The tragic death of 11-year-old Jacqueline “Mimi” Torres-García has sent shockwaves through Connecticut, exposing a harrowing case of alleged abuse, neglect, and a system that failed to intervene in time. Arrest warrants unsealed this week reveal that Mimi’s mother, Karla García, admitted to police that she stopped feeding her daughter in the weeks before her death and restrained her with zip-ties as punishment. The girl’s body was discovered on October 8, 2025, inside a plastic storage bin at an abandoned property in New Britain, after a tip about suspicious activity led police to the scene.
A Family’s Dark Secret
According to court documents, Mimi’s mother and her ex-boyfriend, Jonatan Nanita, now face charges including murder with special circumstances, risk of injury to a minor, unlawful restraint, and intentional cruelty to a child. Mimi’s aunt, Jackelyn García, has also been charged for her alleged role in the abuse. Investigators believe Mimi likely died in the fall of 2024 while the family lived in Farmington, and that her death was concealed—her body allegedly stored in a basement before being moved when the family relocated months later.
The arrest warrants include chilling details: Mimi was reportedly denied food, restrained, and kept isolated from her siblings and father. Her father, Victor Torres, told police he grew increasingly concerned about her absence from phone calls and visits, but was repeatedly given excuses by her mother. When he contacted the Department of Children and Families (DCF) for a wellness check, he was told they couldn’t act because he didn’t know her exact address.
Missed Red Flags and Systemic Failures
Despite multiple interactions with DCF—including medical appointments in 2022, 2023, and 2024—the agency says it received no reports directly alleging abuse or neglect of Mimi. DCF spokesperson Ken Mysogland stated, “We did not see anything relating to Jacqueline that indicated cruel or unusual punishment or physical abuse,” and emphasized that previous reports involved other children in the household, not Mimi herself. However, a neighbor in Farmington told police she called DCF in 2024 over concerns about abuse heard through a shared wall, though she initially believed the victim was an older boy.
The case has sparked outrage and renewed scrutiny of Connecticut’s child welfare system. New Britain Mayor Erin Stewart publicly questioned why past criminal conduct by the adults in Mimi’s life didn’t trigger closer scrutiny, and why warning signs were apparently missed. Under a new state law, DCF is required to release information about its handling of cases involving child fatalities, but the agency has so far declined to provide further details, citing the ongoing investigation.
Community Reaction and Calls for Change
The death of Mimi Torres-García has left the community reeling. “This is an unspeakable tragedy and one that has impacted Jacqueline’s family, friends, and her entire community,” DCF officials said in a statement. Advocates and lawmakers are already calling for policy changes, including stricter oversight of homeschooling and more robust mechanisms for reporting and investigating suspected abuse.
The case also highlights the challenges faced by extended family members and neighbors who suspect abuse but may lack enough evidence—or the right channels—to trigger an effective response. Mimi’s father and a neighbor both reached out to authorities, but their concerns did not lead to intervention in time to save her.
What Happens Next?
As the criminal investigation continues, all eyes are on the legal proceedings against Mimi’s mother, her ex-boyfriend, and her aunt. Meanwhile, Connecticut’s child welfare system faces mounting pressure to explain how such a tragedy could occur under its watch—and what steps will be taken to prevent similar cases in the future.
For now, the story of Mimi Torres-García stands as a heartbreaking reminder of the vulnerabilities faced by children in abusive households, and the urgent need for systems that can better protect them.
Sources
1.
CT Mirror: Mimi Torres-García’s mother admitted abusing her, arrest warrants show2.
CT Mirror: Troubled schools on trial: Special education driving costs and controversies3.
Connecticut Public: Connecticut DCF: No reports Jacqueline Torres Garcia was starved, abused4.
CT Mirror: Troubled schools on trial: When poverty permeates the classroom5.
CT Insider: Unsealed arrest warrants detail CT child's abuse and killing
Sources
1. Mimi Torres-García's mother admitted abusing her, ...
2. Troubled schools on trial: Special education driving costs ...
3. Connecticut DCF: No reports Jacqueline Torres Garcia was ...
4. Troubled schools on trial: When poverty permeates the ...
5. Unsealed arrest warrants detail CT child's abuse and killing
6. Mimi Torres-García case prompts lawmakers to mull policy ...
