An autopsy report revealed that a young girl, identified as Jacqueline Torres-Garcia or Mimi, was starved to death by her mother, with her stomach containing only a single blueberry at the time of her passing. Jacqueline’s lifeless body was discovered in the basement of an abandoned property in New Britain, Connecticut, on October 8. The examination conducted by the Connecticut Office of the Chief Medical Examiner disclosed that the child was severely malnourished and had muscle atrophy prior to her demise.
According to the autopsy findings, the 11-year-old girl had minimal body fat and weighed a mere 27 pounds. Investigators noted that her body was significantly decomposed and was found in a fetal position. The report also indicated the presence of diphenhydramine, the active component of Benadryl, in her system, despite no medical authorization for its use.
The authorities have formally charged Jacqueline’s mother, Karla Garcia, aged 29, with murder and other related offenses. Garcia has denied the charges and is currently detained on a $5 million bond, with a court appearance scheduled for January 30.
Law enforcement officials claim that Garcia deliberately withheld food from her daughter for an extended period and subjected her to prolonged mistreatment. Court records indicate that Garcia admitted to not feeding Jacqueline for approximately two weeks leading up to her death.
Additionally, Garcia’s former boyfriend, Jonatan Nanita, aged 30, is also facing charges of murder and conspiracy in connection to the case. Prosecutors allege that he assisted in restraining the child and later disposing of her remains. Nanita has not yet entered a plea and has requested a probable cause hearing.
Investigations suggest that Jacqueline passed away in September 2024 while residing with her family in Farmington. It is believed that her body was stored in the basement of that residence for an extended period before being relocated. Authorities claim that Nanita subsequently placed her remains in a plastic container and concealed it in the yard of an abandoned house in New Britain.
According to police reports, Jacqueline was restrained with zip ties, denied access to the bathroom, and was subjected to severe neglect. While no recent fractures or major injuries were identified, investigators attributed her death to the lack of sustenance and prolonged confinement.
Jacqueline had previously resided with her paternal grandparents until 2022, at which point custody was regained by Garcia. Subsequently, she was withdrawn from public school and homeschooled, complicating efforts to monitor her well-being, as noted by investigators.
The local school district in New Britain confirmed that Jacqueline had attended schools in the area up to fifth grade before being removed by her mother.
Authorities allege that Garcia deceived the state Department of Children and Families following Jacqueline’s demise by using another child to impersonate her daughter during a video call.
Jacqueline’s father, Victor Torres, revealed that he was informed of his daughter’s death by law enforcement. He has expressed intentions to file a lawsuit seeking $100 million in damages against the Department of Children and Families, citing negligence.
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