The timeline of Jennifer Dulos' disappearance and subsequent investigation
Michelle Troconis, once linked to Jennifer's estranged husband Fotis, was found guilty of charges in connection to Jennifer's disappearance.
Michelle Troconis, one of the suspects charged in the disappearance of New Canaan mother Jennifer Dulos in 2019, has been found guilty of all charges.
Troconis, once linked to Jennifer's estranged husband Fotis, was pronounced guilty of conspiracy to commit murder, tampering with evidence, conspiracy to tamper with evidence, and hindering the prosecution.
The investigation into what may have happened to Jennifer spanned multiple areas across the state, from a park in New Canaan to a garbage dump in Hartford. Fotis was eventually charged with murder in connection with her disappearance but, eight months later, took his life before the investigation could continue.
Four and a half years have since passed since Jennifer's disappearance. Here's a timeline of events that led us to this verdict:
Jennifer's Disappearance
Jennifer Dulos was reported missing by her friends around 7 p.m. on Friday, May 24, 2019.
Her friends told New Canaan police they had not heard from Jennifer for around 10 hours that day and she had missed several appointments. The last time Jennifer reportedly had contact with anyone was when she dropped her children off at school earlier that day.
Police said that after the initial report, investigators went to Jennifer’s New Canaan home to check in on her. Officers did not find her.
A short time later, the Suburban she drove was found on Lapham Road near Waveny Park in New Canaan. The discovery launched the investigation.
Her disappearance began with a Silver Alert after K9 units from surrounding agencies were not able to find her. The Silver Alert was also a criminal investigation after police discovered blood inside the Suburban.
In a short amount of time after the report of her disappearance, court records emerged detailing a tense custody battle with her estranged husband, Fotis Dulos. In 2017, she told the court she was "afraid" of her husband. She said, "I know he will retaliate by trying to harm me in some way."
Fotis was the owner of the construction company Fore Group, which built luxury homes in the area.
The Investigation
On June 2, Fotis and his girlfriend at the time, Michelle Troconis, were arrested and charged with tampering or fabricating physical evidence and hampering an investigation. Both were held on a $500,000 bond at the time.
The arrests came after investigators descended onto two Farmington locations connected to Fotis, including a property at 80 Mountain Springs Road. The Fore Group, Fotis' company, was renovating the home. Two miles away, investigators searched Fotis’ Farmington home on Jefferson Crossing.
According to the arrest warrant, there were several bloodstains found on the garage floor in Jennifer’s home. The warrant also stated the blood was found in Fotis' garage when officials looked as well.
The warrant had said that Fotis’ phone had pinged him traveling back and forth between two properties he owns in Farmington throughout the day on May 24. Around 7 p.m. that day, records showed that Fotis and Troconis had traveled to Albany Avenue in Hartford.
The investigation soon led to the MIRA trash plant in Hartford as police reviewing video footage from Albany Avenue believed Fotis and Troconis were dumping evidence into trash cans along the road. Investigators had already searched storm drains and dumpsters the previous week but had found nothing.
On June 11, Fotis was released on bond.
The following day, troopers were out searching a pond in Avon they had searched previously on May 31 as well. Officials said that the pond is where Fotis and their children would reportedly water ski at times.
On June 25, investigators concluded their search at MIRA.
Months passed by as investigators continued to piece together the case. In September, new court documents revealed more details about the early days of the investigation.
Fotis was taken into custody once more on September 4.
In the arrest warrant, state police stated that Troconis admitted to police back on June 2 that she could not account for Fotis’ whereabouts on the morning Jennifer went missing. The warrant also stated that Fotis and Troconis wrote “alibi scripts” detailing where they were, but Troconis reportedly later stated the details were false.
Police at the time also believed that Fotis had driven Jennifer’s Suburban with her body inside, along with items to help clean up the evidence.
The warrant also stated that one of Fotis’ workers told officers that Fotis ordered him to change out the seats of Fotis’ vehicle. When investigators found the seats, they were sent away for testing. Lab technicians reportedly then found a blood-like substance matching Jennifer’s DNA on those seats.
The worker reportedly told state police that he met with Fotis and Troconis on Mountain Spring Road, where they were “cleaning.”
A week after Fotis’ second arrest, a Stamford Superior Court judge issued a gag order.
The search continued as investigators hit West Hartford Reservoir and continued pursuing leads into Jennifer’s disappearance and what may have happened to her.
Final Arrests
One week into 2020, Fotis was arrested and charged with murder in connection with Jennifer’s disappearance. He was held on a $6 million bond.
Troconis was also arrested and charged with conspiracy to commit murder. A third suspect, Kent Mawhinney, was also charged with conspiracy to commit murder. He was Fotis’ civil lawyer and friend.
Mawhinney was a new arrest in connection with the investigation.
In Mawhinney’s warrant, his name appeared in both Troconis’ and Fotis’ alibis for the morning Jennifer was reported missing.
Mawhinney was interviewed twice by police after. First, officials said he claimed there was no meeting scheduled between Fotis and himself on the morning of Jennifer’s disappearance.
In his second interview, he reportedly stated that there was a pre-arranged meeting with Fotis, stating he arrived at Fotis’ Jefferson Crossing home just before 8 a.m., where he stood for almost an hour before leaving without seeing Dulos.
The warrant said phone records showed Mawhinney had called Fotis the night of May 24, when Fotis was allegedly dumping bloody bags of evidence in Hartford, but Mawhinney denied any phone contact with Fotis that day.
Mawhinney had been arrested before. He’s facing an allegation of sexual assault and was charged with violating a protective order last year, filed by his estranged wife. She also stated that she believed that Mawhinney was trying to kill her.
Also in Mawhinney’s arrest warrant, the Windsor Rod and Gun Club in East Granby was mentioned. Two members were reportedly hunting on the land when they came across a large hole in the ground that appeared to be hidden. One of the members described the hole as “100% a human grave,” stating that inside the hole was a bag of lime and a tarp.
The Death of Fotis Dulos
On Jan. 28, 2020, Fotis was due to arrive at Stamford Superior Court for a bond hearing. It was there his bondholder was being questioned over the real estate assets that Fotis had put up to secure his bond and release.
But Fotis never showed up that morning.
Police were called to Fotis’ home shortly before noon for a well-being check after he didn’t show. When officers arrived, they found Fotis sitting in his SUV in his garage. Officials would later say that the SUV was running, and the garage doors were closed.
After first responders pulled him from the garage performing CPR, Fotis was rushed to UConn Medical Center where LifeStar then flew him to Jacobi Medical Center in The Bronx.
While at Jacobi Medical Center, Fotis was treated for carbon monoxide poisoning in a hyperbaric chamber.
Two days later, just after 5:30 p.m., Fotis Dulos was pronounced dead.
Troconis Trial
Although Fotis took his life, the case continued through Troconis and Mawhinney, and the search continues for Jennifer.
Since being charged in 2020, Troconis and her defense have been in court numerous times, arguing to have her ankle GPS unit removed, a dismissal of all charges, and a different prosecution, to suspend 24/7 GPS monitoring, and more recently, stating that the search of Fotis Dulos' home in 2019 was too broad and had no probable cause.
The trial started on Jan. 11. after an initial delay and lasted 27 days with jury deliberations taking three days.
The jury was presented with evidence collected from multiple homes and vehicles and viewed surveillance footage obtained from neighbors and highway rest stops. The jury also completed viewing videos of three interrogations investigators conducted with Troconis.
Testimony from the witnesses the prosecution called to the stand included investigators who responded to the initial missing person's report on behalf of Jennifer on May 24, 2019, forensic scientists who tested the evidence collected for blood and DNA, and a former employee of Fotis.'
Defense witness testimony included experts in psychology and linguistics, as well as neighbors, colleagues and others who were once close to Fotis and Troconis.
Troconis, a dual American and Venezuelan citizen, has described herself as a co-founder of horse riding therapy programs in different parts of the world who once had her own TV production company in Argentina and hosted a snow-sports show for ESPN South America.
Mawhinney is still awaiting trial on a murder conspiracy charge. He has pleaded not guilty.
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Domestic violence awareness advocates continue to spread the message of help and understanding when it comes to this serious issue.
For anonymous, confidential help you can call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 (SAFE) or 1-800-787-3224 (TTY).
For more information on resources on how you can seek help or for someone in your life, you can also visit CT Coalition Against Domestic Violence www.ctcadv.org as well as contact CT Safe Connect at 1-888-774-2900 for those who looking to be connected with an advocate.
NCADV also has a webpage that offers resources on safety plans, financial safety, and other tips.
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Jennifer Glatz is a digital content producer at FOX61 News. She can be reached at jglatz@fox61.com.
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