Woman Admits Impersonating Dead 11-Year-Old on Zoom Call in Disturbing Murder Case
In a chilling courtroom revelation, a 22-year-old woman has admitted to impersonating an 11-year-old girl during a Zoom call with social services, months after the child had already died. The testimony emerged during a probable cause hearing for the girl's mother, Karla Garcia, and her boyfriend, Jonatan Nanita, who both face murder charges with special circumstances in connection with the death of Jacqueline "Mimi" Torres-Garcia.
Deceptive Zoom Call Orchestrated by Mother
Jacklyn Goulet testified in a Connecticut courtroom that she was asked by Karla Garcia to pretend to be Mimi during a January 2025 video call with the Department of Children and Families (DCF). According to testimony reported by Greenwich Time, Garcia feared losing custody of her other children if the scheduled call did not take place. Goulet stated she had never met Mimi or Garcia's other children, and believed the child was staying with an aunt in another state, unaware she had already died.
During the Zoom call, Garcia provided Goulet with the names and ages of her other children to answer potential questions from DCF workers. When asked if she missed her siblings, Goulet testified she responded as Mimi: "I said I talked to them every day on the phone and that we Face-timed." She also claimed to have told the DCF worker that she made good grades and had friends.
Gruesome Discovery and Years of Alleged Abuse
Mimi's remains were discovered in a tote bag behind an abandoned home in New Britain in October 2025, though police believe she died in September 2024. Authorities allege the child suffered years of abuse, including being restrained with zip ties and denied food by her mother and Nanita. Farmington police testified that Mimi's DNA was found on a mattress in a basement closet, on the linoleum beneath it, and on the subfloor below. Nanita's right palm print was identified on the tote containing her remains.
According to Detective James McKeown's testimony, Nanita told investigators that Karla Garcia and her sister, Jackelyn Leeann Garcia, would hit and punch Mimi, forcing her to kneel in a corner for extended periods until she urinated and defecated on herself. Nanita claimed he would either take the other children out of the house or stay in his room playing video games during these incidents.
Disturbing Details of the Case
Nanita reportedly told police that after returning from taking the other children to McDonald's one day, Karla Garcia informed him Mimi was dead upstairs. He stated he did not call for help because he had no phone. Court documents allege Nanita helped dispose of Mimi's body and later filed paperwork to make it appear the child was still alive, enabling the family to receive additional food assistance.
An autopsy report obtained through probate court filings revealed the girl's stomach contained only a single blueberry. Amphetamines and antihistamines, neither prescribed, were found in her system. Although no injuries were detected on her body, the Medical Examiner described her as "emaciated," weighing just 27 pounds at death. The cause was determined to be "fatal child abuse with starvation."
Legal Proceedings and Reactions
Tim O'Keefe, attorney for Mimi's father Victor Torres, called Goulet's testimony "disturbing." O'Keefe represents Torres in a $100 million claim against DCF, stating: "The information that we are learning is incredibly disturbing. The family is committed to making sure that all responsible people and entities are held fully accountable for what occurred involving these two young children."
Karla Garcia and Jonatan Nanita face charges of murder with special circumstances. Nanita additionally faces charges of improper disposal of a body, fraud, and larceny. Jackelyn Garcia, the 28-year-old aunt, is charged with participating in the abuse but not with murder. Litchfield Superior Court Judge Robert D'Andrea will determine whether sufficient evidence exists to proceed after the hearing concludes, with proceedings continuing Thursday.
