The mother and aunt of a 12-year-old girl whose remains were found outside a Connecticut home have been arrested, officials said Monday.
New Britain police found a large container in the backyard of an abandoned building last Wednesday afternoon after receiving reports of suspicious behavior. Apparent remains belonging to “an adolescent female” were discovered inside the container.
The victim was publicly identified as 12-year-old Jacqueline Torres at a news conference on Monday. Victor Torres, Jacqueline’s father, and Frances Melendez, the girl’s stepmother, told Channel 3 that police told them the victim was Jacqueline on Thursday.
Torres told Channel 3 he hadn’t been able to contact his daughter since late January.
Investigators said they believe the girl died roughly a year ago when her family lived in Farmington until relocating in March 2025.
Jacqueline’s mother, Karla Garcia, was arrested and charged with murder with special circumstances and is being held on a $5 million bond. She was also charged with conspiracy to commit murder with special circumstances, first-degree unlawful restraint, risk of injury to a child, tampering with physical evidence, cruelty to a child under the age of 19 and disposal of dead body.
The human remains found in the backyard of an abandoned building on Clark St. in New Britain, Ct. were those of a 12-year-old girl, police said. (Google Maps)
Her aunt, Jacqueline Garcia, was charged with risk of injury to a child, first-degree unlawful restraint and cruelty to persons under 19 years of age and is being held on a $1 million bond.
Jonatan Nanita, Karla’s 30-year-old boyfriend, was charged with murder with special circumstances and tampering with physical evidence, but has not been apprehended. Police are actively looking for him and there is a warrant for his arrest on $5 million bond.
Police said the girl was subjected to physical abuse and malnourishment before her death. Her body was kept in a basement and then transported when the family moved last spring.
The cause of the child’s death is pending further studies, according to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.
Farmington police is collaborating with New Britain police on the investigation.
New Britain Mayor Erin Stewart said there was no connection between the suspects and the abandoned home where the remains were dumped. She said the building had been vacant for more than two years.
