Jurors Dismissed, Blood Evidence Presented In 1st Week Of Dulos Trial

STAMFORD, CT — The trial of Michelle Troconis, in connection with the disappearance and death of Jennifer Farber Dulos, wrapped up its first week with the dismissal of a juror, and prosecutors establishing what evidence was found at Dulos' New Canaan home after she vanished.

The juror, who was dismissed on Friday, reportedly discussed the Gillian Flynn-penned book "Gone Girl" while in the presence of other jurors.

"Gone Girl," which was also a hit movie starring Ben Affleck and Rosamund Pike, is about a wife who fakes her own murder to get back at her husband, and it was floated as a possible scenario in Jennifer Dulos' disappearance.

The scenario was floated by attorney Norm Pattis, who represented Jennifer's estranged husband, Fotis Dulos, before Fotis killed himself. Fotis Dulos was charged with kidnapping and murdering Jennifer, but never stood trial due to his suicide.

Also in the first week, an alternate juror was reportedly dismissed, after he said "we love you" to prosecutors during a break, the Stamford Advocate reported.

Jennifer and Fotis Dulos were in the midst of a contentious divorce and child custody fight when she disappeared on May 24, 2019. Troconis, Fotis' girlfriend at the time, was accused of assisting Fotis in the murder plot and attempted cover up, the crimes for which she is now on trial.

Prosecutors spent much of the first week of the trial questioning various members of law enforcement to reportedly establish the blood evidence found in the New Canaan home, wrote the Hartford Courant.

The first week also featured two days of testimony from Lauren Almeida, the nanny for the five Dulos children, who described the bitter divorce and custody battle between the couple, WCBS-TV reported.

Almeida reportedly testified that Jennifer Dulos confided in her about the affair Fotis had with Troconis, and also that Jennifer feared Fotis.

During Almeida's testimony, prosecutors showed texts that Fotis Dulos sent to Almeida, inquiring about the children and seeking updates on the search for Jennifer, the Daily Mail reported.

Jennifer Dulos' body has not been found, and prosecutors sought to establish that a violent crime occurred in the New Canaan home on the day she vanished.

Blood stains were found on the floor of the garage and on a Range Rover parked in one of the bays, though someone — prosecutors believe it was Fotis — tried to clean them up, wrote the New York Post.

The Troconis trial, which is estimated to run for about six weeks, is scheduled to resume in Stamford Superior Court on Monday.

Another defendant in the case, former attorney Kent Mawhinney, will stand trial separately, but a trial date has not been set. Mawhinney, who is also accused of helping Fotis with the crime, is a former friend of Fotis'; both Troconis and Mawhinney have pleaded not guilty, but Mawhinney is expected to testify against Troconis.

The Dulos case:

• Jennifer Dulos Case: New Updates As Mystery Remains Unsolved
• New DNA Evidence Disclosed In Jennifer Dulos Disappearance
• New Documentary Explores Jennifer Dulos Murder Mystery
• Troconis Wants Evidence Thrown Out In Dulos Disappearance Case
• Mystery Continues 3 Years After Jennifer Farber Dulos' Disappearance
• New Details On How Jennifer Dulos May Have Died: Warrant
• Shocking Details Revealed In Case Of Missing New Canaan Mom
• House Arrest Lifted For Suspect In Jennifer Dulos Disappearance Case