NEW BRITAIN, Conn. (WTNH) — The mother and aunt of a 12-year-old girl whose remains were found outside an abandoned New Britain home have been arrested in relation to her death, according to police.
New Britain officers responded to an abandoned building at 80 Clark St. just before 1 p.m. on Wednesday in response to a report of suspicious behavior. They found a large container in the backyard along the fence line with apparent human remains.
New Britain police confirmed on Friday that the human remains found in a large container in the backyard are those of “an adolescent female.”
In a news conference Monday, police confirmed that the remains were of 12-year-old Jacqueline Torres. Investigators believe that Jacqueline died in fall 2024 while her family lived in Farmington.
Jacqueline’s mother, Karla Garcia, was arrested and charged with murder with special circumstances and is being held on a $5 million bond.
Her aunt, Jacqueline Garcia, was charged with cruelty to persons under 19 years of age and is being held on a $1 million bond.
An active arrest warrant is out for Karla’s boyfriend, Jonatan Nanita, charging him with murder with special circumstances and tampering with physical evidence, according to police. They are currently looking for him.
Police said that they believe Jacqueline was subject to prolonged physical abuse and malnourishment prior to her death. They continued by saying that her body was kept in a basement and was moved when her family relocated from Farmington in March 2025.
The video above is from Oct. 10.
New Britain school officials stated on Friday that they were aware of “unconfirmed reports” that the remains are those of a former student.
Consolidated School District of New Britain spokesperson Ryan Langer shared the following statement on Friday.
“At this time, law enforcement has not publicly identified the individual involved,” Lang said. “Out of respect for the family and in alignment with standard protocols, we are not able to comment or confirm any information related to the identity of the individual at this time. We are, however, mindful that this news may be impacting members of our school community, and are aware of unconfirmed reports that this individual may be a former student. The district is prepared to make support services available to students and staff.”
Susan Hamilton, the interim commissioner of the state Department of Children and Families (DCF), also released a statement on Friday, saying the agency is “profoundly saddened” by the report but could not comment on it.
“Our thoughts are with her family, friends, neighbors, and others who knew her and for the pain and loss they are experiencing,” Hamilton said. “We are grateful to the first responders – New Britain Police and our Agency staff – for their response and collaborative efforts to investigate this horrible tragedy. This reinforces for all members of our community such as professionals, family members, and concerned citizens, that protecting children takes our collective efforts. Due to the ongoing criminal investigation, we are unable to comment any further at this time. We ask anyone who may have information related to the matter to contact Law Enforcement.”