Michelle Troconis was found guilty of assisting her boyfriend Fotis Dulos in the murder of his estranged wife. Prosecutors claim she was involved in planning the murder, covering up evidence, and providing an alibi for Fotis Dulos.
Below is a summary of the evidence presented during her trial.
The trial of Troconis, aged 49, commenced on January 11, 2024. She faced charges of conspiracy to commit murder, tampering with physical evidence, and obstructing prosecution. Over the course of six weeks, prosecutors laid out evidence indicating Troconis' alleged animosity towards Jennifer Dulos and her involvement in the crime.
Origin of the Case
Blood Traces in Jennifer Dulos' Garage
Upon arriving at Jennifer Dulos' rented residence, New Canaan Police discovered blood in the garage. Shortly after, investigators located her Suburban SUV, which also contained blood evidence, abandoned near Waveny Park.
The Dramatic Divorce of Fotis and Jennifer Dulos
Details emerged revealing the intense divorce and custody battle between Jennifer Dulos and her husband Fotis Dulos, a prominent luxury home builder. The couple had been living separately when Jennifer Dulos went missing. Former Connecticut State Police Sgt. Kenneth Ventresca disclosed that Fotis Dulos showed no interest in helping with the search and appeared indifferent towards his wife's disappearance.
A New Chapter in Fotis Dulos' Life
Investigations uncovered that Fotis Dulos had a new romantic partner, Michelle Troconis, with whom he had crossed paths at a waterskiing club in Miami.
Fotis Dulos and Michelle Troconis' Mysterious Journey
Authorities discovered that Fotis Dulos and Troconis were together on Albany Avenue in Hartford, Connecticut, on the evening of Jennifer Dulos' disappearance. Surveillance footage captured Fotis Dulos discarding black garbage bags during their drive.
Michelle Troconis' Suspicious Actions
One footage showed Troconis leaning out of the vehicle, later claiming she was disposing of gum and wiping her sticky hand on the sidewalk. However, police grew skeptical of her explanation, especially after inspecting the contents of the discarded bags.
Dark Secrets Uncovered in Murder Investigation
After an intense investigation, detectives made a chilling discovery on Albany Avenue. Among the discarded trash of Fotis Dulos, they uncovered clothing in Jennifer Dulos' size, ponchos, and cut zip ties, all stained with Jennifer Dulos' DNA. This grim evidence confirmed detectives' suspicions that Jennifer Dulos had been the victim of a homicide. Authorities pointed the finger at Fotis Dulos as the perpetrator of the murder, with Michelle Troconis allegedly aiding in the planning and disposal of incriminating items.
Legal Charges and Tragic End
Once a mother, former ESPN reporter, and horseback rider, Michelle Troconis found herself embroiled in a criminal case as she faced charges of conspiracy to commit murder in connection to her boyfriend's wife's disappearance. Meanwhile, Fotis Dulos was charged with murder, although he never faced trial, as he tragically took his own life eight months after Jennifer Dulos vanished, leaving Troconis to confront the legal repercussions alone.
The Trial of Michelle Troconis
As Michelle Troconis stood trial, prosecutors aimed to establish her complicity in the murder allegedly carried out by Fotis Dulos. To build their case, the prosecution first had to prove the existence of a murder and then link Fotis Dulos to the crime. Through a series of surveillance videos, the State meticulously outlined their version of events, starting with the use of a red Toyota Tacoma truck belonging to one of Fotis Dulos' employees. According to police, Fotis Dulos commandeered the vehicle on May 24, 2019, driving it to New Canaan as part of the unfolding tragedy.
Evidence captured on bus video
Police found this video from a passing school bus of the Tacoma on the side of the road near Waveny Park in New Canaan at 7:57 a.m. It was approximately 100 feet from where Jennifer' Dulos' Suburban was later found.
A mysterious cyclist caught on camera
The State showed the jury this surveillance video of a figure in dark clothing. Prosecutors believe Fotis Dulos had brought a bicycle with him in the Tacoma, and that it shows him biking the last three miles to Jennifer Dulos' house. Prosecutors believe Fotis Dulos was lying in wait and assaulted her in her garage.
An alibi for Fotis Dulos
Authorities believe Fotis Dulos spent the next couple of hours cleaning up, but that he left behind evidence—his DNA on a doorknob and a mixture of his and Jennifer Dulos' DNA on a faucet in the kitchen. Meanwhile, prosecutors say, Troconis was at the home she shared with Fotis Dulos, helping him create an alibi. Fotis Dulos had left his phone at home and prearranged a call with a friend. Prosecutors believe Troconis picked up the call to make it appear that Fotis Dulos was home, an allegation she denies.
Evidence in the Tacoma
Following the investigation, authorities suspect that Fotis Dulos used Jennifer Dulos' SUV to transport her body or incriminating evidence to Waveny Park. Subsequently, a fabric sample from a seat in the Tacoma tested positive for Jennifer Dulos' blood.
Michelle Troconis talks to investigators
Michelle Troconis, in a series of interviews with investigators, mentioned that she had lunch with Fotis Dulos on the afternoon of May 24. She stated that they proceeded to clean one of Dulos' properties in preparation for a showing the next day. Prosecutors suspect that this cleaning involved disposing of evidence and cleaning the Tacoma, followed by a visit to Albany Avenue to discard the potentially incriminating items.
Smoke rising from Fotis Dulos and Michelle Troconis' home
On the same day, surveillance footage captured Michelle Troconis burning evidence in the residence she shared with Fotis Dulos. The footage shows smoke emanating from the chimney, despite it being a mild spring day in May, supporting the prosecutors' claims.
Fotis Dulos at the car wash
Further evidence presented to the jury included video footage of Fotis Dulos driving the Tacoma to a local car wash and detail shop five days after Jennifer Dulos' disappearance. Dulos can be seen paying for the cleaning services, with Troconis also present at the location.
Jennifer Dulos' clothing shown in court
One of the most poignant moments during the trial occurred when Prosecutor Michelle Manning presented some of the items police found in the bags that Fotis Dulos had discarded on Albany Avenue, including a bloodstained shirt that belonged to Jennifer Dulos. Jennifer Dulos' close friend Carrie Luft was present in the courtroom. She shared with "48 Hours," "being in ... the same space and time as Jennifer's clothes just really emphasized that she's not here."
Jon Schoenhorn delivers closing arguments
Following six weeks of testimony, it was time for the closing arguments. Troconis' lawyer Jon Schoenhorn informed the jury that Troconis was not part of any plot to harm Jennifer Dulos and that the State's case was built on "speculation." He mentioned that Fotis Dulos had simply asked her to accompany him on a Starbucks trip the day he was disposing of evidence, and Troconis was unaware of the contents of the bags. He also stated that Troconis frequently lit the fireplace and was only burning firewood that day.
The prosecution's final statements
During Prosecutor Sean McGuinness' closing arguments, he honed in on one key word: "coincidence." "Is it merely a coincidence that the defendant answered Dulos' phone ... while he was murdering his wife in New Canaan?" he posed to the jury. "Is it simply a coincidence that the defendant accompanied Dulos to Hartford as he disposed of the evidence on the same day?"
Troconis family reacts to guilty verdict
After deliberating a little more than two days, the jury reached a verdict: guilty. Outside, Troconis' family, who had sat behind her throughout the trial, made an emotional statement to the media. "We don't know what happened to Jennifer," said Troconis' sister, Claudia Troconis-Marmol, through her tears. "And choosing and putting my sister as the guilty person is not the right thing to do because she's innocent."
Jennifer Dulos: Five years gone
In May 2024, it will be five years since Jennifer Dulos disappeared. Police have been unable to find her body. "And that's what's the most painful... We don't know where she is," Luft told "48 Hours." "Jennifer's still here in so many ways. But I think it would bring some peace to be able to let her rest in peace."
