Authorities in Connecticut have apprehended a mother, her partner, and the aunt of a 12-year-old girl discovered deceased in a container behind a vacant house last week.
Karla Garcia, aged 29, and her 30-year-old partner, Jonatan Nanita, are facing charges of murder and conspiracy to commit murder, as reported by WFSB. The aunt, Jackelyn Garcia, 28, is charged with cruelty and risk of injury to a person. Additionally, Nanita is accused of evidence tampering, and Karla Garcia is charged with child cruelty.
The remains of Jacqueline Torres, a 12-year-old, were discovered on Wednesday afternoon when officers responded to a suspicious activity report, as noted by WVIT. The child’s body was found inside a sizable container by a fence at an unused property.
During a Monday press briefing, police mentioned being informed about items being left at the location, including the storage box containing the remains. New Britain Police Chief Matt Marino explained that the child’s body was significantly decomposed, with investigators suspecting she passed away a year prior.
“This case is heartbreaking and profoundly unsettling. Our detectives, alongside both local and state collaborators, have relentlessly pursued the truth to achieve justice for Jacqueline. It is tragic that any child would have to endure such hardship,” stated Marino and Farmington Police Chief Paul Melanson.
The investigation suggests that the family resided in Farmington, believing Jacqueline’s remains were stored in their home’s basement until their recent relocation. Evidence points towards the girl experiencing prolonged abuse and malnutrition. The cause of death remains undisclosed by the medical examiner.
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.
