Cops Capture Man Wanted In Slaying Of 12-Year-Old Girl Whose Body Was Found In New Britain: PD

NEW BRITAIN/FARMINGTON, CT — Police late Monday announced the capture of a man wanted for the slaying of 12-year-old Jacqueline “Mimi” Torres-Garcia.

Jonatan Nanita, 30, of New Britain, was charged on a warrant with murder with special circumstances, conspiracy to commit murder with special circumstances, risk of injury to a child, first-degree unlawful restraint, intentional cruelty to a child under age 19, improper disposal of a body, and tampering with physical evidence.

He is being held on a $5 million bond.

The girl’s body was discovered Oct. 8 in a container at an abandoned property in New Britain.

Nanita is the boyfriend of the victim’s mother, Karla Garcia, according to police.

New Britain police announced Nanita’s capture following a manhunt on their Facebook page. Farmington police said he was located and taken into custody in Waterbury.

“With the help of other local law enforcement, Jonatan Nanita was taken into custody this evening,” police said Monday night. “Our agencies would like to thank all those who attempted to assist us with sharing information leading up to this apprehension.”

Monday’s capture follows the arrests on Sunday of the victim’s mother and aunt.

Karla Garcia, 29, of New Britain, the victim’s mother, is facing the same charges as Nanita.

Jackelyn Garcia, 28, of New Britain, who is Karla Garcia’s sister and the victim’s aunt, has been charged with first-degree unlawful restraint, risk of injury to a child, and intentional cruelty to a child under age 19.

They are due to be arraigned in court today in Torrington.

Police on Oct. 8 were dispatched to investigate a report of suspicious activity at the vacant New Britain property at 80 Clark St., specifically someone at the rear of the property dropping off items, including a storage container. Police found the victim’s body in the plastic storage container, which was in the backyard along the fence line.

The Office of the Chief State Medical Examiner conducted an investigation, and concluded the victim likely died in the fall of 2024 while her family was residing in Farmington, according to Farmington Police Chief Paul Melanson.

Melanson said Monday investigators concluded the girl suffered “prolonged physical abuse and malnutrition before her death.”

The medical examiner’s office said this week the cause of death is “pending further studies.”

Police believe that after the victim’s death, her body was kept in the family’s basement and subsequently moved when her family relocated from Farmington in March 2025.

According to police, the victim was home-schooled, which limited the community’s ability to recognize she was missing.

Susan I. Hamilton, interim commissioner for the state Department of Children and Families, said Jacqueline's siblings are safe and have been placed together in state custody.

Hamilton said the agency has begun a thorough review of its history with the family.

This review will include a review of its knowledge about the family, support provided to it, casework decisions, adherence to policy, and any communication and collaboration with other system and community partners, according to Hamilton.

"Our hearts remain with all those impacted by Jacqueline's tragic and shocking death,” Hamilton said, in a statement this week. “The Department is invested in being as transparent as possible about the family's prior DCF involvement without interfering with the active and evolving criminal investigation.”

Police are asking the public to come forward with any information they may have in the case. Contact New Britain police at 860-826-3131 or Farmington police at 860-675-2460.

Read more:
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