An 11-year-old girl who was allegedly starved to death by her mother had only a single blueberry in her stomach at the time of her death, according to an autopsy report released this week. Jacqueline 'Mimi' Torres-Garcia was found dead on 8 October in the basement of a vacant home in New Britain, Connecticut. The report from the Connecticut Office of the Chief Medical Examiner concluded that the child suffered from severe malnutrition and muscle atrophy.
The autopsy revealed that the girl weighed just 27 pounds and had almost no body fat. Her body was in an advanced state of decomposition and was discovered folded tightly into a fetal position. The report also found diphenhydramine, the active ingredient in Benadryl, in her system, despite no medical prescription or diagnosis requiring the drug.
Police have charged the girl’s mother, Karla Garcia, 29, with murder and multiple related offences. Garcia has pleaded not guilty and is being held on a $5 million bond. She is due to appear in court on 30 January. According to court documents, Garcia allegedly told investigators she had not fed Jacqueline for approximately two weeks before her death.
Garcia’s former boyfriend, Jonatan Nanita, 30, is also charged with murder and conspiracy. Prosecutors allege he helped restrain the child and later disposed of her remains. Investigators believe Jacqueline died in September 2024 while living with her family in a condominium in Farmington. Police say her body was stored in the basement of that residence for months before being moved.
Police documents allege Jacqueline was zip-tied, prevented from using the bathroom, and subjected to extreme neglect. No recent fractures or major trauma were found, but investigators said the lack of food and prolonged confinement led to her death. The girl had previously lived with her paternal grandparents until 2022, when Garcia regained custody. She was later removed from public school and home-schooled, which investigators said made it harder to verify her welfare.
Authorities also allege Garcia misled the state Department of Children and Families after Jacqueline’s death by using another child to pose as her daughter during a video call. A third family member, the girl’s aunt, Jackelyn Garcia, 28, has also been arrested on charges including cruelty and unlawful restraint. The investigation remains ongoing.
