NEW BRITAIN, Conn. (AP) — Authorities have charged the mother of a 12-year-old girl, recently discovered deceased in a storage bin outside a deserted Connecticut house, along with her boyfriend and sister.
Karla Garcia, aged 29, from New Britain, is detained with bail set at $5 million and is slated for arraignment on Tuesday. She is facing multiple charges including murder with special circumstances and conspiracy. Her legal representation status is currently unknown.
The charges relate to Jacqueline “Mimi” Torres Garcia’s death, where officials report enduring physical abuse and malnutrition leading to her demise last fall. On Wednesday, police located her remains in a container behind an abandoned house after responding to suspicious activity alerts at the location.
Sisters Karla Garcia and Jackelyn Garcia, 28, both from New Britain, were arrested on Sunday. Authorities apprehended Karla Garcia’s boyfriend, Jonatan Nanita, 30 years old, on Monday night, suspecting him of dropping several items and a sizable bin at the house, prompting the 911 alert.
Nanita is facing several charges, including murder with special circumstances and conspiracy. Meanwhile, Jackelyn Garcia is charged with unlawful restraint, risking injury to a minor, and intentional cruelty to a child under 19. She is held on $1 million bail, set for Tuesday arraignment alongside her sister, while Nanita’s court appearance remains unscheduled.
It wasn’t known Tuesday if either Nanita or Jackelyn Garcia have retained attorneys.
At a news briefing on Monday, New Britain Police Chief Matt Marino stated the child’s remains were in an “advanced state of decomposition.” Officials are still determining the time and place of her death but suspect she may have perished since the previous fall while residing in nearby Farmington with her family.
Investigators believe Jacqueline’s body was kept in the family’s basement before they relocated to New Britain, Farmington Police Chief Paul Melanson said.
Further details about the case have not been disclosed due to the ongoing investigation, which Marino said could take months to complete.
