Authorities allege 12-year-old Jacqueline “Mimi” Torres-Garcia was starved and often restrained before her death; the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner ruled the death a homicide due to fatal child abuse with starvation. Investigators say the child weighed just 26–27 pounds at death and was never reported missing. Her body was found on Oct. 8, 2025 inside a plastic bag and laundry basket within a 40‑gallon bin at an abandoned New Britain property. Mimi’s mother, aunt and the mother’s ex‑boyfriend have been arrested on charges ranging from intentional cruelty to murder; all have pleaded not guilty and remain held on high bonds.
12-Year-Old 'Mimi' Allegedly Starved and Restrained; Mother, Relatives and Ex-Boyfriend Arrested After Remains Found
Authorities allege 12-year-old Jacqueline “Mimi” Torres-Garcia was starved and often restrained before her death; the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner ruled the death a homicide due to fatal child abuse with starvation. Investigators say the child weighed just 26–27 pounds at death and was never reported missing. Her body was found on Oct. 8, 2025 inside a plastic bag and laundry basket within a 40‑gallon bin at an abandoned New Britain property. Mimi’s mother, aunt and the mother’s ex‑boyfriend have been arrested on charges ranging from intentional cruelty to murder; all have pleaded not guilty and remain held on high bonds.
09:20 PM, 11/17/2025Society
New details in death of 12-year-old Jacqueline “Mimi” Torres-Garcia
Authorities say Jacqueline “Mimi” Torres-Garcia, 12, was starved and repeatedly restrained before her death, and that members of her family moved while still in possession of her body. Arrest and search warrants released in recent weeks allege Mimi was not fed for the two weeks before she died and was frequently bound with zip ties.
Cause and identification. The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner ruled the cause of death fatal child abuse with starvation and classified the manner of death as homicide. An affidavit reviewed by PEOPLE states the child weighed only 26–27 pounds at the time of death.
Discovery. On Oct. 8, 2025, New Britain police responded to a report of suspicious activity at an abandoned property and discovered a large container in the backyard that contained human remains. Officers found the child’s body inside a plastic bag, wrapped in a comforter and sheets, and placed in a laundry basket within an approximately 40‑gallon bin; the remains were later identified as Torres-Garcia.
Timeline and alleged movement of remains. Investigators say Mimi likely died in the fall of 2024 while the family lived in Farmington. Authorities allege the family moved from Farmington in March 2025 and took her remains with them before the bin was left at the New Britain property in October 2025.
Arrests and charges. On Oct. 12, Mimi’s mother, Karla Garcia, 29, was arrested and faces multiple counts including murder with special circumstances, conspiracy to commit murder with special circumstances, improper disposal of a dead body and intentional cruelty to a child under 19. She has pleaded not guilty and is being held on a $5 million bond.
The child’s aunt, Jackelyn Garcia, 28, was arrested the same day and charged with intentional cruelty to a child under 19, risk of injury to a child and first‑degree unlawful restraint; she pleaded not guilty and is held on a $1 million bond.
On Oct. 13, Karla Garcia’s ex‑boyfriend, Jonatan "JoJo" Nanita, 30, was taken into custody on a felony warrant. Prosecutors allege he participated in the killing; he was later charged with tampering with evidence and disposal of a body and has pleaded not guilty. Online jail records list bonds totaling millions for the combination of charges.
According to the affidavit, Nanita’s current girlfriend told investigators that at the end of September he retrieved a plastic bin from a cemetery, loaded it into his vehicle and transported it to New Britain, where it was left at the abandoned property; she said the bin "smelled bad" and suspected it contained a body.
Legal proceedings. The three suspects have appeared at preliminary hearings. Karla Garcia is scheduled to return to court on Dec. 19, Jackelyn Garcia on Dec. 12, and Jonatan Nanita on Dec. 16. Attorneys for the defendants did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Note: All allegations are based on charging documents and statements by authorities. Defendants have pleaded not guilty and are entitled to the presumption of innocence until proven guilty in court.