Investigators believe 12-year-old found dead in plastic container was dead for a year, never reported missing

TORRINGTON, Conn. (WFSB/Gray News) – Investigators believe a 12-year-old Connecticut girl was dead for a year before her body was found in a plastic container last week.

She was never reported missing, and now questions are being raised about how she could have been dead for so long without anyone noticing.

According to police, Jacqueline Torres was murdered in Farmington last fall. Her body was kept in a plastic container for a year before being dumped behind an abandoned home on Clark Street in New Britain last week. Police were alerted to the body’s location through an anonymous tip.

Police believe her body was secretly kept in the family’s basement in Farmington and moved when her family relocated to New Britain.

Jacqueline’s mother, aunt and mother’s boyfriend are all facing charges in her death. All three faced a judge on Tuesday.

Jacqueline’s mother Karla Garcia and her boyfriend Jonatan Nanita have been charged with murder.

Both are also charged with first-degree unlawful restraint, risk of injury to a child, tampering with physical evidence, conspiracy to commit murder with special circumstances, intentional cruelty to a child and improper disposal of a dead body.

Jacqueline’s aunt Jackelyn Garcia was charged with child cruelty, first-degree unlawful restraint and risk of injury to a child.

Police said they believe Jacqueline suffered prolonged abuse and malnourishment before her death.

The case raised questions from lawmakers and advocates about how a child could be dead for a year without anyone reporting her missing.

Jacqueline’s father, Victor Torres, told WFSB last week that he did not have custody of Jacqueline and has been living out of state.

Jacqueline was in the New Britain school system from kindergarten to fifth grade. On what would have been the first day of sixth grade, last August, Karla Garcia pulled her out of the school system. The mother told school officials that they had moved to Farmington and were planning on homeschooling Jacqueline.

The Connecticut Office of the Child Advocate said the state must address the issue of homeschooling oversight.

“On the issue of homeschooling, we know from previous investigations that some parents use Connecticut’s complete lack of oversight of homeschooled children to withdraw their children from school, isolate them, shield themselves from reports to our child welfare agency and neglect or abuse their children. This is a known policy issue that the state must address,” said Christina D. Ghio, JD, CWLS, Acting Child Advocate.

The state Department of Children and Families issued a statement that said it has “already begun a thorough review of our history with the family.” The review “will include our knowledge about the family, supports provided, casework decisions, adherence to policy, as well as communication and collaboration with other system and community partners.”

DCF said Jacqueline’s siblings are safe and in their custody. Jacqueline’s autopsy results are still pending.

Both Karla Garcia and Nanita had their bonds set at $5 million. Jackelyn Garcia’s bond was set at $1 million.

The arrest warrants for the Garcia sisters and Nanita were sealed by a judge for 14 days. Those documents will have more details on what unfolded in the case over the last year.

The Garcia sisters are due back in court on Nov. 14.