NEW BRITAIN, Conn. — A shocking and deeply disturbing revelation has emerged in the case of 11-year-old Jacqueline Torres-Garcia, whose remains were discovered last week in a container dumped behind an abandoned property in New Britain. According to a statement released Friday by the Connecticut Department of Children and Families (DCF), the girl’s family allegedly misled child protective authorities earlier this year by having another child impersonate Jacqueline during a virtual wellness check — months after she was believed to have already been killed.
The Department of Children and Families said that caseworkers had received a complaint in January 2025 expressing concern for Jacqueline’s welfare. When DCF workers requested to see the child, her family claimed she was “out of town,” and instead arranged a video call featuring a different child posing as Jacqueline.
Authorities now believe that at the time of that virtual check, Jacqueline had already been dead for two to three months. Investigators from Farmington and New Britain Police Departments said they suspect her death occurred sometime in fall 2024.
Last week, police made the grim discovery of Jacqueline’s remains sealed inside a plastic container left at a vacant property on Clark Street in New Britain. Forensic investigators confirmed the identity of the remains as those of the missing 11-year-old, whose disappearance had gone unreported for months.
According to preliminary findings, Jacqueline suffered from prolonged abuse and malnourishment prior to her death. Authorities have not yet confirmed the exact cause, but investigators say the evidence points to severe neglect and physical harm over an extended period.
“This case is nothing short of heartbreaking,” said New Britain Police Chief Matthew Marino during a Friday afternoon press conference. “An innocent child was failed on multiple levels — by those who should have loved her, and by a system that was deceived in its efforts to keep her safe.”
The Connecticut DCF has launched an internal review to determine how the deception was successful and whether additional oversight measures could have prevented it. The agency acknowledged that the virtual check, conducted as part of standard follow-up procedures, relied heavily on video confirmation. In this case, the family’s deliberate actions successfully misled caseworkers, delaying the discovery of Jacqueline’s death.
DCF Commissioner Vanessa Dorantes expressed sorrow and outrage in a written statement:
“The tragedy of Jacqueline Torres-Garcia’s death is unimaginable. Our hearts go out to her and to all those affected by this senseless loss. The Department is fully cooperating with law enforcement and conducting a thorough review to ensure accountability and system improvements.”
Neighbors in the Farmington area, where the family once lived, said they were shocked by the revelations. Some recalled seeing Jacqueline playing outside months before her disappearance, but noticed she seemed withdrawn in recent months. “She was such a sweet little girl,” one neighbor said. “To hear how she died — it’s unbearable.”
Police have not yet confirmed who among Jacqueline’s relatives may face charges, but investigators said multiple arrests are expected as the case progresses.
Community members are demanding justice and systemic reform, questioning how such a deception could have gone undetected for so long. Advocates for child welfare reform are now calling for mandatory in-person wellness checks in cases involving prior abuse reports or high-risk households.
“This tragedy should never have happened,” said child protection advocate Maria Lopez. “When a child dies after the system was lied to, it’s a wake-up call that we must strengthen our safeguards.”
As detectives continue their investigation, the New Britain community has begun organizing vigils and memorials in Jacqueline’s memory. A small makeshift memorial — flowers, stuffed animals, and handwritten notes — has appeared near the abandoned property where her remains were found.
Jacqueline Torres-Garcia’s short life has now become a symbol of the urgent need for vigilance and truth in protecting the most vulnerable. Her story, marked by deception and loss, has shaken Connecticut to its core — leaving behind the haunting question of how such cruelty could go unnoticed for so long.
Authorities urge anyone with additional information about the case to contact New Britain Police Department or Connecticut DCF as the investigation continues.
May Jacqueline rest in peace — and may her story lead to justice and reform so that no other child suffers in silence.