Fotis Dulos' Lawyer Floats 'Killers' Theory In Murder

STAMFORD, CT — If Jennifer Farber Dulos is dead, "third parties" not related to Fotis Dulos are responsible, attorney Norm Pattis said during a hearing in Stamford Superior Court Tuesday.

Pattis was in court before Judge Gary White arguing to continue the murder case against his client to posthumously clear Dulos' name.

"(Before his death) My client steadfastly maintained his innocence," Pattis said, adding that the prosecution's case against Fotis Dulos was "circumstantial."

For example, Pattis said there was "no proof" that Dulos was in a red truck in New Canaan at the time of Jennifer Dulos' disappearance May 24, one of the accusations made against him.

Prosecutors believe Fotis Dulos used a red pickup truck he borrowed from an employee of his home building business to move Jennifer Dulos' body, but Pattis argued his client was "never in a red truck."

Pattis also said his office has received word of various sightings of Jennifer Dulos alive in the months following her disappearance, but admitted that those comments were not credible.

"If Jennifer Dulos is in fact dead, third parties unrelated to Mr. Dulos were responsible," Pattis said.

After vanishing in late May, Jennifer Dulos' body has not been found, despite exhaustive searches around the state in the months following her disappearance.

Chief State's Attorney Richard Colangelo on Tuesday asked Judge White to "nolle" the charges against Fotis Dulos, which White granted, effectively ending the case. Pattis has indicated that he will appeal the decision.

A nolle means that the prosecution will not pursue a case, but dismissal will not occur for 13 months. During that time, the prosecution could resume the case should new information arise, but because Fotis Dulos died in a suicide in late January, prosecutors have no intention to ever resume the case against him.

However, prosecutors will continue the conspiracy to commit murder charges against Michelle Troconis and Kent Mawhinney in connection with the case. Troconis, Fotis Dulos' ex-girlfriend, and Mawhinney, an attorney and friend, are accused of assisting him in the murder. They are scheduled to appear in Stamford court later this month.

Outside of court after the hearing, Pattis said he was disappointed in the outcome.

"This was not the ending we anticipated," he said. "We hoped to be able to stand in front of you with the charges against Mr. Dulos ended by way of an acquittal.

"Mr. Dulos' memory remains stained by these scandalous accusations, and we'd like a chance to raise them in open court. Whether we get that chance is an open question and remains to be seen."

Pattis indicated that he was trying to collect evidence on Jennifer Dulos' possible killer, but he would not name the person or persons.

In his suicide note, Fotis Dulos wrote that there was an explanation for the garbage bags that he and Troconis were accused of discarding in Hartford, inside of which police found bloody items —some of which tested positive for Jennifer Dulos' blood.

Pattis said in court that his client "did not knowingly" discard of bloody items, but he did not elaborate, other than the items were left at Dulos' home. Outside of court, he said he was not prepared to discuss the situation with the bags and did not know if, or when, he would.

The Dulos case:

• Fotis Dulos Dies After Suicide Attempt: Attorney
• Michelle Troconis Had Expired Passport, Contact With Fotis: State
• Jennifer Dulos Case Search Warrants: Fotis Tried To Run Her Over
• 6 Facts About Jennifer Dulos Murder Case
• Warrant Details Possible Motive On Why Jennifer Dulos Was Killed And Why Police Believe She Is Dead
• 2 Of 3 Suspects Bond Out In Jennifer Farber Dulos Murder Case
• The Haggling Over Fotis Dulos Estate Has Begun: Report
• CT Man Caught Trespassing At Fotis Dulos' Farmington Home: PD
• Jennifer Dulos' Killer Still At Large, Says Fotis Dulos' Family
• Finding Jennifer Dulos Remains '#1 Focus' For Chief Prosecutor
• Jennifer Dulos Was Never In 'Human Grave' Prosecutor Says: Report
• State Supreme Court Dismisses Dulos Gag Order Appeal