27 pounds. Her body was found in a state of advanced decomposition, curled into a fetal position. Additionally, traces of diphenhydramine, a component of Benadryl, were present in her system without any medical justification for its use.
Jacqueline’s mother, Karla Garcia, 29, has been charged with murder along with other related offenses. She has denied the charges and is currently detained on a $5 million bond, with a court appearance scheduled for January 30.
Authorities allege that Garcia intentionally starved her daughter for an extended period and subjected her to prolonged mistreatment. Court records suggest that Garcia admitted to withholding food from Jacqueline for around two weeks before her tragic demise.
Garcia’s former partner, Jonatan Nanita, 30, is also facing charges of murder and conspiracy for his alleged involvement in restraining the child and disposing of her remains. Nanita has not yet entered a plea and has requested a probable cause hearing.
It is believed that Jacqueline passed away in September 2024 while residing with her family in Farmington. Her body was reportedly kept in the basement of their residence for several months before being relocated. Subsequently, Nanita allegedly placed her remains in a plastic container concealed in the yard of an abandoned property in New Britain.
Police records suggest that Jacqueline endured being restrained, denied bathroom access, and subjected to severe neglect. Although no recent fractures or significant injuries were discovered, investigators attribute her death to the lack of sustenance and prolonged confinement.
Jacqueline had previously lived with her paternal grandparents until her mother regained custody in 2022. Following that, she was withdrawn from public school and homeschooled, complicating efforts to monitor her well-being.
The New Britain school district confirmed Jacqueline’s attendance at local schools up to the fifth grade before her mother’s decision to withdraw her.
Furthermore, authorities claim that Garcia deceived the state Department of Children and Families after Jacqueline’s demise by using another child to impersonate her daughter during a video call.
Jacqueline’s father, Victor Torres, was informed of his daughter’s death by law enforcement. He intends to sue the Department of Children and Families for negligence, seeking $100 million in damages.
Garcia faces a multitude of charges, including murder with special circumstances, conspiracy to commit murder, risk of injury to a minor, unlawful restraint, intentional cruelty to a child, tampering with evidence, and improper disposal of a body. Similarly, Nanita faces comparable charges, including murder with special circumstances, conspiracy, unlawful restraint, and cruelty to a child.
A third family member, Jacqueline’s aunt, Jackelyn Garcia, 28, has also been arrested. She is accused of witnessing the abuse in the household and failing to intervene, resulting in charges of cruelty to persons, unlawful restraint, reckless endangerment, and multiple counts of risk of injury. She is detained on a $1 million bond, while authorities continue their investigation.