Fotis Dulos' Attorney: He 'Had No Motive To Kill Jennifer' Dulos

NEW CANAAN, CT — DNA evidence from Fotis Dulos, the estranged husband of missing New Canaan mom Jennifer Dulos, was found mixed with Jennifer Dulos' blood at her New Canaan house, State's Attorney Richard Colangelo stated in Stamford Superior Court Tuesday.

Fotis Dulos, and his girlfriend Michelle Troconis, appeared separately in court before Judge John Blawie, and both pleaded not guilty to charges of tampering with or fabricating physical evidence, and first-degree hindering prosecution.

While Troconis' attorney, Andrew Bowman, had little to discuss with Blawie because his client is already free on bond, Fotis Dulos' attorney, Norm Pattis, requested a drastic reduction in bail from $500,000 to $100,000.

In turn, Colangelo sought a sharp increase in bail to $850,000. And in arguing for the hike, he told the court that besides Jennifer Dulos' blood being found on items that Fotis Dulos and Troconis are believed to have discarded, Fotis Dulos' DNA was found on a faucet in the New Canaan house and mixed with Jennifer Dulos' blood.

Blawie listened to Pattis and Colangelo but denied both requests and kept Fotis Dulos' bail at $500,000. Pattis said his client was prepared to post bond Tuesday, and like Troconis, as part of his release Fotis Dulos must surrender all passports (if he has more than one), wear a GPS monitoring device and not leave Connecticut without prior court approval.

Later in the day, Fotis Dulos posted bond, according to Pattis, and was seen walking out of the courthouse still in his orange prison jumpsuit. (See the video below from Hartford Courant reporter David Owens.)

During the hearing, Pattis also said that while he understands the "enormous public interest" in the case, his client has unfairly been "tried and convicted in the court of public opinion for a crime that he hasn't been charged with."

Jennifer Dulos has been missing since May 24, and Pattis argued that he and his client can account for Fotis Dulos' whereabouts during the time of her disappearance. As part of that defense, Pattis said he intends to obtain cell phone records that will likely place his client at his Farmington home and not in New Canaan when Jennifer Dulos disappeared.

"We don't know where Jennifer is, and we don't think the state knows where Jennifer is," said Pattis.

Additionally, Pattis argued that despite the divorce and custody battle between his client and Jennifer Dulos, Fotis Dulos would have had no reason to harm Jennifer Dulos because Pattis and his client believe the custody battle "was turning in [Fotis Dulos'] favor."

Pattis based that argument on undisclosed information that he described had to do with Jennifer Dulos' supposed "mental stability." In court documents, Jennifer Dulos reportedly painted a scary portrait of her estranged husband, whom she said she feared.

After the hearing, Pattis elaborated on some of his comments in court.

"I am not sure what the delay was in posting the bond. We were retained over the weekend and were able to assemble a bond package in short order," Pattis stated.

"Obviously, we're happy to see him head home. We are also looking forward to the forthcoming trial.

"Mr. Dulos had no motive to kill Jennifer. A recent court-ordered recommendation was that Mr. Dulos share custody 50/50 with Ms. Dulos.

"We will soon address how he is best able to resume his relationship with his children."

Troconis, who sat quietly in court during her brief appearance before Blawie, would appear not to be coordinating a defense with her boyfriend. She and Bowman met with Colangelo last week and escorted authorities in a search at the Farmington house.

Additionally, Pattis said neither she nor Bowman are speaking with him about the case.

Troconis' case was continued to July 18, while Fotis Dulos' next court appearance was scheduled for Aug. 2.