STAMFORD, Conn. — An alternate juror in the Michelle Troconis case has been dismissed after an interaction with an attorney during lunch Wednesday.
Sorting out the interaction interrupted afternoon testimony with the nanny of Jennifer Dulos' five children.
A marshal who witnessed the interaction took the stand.
The marshal testified that he was on the elevator with two jurors when they made a stop, and prosecuting attorneys tried to get on the elevator but then turned back around.
The marshal addressed them and said, “Thanks, Liz,” he testified.
Then, the alternate juror stuck their hand out as the elevator door was closing and said “We love you,” according to the marshal.
The alternate juror in question and the juror who witnessed the interaction were heard in court while the media and the rest of the jury were sent outside the courtroom.
The alternate juror told the court that the comment was made toward both attorneys.
The alternate juror was dismissed, and witness testimony resumed shortly after.
Four alternate jurors remain, with six regular jurors.
---
Throughout the rest of the day, the nanny of Jennifer Dulos' five children recalled the day her client went missing as the trial in Michelle Troconis' alleged involvement in the events that led up to Jennifer's disappearance and presumed death continues.
Lauren Almeida started testimony Tuesday afternoon, giving background on working for Jennifer and Fotis Dulos, and continued testimony Wednesday.
Almeida started nannying for the five Dulos children in 2012 at their Farmington home, and observed that Jennifer and Fotis "seemed to get along just fine," Almeida testified.
Jennifer had a close relationship with her kids, Almeida testified, saying that the kids "always wanted to be next to mommy" and that Jennifer "never raised her voice."
Almeida also worked for Fotis for his home construction group, Fore Group. She testified that Fotis was not home most of the time.
Almeida testified that she got close to both Jennifer and Fotis, saying she and Jennifer "just connected really well" and that she saw Fotis as a "role model" and "mentor" when he introduced her to the real estate and housing industry.
“The big dynamic change was in March of 2017, which is when Jennifer found out about his affair," Almeida testified.
At first, Almeida did not believe Jennifer when she told her she "believed that Fotis was having an affair," Almeida testified.
During a Dulos family trip Almeida accompanied in March 2017, she met Michelle Troconis.
Fotis introduced Troconis to Almeida as a friend during a family trip to a private water skiing club in Miami. Two of the kids already knew Troconis, calling her "Michie" and hugging her when they saw her, Almeida testified.
Troconis also had her 11-year-old daughter with her throughout the trip.
Four of the kids, along with Fotis, would ski with Troconis while at the ski club, while Jennifer would stay behind with the youngest child and Gloria, Jennifer's mother.
Jennifer, her mom, and the youngest child went back home early, leaving Almeida with Fotis and the four children.
Fotis had Almeida and the four children stay at a different hotel, saying he was going to stay with his friend, according to Almeida. When Almeida and the kids met up with Fotis the next morning, he pushed Almeida to do activities like laser tag, while Fotis and Troconis stayed behind, she testified.
The kids and Almeida flew home together, and Fotis returned home the morning after the kids got home.
Jennifer told Almeida she "had proof" that Fotis was having an affair and appeared "calm" but "seemed sad" as she was trying to figure out what to do next, Almeida said.
In April 2017, a few weeks after the trip, Jennifer asked Almeida for help with moving out of the Farmington home, to which she said yes.
Over the next few months, the dynamic between Jennifer and Fotis got "tense, uncomfortable," Almeida testified.
Fotis had made threats to Jennifer that he would "take the kids to Greece and not come back," Almeida testified.
There was one instance where Jennifer ran into a bedroom Almeida and a child were in and slammed the door and pushed against it, as Fotis yelled and pushed. When Fotis noticed the nanny and a child were in the room, the "demeanor really changed," and he became "soft-spoken," Almeida testified.
Over time, Jennifer would become more "anxious" and "terrified," Almeida testified.
The day Jennifer, the kids and Almeida left Farmington in June 2017, they stayed in an NYC hotel with a bodyguard, where Jennifer started to file for divorce, Almeida testified.
Almeida testified that Fotis left numerous voice messages to her that night, accusing her of kidnapping his kids.
Jennifer and the five kids eventually settled into 69 Welles Lane, according to Almeida. Fotis was granted visitation of the kids once a week, Almeida testified.
Almeida recalled the week Jennifer went missing, which included cleaning and organizing a part of the garage, preparing for Fotis' visitation with the kids, and coordinating appointments for Friday, May 24, 2019.
Almeida noticed Fotis was early for visitation at 69 Welles on May 22, 2019, which was "unbelievably unusual...he was notoriously late to everything," she said.
Jennifer and Almeida prepared ahead of time by locking all of the doors, including the mudroom door from the garage, before the visitation. They also prepared for dinner, which Fotis and the kids would eat outside on the patio since Fotis was not allowed inside the home.
On May 23, Almeida coordinated with Jennifer to meet her in NYC the next day with four of the children.
Almeida then recounts minute by minute, what she did on May 24, the day Jennifer went missing. Watch the testimony below.
Court wrapped up with testimony from a witness who was a detective in the New Canaan Police Dept. Investigations Division at the time of Jennifer's disappearance. He testified on responding to the Jennifer Dulos missing person report on May 24. He also testified about making arrangements to meet with Fotis at the police station on May 25 and how police seized Fotis’ iPhone for evidence that day.
---
Jennifer Farber Dulos, New Canaan mother of five, was last seen on May 24, 2019, dropping her children off at school. She was reported missing that evening, and an investigation was started.
Troconis is the one-time girlfriend of Jennifer’s estranged husband, Fotis Dulos, who was charged with Jennifer’s murder before he took his life in January 2020.
Troconis faces six charges:
- Conspiracy to commit murder
- Conspiracy to commit tampering with physical evidence – In connection to May 24, 2019
- Tampering with physical evidence – In connection to May 24, 2019
- Conspiracy to commit tampering with physical evidence – In connection to May 29, 2019
- Tamping with physical evidence – In connection to May 29, 2019
- Hindering prosecution
Leah Myers is a digital content producer at FOX61 News. She can be reached at lmyers@fox61.com
Julia LeBlanc is a reporter at FOX61 News. She can be reached at jleblanc@fox61.com Follow her on Facebook, X and Instagram.
---
Have a story idea or something on your mind you want to share? We want to hear from you! Email us at newstips@fox61.com
---
HERE ARE MORE WAYS TO GET FOX61 NEWS
Download the FOX61 News APP
iTunes: Click here to download
Google Play: Click here to download
Stream Live on ROKU: Add the channel from the ROKU store or by searching FOX61.
Steam Live on FIRE TV: Search ‘FOX61’ and click ‘Get’ to download.