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Connecticut child’s death that went unnoticed for a year renews debate on homeschooling regulations

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Connecticut child’s death that went unnoticed for a year renews debate on homeschooling regulations


Investigators are still trying to determine precisely when Jacqueline “Mimi” Torres-Garcia was killed, police say. The 11-year-old’s remains were found in a bin behind an abandoned house in New Britain. Jacqueline’s mother, Karla Garcia, and her boyfriend, Jonatan Nanita, have been charged with murder. Garcia’s sister, Jackelyn Garcia, faces charges that include cruelty to a child under 19.

Courtesy of the New Britain Police Department

The death of an 11-year-old girl whose remains were found this month — about a year after police believe she was killed — has renewed a debate over Connecticut homeschooling regulations.

Jacqueline “Mimi” Torres-Garcia’s remains were found behind an abandoned New Britain home on Oct. 8 after police say her family hid her decomposing body for about a year. The girl’s death went unnoticed because she was no longer enrolled in school and the state Department of Children and Families said her mother had another child pose as her during a virtual visit months after she is believed to have died.

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The girl’s mother, Karla Garcia, and the woman’s boyfriend, Jonatan Nanita, have each been charged with murder with special circumstances, conspiracy to commit murder, intentional cruelty to a child under age 19, unlawful restraint and risk of injury. Garcia also is charged with tampering with physical evidence and illegal disposal of a body. The woman’s sister, Jackelyn Garcia, is charged with intentional cruelty to a child, first-degree unlawful restraint and risk of injury to a minor.

Connecticut officials who oversee agencies connected with child protection and safety say the 11-year-old’s death is the latest example of why they believe the state needs regulations on homeschooling.

“The Center for Children’s Advocacy strongly supports parents’ constitutionally protected right to direct the education of their child, including the right to provide a home-based education,” said Sarah Eagan, the agency’s executive director. “In Connecticut, despite our compulsory education and attendance laws, school districts do not engage in any inquiry or follow up on children that are permanently removed from school for the stated purpose of homeschooling. Most states have follow-up, record keeping, or other requirements related to withdrawn and homeschooled children. CCA strongly recommends that lawmakers urgently address this public policy matter as it directly impacts the safety and wellbeing of certain children.” 

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An online petition started by Bridgeport resident Los Fidel is lobbying for the creation of “Mimi’s Law” to ensure “no child disappears unnoticed again.” As of Monday morning, the petition on change.org had gathered more than 13,000 signatures.

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However, the leader of a homeschooling advocacy organization said in a news release that the “offense date” of June 21, 2024 listed in Connecticut court records for Karla Garcia indicates the child was killed more than a month before her mother withdrew her from public school.

Attorney Deborah G. Stevenson, founder of National Home Education Legal Defense LLC, said that means complaints about homeschooling and the child being out of the public eye when she was allegedly abused and killed are baseless.

Farmington police said the June offense dates listed for Karla Garcia and her two co-defendants reflect only the start of a time range for the crimes because investigators are still trying to determine precisely when the girl was killed. Arrest warrants in the case have been sealed until next week.

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Search warrants that were obtained by Farmington police indicate they believe the child’s alleged abuse was witnessed by Jackelyn Garcia between June and August 2024 when she was living with the family for periods of time. Karla Garcia told her sister that the girl died on Sept. 19, 2024, weeks after she filed to have the child homeschooled, according to the documents.

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Police say the girl suffered “prolonged physical abuse” and “malnourishment.” In the search warrants, police said Karla Garcia “stopped feeding” the child in the weeks before she died and that the girl was restrained with zip ties.

The offense dates for all of Jackelyn Garcia’s charges are listed in court records as June 1, 2024. Offense dates for all charges against Karla Garcia and Nanita are listed as June 21, 2024.

Jacqueline attended New Britain schools from kindergarten through fifth grade, according to New Britain Superintendent of Schools Tony Gasper. On Aug. 26, 2024, which would have been Jacqueline’s first day of sixth grade, Karla Garcia filed an official Notification of Withdrawal from the school district, stating her daughter’s new address would be in Farmington, Gasper said. On that same day, Garcia filed a Notice of Intent: Instruction of Student at Home form with the district, he said.

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Stevenson said the outcry about homeschooling after crimes against children, including a Waterbury man who says he was held captive in his home since he was removed from school as a child, “is nothing new” and is an excuse to force more regulation of at-home education.

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Connecticut’s homeschooling laws are looser than in neighboring states. A recent report by the Office of Legislative Research says Connecticut’s homeschooling framework largely relies on voluntary guidelines rather than on state statute — making it an outlier compared to nearby states that solidify rules around notice and record-keeping under the law.

Although there are rules around withdrawing children from school, Connecticut does not legally require any notification from parents before homeschooling their children, according to the report. There are also no state laws around required home record-keeping, annual assessments or enforcement or intervention mechanisms if homeschooling requirements are not met, the report noted.

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Advocates say this lack of regulation has allowed some parents to withdraw their children from school, isolate their children, shield themselves from reports to the state’s child welfare agency and neglect or abuse their children. State guidelines recommend parents file notice of intent to homeschool with the local board of education, but it is not mandated by law, according to the report.



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Body recovered after Bloomfield house fire and explosion

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Body recovered after Bloomfield house fire and explosion


A body was recovered after a house explosion resulting in a house fire in the area of Banbury Lane on Monday night.

Fire Marshal Roger Nelson says they recovered a body around 1:15 on Tuesday morning. The identity of the body found will not be released at this time.

When officers arrived around 6:11 p.m. they encountered the house fully in flames, police said.

According to police, the fire department was able to extinguish the fire, but the house sustained devastating damage.

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There are no criminal aspects related to this incident at this time.

The incident was contained to the one house.



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Exclusive | Ex-CBS anchor Josh Elliott back on Connecticut dating scene after ugly Liz Cho split

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Exclusive | Ex-CBS anchor Josh Elliott back on Connecticut dating scene after ugly Liz Cho split


Ex-CBS host Josh Elliott is looking for love eight months after he filed for divorce from “Eyewitness News” anchor Liz Cho.

“Josh is out and about on the dating scene in Fairfield County,” a spy exclusively tells Page Six. “He’s been seen at the bars in the area where middle-aged singles congregate.” 

A second source tells Page Six, “Josh isn’t dating anyone, but he is open to meeting people. His daughter is his priority.”

Page Six can also reveal that Elliott moved out of his and Cho’s estimated $4.2 million Connecticut marital home in January.

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Josh Elliott (pictured above back in July) is “open” to dating eight months after filing for divorce from Liz Cho. FOX Image Collection via Getty Images
The former CBS anchor (seen here in 2016 with his estranged wife) has been on the dating scene in Connecticut. Kristina Bumphrey/Starpix / Shutterstock

In court papers dated Jan. 29 and obtained by Page Six, Cho revealed Elliott moved out of their home and into a new residence without her knowledge.

Cho claimed she was notified by Optimum on Jan. 21, regarding her ex installing internet at his new home.

“The Defendant learned for the first time from said communication that on or about January 15, 2026, the Plaintiff secured an unfurnished rental residence located in Southport, Connecticut,” the filing read.

“It is now clear that the Plaintiff surreptitiously entered a new lease…” the court papers continued.

A rep for Elliott did not respond to Page Six’s request for comment.

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Elliott moved out of the Connecticut home he shared with Cho earlier this year. Getty Images
The former “Good Morning America” anchor divorced from Cho in June after a decade of marriage. Getty Images

Page Six broke the ousted CBS anchor filed for divorce from Cho after a decade of marriage on June 20, 2025.

“The marriage of the parties has broken down irretrievably,” the court papers read. Elliott asked for a “dissolution of the marriage” and for “an equitable distribution of all property, both real and personal.”

Cho responded to her estranged husband’s complaint on Nov. 6 and filed a cross-complaint against him. She also stated their marriage “has broken down irretrievably.”

The divorce became messy when Cho requested “copies of written correspondence, emails, cards, WeChat messages, Facebook messages, social media messaging, instant messaging, telephonic text messages, transcribed voicemail messages or any written forms of communication” between Elliott and “any person, other than the defendant, with whom [Elliott] have or have had a romantic and/or sexual relationship, from July 11, 2015, to the present.”

Elliott objected the request on the “grounds that the time frame of the request for production is unreasonable, unnecessary, harassing and not likely to lead to the discovery of admissible evidence.”

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Cho also requested “monies spent for the benefit of any person with whom you have had a romantic and/or sexual relationship, other than the defendant,” “property given or transferred by you to any person with whom you have had a romantic and/or sexual relationship, other than the defendant,” “monies spent for your benefit by any person with whom you have had a romantic and/or sexual relationship with, other than the defendant.”

The TV personality in addition requested financial records, documentation proving Elliott’s search for employment — as he was ousted from CBS in 2017 — travel invoices, and more. Elliott objected to the requests.

A source close to the couple previously told Page Six, “This is standard in a divorce. Her lawyer is doing a thorough document request. The documents she is requesting are standard.” The insider also insisted there is no evidence Elliott had a relationship with anyone outside the marriage.

As Page Six reported, Cho requested documentation from Elliott, including financial. Kristina Bumphrey/Starpix / Shutterstock
He objected her requests, as their divorce proceedings have turned nasty. Cindy Ord

Also in the Jan. 29 court filing, Cho filed a motion for contempt against Elliott regarding their jointly owned marital Connecticut mansion.

Cho claimed Elliott arranged for a moving truck to come to the marital residence while she was on vacation with her daughter on Jan. 19.

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Cho claimed Elliott moved a “significant amount of furniture and furnishings from the marital residence,” and their “two Portuguese water dogs,” which she alleged at the time of the filing were not returned.

The court docs continued to allege, “On Tuesday, January 6, 2026, [Cho] realized that she was missing a valuable watch and earrings from her jewelry bag. As [Elliott] is the only other person who had access to the missing watch and jewelry, [Cho] believes [Elliott] is in possession of such personal property.”

She claimed his alleged actions are a “willful violation” of the court’s orders.

The insider alleged Elliott was the one to take care of the dogs and that he took “a small amount of furniture.”

In Elliott’s response to her filing, he objected to her request and claimed her allegations are “false and inflammatory.”

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He claimed in court papers, “[Cho] alleges [Elliott] ‘ransacked’ and ‘abandoned’ the marital residence — claims that are patently false and intended to annoy, harass and intimidate [Elliott].

“[Elliott] did not ransack the marital home. He did not damage the property. He did not render the residence uninhabitable. He removed limited personal property and furnishings so he would have a safe haven from [Cho’s] escalating and erratic behavior direct at not only [Elliott], but his minor child as well.”

Cho accused Elliott (seen in 2019) of taking their two dogs. Getty Images
She also accused him of taking her earrings — claims he denied in court papers. GC Images

In a separate filing, he continued to defend his actions by alleging, “[Elliott] removed only limited furniture items and furnishings, many from the basement, solely to furnish a new residence after removing himself and his child from a hostile environment created by [Cho]. All property remains intact and subject to equitable distribution.”

In regard to the jewelry claim, Elliott said, “Perhaps most egregious is [Cho’s] baseless accusation that [Elliott] stole her jewelry. This allegation is made without evidence, without corroboration and without even a good-faith attempt to verify the truth.”

He then accused her of “monitoring and listening to [Elliott’s] private phone calls; rifling through [Elliott’s] personal belongings and closet; leaving the marital residence for extended periods without communication despite the presence of two dogs requiring daily care” and more claims.

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He is requesting that the court deny her motion for contempt and they are due in court on March 20.

Lawyers for Cho and Elliott did not respond to Page Six’s request for comment regarding the divorce.

Elliott accused his estranged wife of escalating and erratic behavior. Lawyers for Cho did not respond to Page Six’s request for comment. Jamie McCarthy
Elliott is in talks to return to television to join Gayle King and Nate Burleson on “CBS Mornings.” Brian Ach

Elliott, 54, and Cho, 55, met while working for ABC and got married in July 2015.

This was the second marriage for both, as they each share a daughter from their previous relationships.

Cho has been with ABC on “Eyewitness News” since 2003, while Elliott was with ABC’s “Good Morning America” from 2011 to 2014.

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After a brief stint with NBC, he joined CBSN as lead daytime anchor in March 2016. Nearly a year later, he was let go from the company.

Elliott has been out of the spotlight in recent years, but is now in talks to join Gayle King and Nate Burleson on “CBS Mornings,” Awful Announcing reported.



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Man charged with murder in Hartford

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Man charged with murder in Hartford


A man was charged with murder and interfering with police on Sunday night.

According to police, officers were dispatched to an apartment on Washington Street for a wellness check of a woman who was reportedly unconscious and not breathing.

When officers arrived, they made contact with a man in the apartment who refused to cooperate and would not allow officers access. They then had to force entry into the apartment where they located the victim suffering from severe head trauma as well as the aggressive male, police said.

The man was secured and transported to the Hartford Police Detention Facility and is being held on a million-dollar bond.

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The victim was revealed to be 76-year-old Linda Anthony and was pronounced deceased on scene.

The Hartford Police Major Crimes and Crime Scene Divisions responded to the scene and assumed the investigation.  



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