by Farmington, CT – Prosecutors say a Connecticut mother orchestrated an elaborate deception after allegedly murdering her 11-year-old homeschooled daughter, convincing a 22-year-old woman to impersonate the child during a video call with state officials to conceal the killing. The disturbing allegations emerged during a probable cause hearing this week, shedding new light on how authorities say the child’s death went undetected for months.
The victim, Jacqueline “Mimi” Torres-Garcia, was allegedly killed in the fall of 2024, with her body later hidden inside a 40-gallon tote with the help of her mother’s boyfriend.
Prosecutors Outline Alleged Cover-Up After Child’s Death
According to prosecutors, Karla Garcia and her boyfriend Jonatan Nanita murdered Mimi and then stored her body in the family’s basement before later moving it following a relocation to New Britain in March 2025. The child had been homeschooled, a factor investigators say contributed to her disappearance going largely unnoticed.
Authorities allege Garcia enlisted a 22-year-old family friend to impersonate Mimi during a January 2025 FaceTime call with a Department of Children and Families (DCF) caseworker to give the impression the child was alive and well.
Woman Testifies She Was Asked to Pose as the Child
The woman, identified by CT Insider as Jacklyn Goulet, testified Wednesday at Nanita’s probable cause hearing that she had no idea Mimi was dead at the time she was asked to participate.
Goulet told the court she was a family friend of Garcia’s and was informed that Mimi was living with a relative in another state. During the call, Goulet allegedly told the DCF caseworker that “Mimi” was doing well in school, had friends, and regularly FaceTimed her family.
“I said I talked to them every day on the phone and that we FaceTimed,” Goulet testified, according to CT Insider.
She said Garcia coached her during the call using handwritten notes listing the names and ages of Mimi’s siblings.
Attorneys Call Allegations ‘Incredibly Disturbing’
Tim O’Keefe, the attorney representing Mimi’s estate, said the testimony underscored the severity of the alleged crimes.
“The information that we are learning is incredibly disturbing,” O’Keefe said in a statement to WVIT.
Prosecutors allege that both Garcia and Nanita are responsible for Mimi’s death and have each been charged with murder.
Evidence Points to Prolonged Abuse and Malnourishment
Authorities say Mimi endured prolonged physical abuse and severe malnourishment prior to her death. She is believed to have been killed in Farmington, where the family lived before moving.
When Mimi’s body was eventually discovered, investigators said it weighed approximately 26 to 27 pounds, an alarming figure for an 11-year-old child.
Detectives testified that the child’s remains were found inside a tote after being wrapped in garbage bags.
“I had to open up a garbage bag … a head and shoulders, human remains,” one detective said, according to WFSB.
“She was purple and cold to the touch.”
Sister Allegedly Witnessed Abuse, Prosecutors Say
Garcia’s sister, Jackelyn Garcia, 28, is also charged in the case with risk of injury to a child, unlawful restraint, and child cruelty. According to arrest warrants, she admitted seeing Mimi zip-tied on multiple occasions.
“Jackelyn admitted to seeing her niece zip tied on a couple of occasions,” the warrant states.
She told investigators that Mimi was already extremely thin the last time she saw her and was often kept isolated in a corner of the home.
Detectives also described alleged photos found on Jackelyn’s phone.
“In a fetal position, on the floor, with her hands zip-tied behind her back,” a detective said, noting visible bruising and discoloration.
SNAP Fraud Allegations Added to Case
In addition to murder charges, prosecutors allege Garcia and Nanita fraudulently collected SNAP benefits after Mimi’s death. The Connecticut Department of Social Services says Garcia submitted SNAP renewal forms in January 2025 and August 2025, listing Mimi as part of her household.
Nanita allegedly received SNAP benefits from Oct. 16, 2024, through October 2025, while claiming he was homeless. Officials say the couple acknowledged on paperwork that false statements could result in up to $250,000 in fines and 20 years in prison.
Court Proceedings Continue
Nanita was scheduled to return to court Thursday for a second day of his probable cause hearing. Karla Garcia and Jackelyn Garcia are both due in court Friday.
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