Mother, boyfriend charged in girl’s murder charged with lying to get SNAP benefits

(WFSB) - Karla Garcia, the mother of Jacqueline “Mimi” Torres-Garcia, and her boyfriend Jonatan Nanita, both charged in her murder, now face additional charges in New Britain court, accused of lying to the state to get SNAP benefits.

Department of Social Services investigators say that Karla Garcia has been receiving SNAP benefits for her household since October 13, 2020 (her SNAP case was closed at the end of October 2025, because of her incarceration).

After Garcia’s arrest for Jacqueline’s murder, police contacted DSS and a search of their system found Garcia had been receiving SNAP benefits for Jacqueline and her 4 other children at the time of her arrest. Police have determined, based on interviews and evidence, that Jacqueline likely died in September 2024.

In January 2025 and in August 2025, DSS found Garcia submitted SNAP renewal forms, where she failed to report that Jacqueline was no longer a part of the household. She also did not report Jonatan Nanita was a part of the household. DSS found Nanita had been receiving his own SNAP benefits from, October 16, 2024 through his arrest in October 2025, claiming he was homeless. He used a Vernon address as a mailing address.

DSS says Garcia’s benefits from October 2024 to December 2024 would have stayed the same, but from January 2025 to October 2025, the family would have had less benefits if she told the truth. They say she and Nanita both signed paperwork, acknowledging they could be fined up to $250,000 and imprisoned up to 20 years for lying.

Ultimately, DSS determined Jonatan Nanita received $2,886 in SNAP benefits that he was not eligible for and Karla Garcia was aware of it. Receipts and surveillance show that at least twice both Ms. Garcia and Nanita were using his EBT card for shopping, and other some occasions she used his card without him present.

Karla Garcia is charged with conspiracy to commit larceny in the first degree by defrauding a public community and 2 counts of giving false statements.

Jonatan Nanita is charged with larceny in the first degree by defrauding a public community and 2 counts of giving false statements.