Michelle Troconis was convicted of serving to her boyfriend Fotis Dulos homicide his estranged spouse. Prosecutors say she helped plan the homicide, destroy proof and create an alibi for Fotis Dulos. Here is a have a look at the proof introduced at her trial.
Michelle Troconis, heart, in court docket.
Pool
Testimony started within the trial of Troconis, 49, on Jan. 11, 2024. She was charged with conspiracy to commit homicide, together with tampering with bodily proof and hindering prosecution. Over the following six weeks, prosecutors would current proof they are saying proves Troconis hated Jennifer Dulos and needed her gone.
How the story started
Jennifer Dulos was reported lacking by her frightened household and mates round 7 p.m on Could 24, 2019. Police shortly decided that the mom of 5 would by no means have willingly left her kids.
Carrie Luft
On Could 24, 2019, Jennifer Dulos vanished. The mom and author was final seen close to her New Canaan, Connecticut, house after dropping her 5 kids off at college. She was reported lacking round 7 p.m. that night. Police quickly launched an enormous search.
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Blood in Jennifer Dulos’ storage
Investigators searched Jennifer Dulos' storage for clues and located proof of a violent wrestle.
Connecticut State Police
When New Canaan Police arrived at Jennifer Dulos' rented house, they discovered blood on the ground of the storage. A bit of over an hour later, detectives discovered her Suburban SUV — additionally containing blood proof — deserted by close by Waveny Park.Fotis and Jennifer Dulos' contentious divorce
Fotis and Jennifer Dulos
Sotiria Kontouli
Detectives discovered that Jennifer Dulos was embroiled in a bitter divorce and custody battle together with her husband Fotis Dulos, a luxurious house builder. The couple was dwelling individually on the time of Jennifer Dulos' disappearance. Former Connecticut State Police Sgt. Kenneth Ventresca informed "48 Hours" that Fotis Dulos did not assist with the search and "never seemed concerned about his wife."
A brand new love curiosity for Fotis Dulos
Michelle Troconis and Fotis Dulos
Sotiria Kontouli
Detectives additionally discovered Fotis Dulos had a brand new girl in his life — live-in girlfriend Michelle Troconis, who he had met at a waterskiing membership in Miami.Fotis Dulos and Michelle Troconis on Albany Avenue
Fotis Dulos is seen on surveillance video discarding a black rubbish bag in a public trash receptacle alongside Albany Avenue in Hartford, Connecticut, round 7 p.m. on Could 24 , 2019 — roughly the identical time Jennifer Dulos was reported lacking, in line with police.
Connecticut State Police
Police quickly be taught that Fotis Dulos and Troconis drove round Albany Avenue in Hartford, Connecticut, collectively the night of the day that Jennifer Dulos disappeared. They noticed Fotis Dulos on surveillance footage throwing away black rubbish baggage.
Michelle Troconis seen on surveillance footage
In one of many surveillance clips, police seen a lady with Fotis Dulos, she is seen reaching in the direction of the sidewalk [far right]. She was later recognized as his girlfriend, Michelle Troconis.
Connecticut State Police
At one of many stops, Troconis is seen leaning out of Fotis Dulos' automobile. She would later inform police that she had spit out gum and since her hand was sticky, she determined to wipe it on the sidewalk. Police did not consider her — particularly after they noticed what was in these rubbish baggage. Investigators uncover extra bloody proof
Investigators say bloody zip ties and clothes have been discovered within the rubbish baggage discarded by Fotis Dulos.
Connecticut State Police
Detectives descended on Albany Avenue and commenced digging via the trash discarded by Fotis Dulos. They discovered clothes in Jennifer Dulos' measurement, ponchos and reduce zip ties (pictured). The gadgets have been lined in blood matching Jennifer Dulos' DNA, convincing detectives of what they already suspected: this was a murder. They believed Fotis Dulos was accountable for her homicide, and that Troconis helped plan the homicide and get rid of incriminating gadgets.
Michelle Troconis and Fotis Dulos charged
Michelle Troconis
Michelle Troconis
Troconis was many issues — a mom, former ESPN reporter in South America, horseback rider — however now she was an alleged conspirator in her boyfriend's spouse's disappearance. She was charged with conspiracy to commit homicide and Fotis Dulos was charged with homicide. Fotis Dulos would by no means stand trial. He died by suicide eight months after Jennifer Dulos disappeared, leaving Troconis to face the results alone.Michelle Troconis' trial begins
The State took the jury step-by-step via what they consider occurred on Could 24, 2019, telling the story via surveillance movies.
Pool
To show that Troconis conspired with Fotis Dulos to commit homicide, prosecutors first needed to show there was a homicide, after which, that it was Fotis Dulos who murdered her. The State took the jury step-by-step via what they consider occurred, telling the story via surveillance movies. Their timeline started with this outdated purple Toyota Tacoma truck belonging to considered one of Fotis Dulos' workers. Police consider Fotis Dulos took it with out permission on Could 24, 2019, and drove it to New Canaan.
Proof captured on bus video
Connecticut State Police
Police discovered this video from a passing faculty bus of the Tacoma on the facet of the highway close to Waveny Park in New Canaan at 7:57 a.m. It was roughly 100 ft from the place Jennifer' Dulos' Suburban was later discovered.A mysterious bike owner caught on digital camera
Investigators consider this surveillance picture of a determine on a motorbike, higher proper, is Fotis Dulos heading to Jennifer Dulos' house on the day of her disappearance.
Connecticut State Police
The State confirmed the jury this surveillance video of a determine in darkish clothes. Prosecutors consider Fotis Dulos had introduced a bicycle with him within the Tacoma, and that it reveals him biking the final three miles to Jennifer Dulos' home. Prosecutors consider Fotis Dulos was mendacity in wait and assaulted her in her storage.
An alibi for Fotis Dulos Authorities consider Fotis Dulos spent the following couple of hours cleansing up, however that he left behind proof—his DNA on a doorknob and a combination of his and Jennifer Dulos’ DNA on a faucet within the kitchen. In the meantime, prosecutors say, Troconis was on the house she shared with Fotis Dulos, serving to him create an alibi. Fotis Dulos had left his cellphone at house and prearranged a name with a buddy. Prosecutors consider Troconis picked up the decision to make it seem that Fotis Dulos was house, an allegation she denies. Proof within the Tacoma
A blood-like stain on the material of the passenger seat of the Tacoma was reduce out and examined. It was a DNA match to Jennifer Dulos.
Pool
Police then suppose Fotis Dulos drove Jennifer Dulos' SUV to Waveny Park and transferred her physique or bloody proof into the Tacoma. They later examined a material pattern from a seat within the Tacoma and it got here again constructive for Jennifer Dulos' blood.Michelle Troconis talks to investigators
Michelle Troconis throughout her second of three interviews with investigators.
Connecticut State Police
The subsequent a part of the police principle comes from Michelle Troconis. Throughout a sequence of three interviews, she informed investigators that she and Fotis Dulos had lunch collectively on the afternoon of Could 24. Afterwards, she mentioned that she and Fotis Dulos went to considered one of his properties to wash it for a exhibiting that was scheduled for the following day. Prosecutors consider they have been bagging up proof and cleansing the Tacoma, earlier than heading to Albany Avenue to throw away these incriminating gadgets.
Smoke rising from Fotis Dulos and Michelle Troconis’ house
Prosecutors additionally accused Michelle Troconis of burning proof the day Jennifer Dulos went lacking. They performed safety movies for the jury exhibiting smoke rising from the chimney on the house Troconis shared with Fotis Dulos.
Pool
Prosecutors say that very same day, Troconis was caught burning proof within the house she shared with Fotis. They level to this surveillance footage from a house throughout the road exhibiting smoke rising from the chimney — on what was a gentle spring day in Could. Fotis Dulos on the automobile wash
Fotis Dulos is seen standing on the counter at a automobile wash the place he introduced the Tacoma to be cleaned 5 days after his estranged spouse disappeared.
Connecticut State Police
Prosecutors confirmed the jury video of Fotis Dulos as soon as once more driving the Tacoma. 5 days after Jennifer Dulos went lacking, he introduced the truck to a neighborhood automobile wash and element store. That is him paying for the cleansing. Troconis met him there.
Jennifer Dulos’ clothes proven in court docket
At trial, Prosecutor Michelle Manning holds up a bloody shirt belonging to Jennifer Dulos.
Pool
Some of the emotional moments of the trial was when Prosecutor Michelle Manning held up a number of the proof police recovered from the luggage Fotis Dulos had dumped on Albany Avenue, together with a bloody shirt that belonged to Jennifer Dulos. Jennifer Dulos' shut buddy Carrie Luft was within the courtroom. She informed "48 Hours," "being in … the same space and time as Jennifer's clothes just really drove home that she's not here."Jon Schoenhorn delivers closing arguments
Protection legal professional Jon Schoenhorn
Pool
After six weeks of testimony, it was time for closing arguments. Troconis' legal professional Jon Schoenhorn informed the jury that Troconis was not concerned in any plan to homicide Jennifer Dulos and that the State's case was based mostly on "speculation." He mentioned that Fotis Dulos had merely invited her to go on a Starbucks run the day he was dumping proof, and Troconis did not know what was inside the luggage. He additionally mentioned that Troconis would usually mild the fireside and was burning nothing greater than firewood that day.
The prosecution’s remaining statements
Prosecutor Sean McGuinness
Pool
Throughout Prosecutor Sean McGuinness' closing arguments, he centered on one easy phrase: "coincidence." "Is it just a coincidence that the defendant answered Dulos' phone … when he was murdering his wife in New Canaan?" he requested the jury. "Is it just a coincidence that the defendant travels with Dulos to Hartford as he disposes of the evidence on the same day?"Troconis household reacts to responsible verdict
After the decision, the Troconis household assembled to handle the media, together with Michelle's sister, Claudia Troconis-Marmol, left, and father, Dr. Carlos Troconis, "She's innocent, and we will keep proving that forever," he mentioned.
CBS Information
After deliberating a bit of greater than two days, the jury reached a verdict: responsible. Outdoors, Troconis' household, who had sat behind her all through the trial, made an emotional assertion to the media. "We don't know what happened to Jennifer," mentioned Troconis' sister, Claudia Troconis-Marmol, via 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: 5 years gone
Jennifer Dulos
Carrie Luft
In Could 2024, it will likely be 5 years since Jennifer Dulos disappeared. Police have been unable to seek out her physique. "And that's what's the most painful... We don't know where she is," Luft informed "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."
Extra from CBS Information
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