Michelle Troconis (inset) helped cover up the murder of Jennifer Farber Dulos, cops said. (Inset: Law&Crime Network/Pool; New Canaan Police Department; image of Jennifer: New Canaan Police Department)
Jurors in Stamford, Connecticut, have convicted Michelle Troconis, 49, of helping her boyfriend, Fotis Dulos, 52, plot and cover up the murder of his estranged wife, Jennifer Farber Dulos, 50, amid a contentious divorce. Prosecutors said she aided in establishing an alibi and discard evidence.
She was convicted of all six charges against her, including conspiracy to commit murder, conspiracy to tamper with evidence, tampering with evidence, and hindering prosecution. The verdict comes after 12 hours of deliberation following an eight-week trial.
Upon hearing the jury’s verdict, Troconis appeared to break down in tears, putting her face in her hands as her lawyer put a comforting hand on her back.
Sentencing was set for May 31. Troconis faces a maximum of up to 50 years behind bars.
Prosecutors asked Superior Court Judge Kevin Randolph to remand Troconis to custody immediately, but the judge allowed her to remain free on bond subject to house arrest and electronic and GPS location monitoring. Randolph noted that the defendant’s passport has already been surrendered. Troconis’ lawyers had opposed the request, noting that she is the primary caregiver for her teenage daughter.
If both sides agree on anything, it is that the real killer will never face justice. Fotis Dulos died by suicide in 2020 while out on bond.
Authorities have yet to find Jennifer’s remains. Assistant state’s attorney Michelle Manning told jurors in closing arguments on Tuesday that evidence shows that the victim was murdered.
There was blood spattered throughout the garage of her home and on the undercarriage of two cars. There was also swipes of blood, she said. Jennifer’s blood-soaked shirt and bra were thrown away on the street of Albany Avenue. Other evidence included zip ties, sponges, and duct tape.
“Jennifer is dead,” she said. “Let’s be very clear. She was murdered on May 24, 2019.”
The state argued that Fotis Dulos, the owner of a construction business, had taken one of his employee’s cars out to the area of his wife’s home in the city of New Canaan, and rode a bike the rest of the way there, and he ambushed her.
Evidence at the scene showed a minimum of two impacts, the prosecutor said. She did not fall and hit her head. Instead, this was an “anger-driven assault” on Jennifer, Manning said.
Fotis Dulos and Michelle Troconis. (Mug shots: New Canaan Police Department)
Meanwhile, he had left his phone behind to avoid tracking and also for Troconis to manipulate it for his alibi, the prosecution said. For example, she answered his phone at the time, but unlocked it multiple times while he was out, Manning said.
Authorities pointed out that surveillance imagery showed smoke coming from Fotis Dulos’ Farmington home that day even though it was the middle of spring. Prosecutors suggested Troconis was burning evidence on the killer’s behalf.
Investigators have long said that Troconis and Fotis Dulos had an alibi script to sort out their stories, but Troconis’ tales shifted over time. For example, Manning said the defendant omitted the phone call from the first two interviews with police. Troconis lied or omitted any incriminating details, she said.
On Wednesday, jurors had asked to review testimony from Troconis’ friend Clara “Petu” Duperron, who had said that she had evidence that proved Troconis was innocent and that the defendant didn’t “trust the police.” Randolph ultimately did not allow Duperron to provide details of the alleged evidence.
Defense lawyer Jon Schoenhorn said his client is innocent, and he laid blame for the murder squarely at the feet of Fotis Dulos and whoever may have joined him that day. Troconis did not know that Fotis planned to harm Jennifer, and she did not know Fotis was capable of doing something like that, he maintained. Whatever secrets Fotis had, he took to his grave after dying in his garage from self-inflicted carbon monoxide poisoning.
“Fotis put a facade until his last poisoned breath, and he died without ever acknowledging his actions, or admitting his role even to his own children,” Schoenhorn said.
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