Troconis Trial Gets Underway In Jennifer Dulos Disappearance Case

STAMFORD, CT — On the first day of Michelle Troconis’ trial in the disappearance and murder of Jennifer Farber Dulos, the prosecution showed police body came footage of the scene at the New Canaan victim's home when police began the investigation into Jennifer’s disappearance.

Assistant State’s Attorney Michelle Manning called four New Canaan and Connecticut State Police witnesses in Stamford Superior Court Thursday, who discussed the early stages of the investigation into Jennifer Dulos’ disappearance.

New Canaan police were notified in the late afternoon on May 24, 2019, by the babysitter of Jennifer’s five children that the 50-year-old mother had not gone to a scheduled doctor’s appointment in New York that day, and was not at home.

Lt. Aaron Latourette, who was a sergeant at the time, and Officer Matt Blank went to Jennifer’s Wells Lane home at about 7 p.m., knocked on the front door and rang the bell to check on her. When no one answered, they walked around the perimeter of the large, luxury home and then entered through the garage, after the babysitter gave them the code to open the door to one of the three bays.

The two checked all the rooms of the house, and found Jennifer's purse with a key fob to her vehicle, a black Chevrolet Suburban, which other officers found parked several miles away on Lapham Road by Waveny Park.

The Suburban was found while Latourette and Blank were still checking the home, and the two returned to the garage where they found red droplets on another vehicle parked in the garage, a black Range Rover, and reddish stains on the garage floor.

"On the right passenger side of the vehicle, on the [garage] floor, I observed what appeared to be a footprint, reddish in color, that could have been a footprint of blood," Latourette said under oath.

That discovery, and other stains in the garage that were pink and smeared, as if someone had tried to clean them up, led police to believe a crime had been committed at the home.

In addition to Latourette, other witnesses called Thursday were retired New Canaan Police Sgt. Scott Romano, who oversaw parts of the investigation; New Canaan Police Officer Kelly Coughlin, who gathered some of the surveillance footage; and State Police Detective Corey Clabby, of the Major Crimes Squad, who videotaped the entire property for the investigation, concentrating on the garage.

Among the surveillance footage shown in court were images of Jennifer Dulos' Suburban leaving the home early on May 24 to drive her children to school, returning home minutes later, and then leaving again about two-and-a-half hours later and not returning.

Police believe that Jennifer Dulos' estranged husband, the late Fotis Dulos, killed her in the garage, sometime after she returned home. He tried to dispose of bloody evidence, such as clothing, mops and towels, some of which were later found by police.

Fotis is believed to have disposed of Jennifer's body, however, her remains have not been found. She was recently declared dead by a probate judge.

The Duloses were the in the midst of a contentious divorce and custody fight over their five children when she disappeared. Fotis Dulos was charged with kidnapping and murdering Jennifer, but he never stood trial, because he died by suicide in January 2020.

Michelle Troconis was Fotis' girlfriend at the time, and she was charged with:

• Conspiracy to commit murder
• Conspiracy to tamper with evidence
• Tampering with physical evidence (2 counts)
• Conspiracy to commit to tampering with physical evidence
• Hindering prosecution

Prosecutors believe Troconis, and fellow defendant Kent Mawhinney, helped Fotis with the murder and attempted cover up. Mawhinney is a former attorney and friend of Fotis', who will be tried on similar charges at a later date; he is expected to testify against Troconis.

Both Troconis and Mawhinney have pleaded not guilty.

At court on Thursday were members of both Jennifer Dulos' family, including her mother, Gloria Farber, 88, and Troconis' family. Two courtrooms in Stamford Superior Court are being used for the trial, one for the judge, lawyers, defendant and witnesses, and the other for overflow media.

The case has drawn international scrutiny in the more than four years since Jennifer vanished.

Outside the court during the lunch break, Troconis' father, Dr. Carlos Troconis, and sisters Claudia Troconis and Marisela Troconis, all said that they support Michelle and believe in her innocence.

"All I can say is my sister is innocent," said Claudia Troconis, "and the truth will prevail."

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
• Law Enforcement Convinced Someone Knows Where Jennifer Dulos Is
• New Details On How Jennifer Dulos May Have Died: Warrant
• Shocking Details Revealed In Case Of Missing New Canaan Mom
• Troconis Wants Evidence Thrown Out In Dulos Disappearance Case
• Mystery Continues 3 Years After Jennifer Farber Dulos' Disappearance
• House Arrest Lifted For Suspect In Jennifer Dulos Disappearance Case
• Fotis Dulos Gives Controversial Interview