It was one of the most anticipated trials in recent memory: the State of Connecticut vs. Michelle Troconis — a case that has haunted the family and friends of Jennifer Dulos for nearly five years.
“I wanted to be there every day because Jennifer couldn’t be there and I wanted to be there for her to bear witness,” says longtime friend Carrie Luft.
Luft was in court every day as prosecutors Sean McGuinness and Michelle Manning presented their case: that Troconis conspired with her boyfriend Fotis Dulos to murder his estranged wife, and then helped to cover up the crime. Fotis Dulos died by suicide after being charged with murder.
“This defendant was undoubtedly part of this plan to kill Jennifer Dulos. There’s no if ands or buts about it,” McGuinness addressed the court.
As the defendant listened in Spanish, her first language, her attorney Jon Schoenhorn described her as just another victim of Fotis Dulos.
“There is nothing to suggest that Michelle had any clue about what was gonna happen in New Canaan on May 24th, 2019. … Michelle simply did not know,” Schoenhorn told jurors.
The Troconis family remains steadfast in the belief that Michelle is innocent.
“Unfortunately, he fooled all of us,” Troconis’ sister, Claudia Troconis-Marmol, tells “48 Hours” correspondent Erin Moriarty. “At the beginning, he was this amazing guy. But it turns out, he was this monster.”
JENNIFER DULOS VANISHES
May 24, 2019, started like any other day for Jennifer Farber Dulos, with the usual organized chaos of getting her five children, ages 13 and under, dressed and off to school. But shortly after 8:05 a.m., Jennifer vanished.
Sgt. Kenneth Ventresca: She was scheduled for a dentist appointment … later that morning in New York City … She never made it to her dentist appointment.
Then Connecticut State Police Sergeant Kenneth Ventresca would become one of the lead investigators.
Sgt. Kenneth Ventresca: People couldn’t get a hold of her.
On the stand, the children’s nanny, Lauren Almeida, recalled her gnawing sense of dread.
SEAN MCGUINNESS (in court): How were you feeling at this time?
LAUREN ALMEIDA: Um, really bad. My — the second I called Jennifer it’s like my stomach just sank because she never not answered her phone.
Almeida took the children to wait at the home of their maternal grandmother, Gloria Farber, in New York City. The 88-year-old Mrs. Farber says she waited for her daughter to come get them.
MICHELLE MANNING (in court): Did Jennifer show up at your apartment that day?
GLORIA FARBER: No.
MICHELLE MANNING: Have you seen your daughter Jennifer since she failed to meet you at your apartment in New York City on May 24th, 2019?
GLORIA FARBER: No.
By 7 p.m., all-out panic set in. Almeida called police.
Lauren Almeida: We told the police that a mother of five was missing and that she was in a very contentious divorce.
Officers quickly discovered Jennifer’s abandoned Suburban SUV in nearby Waveny Park.
Kenneth Ventresca (in the park): The tailgate was — was backed up against this tree. … The Suburban was not running; keys were not in the ignition. … you could see the cleanup of the blood-like substance all over the passenger side under a flashlight.
New Canaan police launched a massive search.
CARRIE LUFT (to reporter): All I want to say is, Jennifer, we love you and we are doing everything we can to bring you home.
Sergeant Ventresca says the one person who didn’t seem worried about Jennifer was the father of her five children, her estranged husband, Fotis Dulos.
Erin Moriarty: Did he help at all in the search?
Kenneth Ventresca: No, no
Erin Moriarty: Did he seem concerned about his wife as time went on?
Kenneth Ventresca: No. Never seemed concerned about his wife.
It wasn’t always…
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