12-year-old’s remains found in plastic bin, CT cops say. Mom, 2 others charged
.png "Jacqueline Torres, 12, was found dead inside a plastic bin at an abandoned home in Connecticut, officials say.")
Three people have been arrested in what Connecticut officials are calling one of the worst cases they’ve ever handled.
On Oct. 8 an anonymous person called police and reported suspicious activity at an abandoned home in New Britain, Mayor Erin Stewart said at an Oct. 13 news conference streamed by WTIC.
When police arrived, they found decomposing human remains in a plastic bin, New Britain Chief of Police Matthew Marino said.
The remains were later positively identified as 12-year-old Jacqueline Torres.
“There are no words that can make sense of a situation like this,” Marino said.
According to Farmington Police Chief Paul Melanson, it’s believed that Jacqueline had been dead since fall 2024. He said her body was likely kept in her family’s basement before the family moved in March.
Jacqueline experienced prolonged physical abuse and malnourishment before she died, Melanson said.
Her mother, Karla Garcia, was arrested on multiple charges including murder . Garcia’s boyfriend, Jonatan Nanita, also faces a murder charge, and her sister, Jackelyn Garcia, faces charges including cruelty to persons under 19 years of age , officials said.
Stewart said no one ever reported Jacqueline missing and she was last enrolled in homeschool.
“It’s very difficult for us to contemplate how this can happen,” Melanson said.
He went on to say this is one of the worst cases his department has had in 35 years.
Jacqueline’s cause and manner of death has not officially been determined.
Karla Garcia and Nanita are each being held on a $5 million bond. Jackelyn Garcia is being held on a $1 million bond.
