Disclaimer: The article contains mentions of abuse and murder. Readers’ discretion is advised.
Jennifer Dulos has officially been declared dead, four years after she disappeared from her home in Connecticut. In June 2019, about a month after she vanished, Jennifer’s estranged husband, Fotis Dulos, and his girlfriend, Michelle Troconis, were charged with the disappearance and presumed death. They were additionally charged with the tampering of evidence after further investigation.
The police found surveillance footage of Troconis and Fotis in which they allegedly drove through Hartford as they disposed of garbage bags across the capital, Fox News reported. Fotis Dulos and Michelle Troconis denied all charges after they were arrested. Fotis and Troconis were released on a $6 million and $2 million bond, respectively, before Fotis died by suicide. He was hospitalized for days owing to carbon monoxide poisoning and passed soon after.
The Connecticut Law dictates that anyone missing for seven years or more shall be declared dead. Although it has been less than five years since Jennifer was last seen, her mother, Gloria Farber, in August 2023, requested that Jennifer Dulos be declared dead. NBC Connecticut reported that she filed a petition with the court to declare her daughter dead in order to “protect Jennifer and her children’s assets.” She argued that the inheritance of Jennifer Dulos’ assets will remain undetermined until she is declared dead.
On October 24, 2023, the declaration that Jennifer Dulos is deceased was made official after evidence was examined and the fact that Jennifer has not contacted any of her family members or friends ever since she vanished. Despite extensive efforts by authorities, Jennifer’s body was never recovered, with the accused pleading not guilty.
When did Jennifer Dulos disappear? Missing case explored
On May 24, 2019, Dulos, a mother of five, dropped her children at school in New Canaan. That was where she was last seen before she vanished. The disappearance occurred amidst her active legal battle for child custody and divorce against Fotis Dulos. Fotis and Jennifer were in the process of getting a divorce at the time of the disappearance. Jennifer was 50, and Fotis was 52 at the time of her disappearance.
Upon investigation, the police found Jennifer Dulos’ SUV by Waveny Park, and a missing person’s case was made official. Gloria Farber, 88, filed for the custody of Jennifer’s children. The children are now between 13 and 17 years old. According to the Independent, Jennifer determined in her will that all her assets would be passed on to her children. She declared this only two months before filing for divorce from Fotis, whom she was married for 13 years.
NBC Connecticut also reported that Jennifer accused Fotis of “controlling, volatile, and delusional behavior,” which led to her being afraid for “her and her family’s safety.” Along with Michelle and Fotis, Kent Mawhinney was also charged with conspiracy to commit murder. Mawhinney is an attorney who represented Fotis Dulos in a previous civil case. The case that he fought for Fotis was completely unrelated to Jennifer Dulos’ disappearance.
Michelle Troconis pleaded not guilty to the murder conspiracy charge and was publicly supported by her family. She has been charged with conspiracy to commit murder, tampering with physical evidence, hindering prosecution, and additional charges. Her trial was scheduled to begin on January 11, 2024. The trial is streaming live on NBC Connecticut’s Streaming Channel.
