Michelle Troconis Connecticut trial begins today four years after Jennifer Dulos murder

Michelle Troconis accused of helping boyfriend Fotis cover up wife's murderFotis killed himself in 2020 while on bail; Jennifer's body was never found 

Michelle Troconis will appear in court today for the first day of her criminal trial over the disappearance of her former boyfriend’s ex, mother-of-five Jennifer Farber Dulos.

The 49-year-old glamorous American-Venezuelan former ESPN host denies charges connected to the suspected homicide – including conspiracy to commit murder, evidence tampering and hindering prosecution.

Jennifer vanished aged 50 on May 24, 2019, and her body was never found. Judge William P. Osterndorf declared her ‘officially dead’ on Wednesday, and Troconis’ much-anticipated trial began at Connecticut Superior Court the next day.

At the time of her disappearance, Jennifer had been entangled in an acrimonious divorce and child custody proceedings with her Greek husband Fotis Dulos. He was charged with her murder but died by suicide aged 52 in January 2020.

Prosecutors allege that Fotis, a luxury real estate developer, brutally slayed Jennifer at her New Canaan home before disposing of her body in several trash bags with the help of Troconis.

Michelle Troconis (pictured in October ) will appear in court today in Connecticut. She faces 20 years in prison

Jennifer Farber Dulos vanished in May 2019. Her remains have never been found, but police believe she was murdered by her husband Fotis Dulos, and that his new girlfriend Michelle Troconis conspired with him to help him cover up the crime

Troconis – who is accused of helping lover Fotis Dulos kill his wife in 2019 – is currently free on a $2million bond and faces up to twenty years in prison if convicted

Jennifer Dulos is pictured in a photo released by police when she went missing

Jennifer, a 50-year-old writer and mother-of-five from New Canaan, close to Stamford, vanished after dropping her five beloved children off at school on May 24, 2019

Jennifer disappeared on the morning of May 24, 2019 after dropping her beloved children off at New Canaan Country School. The mother-to-five, who made her living as a writer for Patch.com, was last seen returning home at 8.05am on a neighbor’s security camera.

She missed two doctor’s appointments in New York City scheduled for later that day, and two of her friends, including her nanny Lauren Almeida, reported her missing after being unable to get in touch with her.

State police launched an investigation, starting with a search of her home where they found her blood splattered on the exterior of a Range Rover in her garage and on several surfaces in the kitchen.

Officials said there was evidence of an attempted cleanup, and the enormous amount of blood made it apparent Jennifer could not have survived.

She was going through a messy divorce with Fotis at the time, and arrest warrants show that he was also $7 million in debt while living with Troconis and her daughter in the Farmington, Connecticut home he once shared with his wife and children.

The Dulos children – Petros, Theodore, Constantine, Christiane and Cleopatra Noelle – were aged between eight and 13 at the time.

Prosecutors believe Fotis drove an employee’s Toyota Tacoma pickup truck from that property to New Canaan before riding a bicycle to Jennifer’s home and attacking her in the garage.

He put her body in her Chevrolet Suburban and drove around three miles, police say, The vehicle was found abandoned near Waveny Park in New Canaan.

Fotis (pictured) killed himself in his mansion aged 52 while awaiting trial in January 2020, leaving Troconis to face the music alone

Jennifer Dulos went missing in May 2019 and her body has never been found despite extensive searches from investigators. Her husband Fotis killed himself the following January after being charged with her murder

That evening at around 7.30pm, Fotis and Troconis were seen on surveillance cameras in his pickup truck stopping at several locations in Hartford. Fotis emerged from the vehicle to dispose of several garbage bags while Troconis remained inside.

Police recovered some of the bags several days later and found bloodied clothing, zip ties and other items containing DNA matching Jennifer and Fotis. One bag also had Troconis’ DNA on, authorities said.

In police interviews, Troconis said she thought the bags contained goods from one of the houses Fotis was selling at the time.

Officers also uncovered what came to be known as ‘the alibi scripts’ – two pages written by Fotis and Troconis which detailed their activities on a nearly hourly basis the day Jennifer was last seen, but did not include the bag disposal time. 

Troconis claimed they detailed their actions on the advice of Fotis’ lawyer. 

But her arrest warrant also alleges that she presented conflicting stories to police during three interviews about whether she saw Fotis on the morning that Jennifer died. 

That morning, Fotis was meant to meet with Kent Mawhinney, his friend and lawyer, but they never actually met.  Mawhinney was also charged with conspiracy to commit murder and awaits trial. He has pleaded not guilty.

Meanwhile, Troconis’ lawyer, Jon Schoenhorn, has accused police of lying to and misleading his client during interviews and questioning her in English with no interpreter present when her primary language is Spanish. 

Venezuelan socialite Troconis (left with Dulos and right with her daughter) has always denied having any involvement in Jennifer’s death

Schoenhorn has also challenged much of the evidence in the case. Judge Kevin Randolph recently ruled the police seizure of Troconis’ cellphone was illegal and any evidence obtained from it cannot be used during the trial.

But Randolph allowed other evidence Schoenhorn sought to bar, including video of the police questioning of Troconis and DNA test results.

Dulos’ family and friends hope the trial provides accountability for her death and answers to lingering questions.

‘As this trial begins, it is crucial to remember who is at the center: Jennifer, whose five children have lost their mother and, as an eventuality, both parents,’ said her friend Carrie Luft, in a statement on behalf of family and friends.

‘Jennifer´s family and loved ones have lost a loving daughter, sister, cousin, and lifelong friend.’