Connecticut Shields DCF Agency After Murder of 12-Year-Old Girl, DCF Blames Homeschoolers Again – As Accused Appear in Court
Republished with permission from AbleChild
After reaching out to the Farmington Police Department regarding the murder of 12-year-old Jacqueline Torres and the Connecticut Insider’s claim that “she was homeschooled,” Police Chief Paul Melanson clarified that Jacqueline was “reportedly” homeschooled. His full statement was, “Reportedly homeschool, which limits the community ability to recognize that she was missing.” However, unlike public, private, or homeschool communities, the Department of Children and Family Services (DCF) has total access to the child’s living situation, home life, and medical records. When pressed for more information, Chief Melanson said he would defer to DCF to speak for themselves. If DCF lost track of a child and family under their charge, this reveals far less community access to homeschooled children than those under direct state supervision.
Statement from Attorney Deborah Stevenson, National Home Education Legal Defense (NHELD):
According to reports from CBS News, Jacqueline “Mimi” Torres Garcia was likely killed in the fall of 2024 in Connecticut. This coincidentally appears close to the date that the Superintendent of the New Britain public school district where the child was enrolled for six years claims her mother filed homeschooling documents withdrawing the child from that school. It remains unclear if the school saw her at that time.
It also is strange that the Superintendent only made his statement after homeschoolers questioned the lack of release of official documents. The Superintendent still has not released the documents he cited.
In addition, media stories indicate that the judge in the murder case has placed a 14-day hold on releasing the arrest warrant affidavits which would reveal further factual information. We are requesting copies of all relevant documents, including any withdrawal or homeschooling forms, arrest warrant affidavits, the coroner’s autopsy report, and Department of Children and Families (DCF) records. It has been reported that the family, by DCF’s own admission, had involvement and oversight well before the child was killed with their agency.
The judge ruled that the accused may have contact with the Department of Children and Family Services, even if that agency had been responsible for overseeing the family prior to the murder. The case now draws in the mental health industry. The state-appointed attorney has requested a Mental Health Amendment, requiring a formal mental health evaluation to be used in courtroom proceedings. Given the mother’s prior court appearances and her documented interactions with DCF — as well as her boyfriend’s status as a career criminal — one might reasonably assume such evaluations should already have been conducted by the State.
DCF has a documented history of blaming the homeschooling community for children’s deaths that occur under its auspices. This marks the fourth child—starved, neglected, abused or killed—on the watch of DCF or public schools. The prior three, routinely chronicled in bleak headlines, were enrolled in public school yet “chronically absent.” In other words: missing.
But in this case, Chief Melanson’s candor exposed the misreporting of outlets like Connecticut Insider, which falsely claimed the child was homeschooled. No evidence has been produced showing Jacqueline Torres was educated at home. No withdrawal papers. No affidavit. Nothing.
Where does responsibility lie? As a state agency tasked with oversight, DCF should have known Jacqueline was missing—not a public school, private school, nor homeschool group. Before the media and state bureaucracy point fingers, consider these numbers:
98,000 Missing Children
Jacqueline Torres is not necessarily an aberration. Is she among the 98,000 Connecticut public school children chronically absent this year? In February 2025, Connecticut’s chronic absenteeism rate peaked at nearly 20.2%, meaning over 98,000 children missed 10% or more of their school year. This was an increase of about 7,200 students from the previous month, and the highest rate in recent years. State Education Commissioner Charlene Russell-Tucker herself admitted, “It’s the highest number we’ve seen in quite some time.”
Where are those children? Does the Department of Education know? Does DCF know? How many are suffering neglect, abuse, or worse? Was Jacqueline one of them?
We have rumors, not proof, that Jacqueline was homeschooled. Where’s the documentation? Was it signed under penalty of perjury in the police warrant affidavit? Who, exactly, said she was homeschooled? Until evidence is presented, why should the public accept unsupported claims from officials and the press?
Instead, what we get is the familiar dance. After the fact, DCF issues statements about reviewing its files, wondering what steps were—or were not—taken to help Jacqueline before she disappeared and died. The pattern is unmistakable: the system fails, children pay the price, and the blame lands on families, especially homeschoolers.
Instead of asking what state agencies did wrong, the public is fed unfounded accusations. DCF, the Department of Education, and politicians rush to blame homeschooling, because that keeps them insulated from scrutiny. The playbook is simple: wash their hands of responsibility, deflect, and demand more regulation of homeschooling—while jobs, reputations, and privileges remain untouched.
We contacted Mayor Erin Stewart of New Britain for comment regarding the city’s role and oversight in this case. At the time of this publication, her office has yet to respond. This article will be updated upon receipt of her statement.
Who’s asking about the other 98,000 missing children? Who will demand answers from the officials entrusted to protect them? Or will it be business as usual—until another child’s death becomes tomorrow’s news cycle, and the pattern repeats?
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