Pattis Debunks 'Gone Girl' Theory In Missing New Canaan Mom Case

NEW CANAAN, CT — Norm Pattis, the aggressive attorney defending Fotis Dulos, told WPLR's Chaz & AJ Wednesday that while he understands why his client is a suspect in the disappearance of Jennifer Farber Dulos, he has a story to tell concerning his client.

"Once I know a little bit more, we will roll out more of the defense," Pattis told the DJs Wednesday. "We have plenty more to say. I know there are lots of questions that people have about things in the case, and we have answers. Like kids at Christmas, everybody's got to wait until we unwrap the package."

Jennifer Dulos has been missing since May 24, and Fotis Dulos and his ex-girlfriend Michelle Troconis have been charged with evidence tampering and hindering a prosecution in connection with her disappearance.

Pattis phoned in again to the 99.1 FM radio show Wednesday morning and said that he is awaiting the state's evidence in the case as part of the discovery phase, but he already has an idea of the cards State's Attorney Rich Colangelo is holding. (Listen to the podcast below; the conversation turns to the Dulos case a little over 18 minutes in)

"We have sources close to the investigation, and I've been able to monitor what they're doing by speaking to those sources. This is a very small state after all," he said, adding that he has yet to formally receive photos, diagrams, police reports and other information from prosecutors.

As for the controversial "Gone Girl" theory he floated, which was met with angry denials from Jennifer Dulos' family and friends - and author Gillian Flynn - Pattis admitted that he does not believe that Jennifer Dulos is in hiding somewhere "watching this on television." He also does not believe the case is as simple as everyone else seems to think it is.

Pattis said he is very interested in seeing information on what police described as evidence of a "serious physical assault" in the garage of Jennifer Dulos' New Canaan home, but despite that, he has not heard that prosecutor's have "a smoking gun so to speak." Both Troconis and Fotis Dulos have pleaded not guilty in the case.

"From our perspective, this very much remains a missing person case, and the solution to why she is missing is not obvious," Pattis said.

Investigators are concentrating on piecing together Fotis Dulos' whereabouts on the day of the disappearance, Pattis said, using surveillance video and cell phone data, but he added that he knows of no evidence that places Fotis Dulos at the scene.

"We would encourage listeners not to draw hasty conclusions," Pattis said. "Something happened, obviously, on the morning of May 24, 2019. We're just not at all sure that Mr. Dulos was involved in it.

"We understand why he's a suspect, given the hostility and the rancor, spouses are always suspects in missing person cases of this sort. And we get it. We're anxious to address this case in open court."