Troconis Seeks To Suppress Statements In Jennifer Dulos Case

STAMFORD, CT — Michelle Troconis, one of two suspects in the Jennifer Farber Dulos disappearance case, is seeking to have interrogation statements suppressed in the case, in part because the interviews were conducted in English, which is not her first language.

Her attorney, Jon Schoenhorn, filed a motion to suppress Wednesday in Stamford Superior Court that questions the legitimacy of several interrogation sessions between Troconis and law enforcement. He largely argues that detectives took advantage of her limited English-speaking skills and comprehension, because Spanish is her native language.

"At the time of her arrest on the night of June 1, 2019, the officers and/or detectives knew that English was not the defendant’s principal language, and failed to provide her with either Miranda rights in Spanish, or a Spanish-speaking officer during subsequent interrogation sessions, including on June 2, June 6 and August 13, 2019," the motion reads.

Troconis and Kent Mawhinney are accused of assisting the late Fotis Dulos murder his estranged wife, Jennifer Dulos, in May 2019. She disappeared from her New Canaan home on May 24, 2019, and her body has not been found. Fotis Dulos, who was living in Farmington at the time of the disappearance, took his own life in January 2020 before he could stand trial.

"During the aforesaid interrogation sessions, the officers and/or detectives knew or should have known that the defendant had limited English capacity and required an interpreter," the motion reads. "To the extent that the defendant was given Miranda rights in English, she did not comprehend the nature of those constitutional rights, or the significance of any waiver. To the extent that the state claims the defendant waived her Miranda rights, she never knowingly or voluntarily waived her right against self-incrimination."

Schoenhorn argued last year that there was a language barrier between his client and law enforcement, and in the motion, he accuses detectives of ignoring requests for Spanish to be spoken during the interrogations.

"On June 2, 2019, during a subsequent interrogation session in the presence of counsel who did not speak any Spanish, the defendant indicated that she had limited English comprehension, inquired if the detectives spoke Spanish, but State and New Canaan Police detectives proceeded to interrogate her in English anyway," the motion reads. "All three interrogations were conducted only in English."

Troconis was Fotis Dulos' former live-in girlfriend, and Mawhinney is an attorney and former friend of Fotis'.

Mawhinney is due back in court on Nov. 17, and Troconis is due in court on Oct. 7.

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• Warrant Details Possible Motive On Why Jennifer Dulos Was Killed And Why Police Believe She Is Dead
• New Details On How Jennifer Dulos May Have Died: Warrant