In a heartbreaking case that has shaken Connecticut and sparked urgent calls for child welfare reforms, the mother of a murdered 12-year-old girl allegedly used another child to impersonate her daughter during a video call with state officials, months after the girl’s death. Jacqueline “Mimi” Torres Garcia’s decomposed remains were discovered on October 8, 2025, hidden in a plastic storage bin behind an abandoned home in New Britain, Connecticut, revealing a story of prolonged abuse, neglect, and systemic oversights that allowed her suffering to go unnoticed for far too long. As investigators piece together the timeline, details have emerged about how her mother, Karla Garcia, navigated interactions with the Department of Children and Families (DCF), school systems, and the courts, raising profound questions about accountability in child protection and the vulnerabilities in homeschooling regulations.

Jacqueline Torres Garcia was born in January 2013 under challenging circumstances. Her mother, Karla Garcia, was residing in a detention center at the time, prompting immediate involvement from DCF. The infant was placed in the care of a paternal relative, where she spent the first nine years of her life. This relative provided a stable environment, allowing Karla Garcia and Jacqueline’s father, Victor Torres, regular access to the children. During this period, DCF offered services to the family multiple times, addressing reports related to Jacqueline’s younger siblings. Interventions occurred from 2014 to 2016, briefly in 2017, and again in 2021, but each time, the agency found insufficient evidence of abuse or neglect to warrant removal or further action.

By May 2022, when Jacqueline was nine, her parents sought to regain guardianship through the Superior Court for Juvenile Matters. The court approved the transfer, supported by DCF’s recommendation after a thorough review of the family’s history, interviews with the children, and an assessment of the parents’ readiness. Jacqueline and her younger sibling moved in with their mother, who lived separately from the father. DCF’s last direct interaction with Jacqueline came in September 2022 during an investigation into concerns about her siblings. At that point, the children appeared safe: they were enrolled in school, visible in the community, and their medical provider reported no issues. The case closed in November 2022 with no substantiated claims of abuse.

From late 2022 onward, the family’s situation seemed stable on the surface. Jacqueline attended medical appointments in November 2022, November 2023, and May 2024, showing no red flags to healthcare providers. In June 2024, a family court granted Karla Garcia sole custody of Jacqueline and her sister, with no DCF involvement in that proceeding. However, beneath this facade, tragedy was unfolding. Investigators now believe Jacqueline died in the fall of 2024, likely from a combination of severe malnutrition and physical abuse that left her body emaciated and battered. Her death occurred while the family was living in Farmington, Connecticut, where her body was allegedly stored in the basement before being relocated during a move to New Britain.

The deception began to unravel in the months following her suspected death. In August 2024, just as the school year was starting, Karla Garcia withdrew Jacqueline from Pulaski Middle School in New Britain. She submitted paperwork indicating a move to Farmington and an intent to homeschool the girl for the 2024-2025 academic year. Connecticut’s homeschooling laws are among the nation’s most lenient, requiring only a notice of intent without mandatory oversight, curriculum approval, or regular check-ins. This withdrawal allowed Jacqueline’s absence from public view to go unquestioned, as no one reported her missing despite her sudden disappearance from school records.

The most disturbing revelation came from DCF’s final involvement with the family in January 2025. Triggered by allegations concerning Jacqueline’s younger sibling, agency workers sought to verify the well-being of all the children. Karla Garcia informed them that Jacqueline was being homeschooled and temporarily staying out-of-state with a relative. To confirm this, DCF arranged a video call with a child whom Garcia presented as Jacqueline. The girl on the screen answered to “Mimi,” Jacqueline’s nickname, and the interaction raised no immediate concerns. Satisfied with the virtual check, DCF closed the case in March 2025. However, with the benefit of hindsight and the discovery of Jacqueline’s remains, authorities now allege that Garcia used a different child to impersonate her deceased daughter, deliberately misleading the agency to avoid scrutiny.

This act of deception has fueled outrage and demands for accountability. How could a child endure such horror without intervention? The family’s criminal history adds layers to the scrutiny. Karla Garcia had a prior conviction for third-degree assault in 2018. Her boyfriend, Jonatan Nanita, who lived with the family, was convicted of reckless endangerment in 2020. Jacqueline’s aunt, Jackelyn Garcia—Karla’s sister and a resident in the home—had been convicted of risk of injury to a child in 2022. Despite these red flags, the family slipped through the cracks, with no reports of abuse filed between late 2022 and early 2025.

The grim discovery on October 8, 2025, came after police received a tip about suspicious activity at an abandoned property on Clark Street in New Britain. Officers found the plastic bin containing Jacqueline’s decomposed body, hidden in the backyard. The remains were so deteriorated that identification required forensic analysis, but family members and records confirmed it was Mimi. Autopsy results pointed to prolonged suffering: signs of chronic malnutrition, physical trauma, and neglect that experts say could have been prevented with proper oversight.

In the wake of the find, arrests followed swiftly. Karla Garcia and Jonatan Nanita were charged with murder, accused of not only causing Jacqueline’s death but also concealing her body for months. Jackelyn Garcia faced charges of unlawful restraint, risk of injury to a minor, and intentional cruelty to a person under 19. All three remain in custody on high bonds as the investigation continues. DCF immediately took Jacqueline’s siblings into protective custody, ensuring their safety amid the unfolding scandal.

The case has ignited a firestorm of criticism toward DCF and Connecticut’s child welfare system. Lawmakers, including co-chairs of the Children’s Committee, have decried the agency’s failure to “meet the moment,” arguing that repeated interactions should have flagged deeper issues. An internal DCF review is underway, examining casework decisions, policy adherence, and collaborations with other agencies. The Office of the Child Advocate, currently under interim leadership, has launched a comprehensive investigation into DCF’s role and the broader implications of homeschooling in child abuse cases.

Advocates point to this tragedy as a stark example of how lax homeschooling regulations can enable abuse. Connecticut is one of only a handful of states with minimal requirements for homeschoolers, allowing parents to withdraw children from public schools with little follow-up. In the past three years, over 5,200 children have been pulled from public education in the state, excluding those homeschooled from the start. Similar cases have surfaced before: a 2023 incident in Waterbury where a child was locked away after school withdrawal, a 2017 death from neglect involving a homeschooled sibling, and others highlighting isolation as a tool for abusers.

In response, a grassroots movement has emerged. Los Fidel, a Hamden resident unrelated to the family, launched “Mimi’s Law,” a petition calling for reforms. It proposes mandatory in-person checks for homeschooled children, body cameras for state workers during family visits, and bans on convicted child abusers residing with minors. The petition garnered over 6,000 signatures in just two days, reflecting widespread public anguish. Fidel has contacted lawmakers, urging swift action to honor Jacqueline’s memory and protect other vulnerable children.

Public grief has manifested in tangible ways. A makeshift memorial sprang up at the Clark Street site, with community members leaving flowers, stuffed animals, and candles. Neighbors recounted seeing the family move a suspicious container before the discovery, though they didn’t connect it to foul play at the time. Farmington and New Britain police have coordinated efforts, emphasizing that the timeline remains fluid as evidence is analyzed.

Experts in child advocacy stress that while homeschooling isn’t inherently problematic, the lack of safeguards creates loopholes. They argue for balanced reforms that enhance monitoring without overburdening families. Others defend homeschooling, attributing the failure to DCF’s oversight rather than educational choices. Governor Ned Lamont’s office has signaled openness to discussions on improving child safety in homeschool environments.

Jacqueline’s story is a poignant reminder of the fragility of childhood and the devastating consequences of unseen abuse. Born into instability, she navigated a system meant to protect her, only to fall victim to those closest to her. As the legal process unfolds, with court dates pending and investigations deepening, the hope is that her legacy drives meaningful change. No child should suffer in silence, hidden behind closed doors or virtual screens. The deception in that January video call wasn’t just a lie—it was a final barrier that sealed a tragic fate, one that society must now confront to prevent future heartbreak.