Welcome to Arrest Stories. A Connecticut mother already facing murder charges in her eleven-year-old daughter's death has been arrested on additional charges for allegedly continuing to receive SNAP benefits after the child died. Here's what may have happened.
In New Britain, Connecticut, Karla Garcia appeared in court facing new charges of conspiracy to commit larceny in the first degree by defrauding a public community and two counts of giving false statements. These charges stem from allegations that Garcia continued receiving SNAP benefits for her daughter Jacqueline Torres-Garcia after the child's death.
According to court documents, Garcia had been receiving SNAP benefits for her household since October thirteenth, two thousand twenty. The benefits covered Jacqueline and Garcia's four other children at the time of her arrest. However, police believe Jacqueline likely died in September two thousand twenty-four based on interviews and evidence collected during their investigation.
The medical examiner determined that Jacqueline may have been dead for a year before her body was discovered. Jacqueline's remains were found in a forty-gallon container outside of an abandoned home following an anonymous tip to authorities.
Despite Jacqueline's death, Garcia allegedly failed to report that her daughter was no longer part of the household on SNAP renewal forms submitted in January two thousand twenty-five and August two thousand twenty-five. Garcia's SNAP case was eventually closed at the end of October two thousand twenty-five due to her incarceration on the murder charges.
Police reports indicate that Garcia and her boyfriend Jonatan Nanita had severely mistreated Jacqueline before her death. Authorities say Garcia applied zip ties to her daughter and withheld food. Both Garcia and Nanita reportedly stopped feeding Jacqueline two weeks prior to her death.
Garcia admitted that she and Nanita mistreated Jacqueline because the girl was bad and didn't respect them, according to police statements.
Nanita and Jackelyn Garcia were also arrested in connection with this case.
All suspects presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Do not take this report as factual, always verify facts. Thanks for watching Arrest Stories.