[This story originally aired on February 13, 2021. It was updated on May 21, 2022.]
Michelle Troconis has been dubbed "the opposite lady" in a headline-making story a few Connecticut mom of 5, Jennifer Dulos, who vanished and is believed to have been killed by her estranged husband, Fotis Dulos. He was charged with homicide however died by suicide weeks after his arrest — leaving Troconis the main target of the investigation, as she faces a number of costs in reference to Jennifer Dulos' presumed homicide.
"This has shattered our life as a result of my sister shouldn't be the person who they're saying," says Michelle Troconis' sister Claudia Troconis. "And she or he by no means can be able to something they've mentioned that she has completed."
Michelle Troconis, Fotis Dulos' girlfriend, was charged with conspiracy to commit homicide, proof tampering and hindering prosecution – all costs she denies. And in some unique excerpts from interrogation movies, she insists she has no details about Jennifer Dulos' disappearance.
"I don't know what occurred to Jennifer. I don't know the place Jennifer is," Troconis tells police.
When Detective John Kimball tells her they imagine she has info she's not sharing, Troconis responds: "I haven't got, John, however I can stroll the entire world with you if you'd like … I can do no matter you need however I did not do it."
Jennifer Dulos disappeared on Could 24, 2019 after dropping her 5 youngsters off at college. Police discovered her deserted SUV close to a park 3-and-a-half miles away from her Connecticut dwelling. On the time, she was in the course of an unpleasant divorce and custody battle along with her husband, Fotis Dulos. Investigators imagine Dulos attacked Jennifer that morning, killing her, after which disposed of her physique. Jennifer's physique has by no means been discovered. Fotis Dulos died in January 2020 after trying to take his personal life.
Michelle Troconis is at the moment out on bond. She has pleaded not responsible and her familyis adamant she is harmless. They are saying Troconis shouldn't be the individual portrayed in tales in regards to the case.
"Did your sister have something to do with the dying of Jennifer Dulos?" Moriarty asks Claudia Troconis.
"No, she didn't," Claudia Troconis responds.
"Do you imagine that Michelle is aware of the place Jennifer's physique is?" Moriarty asks Danielle Troconis.
"My sister is harmless," Daniela Troconis responds. "Completely not."
A MOM GOES MISSING
Jennifer Dulos was a gifted lady, says her shut buddy Carrie Luft. She was a author of performs and cofounder of a theatre troupe, a runner, a girl with a eager thoughts and an infectious giggle. However in her blogs, she was firstly, a mom.
CARRIE LUFT [reading from Jennifer's blog]: "I cherished the bedtime routines, the rituals, the saying good nights, the books learn, the hugs and kisses given, the songs sung."
CARRIE LUFT [reading from Jennifer's blog]: "I simply needed to freeze the second. Snap an image. Take all of them in…. They develop too quick."
Her writings are full of a mom's musings in regards to the atypical blessings of household life.
CARRIE LUFT [reading from Jennifer's blog]: "The very best a part of my evening now, fingers down, is after I give our child… a shower after which her bottle, in my arms."
Carrie Luft: Jennifer cherished her youngsters simply past examine. … She had this … fantastic younger and rising household. Her existence was … principally in regards to the children.
The morning of Could 24, 2019 was no totally different — the organized chaos of getting 5 children ages 13 and underneath dressed and off to high school.
However shortly after 8:05 a.m., the traditional rhythm of each day life stopped ceaselessly.
Sgt. Kenneth Ventresca: She was scheduled for a dentist appointment … later that morning in New York Metropolis … She by no means made it to her dentist appointment.
Sgt. Kenneth Ventresca [driving]: This was undoubtedly one of many greatest investigation to return to the State Police.
Connecticut State Police Sergeant Kenneth Ventresca would turn into one of many lead investigators.
Sgt. Kenneth Ventresca: Folks could not come up with her…
Carrie Luft: After which, once we had radio silence, we knew that one thing was gravely mistaken.
The youngsters had been taken to the house of their maternal grandmother, Gloria Farber, in New York Metropolis. By 7 p.m., all-out panic set in and Jennifer was reported lacking.
A little bit over an hour later, the police had ominous information. Officers discovered Jennifer's deserted Suburban SUV close to Waveny Park, about 3-and-a-half miles from her dwelling.
Sgt. Kenneth Ventresca [in the park]: The tailgate was backed up in opposition to this tree. … The Suburban was not working; keys weren't within the ignition. The gear lever was truly caught in reverse. The doorways had been locked. … On the passenger aspect of her Suburban when — on the time, you would see the cleanup of the blood-like substance all around the passenger aspect underneath a flashlight.
New Canaan Police Chief Leon Krolikowski instantly launched a large search throughout the 300 acres of Waveny Park.
Erin Moriarty: And the way would you describe the preliminary seek for her?
Chief Leon Krolikowski: It was huge. I imply, actually from different police departments sending their canines to go looking to FBI crew coming in, seek for proof to New York State Police helicopter, to divers checking the water inside the park. And it is 300 acres, it is fairly complete.
Carrie volunteered to turn into the spokesperson for household and associates.
CARRIE LUFT [to reporter]:All I wish to say is, Jennifer, we love you and we're doing every part we will to deliver you dwelling. Your children miss you. All of us miss you.
Sergeant Ventresca says the one one that did not appear fearful about Jennifer was the daddy of her 5 youngsters — her estranged husband, Fotis Dulos.
Erin Moriarty: Did he assist in any respect within the search?
Sgt. Kenneth Ventresca: No, no.
Erin Moriarty: Did he appear involved about his spouse as time went on?
Sgt. Kenneth Ventresca: No. By no means appeared involved about his spouse.
It wasn't all the time that manner.
Carrie Luft: Jennifer very a lot needed to have a loving relationship and to start out a household, and he appeared to need the identical issues.
On the face of it, they appeared an unlikely pair: Jennifer, deep-thinking and introverted, grew up in wealth and privilege in New York Metropolis, the daughter of a father who made a fortune in finance.
Fotis, athletic and extroverted, was a global waterskiing champion born in Turkey and raised in Athens, Greece.
Each excellent college students, they first met in 1986 on the prestigious Brown College in Windfall, Rhode Island. But it surely did not flip romantic till some 17 years later — after an opportunity assembly on the Aspen Airport.
Jennifer put it this manner in her weblog: "I used to be dwelling, again in New York, and an electronic mail got here to me … he needed to get collectively."
Erin Moriarty: What did she like about him, finally love about him?
Carrie Luft: Nicely, you understand, he was a very a really charismatic and charming individual. He was very good-looking. He was good and humorous.
And an bold actual property developer and builder of luxurious properties. Fotis and Jennifer married in 2004 and settled in Farmington, Connecticut, an upscale enclave exterior Hartford, the place previous cash mingled with new.
Rena Dulos Kyrimi | Fotis's sister: The couple was very, very pleased. And in two years, that they had their first set of twins. One other two years that they had the second set of twins. … And one other two years that they had somewhat daughter.
They moved into one in every of Fotis's magnificent properties at 4 Jefferson Crossing and raised their youngsters with all the benefits that cash affords, with an emphasis on sports activities — particularly waterskiing, Fotis's ardour.
Carrie Luft: They'd compete internationally, you understand, whilst, you understand, 6 or 7-year-olds. So, they had been extremely good. However that was additionally … as a result of they skilled extremely exhausting.
Jennifer believed Fotis was pushing them too exhausting, and later mentioned her children' psychological and bodily well being was struggling due to Fotis's obsession with coaching.
Carrie Luft: She typically served as a buffer or a defend.
And that led to fights, says Carrie.
Erin Moriarty: Did he have a mood?
Carrie Luft: He could possibly be risky, sure.
Erin Moriarty: Even with the youngsters?
Carrie Luft: Positive.
Life behind the grand brick façade grew ever extra distant and sad. The couple who appeared to have all of it – seems, cash, youngsters – had been dwelling all however separate lives.
Erin Moriarty: Was she lonely?
Carrie Luft: I am certain.
Rena Dulos Kyrimi: For all of us who had been exterior of the romance, we knew that they had been two incompatible characters.
By 2016, Fotis was away as many as 10 ten days a month, typically chasing the most recent waterskiing competitors.
Rena Dulos Kyrimi: And one in every of his travels to Miami within the ski membership along with his youngsters, he met Michelle.
Michelle Troconis was Fotis's sort: she rode horses, she reported for ESPN in South America on snow snowboarding, and much more to Fotis's liking, she was a aggressive water skier.
Quickly after assembly in Miami, Fotis and the Venezuelan-raised single mom started an affair.
Rena Dulos Kyrimi: And it was critical. He was very a lot in love.
And never excellent at hiding it from his spouse, says Carrie. In March of 2017, Jennifer confronted Fotis and he confessed.
Erin Moriarty: Was that an occasion that she simply realized, OK, there isn't any going again?
Carrie Luft: I feel studying in regards to the infidelity was horrible, you understand, that was a deal breaker for her.
Jennifer moved her children right into a rented dwelling about an hour-and-a-half away in New Canaan, Connecticut, and filed for divorce. Michelle and her younger daughter moved into Fotis's Jefferson Crossing home in Farmington.
Claudia Troconis | Michelle's sister: She mentioned she had met a captivating man, that he was very family-oriented like us, that he was into sports activities like her, and so they had many similarities. And she or he actually appreciated him.
It might be the largest mistake of Michelle Troconis's life.
Claudia Troconis: This has shattered our life as a result of my sister shouldn't be the person who they're saying. And she or he would by no means be able to something they've mentioned that she has completed.
A BAD FEELING
Because the seek for Jennifer dragged on, Carrie Luft tried to carry on to hope. However she knew in her bones, as early because the day Jennifer disappeared, it was hopeless.
Carrie Luft: I had a horrible foreboding sense that she was not alive.
The New Canaan cops additionally had a nasty feeling as they searched Jennifer's home the evening she went lacking.
Sgt. Kenneth Ventresca: After they go to the home, they go within the storage, they seen blood like substance … blood spatter all through the storage.
Sergeant Ventresca and Detective John Kimball of the state's Main Crime Squad had been summoned to the scene.
Det. John Kimball: Along with blood proof within the garages, there was proof that somebody had tried to wash up blood. There have been swirls, what gave the impression to be swirl marks on the edges of the automobiles.
All of the markings of an sad ending, says Sgt. Ventresca.
Sgt. Kenneth Ventresca: A critical violent assault occurred in that storage … there's undoubtedly some kind of foul play concerned.
The scene within the storage was all Richard Colangelo, then Connecticut's Chief State's Lawyer wanted. He instantly took on the case.
Richard Colangelo Jr.: When it began, it was a whodunit.
However somebody quickly went to the highest of the checklist. On the time of her disappearance, Jennifer was embroiled in a bitter divorce and custody battle along with her estranged husband, Fotis Dulos. In line with divorce paperwork, she was afraid of him:
"I'm afraid that my Husband will hurt our kids to punish me."
"He's harmful and ruthless when he believes that he has been wronged."
"… He should all the time win in any respect prices."
Det. John Kimball: I do not suppose Fotis appreciated to lose in any side of his life, and I do not suppose that he'd wish to be shedding in courtroom by the hands of his spouse.
He had spent hundreds of dollars in lawyer charges and courtroom prices. His enterprise was floundering. And worse, he misplaced shared bodily custody of his youngsters after going in opposition to courtroom orders concerning his girlfriend, Michelle Troconis.
Erin Moriarty: What did he do or did not do?
Carrie Luft: Nicely, he did not adjust to the courtroom order that Michelle not be a part of the kids's lives.
Fotis did not even faux to cover his emotions towards Jennifer when he agreed to go to the New Canaan Police station the day after Jennifer disappeared.
Erin Moriarty: Did he agree to take a seat down and discuss?
Sgt. Kenneth Ventresca: No.
He'd introduced his civil legal professional with him.
Sgt. Kenneth Ventresca: His lawyer was already on the telephone with a legal protection legal professional on the time from the parking zone.
Erin Moriarty: What does that say to you?
Sgt. Kenneth Ventresca: To me … it was alarming, as a result of the mom of your 5 youngsters are lacking and also you're fearful about calling attorneys?
Earlier than he left, Fotis inadvertently gave the detectives one thing extra essential than an interview.
Richard Colangelo Jr.: The detective that was there mentioned, "is that your telephone?" "Yeah." "Can I see it?" He gave it to him. He requested him for the password. He instructed them the password.
Fotis demanded his telephone again, however the detective refused. Investigators received a search warrant and had been in a position to retrieve the information.
Richard Colangelo Jr.: And … from there, we had been off and working.
Investigators tracked Fotis's cellphone to Albany Avenue in Hartford round 7 p.m. the night of Could 24, roughly the identical time Jennifer was reported lacking. They then contacted the Hartford Police, who downloaded a treasure trove of movies that had been captured on safety cameras.
New Canaan Police Officer Thomas Patten could not imagine his eyes.
Erin Moriarty [watching surveillance video]: What are you seeing?
Officer Tom Patten: Nicely, as he was driving round, he can be — he was depositing black rubbish luggage and numerous receptacles. … Clearly, he was intent on spreading out the rubbish luggage.
Erin Moriarty: And is he alone?
Workplace Tom Patten: No, in a type of footage, you'll be able to see a feminine that is leaning exterior of the passenger aspect of the truck.
Seems that feminine reaching for the sidewalk was Michelle Troconis.
Det. John Kimball: My first thought was … "What are they doing? Why are they … dumping trash in Hartford?"
They'd quickly discover out. A crew of detectives was dispatched to go digging by way of the trash.
Det. John Kimball: So, among the issues retrieved from the Albany Avenue rubbish had been used zip ties with human blood and DNA of Jennifer Dulos on them … feminine undergarment … a Winery Vine[s] shirt within the measurement that Jennifer wore. There have been two ponchos … which contained copious quantities of blood and the DNA of Jennifer Dulos.
Sgt. Kenneth Ventresca: It isn't each day somebody throws out bloody proof, bloody garments, you understand, reduce up. I imply, who does that?
Sgt. Kenneth Ventresca: We shifted gears, and we turned this right into a murder investigation.
On June 1, eight days after Jennifer vanished, each Fotis Dulos and Michelle Troconis had been arrested – not for homicide, however for tampering with or fabricating bodily proof and first-degree hindering prosecution.
Sgt. Kenneth Ventresca: We weren't totally satisfied he did the homicide but, however he was concerned ultimately, form or type.
However they could not place him in New Canaan that morning. For one purpose, says Sgt. Ventresca, the situation of Fotis's telephone.
Erin Moriarty: On the time that Jennifer Dulos disappeared from her home, her husband was at dwelling, in keeping with his telephone.
Sgt. Kenneth Ventresca: In line with his telephone, sure
And in keeping with Michelle Troconis. She instructed police Fotis was along with her that morning.
Dave Altimari | Hartford Courant reporter: She instructed them that Fotis was in Farmington on the Jefferson Crossing dwelling early that morning, that that they had awakened collectively and that that they had intercourse and so they had a bathe … so her … in impact, she gave him an alibi.
Each Fotis and Michelle had been launched — every on a $500,000 bond and ordered to put on ankle bracelets. They had been additionally ordered to not talk with each other. Michelle moved into her personal condominium and Fotis stayed in his glittering mansion at 4 Jefferson Crossing.
However neither would be capable to escape the presumption of guilt.
Rena Dulos Kyrimi: Fotis was tried and convicted within the … courtroom of the general public opinion, that's certain.
Daniella Troconis: What they've mentioned about my sister, the media, and the police, shouldn't be who my sister is.
Claudia Troconis: She had nothing to do with this.
QUESTIONING MICHELLE
Rena Dulos Kyrimi was at dwelling in Greece when she discovered about her brother's arrest.
Rena Dulos Kyrimi: I believed that this might be a difficulty of 1 or two days and the police will perceive that they're making a mistake.
She was mistaken. He shortly grew to become the prime suspect in a multi-agency homicide investigation.
Rena Dulos Kyrimi: Fotis was the simple answer for the police.
And a straightforward goal for the press, says Rena.
Rena Dulos Kyrimi: The cameras was following him when he was jogging. When he was going to the grocery retailer … Persons are … harmless till confirmed responsible. They by no means gave … this chance to Fotis, by no means.
After the arrest, Rena – Fotis's solely sibling – flew from Athens to face by her brother's aspect.
Rena Dulos Kyrimi: What have we completed to the lifetime of an harmless individual?
Rena Dulos Kyrimi: I do know that it's not possible for him to do such a factor. … It's not possible. It's a massive no.
In December 2019, Fotis's legal professional allowed "48 Hours" into Fotis's dwelling. He was underneath a gag order and refused to reply any questions. And we had been witnesses to an virtually surreal scene of a person suspected of a monstrous crime enjoyable along with his household. His nieces, Angelika and Klelia, had simply arrived from Europe.
Klelia Kyrimi: It was crucial for us to be right here with him throughout this Christmas, 'trigger it is a powerful Christmas.
Angelika Kyrimi: Making an attempt to assist him… to maintain his spirits up.
Fotis was banned by the courtroom from seeing his personal youngsters.
Angelika Kyrimi: It's extremely, very exhausting. These children are his coronary heart and his soul … on a regular basis he wakes up and it is simply – you see it in his face.
They tried to cheer him up by doing all of their favourite issues.
Angelika Kyrimi: Enjoying board video games … and cooking and speaking … we have all the time been shut. We have all the time been spending the vacations collectively.
They knew it could possibly be their final Christmas all collectively. Fotis's legal professional had instructed him to count on homicide costs after the New 12 months.
Rena Dulos Kyrimi: We might be right here to face by his aspect, no matter it comes.
Like Rena, Michelle's household could not imagine it was occurring.
Claudia Troconis: My mother referred to as us and instructed us Michi has been arrested. I keep in mind dropping to the ground and saying, "Why? Why? What occurred?" … it has been devastating.
And identical to Rena, they refuse to even take into consideration the chance that Michelle might have been concerned in Jennifer's disappearance.
Erin Moriarty: What makes you imagine that your sister had completely nothing to do with this?
Claudia Troconis: How we had been introduced up, our rules … simply that she's by no means been a violent individual. She's by no means been revengeful you understand … she's a mom herself.
Carlos Troconis: She would not hurt anyone or anybody.
"48 Hours" met Michelle's father, Carlos Troconis, a cardiac surgeon, and sisters Daniella and Claudia in Farmington. They're talking out for the primary time.
Claudia Troconis: She's not the person who they've portrayed and so they've accused her of … They've mentioned that, you understand, she's a whore, that, you understand, she entered this. That she ought to rot in jail.
They are saying the general public picture of Michelle as a homewrecker is just not true.
Erin Moriarty: And what did Fotis inform Michelle about his marriage?
Claudia Troconis: That it was the identical. That he was separated … that they every had their separate lives, and that they had been going by way of an amicable divorce, as a result of that they had the 5 youngsters.
Erin Moriarty: Fotis Dulos lied to Michelle?
Jon Schoenhorn: It seems that he did on a couple of event, which, in my opinion … casts suspicion on him.
Michelle, who accompanied her household to our interview, refused to reply questions. However her legal professional, Jon Schoenhorn, did. He claims Fotis deceived Michelle with lie after lie — and that included the journey to Albany Avenue in Hartford.
Erin Moriarty: And also you're saying she had no thought what was in these luggage that Fotis was eliminating?
Jon Schoenhorn: She not solely didn't know what was in these luggage, she had no thought … what he was truly doing. He'd invited her to exit to Starbucks … However he claimed he needed to simply handle just a few objects. … Virtually all the time he is driving in Hartford, she's on both WhatsApp, texting or making telephone calls throughout that entire time.
He says she was chatting with family and friends.
Erin Moriarty [referencing the surveillance photo of Michelle reaching for the sidewalk]: What's she doing there?
Jon Schoenhorn: She instructed the police that she had — was chewing gum and he or she had gotten it on her fingers, and he or she tried to fling it out the window. It would not come off, so she wiped her hand on the sidewalk.
Schoenhorn launched excerpts from interrogation movies hoping to show his level that: Michelle was cooperative – even useful – and repeatedly denied any involvement in Jennifer's disappearance:
DET KIMBALL: We expect you have got info.
MICHELLE TROCONIS: I haven't got John, however I can stroll the entire world with you if you'd like. … I can do no matter you need, however I did not do it. … I don't know what occurred to Jennifer. I don't know the place Jennifer is.
However detectives believed she knew greater than she was saying:
DETECTIVE: So, if you understand stuff that you just're not telling us ...
MICHELLE TROCONIS: No, I do not know ...
DETECTIVE: That is the person you are defending, 'trigger that is the sick s---.
MICHELLE TROCONIS: I am not defending him. I am not defending him.
However the extra she talked, the extra suspicious they grew to become.
Bear in mind, Michelle instructed the police in her first interview that Fotis was along with her the morning Jennifer disappeared; that that they had a bathe and had been intimate. By the third interview, she was telling a unique story.
Dave Altimari: And each time they … would push her, she modified her story. After which by the third time, she mainly instructed them that it was a lie, that he was not in the home on that morning as she … had initially instructed them.
She additionally acknowledged that Fotis had left his telephone behind.
Dave Altimari: The telephone being in Farmington was clearly a part of the alibi. Not less than that is the state police's perception — that he left the telephone there so nobody would know the place he was.
After 8 months of investigation, on January 7, 2020, the police arrested Michelle for conspiracy to commit homicide.
Daniella Troconis: It has been devastating, as a result of we all know my sister is harmless.
Erin Moriarty: Generally ladies do ridiculous issues for love.
Claudia Troconis: Not my sister.
Daniella Troconis: That is not Michelle.
Claudia Troconis: Different ladies, however not my sister.
Daniella Troconis: Michelle would by no means hurt anybody in any manner.
Erin Moriarty: However would she probably cowl up for a person she cherished?
Daniella Troconis: No! She would by no means put herself in hurt methods, not even herself or her daughter. No, she's not able to doing so.
Claudia Troconis: That might have an effect on her life, so she would not.
The police got here for Fotis the identical day; Rena was there.
Rena Dulos Kyrimi: It was like a film. … They went out of the vehicles with the weapons like they had been going to arrest Al Capone. … It was a horrible second. It was horrible moments, imagine me.
Investigators imagine they've the killer. However they nonetheless haven't got the sufferer: Jennifer Dulos.
And Fotis's legal professional, Norm Pattis says that raises questions whether or not there was a homicide in any respect.
Norm Pattis: We defy the state to show that she is actually lifeless.
THE STATE'S CASE
NORM PATTIS [to reporters]: This is our message to the State of Connecticut: Mr. Dulos shouldn't be responsible. We're prepared for the courtroom. There's the courthouse. If you wish to attempt the case, deliver it on.
Norm Pattis likes to stir issues up. And he did a great job of it for his consumer, Fotis Dulos.
NORM PATTIS [in court]: There is no such thing as a physique that we're conscious of and I am sick and bored with listening to about it.
He aimed straight for the state's weak spot. No physique. No homicide.
NORM PATTIS [to reporters]: We take the place there may be inadequate proof to conclude that she's even lifeless.
Pattis launched a public marketing campaign to solid Fotis as a loving father unfairly disadvantaged of seeing his youngsters. And Jennifer because the villain.
Norm Pattis: We're actively considering a revenge suicide speculation as an evidence for her disappearance.
One other protection principle Pattis advised was "Gone Lady" – that identical to within the thriller and hit film, Jennifer disappeared to border her husband for homicide.
Richard Colangelo Jr.: When Lawyer Pattis raised it and talked about it, I begged him to do it in entrance of a jury … You might drive a bus by way of all of the holes in that principle or that argument.
Even so, Chief State's Lawyer Richard Colangelo knew that proving homicide and not using a physique was not going to be straightforward.
Richard Colangelo Jr.: We tried to leverage every part we might and we did not depart any stone unturned.
Little by little, Colangelo says they constructed a case of premeditated homicide and cover-up — a narrative they specified by detailed arrest warrants.
It begins within the pre-dawn hours of Could 24, with an previous crimson Tacoma truck. Not Fotis's truck — however a truck that belonged to one in every of his employees.
Investigators imagine Fotis took the Tacoma with out permission and left the 80 Mountain Spring Street property – one of many properties owned by his firm – round 5:35 a.m. He then drove it 70 miles south to New Canaan.
Sgt. Kenneth Ventresca: We crunched about 12 hours of video surveillance … of the Merritt Parkway, the place we finally positioned a crimson Toyota Tacoma pickup truck matching the employee's Toyota Tacoma driving southbound.
At 7:57 a.m, the Tacoma was noticed once more by a passing college bus, this time in New Canaan. The Tacoma was parked on a rustic highway close to Waveny Park.
Sgt. Kenneth Ventresca: That is the place he had parked it.
Investigators imagine Fotis had introduced a bicycle with him and biked the final three miles to Jennifer's home.
Sgt. Kenneth Ventresca: He came visiting within the again highway over there. He waited for her to drop the youngsters off at college. She got here dwelling within the morning … She enters the storage … And that is the place the violent assault occurred in the home.
Fotis left behind two items of proof vital to the investigation, says the sergeant: his DNA on the doorknob of the mudroom and a mix of his and Jennifer's DNA on a faucet inside Jennifer's home.
Sgt. Kenneth Ventresca: Fotis Dulos's DNA being in that home is extremely suspicious in nature. It should not be in the home.
Sergeant Ventresca believes Fotis spent about two hours cleansing up, then put Jennifer's lifeless or unconscious physique behind her Suburban and drove it away.
Sgt. Kenneth Ventresca: ... after which her automobile is left about 3-and-a-half miles away down a highway close to Waveny Park …
Simply 100 toes from the place police say he had parked the Tacoma.
Det. John Kimball: There's storm drains down right here…
Investigators can not account for the subsequent 40 minutes. It is doable Fotis used that point to eliminate Jennifer's physique, however they suppose it is extra possible that he was transferring incriminating supplies from the Suburban to the Tacoma.
Det. John Kimball: If he had issues to maneuver, like quite a lot of bloody clothes, he had to take action rigorously, and he needed to look forward to breaks in site visitors. It might've taken 40 minutes.
Det. John Kimball: We imagine … the physique of Jennifer Dulos was transferred to the Tacoma and brought north.
What occurred to Jennifer after that, they do not know. What they do know is that the Tacoma returned to 80 Mountain Spring Street at 12:22 p.m.
Michelle instructed the police that Fotis met her for lunch round 1 p.m.
Jon Schoenhorn | Michelle's legal professional: I've seen no proof that Michelle knew something about what Fotis Dulos had completed throughout the day apart from the time that that they had lunch collectively.
After lunch, in keeping with Michelle, they spent a lot of the afternoon on the 80 Mountain Spring property cleansing. She claims Fotis was getting the home prepared to indicate to a consumer.
Erin Moriarty: So, what do you suppose was occurring that afternoon at 80 Mountain Spring?
Sgt. Kenneth Ventresca: I feel that the proof that was present in Hartford … was being bagged up.
To be discarded in these trash cans later that night.
5 days later, Fotis and Michelle took the Tacoma to the automotive wash and element store.
Sgt. Kenneth Ventresca: For a 20-year-old Toyota work truck, it was immaculate. … You may eat off the floorboards on this truck. That is how clear it was by the point we received it.
However Fotis made one main miscalculation, says Richard Colangelo.
Erin Moriarty: What did you study from the worker who truly owned that Tacoma?
Richard Colangelo Jr.: That Mr. Dulos needed him to alter out the seats and eliminate them. However he stored them in his storage. And once we went to execute the search warrant, he mentioned "Hey, would you like the seats?" … So, he gave us consent to take them and we took them.
Sgt. Kenneth Ventresca: On the passenger seat … there was a blood-like stain on the material of the seat, which was reduce out, examined on the lab, and it got here again to Jennifer Dulos's DNA – blood. … And that was paramount for this investigation.
There was nonetheless so much lacking. Investigators by no means discovered a homicide weapon and could not even positively establish Fotis as the driving force of the Tacoma within the surveillance footage. However they believed that they had sufficient circumstantial proof to show Fotis killed his spouse.
However the case would by no means go to courtroom.
Rena Dulos Kyrimi: I might by no means think about … he had such a tragic finish.
UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES
On a chilly winter day three weeks after his arrest for homicide and kidnapping, Fotis Dulos was ordered to courtroom for an emergency listening to on whether or not to revoke his bond.
He by no means made it.
Kevin Smith: I referred to as him and referred to as him and referred to as him.
When Fotis failed to indicate up, one in every of his legal professional's, Kevin Smith, alerted authorities. Emergency responders rushed to his dwelling. They discovered Fotis locked within the storage, within the entrance seat of his Suburban, surrounded with footage of his 5 youngsters — virtually lifeless from carbon monoxide poisoning.
EMT's shielded his immobile physique as they frantically labored to get a heartbeat. After which they discovered a faint pulse. He was nonetheless alive.
Fotis was airlifted to Jacobi Medical Heart within the Bronx.
WCBS NEWS REPORT: He's in vital situation after a suicide try at his dwelling.
Fotis's sister Rena was on the subsequent transatlantic flight out of Greece.
Rena Dulos Kyrimi: We needed to be there as a result of … we had hopes that perhaps he can come again and he can breathe by himself.
But it surely was to not be.
Rena Dulos Kyrimi: I might by no means think about this may occur.
Two days after trying suicide, Fotis was taken off life assist.
NORM PATTIS [to reporters]: Fotis Dulos was declared lifeless tonight at 5:32.
That night, "48 Hours" drove with Norm Pattis to Fotis's Jefferson Crossing dwelling in Farmington.
Norm Pattis: I am indignant, I am harm, I am decided, I am unhappy.
Pattis met Kevin Smith on the home. Collectively they secured the house and mirrored on the day's occasions.
Norm Pattis: You understand Mr. Dulos was tried and convicted within the courtroom of public opinion and in the end in our view executed in that courtroom.
Fotis went to his grave professing his innocence. In his suicide observe, he wrote, "I refuse to spend even an hour extra in jail for one thing I had NOTHING to do with."
Erin Moriarty: As you sit right here proper now, do you imagine that Fotis Dulos killed his spouse, Jennifer?
Carrie Luft: Sure.
Det. John Kimball: To me, the suicide of Fotis Dulos was, in essence, an act of contrition in his involvement in his spouse's homicide.
Detective John Kimball believes Fotis knew it was over; he knew he was possible going to jail after the bond listening to and would possibly by no means get out. And the person who hated to lose was not about to reside with a homicide conviction.
Det. John Kimball: As a result of Fotis dedicated suicide earlier than he went to trial, he won't ever be convicted of his spouse's homicide. It is irritating that he did not see justice.
However Rena says she's going to by no means cease combating to clear her brother's title.
Rena Dulos Kyrimi: He did not have any trial … so they can't name him a assassin and not using a trial.
Even with Fotis lifeless, the State of Connecticut is shifting ahead.
Erin Moriarty: The place does that depart Michelle Troconis?
Jon Schoenhorn | Michelle's legal professional: Nicely, I feel the best expression right here is she's left holding the bag.
MICHELLE TROCONIS [ interrogation]: I am not defending him. I am not defending him.
Jon Schoenhorn: However they've spent tens of millions of dollars of taxpayer cash. … So right here they're. They received to indicate one thing for his or her effort at this level.
Michelle Troconis is not the one one going through trial.
Fotis's buddy and someday lawyer Kent Mawhinney can also be charged with conspiracy. He was at Fotis's home the morning Jennifer went lacking, and police say he was "ceaselessly imprecise or evasive" and" in any other case suspicious to investigators." However, after spending 9 months in jail, he's free on a decreased bail. He has turned state's witness. And, in keeping with Michelle's legal professional, Jon Schoenhorn, he's now implicating Michelle to avoid wasting himself.
In an announcement to "48 Hours," Schoenhorn wrote: "…These new accusations straight contradict what he instructed investigators in 2019, and I stay up for the possibility to cross-examine him …"
Kent Mawhinney's legal professional instructed us he could not touch upon an ongoing legal case.
Each Michelle Troconis and Kent Mawhinney have pleaded not responsible.
Erin Moriarty: If both of them got here up with info that led to discovering Jennifer, would there be a deal for them?
Richard Colangelo Jr.: Consider it or not, I am a really open-minded individual. So, I am not going to shut the door on something.
Erin Moriarty: I'll take that as a "sure." That is how a lot you wish to know the place Jennifer is.
Richard Colangelo Jr.: Completely.
Not a day goes by that Sgt. Kenneth Ventresca does not take into consideration Jennifer Dulos.
Sgt. Kenneth Ventresca : I am assured we're going to discover her physique, and we're not going to cease. You understand, you concentrate on the youngsters and now the 5 youngsters haven't got a mother or a dad.
Carrie Luft: All of them embody Jennifer in so some ways. … And she or he did such a terrific job of instilling them with love and delight.
Jennifer left a legacy in phrases. A parting reward to the 5 youngsters she adored.
CARRIE LUFT [reading from Jennifer's blog]: Breathe, be alive, decelerate, take pleasure in life … Do much less, however reside extra totally … wholesome, calm, joyful and at peace.
The youngsters are being raised by Jennifer's mom in New York Metropolis.
Produced by Liza Finley and Elena DiFiore. Richard Fetzer is the sector producer. Michael McHugh, Grayce Arlotta-Berner and Diana Modica are the editors. Peter Schweitzer is the senior producer. Nancy Kramer is the chief story editor. Judy Tygard is the chief producer.