Remains of 12-Year-Old Girl Discovered in Bin Behind Abandoned Home; Deceased for One Year

Authorities in Connecticut have taken into custody a mother, her boyfriend, and the aunt of a 12-year-old girl whose remains were discovered inside a container behind an abandoned property last week.

Karla Garcia, aged 29, along with her 30-year-old partner, Jonatan Nanita, have both been charged with murder and conspiracy to commit murder, as reported by WFSB. Meanwhile, the girl’s aunt, 28-year-old Jackelyn Garcia, is facing charges related to cruelty and risk of injury to a child. Additionally, Nanita is charged with evidence tampering, and Karla Garcia is also facing charges of child cruelty, according to police statements.

The tragic discovery of 12-year-old Jacqueline Torres’s body occurred last Wednesday afternoon after police responded to a report of suspicious activity, as detailed by WVIT. Officers located the sizable container near the fence in the yard of the deserted house.

During a Monday news conference, police revealed they received a tip about someone depositing items, including the container that held the remains. New Britain Police Chief Matt Marino indicated that the girl’s body was significantly decomposed, leading investigators to believe she passed away a year ago.

“This situation is both tragic and profoundly unsettling. Our detectives, along with local and state collaborators, have dedicated themselves to uncovering the truth and achieving justice for Jacqueline. No child should ever suffer such a fate,” stated Marino and Farmington Police Chief Paul Melanson in a joint release.

Investigators say the family had been living in Farmington and believe that Jacqueline’s body was kept in the basement of the home there until the family moved earlier this year. They say the girl appeared to have been the victim of long-term abuse and malnutrition. The medical examiner has not yet released a cause of death.

The house where the girl’s remains were found had been vacant for more than two years, and there is no known connection between the family and that house.

The Department of Children and Families said it is reviewing its history with the family, implying they had one, and said that the girl’s siblings have been placed together in state custody.

Investigators said that Jacqueline was home-schooled, making it harder for anyone to realize she was missing, WFSB said.