Missing Mom Case: Girlfriend Michelle Troconis Seeks Jury Trial

STAMFORD, CT — On the same day that her ex-boyfriend, Fotis Dulos, separately appeared in court, Michelle Troconis on Friday pleaded not guilty to the latest tampering with evidence charge in the disappearance of New Canaan mother-of-five Jennifer Farber Dulos.

Standing next to her attorney, Westport's Andrew Bowman, in Stamford Superior Court, Troconis also requested a jury trial in the case, which was accepted by Judge John Blawie and State's Attorney Richard Colangelo. Troconis is next scheduled to appear in court on Oct. 25.

Though Fotis Dulos' morning hearing on Friday went off without a hitch, Troconis' afternoon hearing - likely scheduled hours apart so that the two defendants, who are barred from communicating, would not run into each other - was delayed when a fire alarm was activated about a half an hour before it was set to begin.

The court building was evacuated for more than half an hour while firefighters checked out the facility. No fire was found.

Both Troconis and Fotis Dulos are facing charges of tampering with evidence and hindering a prosecution in connection with the Jennifer Dulos' disappearance, which was reported to authorities on May 24.

Fotis and Jennifer Dulos were in the midst of a contentious divorce and custody battle over their five children when she disappeared. Troconis and Fotis Dulos have been accused of discarding items soon after she disappeared that later tested positive for Jennifer Dulos' blood.

In an arrest warrant for Troconis, state police paint a potentially damning portrait of her accused involvement in the case, including her writing "Alibi Scripts" or notes that were later found to be false.

"Both notes included information, which was subsequently proven to be inaccurate, events which Troconis was forced to admit during questioning had never happened, and they included alibi witnesses who were later determined to be false. The notes also omitted all incriminating behavior — e.g., disposing of garbage bags in Hartford," the arrest warrant states.

While being interviewed by authorities, Troconis at one point, referring to a truck that Fotis Dulos is accused of driving with Jennifer Dulos inside, is quoted as saying, "Well obviously... all the evidence says because... you showed me the picture of the blood in the door it's because the body of Jennifer at some point was in there."