Her name was Jacqueline “Mimi” Torres.

She was 12. She should have been safe.

I’m a Connecticut resident who couldn’t sleep after learning how Mimi’s life ended. According to police, Mimi endured prolonged physical abuse and malnourishment and may have died as far back as fall 2024. Her remains were discovered last week in a storage bin behind an abandoned home in New Britain. Three adults—including her mother and her mother’s boyfriend—now face serious charges. Investigators say she was homeschooled, never reported missing, and kept out of sight for months. 

This is bigger than one case. In Connecticut, our own Office of the Child Advocate reports that in 2024, there were 16 child homicides, and six were caused by child abuse. In 69% of those homicides, the perpetrator was the child’s caregiver. These are not rare, random failures—they are predictable gaps in a system that needs reform. 

Mimi’s story also exposes a well-known loophole: homeschool withdrawal with virtually no oversight. Connecticut is the only New England state where a parent can withdraw a child from public school for homeschooling without any ongoing evaluation. After several high-profile cases, the Child Advocate urged the state to adopt basic safety checks for children withdrawn from school—especially when DCF has prior involvement. We still haven’t done it. 

I started this petition to demand Mimi’s Law—a common-sense reform package so no child disappears into silence again:

1. Welfare Verification in Custody & Default Orders
   If a parent seeks custody and there’s DCF history or public assistance, require an in-home safety check before finalizing uncontested custody.
2. Homeschool Safety Oversight (No “disappearing” kids)
   If an at-risk child is withdrawn from school, trigger an automatic wellness visit and follow-up.
3. Real-Time Inter-Agency Communication
   DCF, schools, courts, and the Attorney General must share risk information quickly—not after a tragedy.
4. Transparency & Accountability
   Child-death reviews must be reported to legislative oversight so patterns are fixed, not hidden. 

Please add your name. Help make sure Mimi’s name stands for change, not tragedy—for protection, not paperwork; for accountability, not after-the-fact apologies.