Jurors sent out a note to the judge around 12:15 p.m. with questions about one of the counts of tampering with evidence.

Judge Kevin Randolph read the questions in court.

“In order to constitute tampering, does the defendant need to have physically altered, destroyed, concealed, or removed an item or thing, i.e. physical contact?” he read.

The second question had to do with the term accessory or accessorial liability. Jurors indicated the information never mentions those terms and they asked for clarification.

Judge Randolph brought the jury into the courtroom and read the instructions specific to those questions. He told them accessorial liability does not require physical contact. He sent them back to deliberations and told them if they need further clarification, then can send out another question.

On Wednesday, the panel began its first full day of deliberations.

Jurors deliberated for a little more than two hours Wednesday before sending a note to the judge requesting to rehear the testimony from Troconis’ friend, Carla “Petu” Duperron.

The judge brought the jury back into the courtroom and Duperron’s 38 minutes of testimony was played for them.

Jurors spent the rest of the afternoon deliberating on Wednesday but went home for the day without reaching a verdict. They will decide if Troconis is guilty or not guilty on charges including conspiracy to commit murder, evidence tampering and hindering prosecution. Troconis has pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Jennifer Dulos, 50, went missing on May 24, 2019, and has never been found. Prosecutors told the jury her estranged husband, Fotis Dulos, attacked her at her New Canaan home and drove off with her body. They were battling over their divorce and custody of their five children at the time, and Troconis was Fotis’ Dulos girlfriend and living with him at another home.

Troconis did not testify during the 27-day trial. Her lawyer, Jon Schoenhorn, said the prosecution did not prove any of their allegations beyond a reasonable doubt, including whether Fotis Dulos killed Jennifer Dulos or even if he was in New Canaan that morning.

“She did not know that Fotis Dulos planned to harm her,” Schoenhorn told the jury. “The state has made, what I would suggest, are unfounded and unfair assumptions and have speculated that Michelle Troconis had to know what was going on because she was romantically linked with Fotis, that she was somehow involved in this nefarious, murderous plot.

“But that’s not reality,” he said. “That’s more like one of these cable TV movies, scripted movies. It’s not based on the facts that you heard during this trial.”

In fact, a TV movie was made about the case, Lifetime’s “Gone Mom,” as the case drew widespread attention.

Jennifer Dulos was a member of a wealthy New York City family and a niece by marriage of fashion designer Liz Claiborne. Although her body has never been found, a medical examiner concluded suspected blood spatter in her garage and other evidence indicated she could not have survived. A state judge declared her officially dead in October.

Fotis Dulos was a luxury home builder originally from Greece. He killed himself in January 2020, shortly after being charged with the murder of Jennifer Dulos. He had denied the charge.

Troconis is a dual American and Venezuelan citizen who once had her own TV production company in Argentina and hosted a snow-sports show for ESPN South America.

The Dulos’ five children, who ranged from 8 to 13 years old when their mother disappeared and include two sets of twins, have been in the custody of Jennifer Dulos’ mother, Gloria Farber, 88, in New York City ever since.

Prosecutors alleged Troconis must have known about the plot beforehand, because she answered Fotis Dulos’ cell phone on the morning of May 24 when he allegedly was in New Canaan — suggesting she helped him with an alibi. He had left his phone at their home in Farmington, about 70 miles away near Hartford, prosecutors said.

Later that day, Troconis accompanied Fotis Dulos to Hartford, where he disposed of several garbage bags in random locations — a trip partially recorded by surveillance cameras.

Police found some of the bags and said they contained clothing, zip ties and other items containing Jennifer Dulos’ DNA. Some of the items, including a shirt and bra, had blood-like stains on them. Some items had Fotis Dulos’ DNA on them, and a portion of one bag tested positive for Troconis’ DNA, a state forensics expert testified at the trial.

Schoenhorn said Troconis had no idea what Fotis Dulos was doing or what was in the bags. He also said Fotis Dulos could have touched her and spread her DNA to one of the bags.

The prosecutors also said Troconis helped Fotis Dulos write up a timeline of their activities to prepare for potential police questioning. Troconis told police she only did that at the request of Fotis Dulos and his lawyer. And she also went with him when he had the employee’s truck cleaned and detailed at a car wash, prosecutors said.

Prosecutors also said Troconis lied to police during the first of her three interviews with them in 2019 when she said Fotis was at their home the morning of May 24. They say she acknowledged in a subsequent interview that she hadn’t seen him.

Schoenhorn said there could have been miscommunications because the interviews were in English instead of Troconis’ primary language, Spanish. A defense expert also testified that traumatic events, such as being interviewed by police, can affect people’s memory and recall of events.

They were given the case late Monday, but only had the chance to deliberate for about 30 minutes. By the end of the day, according to the judge, they requested an easel for their work.

Tuesday only yielded one question from the jury, which we have learned is made up of three men and three women.

The question was to listen back to the defense’s final witness, Clara Duperron, also known as “Petu.” The testimony lasted roughly 38 minutes and jurors had the chance to listen to the entire 38-minute testimony.

She testified to her close friendship with Troconis that she maintained to this day. She also testified to Troconis’ demeanor before, the day of and the days following Jennifer Dulos’ disappearance. Including demeanor, the day Troconis was arrested.

Duperron was also asked about a custody report that the defense asserts negates motive for Fotis Dulos to have hurt Jennifer. They submit the report was favorable to Fotis in the custody battle.

The state has submitted evidence that despite the report, nothing changed in the custody dispute, regardless of the report’s findings.

This was also the testimony the state had the chance to press Duperron on her hesitation to talk to police investigators in 2021 when they contacted her, because she doesn’t trust them. She claimed she has information that would hurt the state’s case against Troconis, but has not divulged that information to police.

Jurors wrapped up deliberation for the day just before 5 p.m.

Jurors deliberated for a little more than two hours before sending a note to the judge requesting to rehear the testimony from Troconis’ friend, Carla “Petu” Duperron.

The judge brought the jury back into the courtroom and Duperron’s 38 minutes of testimony was played for them.

Jurors spent the rest of the afternoon deliberating on Wednesday but went home for the day without reaching a verdict. They will continue their deliberations Thursday at 10 a.m.

On Tuesday, the jury heard two different tales of the 49-year-old Troconis as the prosecution and defense made their closing arguments.

The six-member panel began deliberations later that afternoon on charges including conspiracy to commit murder, evidence tampering and hindering prosecution. After pausing for the evening, jurors were set to continue Wednesday. Troconis has pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Jennifer Dulos, 50, went missing on May 24, 2019, and has never been found. Prosecutors told the jury her estranged husband, Fotis Dulos, attacked her at her New Canaan home and drove off with her body. They were battling over their divorce and custody of their five children at the time, and Troconis was Fotis’ Dulos girlfriend and living with him at another home.

Prosecutors Michelle Manning and Sean McGuinness told jurors Troconis was angry and fed up with the divorce case and had called Jennifer Dulos disparaging names.

“Jennifer is dead, and Fotis and Michcelle Troconis intended that to happen,” Manning said. “They agreed to work together to make it happen, and unfortunately they were successful in making it happen. But they got caught. This trial is very simple. It’s about a conspiracy and a coverup.”

Troconis did not testify during the 27-day trial. Her lawyer, Jon Schoenhorn, said the prosecution did not prove any of their allegations beyond a reasonable doubt, including whether Fotis Dulos killed Jennifer Dulos or even if he was in New Canaan that morning.

“She did not know that Fotis Dulos planned to harm her,” Schoenhorn told the jury. “The state has made, what I would suggest, are unfounded and unfair assumptions and have speculated that Michelle Troconis had to know what was going on because she was romantically linked with Fotis, that she was somehow involved in this nefarious, murderous plot.

“But that’s not reality,” he said. “That’s more like one of these cable TV movies, scripted movies. It’s not based on the facts that you heard during this trial.”

In fact, a TV movie was made about the case, Lifetime’s “Gone Mom,” as the case drew widespread attention.

Jennifer Dulos was a member of a wealthy New York City family and a niece by marriage of fashion designer Liz Claiborne. Although her body has never been found, a medical examiner concluded suspected blood spatter in her garage and other evidence indicated she could not have survived. A state judge declared her officially dead in October.

Fotis Dulos was a luxury home builder originally from Greece. He killed himself in January 2020, shortly after being charged with the murder of Jennifer Dulos. He had denied the charge.

Troconis is a dual American and Venezuelan citizen who once had her own TV production company in Argentina and hosted a snow-sports show for ESPN South America.

The Dulos’ five children, who ranged from 8 to 13 years old when their mother disappeared and include two sets of twins, have been in the custody of Jennifer Dulos’ mother, Gloria Farber, 88, in New York City ever since.

Prosecutors alleged Troconis must have known about the plot beforehand, because she answered Fotis Dulos’ cell phone on the morning of May 24 when he allegedly was in New Canaan — suggesting she helped him with an alibi. He had left his phone at their home in Farmington, about 70 miles (115 kilometers) away near Hartford, prosecutors said.

Later that day, Troconis accompanied Fotis Dulos to Hartford, where he disposed of several garbage bags in random locations — a trip partially recorded by surveillance cameras.

Police found some of the bags and said they contained clothing, zip ties and other items containing Jennifer Dulos’ DNA. Some of the items, including a shirt and bra, had blood-like stains on them. Some items had Fotis Dulos’ DNA on them, and a portion of one bag tested positive for Troconis’ DNA, a state forensics expert testified at the trial.

Schoenhorn said Troconis had no idea what Fotis Dulos was doing or what was in the bags. He also said Fotis Dulos could have touched her and spread her DNA to one of the bags.

The prosecutors also said Troconis helped Fotis Dulos write up a timeline of their activities to prepare for potential police questioning. Troconis told police she only did that at the request of Fotis Dulos and his lawyer. And she also went with him when he had the employee’s truck cleaned and detailed at a car wash, prosecutors said.

Prosecutors also said Troconis lied to police during the first of her three interviews with them in 2019 when she said Fotis was at their home the morning of May 24. They say she acknowledged in a subsequent interview that she hadn’t seen him.

Schoenhorn said there could have been miscommunications because the interviews were in English instead of Troconis’ primary language, Spanish. A defense expert also testified that traumatic events, such as being interviewed by police, can affect people’s memory and recall of events.

Watch full episodes of “Inside the Trial of Michelle Troconis”

Watch the full episodes of “Inside the Trial of Michelle Troconis” here.

A state jury heard two different tales of the 49-year-old Troconis as the prosecution and defense made their closing arguments Tuesday in Stamford.

The six-member panel began deliberations later that afternoon on charges including conspiracy to commit murder, evidence tampering and hindering prosecution. After pausing for the evening, jurors were set to continue Wednesday. Troconis has pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Jennifer Dulos, 50, went missing on May 24, 2019, and has never been found. Prosecutors told the jury her estranged husband, Fotis Dulos, attacked her at her New Canaan home and drove off with her body. They were battling over their divorce and custody of their five children at the time, and Troconis was Fotis’ Dulos girlfriend and living with him at another home.

Prosecutors Michelle Manning and Sean McGuinness told jurors Troconis was angry and fed up with the divorce case and had called Jennifer Dulos disparaging names.

“Jennifer is dead, and Fotis and Michcelle Troconis intended that to happen,” Manning said. “They agreed to work together to make it happen, and unfortunately they were successful in making it happen. But they got caught. This trial is very simple. It’s about a conspiracy and a coverup.”

Troconis did not testify during the 27-day trial. Her lawyer, Jon Schoenhorn, said the prosecution did not prove any of their allegations beyond a reasonable doubt, including whether Fotis Dulos killed Jennifer Dulos or even if he was in New Canaan that morning.

“She did not know that Fotis Dulos planned to harm her,” Schoenhorn told the jury. “The state has made, what I would suggest, are unfounded and unfair assumptions and have speculated that Michelle Troconis had to know what was going on because she was romantically linked with Fotis, that she was somehow involved in this nefarious, murderous plot.

“But that’s not reality,” he said. “That’s more like one of these cable TV movies, scripted movies. It’s not based on the facts that you heard during this trial.”

In fact, a TV movie was made about the case, Lifetime’s “Gone Mom,” as the case drew widespread attention.

Jennifer Dulos was a member of a wealthy New York City family and a niece by marriage of fashion designer Liz Claiborne. Although her body has never been found, a medical examiner concluded suspected blood spatter in her garage and other evidence indicated she could not have survived. A state judge declared her officially dead in October.

Fotis Dulos was a luxury home builder originally from Greece. He killed himself in January 2020, shortly after being charged with the murder of Jennifer Dulos. He had denied the charge.

Troconis is a dual American and Venezuelan citizen who once had her own TV production company in Argentina and hosted a snow-sports show for ESPN South America.

The Dulos’ five children, who ranged from 8 to 13 years old when their mother disappeared and include two sets of twins, have been in the custody of Jennifer Dulos’ mother, Gloria Farber, 88, in New York City ever since.

Prosecutors alleged Troconis must have known about the plot beforehand, because she answered Fotis Dulos’ cell phone on the morning of May 24 when he allegedly was in New Canaan — suggesting she helped him with an alibi. He had left his phone at their home in Farmington, about 70 miles (115 kilometers) away near Hartford, prosecutors said.

Later that day, Troconis accompanied Fotis Dulos to Hartford, where he disposed of several garbage bags in random locations — a trip partially recorded by surveillance cameras.

Police found some of the bags and said they contained clothing, zip ties and other items containing Jennifer Dulos’ DNA. Some of the items, including a shirt and bra, had blood-like stains on them. Some items had Fotis Dulos’ DNA on them, and a portion of one bag tested positive for Troconis’ DNA, a state forensics expert testified at the trial.

Schoenhorn said Troconis had no idea what Fotis Dulos was doing or what was in the bags. He also said Fotis Dulos could have touched her and spread her DNA to one of the bags.

The prosecutors also said Troconis helped Fotis Dulos write up a timeline of their activities to prepare for potential police questioning. Troconis told police she only did that at the request of Fotis Dulos and his lawyer. And she also went with him when he had the employee’s truck cleaned and detailed at a car wash, prosecutors said.

Prosecutors also said Troconis lied to police during the first of her three interviews with them in 2019 when she said Fotis was at their home the morning of May 24. They say she acknowledged in a subsequent interview that she hadn’t seen him.

Schoenhorn said there could have been miscommunications because the interviews were in English instead of Troconis’ primary language, Spanish. A defense expert also testified that traumatic events, such as being interviewed by police, can affect people’s memory and recall of events.

Watch full episodes of “Inside the Trial of Michelle Troconis”

Watch the full episodes of “Inside the Trial of Michelle Troconis” here.

A state jury heard two different tales of the 49-year-old Troconis as the prosecution and defense made their closing arguments Tuesday in Stamford. The six-member panel was given the case late Tuesday afternoon on charges including conspiracy to commit murder, evidence tampering and hindering prosecution. Troconis has pleaded not guilty.

Jennifer Dulos, 50, went missing on May 24, 2019, and has never been found. Prosecutors told the jury her estranged husband, Fotis Dulos, attacked her at her New Canaan home and drove off with her body. They were battling over their divorce and custody of their five children at the time, and Troconis was Fotis’ Dulos girlfriend and living with him at another home.

Prosecutors Michelle Manning and Sean McGuinness told jurors Troconis was angry and fed up with the divorce case and had called Jennifer Dulos disparaging names.

“Jennifer is dead, and Fotis and Michcelle Troconis intended that to happen,” Manning said. “They agreed to work together to make it happen, and unfortunately they were successful in making it happen. But they got caught. This trial is very simple. It’s about a conspiracy and a coverup.”

Troconis did not testify during the 27-day trial. Her lawyer, Jon Schoenhorn, said the prosecution did not prove any of their allegations beyond a reasonable doubt, including whether Fotis Dulos killed Jennifer Dulos or even if he was in New Canaan that morning.

“She did not know that Fotis Dulos planned to harm her,” Schoenhorn told the jury. “The state has made, what I would suggest, are unfounded and unfair assumptions and have speculated that Michelle Troconis had to know what was going on because she was romantically linked with Fotis, that she was somehow involved in this nefarious, murderous plot.

“But that’s not reality,” he said. “That’s more like one of these cable TV movies, scripted movies. It’s not based on the facts that you heard during this trial.”

Michelle Troconis Feb 23

Defense rests in Troconis trial, no testimony from the defendant

Michelle Troconis Feb 23

Michelle Troconis decides not to testify in her trial, defense rests its case

In fact, a TV movie was made about the case, Lifetime’s “Gone Mom,” as the case drew widespread attention.

Jennifer Dulos was a member of a wealthy New York City family and a niece by marriage of fashion designer Liz Claiborne. Although her body has never been found, a medical examiner concluded suspected blood spatter in her garage and other evidence indicated she could not have survived. A state judge declared her officially dead in October.

Fotis Dulos was a luxury home builder originally from Greece. He killed himself in January 2020, shortly after being charged with the murder of Jennifer Dulos. He had denied the charge.

Troconis is a dual American and Venezuelan citizen who once had her own TV production company in Argentina and hosted a snow-sports show for ESPN South America.

The Dulos’ five children, who ranged from 8 to 13 years old when their mother disappeared and include two sets of twins, have been in the custody of Jennifer Dulos’ mother, Gloria Farber, 88, in New York City ever since.

Prosecutors alleged Troconis must have known about the plot beforehand, because she answered Fotis Dulos’ cell phone on the morning of May 24 when he allegedly was in New Canaan — suggesting she helped him with an alibi. He had left his phone at their home in Farmington, about 70 miles away near Hartford, prosecutors said.

Later that day, Troconis accompanied Fotis Dulos to Hartford, where he disposed of several garbage bags in random locations — a trip partially recorded by surveillance cameras.

Police found some of the bags and said they contained clothing, zip ties and other items containing Jennifer Dulos’ DNA. Some of the items, including a shirt and bra, had blood-like stains on them. Some items had Fotis Dulos’ DNA on them, and a portion of one bag tested positive for Troconis’ DNA, a state forensics expert testified at the trial.

Schoenhorn said Troconis had no idea what Fotis Dulos was doing or what was in the bags. He also said Fotis Dulos could have touched her and spread her DNA to one of the bags.

The prosecutors also said Troconis helped Fotis Dulos write up a timeline of their activities to prepare for potential police questioning. Troconis told police she only did that at the request of Fotis Dulos and his lawyer. And she also went with him when he had the employee’s truck cleaned and detailed at a car wash, prosecutors said.

Prosecutors also said Troconis lied to police during the first of her three interviews with them in 2019 when she said Fotis was at their home the morning of May 24. They say she acknowledged in a subsequent interview that she hadn’t seen him.

Schoenhorn said there could have been miscommunications because the interviews were in English instead of Troconis’ primary language, Spanish. A defense expert also testified that traumatic events, such as being interviewed by police, can affect people’s memory and recall of events.

How to watch the trial

Our daily special, airing weekdays at 9 a.m. on the NBC Connecticut free streaming channel is available on Roku, Samsung TV plus, Freevee, and a number of other platforms. Here is more on how to watch.

Watch full episodes of “Inside the Trial of Michelle Troconis”

Watch the full episodes of “Inside the Trial of Michelle Troconis” here.

Attorneys had to work through with the judge the instructions for the jury following closing arguments. Historically, the charge conference was done off the record in chambers. But recently, the proceeding jumped on the record, though Randolph noted this is the first time in Connecticut to his understanding the charge conference was livestreamed.

“The first instructions the court would like to discuss are these…” Randolph noted as he read a few instructions attorneys had indicated they would like to have read to the jury including, a consciousness of guilt instruction, evidence of presumptive blood test instruction and hindsight bias instruction, among others.

The judge indicated he would accept some and deny other instructions when he posts his final instructions by the end of the court’s day, Monday.

Attorneys for Troconis and for the state worked through the instructions with the judge arguing cases for or against certain instruction being included and argued changes to language in jury instruction.

The conference sets instructions for the jury following the completed closing arguments, and general instructions include defining terms like burden of proof, presumption of innocence and credibility.

On top of instructions on language and jury responsibility, the charges also had to be defined.

“What they are alleging – transportation and other means – but they are not alleging money, weapons, disguise,” Assistant State’s Attorney Sean McGuiness said when explaining why and how they charged the hindering prosecution charge.

Certain charges in the state of Connecticut are defined certain ways, so the lawyers had the chance to simplify some language or change language when the charges are being offered to the jury so the explanation didn’t create confusion.

In this case, Troconis is being charged with conspiracy to commit murder, two counts of evidence tampering, two counts of conspiracy to commit evidence tampering and second-degree hindering prosecution.

She has denied all involvement in the disappearance and presumed murder of Jennifer Dulos.

The conference also gave some insight into how the attorneys plan to piece together their cases in closing arguments to cater to how the charges are brought.

“She was not present for the actual act of murder, we don’t want the jury to conflate the two,” McGuinness said while explaining the conspiracy to commit murder charge.

According to McGuinness, the state, in bringing that charge, had to prove Jennifer Dulos had been murdered beyond a reasonable doubt.

Defense attorney Jon Schoenhorn explained outside court, after presenting his concerns and arguments for his instructions, he has the chance to prepare closing arguments closely tailored to what the jury will be offered.

“I am going to go back and prepare my argument based on what the judge at least said he is going to include because obviously you don’t want to argue something the judge isn’t going to tell the jury,” Schoenhorn said.

Closing arguments are set to begin Tuesday morning and following housekeeping measures, the jury will be handed the case.

Before that happens, state prosecutors and defense attorneys were in court on Monday to lay out what needs to be included in jury instructions. The jury was not present for that.

The case centers around what happened to Jennifer Dulos, a mother of five, who has been missing since May 24, 2019, and is presumed dead. She vanished after dropping her children off at school that morning.

Police believe Jennifer’s estranged husband, Fotis Dulos, attacked and killed her at her New Canaan home.

Fotis Dulos died by suicide in January 2020, weeks after being charged with murdering Jennifer Dulos. He denied the allegations.

At the time of her disappearance, they were battling each other in contentious divorce and child custody proceedings.

Troconis was dating Fotis Dulos and living with him in Farmington after Jennifer Dulos and the children had moved out.

She has been charged with conspiracy to commit murder, hindering prosecution, two counts of tampering with physical evidence and two counts of conspiracy to commit tampering of physical evidence.

She denies allegations that she helped Fotis Dulos cover up the killing of Jennifer Dulos.

On Friday, Troconis’ defense team rested its case after three days of testimony and Troconis decided not to testify in her own defense.

Her attorney, Jon Schoenhorn, said throughout the trial that the defendant’s decision to testify is one made in consultation with him and his co-council at the end of the defense case.

The defense rested its case after Troconis’ close friend, Clara “Petu” Duperron, testified.

She spoke about her close relationship with Troconis since 2017.

She also spoke about interactions when Troconis visited her at her business the morning that Jennifer disappeared and called them normal and typical.

She also described Fotis Dulos’ reaction to a custody report that was brought up several times in the trial.

The defense claims that the report negates a motive for the presumed murder of Jennifer Dulos because Fotis wouldn’t have done anything to jeopardize his chance to have his children back.

“He told that there was a report that came favorable to him,” Duperron said on the stand.

Michelle Troconis Feb 23

Defense rests in Troconis trial, no testimony from the defendant

Michelle Troconis Feb 23

Michelle Troconis decides not to testify in her trial, defense rests its case

The state took the opportunity during cross-examination to question Duperron about Troconis’ apparent plans to leave Connecticut leading up to Jennifer’s disappearance and go to Colorado to support her daughter’s skiing.

They also pressed her on her unwillingness to talk to state police investigators when contacted in May 2021 though she claimed she had important information that would help Troconis.

“In three years since you’ve been contacted by the police, you kept that to yourself?” Assistant State’s Attorney Michelle Manning asked.

“Yes, because I didn’t trust the police,” Duperron replied.

The defense also presented more memory testimony and a Northwestern professor described how bilingualism impacts memory.

After the defense rested, Troconis and her family spoke outside court and maintained her innocence.

“The state still did not prove my sister was connected in any of this, and my sister’s attorneys did prove that she had nothing to do with any of this,” Michelle’s sister, Claudia Troconis, said.

On Monday, a hearing was held on charge instructions for the jury.

The closing arguments will be held on Tuesday and the jury could receive the case as early as Tuesday afternoon.

A contempt hearing about some documents in the case has been scheduled for March 5 and it will go before a different judge.

Earlier this month, state prosecutors told the judge that someone in the courtroom gallery raised a concern that Troconis potentially had part of a sealed custody report on display on her laptop, in the court’s views.

The jury heard limited testimony about the custody report, which was sealed because it contained confidential health information and information about the five Dulos children.

The state told the judge that the report itself remains under seal and no one is supposed to have access to it, including the defendant.

How to watch the trial

Our daily special, airing weekdays at 9 a.m. on the NBC Connecticut free streaming channel is available on Roku, Samsung TV plus, Freevee, and a number of other platforms. Here is more on how to watch.

Watch full episodes of “Inside the Trial of Michelle Troconis”

Watch the full episodes of “Inside the Trial of Michelle Troconis” here.

Questions had been circulating about Troconis’ decision to take the stand. Her attorney Jon Schoenhorn made clear throughout the trial, the decision of the defendant to testify is one made in consult with him and his co-council at the end of the defense case.

Troconis decided not to testify.

“If you do not testify, you will not have another opportunity to testify, do you understand?” Judge Kevin Randolph asked. “Si,” replied Troconis with the aid of a translator replying to the judge “yes” following her acknowledgement.

The defense rested their case with a close friend of Troconis, Clara “Petu” Duperron.

She testified to her close relationship with Troconis dating back to 2017 and interactions she had with Troconis the morning Jennifer disappeared, calling them normal and typical when Troconis visited her at her business.

She also described Fotis Dulos’ reaction to a custody report that has been brought up several times in the trial. That report the defense claims negates motive for the presumed murder of Jennifer Dulos, because Fotis wouldn’t have done anything to jeopardize his chance to have his kids back.

“He told me that there was a report that came back favorable to him,” Duperron said.

The state took the opportunity during cross examination to question Duperron about Troconis’ apparent plans to leave Connecticut leading up to Jennifer’s disappearance and go to Colorado to support her daughters skiing.

They also pressed her on her unwillingness to talk to State Police investigators when contacted in May of 2021. Though she claimed she had important information that would help Troconis.

“In the three years you’ve had that information, you’ve never helped them?” Assistant State’s Attorney Michelle Manning asked. “Yes, because I don’t trust the police,” Duperron replied.

The defense also offered more memory testimony to the jury. A Northwestern professor describing how bilingualism impacts memory.

“How multiple languages and such, change how our cognitive function works.”

Following the defense resting, the Troconis family, accompanied by Michelle, maintained her innocence outside court.

“The state still did not prove my sister was connected in any of this, and my sisters attorney’s did prove that she had nothing to do with any of this,” Claudia Troconis, Michelle’s sister, said.

There was also another change to the court schedule. The contempt hearing is now being heard by another judge, and has been scheduled for March 5.

On Monday, there will be a hearing regarding the charge instructions for the jury, and closing arguments will be held on Tuesday.

The jury could receive the case as early as Tuesday.

The state decided it would present no rebuttal case, so no additional evidence will be presented. Closing arguments are planned for Tuesday morning.

The case centers around what happened to Jennifer Dulos, a mother of five, who has been missing since May 24, 2019, and is presumed dead. She vanished after dropping her children off at school that morning.

Police believe Jennifer’s estranged husband, Fotis Dulos, attacked and killed her at her New Canaan home.

Fotis Dulos died by suicide in January 2020, weeks after being charged with murdering Jennifer Dulos. He denied the allegations.

At the time of her disappearance, they were battling each other in contentious divorce and child custody proceedings.

Troconis was dating Fotis Dulos and living with him in Farmington after Jennifer Dulos and the children had moved out.

She denies allegations that she helped Fotis Dulos cover up the killing of Jennifer Dulos.

Michelle Troconis Feb 22

Memory expert takes the stand for defense in Michelle Troconis trial

Michelle Troconis Feb 21

Jennifer Dulos' mother testifies in trial of Michelle Troconis as state rests case

On Thursday, Professor Elizabeth Loftus, an expert on memory, testified on memory and memory loss.

Prosecutors allege that Troconis lied to investigators during her interviews.

“Memory doesn’t work like a recording device, we don’t just see it and record it,” Loftus said on Thursday.

The defense argued that the science behind memory explains Troconis’ inconsistencies in her interviews with police and the additional details provided as interviews occurred.

“Police introduce information into those interviews that is new info or misinformation and it’s a setting ripe for contamination of memory,” Loftus said.

She testified that the inserting of details by police investigators or presenting of false information by investigators, can create memories a person would later believe to be true.

During cross-examination of Loftus, the state pushed back that Troconis’ memory couldn’t have been impacted by police investigators, because the extra details she continued to provide in interviews weren’t mentioned by police at any point.

Outside court, Troconis’ attorney, Jon Schoenhorn. made clear his reason for bringing in Loftus, “The science as we are presenting here, there is an alternative narrative theory to what the prosecution is trying to claim.”

During cross-examination, Assistant States Attorney Sean McGuinness also cited other examples of details investigators never mentioned including a coffee cup and coffee spill, and intimate moments between her and Fotis.

The state pushed the professor on her credibility and potential sympathy for defendants, citing her extensive testimony and consultation on behalf of defense council, in high profile trials such as OJ Simpson, Timothy McVeigh and Harvey Weinstein, among others.

It’s a line of questioning she said she’s used to, but she believes it’s unfounded.

“I think it is kind of an unfair thing to try to link the current accused, Michelle, with these people who are unpopular,” Loftus said.

On Thursday, their testimony centered largely around memory and memory loss from a leading expert on the topic, Elizabeth Loftus.

Her main point – memory can be impacted by factors and circumstances leading up to the memory being made, and circumstances around recalling that memory.

Loftus spent a good amount of time during direct testimony explaining to jurors there is an alternate theory besides Michelle Troconis simply lying to investigators like prosecutors allege.

 “Memory doesn’t work like a recording device, we don’t just see it and record it,” Loftus said.

She first walked the jury through her extensive research and her knowledge of human memory. The defense argued the science behind memory, explains Troconis’ inconsistencies in her interviews and the additional details provided as interviews occurred.

“Police introduce information into those interviews that is new info or misinformation and it’s a setting ripe for contamination of memory,” Loftus said.

She testified the inserting of details by police investigators or presenting of false information by investigators, can create memories a person would later believe to be true.

Outside court, Jon Schoenhorn made clear his reason for bringing in Loftus, “The science as we are presenting here, there is an alternative narrative theory to what the prosecution is trying to claim.”

Prosecutors allege Troconis lied to investigators during her interviews. During cross examination of Loftus, the state pushed back that Troconis’ memory couldn’t have been impacted by police investigators, because the extra details she continued to provide in interviews, weren’t mentioned by police at any point.

“Did police suggest to her, she had been with Mr. Dulos in the house?” asked Assistant States Attorney Sean McGuinness, “No,” Loftus replied.

During cross examination, McGuinness also cited other examples of details investigators never mentioned including a coffee cup and coffee spill, and intimate moments between her and Fotis.

The state pushed the professor on her credibility and potential sympathy for defendants. Citing her extensive testimony and consultation on behalf of defense council, in high profile trials such as OJ Simpson, Timothy McVeigh and Harvey Weinstein, among others. It’s a line of questioning she said she’s used to, but she believes it’s unfounded.

“I think it is an unfair thing to try to link the current accused, Michelle, with these people who are unpopular,” Loftus said.

Others took the stand for quick testimony as well, including the State Police detective that interviewed Pawel Gumienny, a neighbor to Fotis Dulos and a realtor that worked with Fotis.

The afternoon testimony that consumed the most time was attorney Michael Rose, who represented Fotis Dulos from January until May 2019 when Fotis was locked in the custody battle with Jennifer for the five Dulos children.

He testified about Fotis Dulos’ demeanor following their review of a custody report from spring of 2019, that the defense argues negates his motive to murder Jennifer.

“He was very happy, with what was there, pleased you could tell, he just seemed relieved and more optimistic than I had seen him in a while,” Rose said.

The judge indicated the defense is expected to rest their case on Friday.

The first witness for the defense on Thursday was a professor at the University of California Irvine who specializes in memory.

On Wednesday, Gloria Farber said that she has not seen or communicated with her daughter since she disappeared and was presumed by police to be murdered in 2019.

Dressed in a gray suit with scarves, Gloria Farber didn’t show much emotion as she told the jury that her daughter was supposed to meet her at her New York City apartment on May 24, 2019, after a doctor’s appointment, but never showed up. She suggested Dulos would never abandon her children.

“She was always there for them,” Farber testified about her daughter in the sixth week of the trial against Troconis in Stamford Superior Court in Connecticut.

Ever since Dulos vanished, Farber has had custody of her five grandchildren, who at the time ranged in age from 8 to 13. All of them were in the courtroom on Wednesday.

Troconis denies allegations that she helped Dulos’ estranged husband, Fotis Dulos, cover up the killing of Jennifer Dulos.

At the time, Troconis was dating Fotis Dulos and living with him in Farmington, after Jennifer Dulos and the children had moved out and were living about 70 miles away in New Canaan.

Jennifer Dulos’ body has never been found. Farber’s testimony was part of the prosecution’s effort to show her 50-year-old daughter was killed by Fotis Dulos in an attack at her New Canaan home on May 24, 2019. A state probate court declared Jennifer Dulos legally dead in October.

Fotis Dulos died by suicide in January 2020, weeks after being charged with murdering Jennifer Dulos. He denied the allegations. At the time of her disappearance, they were battling each other in contentious divorce and child custody proceedings.

Troconis has pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to commit murder, hindering prosecution and tampering with evidence.

The case drew widespread attention and was the subject of a made-for-TV movie, Lifetime’s “Gone Mom.”

Michelle Troconis Feb 21

Jennifer Dulos' mother testifies in trial of Michelle Troconis as state rests case

Jennifer Dulos was a member of a wealthy New York family whose father, the late Hilliard Farber, founded his own brokerage firm. She also was a niece by marriage of fashion designer Liz Claiborne. Fotis Dulos was a luxury home builder originally from Greece.

Troconis, a dual American and Venezuelan citizen, has described herself as a co-founder of horse-riding therapy programs in different parts of the world who once had her own TV production company in Argentina and hosted a snow-sports show for ESPN South America.

Prosecutors Sean McGuinness and Michelle Manning rested the state’s case Wednesday morning after Farber’s testimony.

Troconis’ lawyer, Jon Schoenhorn, immediately made a motion for an acquittal, which was denied by Judge Kevin Randolph.

Schoenhorn argued there was no evidence that Troconis knew about Fotis Dulos’ alleged plans for the killing beforehand, or afterward when she accompanied him on trips that prosecutors said were intended to destroy evidence in the case.

McGuiness disagreed, and Randolph ruled there was enough evidence for the jury to make their own conclusions on the charges.

Police alleged Fotis Dulos drove his employee’s pickup to a New Canaan park that morning, rode a bicycle to Jennifer Dulos’ house, attacked her in the garage and drove off with her in her Chevy Suburban, which was later found abandoned at the park.

Later the same day, Troconis accompanied Fotis Dulos to Hartford, where he disposed of several garbage bags in random locations — a trip partially recorded by surveillance cameras.

Police found some of the bags and said they contained clothing, zip ties and other items containing Jennifer Dulos’ DNA. Some of the items, including a shirt and bra, had blood-like stains on them. Some items had Fotis Dulos’ DNA on them, and one bag tested positive for Troconis’ DNA, a state forensics expert testified at the trial.

Schoenhorn said Troconis had no idea what was in the bags. He also said the match with Troconis’ DNA was found on a microscopic sample, and Fotis Dulos could have touched her and later spread her DNA to one of the bags.

Police also said Troconis helped Fotis Dulos write up a timeline of their activities to prepare for potential questioning by police. Troconis told police she only did that at the request of Fotis Dulos and his lawyer. And she also went with him when he had the employee’s truck cleaned and detailed at a car wash, prosecutors said.

And on the morning of Jennifer Dulos’ disappearance, Troconis answered Fotis Dulos’ cellphone, which he had left at his Farmington home. Prosecutors suggested that was part of the murder conspiracy to give Fotis Dulos an alibi. Schoenhorn denied the allegation.

Police interviewed Troconis three times in 2019.

They said she initially lied that Fotis Dulos was home the morning of May 24, 2019, but acknowledged that wasn’t true in a subsequent interview and said she didn’t see him that morning.

Also charged in the case is Kent Mawhinney, a friend and former lawyer of Fotis Dulos. He pleaded not guilty and awaits trial on a conspiracy to commit murder charge.

The defense began to present its witnesses Wednesday. Testimony in the trial is supposed to finish on Friday or Monday.

Dressed in a gray suit with scarfs, Gloria Farber didn’t show much emotion as she told the jury that her daughter was supposed to meet her at her New York City apartment on May 24, 2019, after a doctor’s appointment, but never showed up. She suggested Dulos would never abandon her children.

“She was always there for them,” Farber testified about her daughter in the sixth week of the trial against Michelle Troconis in Stamford Superior Court in Connecticut.

Ever since Dulos vanished, Farber has had custody of her five grandchildren, who at the time ranged in age from 8 to 13. All of them were in the courtroom on Wednesday.

Troconis denies allegations that she helped Dulos’ estranged husband, Fotis Dulos, cover up the killing of Jennifer Dulos. At the time, Troconis was dating Fotis Dulos and living with him in Farmington, after Jennifer Dulos and the children had moved out and were living about 70 miles (113 kilometers) away in New Canaan.

Jennifer Dulos’ body has never been found. Farber’s testimony was part of the prosecution’s effort to show her 50-year-old daughter was killed by Fotis Dulos in an attack at her New Canaan home on May 24, 2019. A state probate court declared Jennifer Dulos legally dead in October.

Fotis Dulos died by suicide in January 2020, weeks after being charged with murdering Jennifer Dulos. He denied the allegations. At the time of her disappearance, they were battling each other in contentious divorce and child custody proceedings.

Troconis has pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to commit murder, hindering prosecution and tampering with evidence.

The case drew widespread attention and was the subject of a made-for-TV movie, Lifetime’s “Gone Mom.” Jennifer Dulos was a member of a wealthy New York family whose father, the late Hilliard Farber, founded his own brokerage firm. She also was a niece by marriage of fashion designer Liz Claiborne. Fotis Dulos was a luxury home builder originally from Greece.

Troconis, a dual American and Venezuelan citizen, has described herself as a co-founder of horse-riding therapy programs in different parts of the world who once had her own TV production company in Argentina and hosted a snow-sports show for ESPN South America.

Prosecutors Sean McGuinness and Michelle Manning rested the state’s case Wednesday morning after Farber’s testimony. Troconis’ lawyer, Jon Schoenhorn, immediately made a motion for an acquittal, which was denied by Judge Kevin Randolph.

Schoenhorn argued there was no evidence that Troconis knew about Fotis Dulos’ alleged plans for the killing beforehand, or afterward when she accompanied him on trips that prosecutors said were intended to destroy evidence in the case.

McGuiness disagreed, and Randolph ruled there was enough evidence for the jury to make their own conclusions on the charges.

Police alleged Fotis Dulos drove his employee’s pickup truck to a New Canaan park that morning, rode a bicycle to Jennifer Dulos’ house, attacked her in the garage and drove off with her in her Chevy Suburban, which was later found abandoned at the park.

Later the same day, Troconis accompanied Fotis Dulos to Hartford, where he disposed of several garbage bags in random locations — a trip partially recorded by surveillance cameras.

Police found some of the bags and said they contained clothing, zip ties and other items containing Jennifer Dulos’ DNA. Some of the items, including a shirt and bra, had blood-like stains on them. Some items had Fotis Dulos’ DNA on them, and one bag tested positive for Troconis’ DNA, a state forensics expert testified at the trial.

Schoenhorn said Troconis had no idea what was in the bags. He also said the match with Troconis’ DNA was found on a microscopic sample, and Fotis Dulos could have touched her and later spread her DNA to one of the bags.

Police also said Troconis helped Fotis Dulos write up a timeline of their activities to prepare for potential questioning by police. Troconis told police she only did that at the request of Fotis Dulos and his lawyer. And she also went with him when he had the employee’s truck cleaned and detailed at a car wash, prosecutors said.

And on the morning of Jennifer Dulos’ disappearance, Troconis answered Fotis Dulos’ cellphone, which he had left at his Farmington home. Prosecutors suggested that was part of the murder conspiracy to give Fotis Dulos an alibi. Schoenhorn denied the allegation.

Police interviewed Troconis three times in 2019. They said she initially lied that Fotis Dulos was home the morning of May 24, but acknowledged that wasn’t true in a subsequent interview and said she didn’t see him that morning.

Also charged in the case is Kent Mawhinney, a friend and former lawyer of Fotis Dulos. He pleaded not guilty and awaits trial on a conspiracy to commit murder charge.

The defense began to present its witnesses Wednesday. Testimony in the trial is supposed to finish on Friday or Monday.

How to watch the trial

Our daily special, airing weekdays at 9 a.m. on the NBC Connecticut free streaming channel is available on Roku, Samsung TV plus, Freevee, and a number of other platforms. Here is more on how to watch.

Watch full episodes of “Inside the Trial of Michelle Troconis”

Watch the full episodes of “Inside the Trial of Michelle Troconis” here.

Dressed in a gray suit with scarfs, Gloria Farber didn’t show much emotion as she told the jury that her daughter was supposed to meet her at her New York City apartment on May 24, 2019, after a doctor’s appointment, but never showed up. She suggested Dulos would never abandon her children.

“She was always there for them,” Farber testified about her daughter in the sixth week of the trial against Michelle Troconis in Stamford Superior Court in Connecticut.

Ever since Dulos vanished, Farber has had custody of her five grandchildren, who at the time ranged in age from 8 to 13.

Troconis denies allegations that she helped Dulos’ estranged husband, Fotis Dulos, cover up the killing of Jennifer Dulos. At the time, Troconis was dating Fotis Dulos and living with him in Farmington, after Jennifer Dulos and the children had moved out and were living about 70 miles (113 kilometers) away in New Canaan.

Jennifer Dulos’ body has never been found. Farber’s testimony was part of the prosecution’s effort to show her 50-year-old daughter was killed by Fotis Dulos in an attack at her New Canaan home on May 24, 2019. A state probate court declared Jennifer Dulos legally dead in October.

Fotis Dulos died by suicide in January 2020, weeks after being charged with murdering Jennifer Dulos. He denied the allegations. At the time of her disappearance, they were battling each other in contentious divorce and child custody proceedings.

Troconis has pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to commit murder, hindering prosecution and tampering with evidence.

The case drew widespread attention and was the subject of a made-for-TV movie, Lifetime’s “Gone Mom.” Jennifer Dulos was a member of a wealthy New York family whose father, the late Hilliard Farber, founded his own brokerage firm. She also was a niece by marriage of fashion designer Liz Claiborne. Fotis Dulos was a luxury home builder originally from Greece.

Troconis, a dual American and Venezuelan citizen, has described herself as a co-founder of horse-riding therapy programs in different parts of the world who once had her own TV production company in Argentina and hosted a snow-sports show for ESPN South America.

Prosecutors Sean McGuinness and Michelle Manning rested the state’s case Wednesday morning after Farber’s testimony. Troconis’ lawyer, Jon Schoenhorn, immediately made a motion for an acquittal, which was denied by Judge Kevin Randolph.

Schoenhorn argued there was no evidence that Troconis knew about Fotis Dulos’ alleged plans for the killing beforehand, or afterward when she accompanied him on trips that prosecutors said were intended to destroy evidence in the case.

McGuiness disagreed, and Randolph ruled there was enough evidence for the jury to make their own conclusions on the charges.

Michelle Troconis Feb 20

Jennifer Dulos' mother to testify before state rests Wednesday in Troconis trial: attorney

Michelle Troconis Feb 20

State intends to rest Wednesday in trial of Michelle Troconis

Police alleged Fotis Dulos drove his employee’s pickup truck to a New Canaan park that morning, rode a bicycle to Jennifer Dulos’ house, attacked her in the garage and drove off with her in her Chevy Suburban, which was later found abandoned at the park.

Later the same day, Troconis accompanied Fotis Dulos to Hartford, where he disposed of several garbage bags in random locations — a trip partially recorded by surveillance cameras.

Police found some of the bags and said they contained clothing, zip ties and other items containing Jennifer Dulos’ DNA. Some of the items, including a shirt and bra, had blood-like stains on them. Some items had Fotis Dulos’ DNA on them, and one bag tested positive for Troconis’ DNA, a state forensics expert testified at the trial.

Schoenhorn said Troconis had no idea what was in the bags. He also said the match with Troconis’ DNA was found on a microscopic sample, and Fotis Dulos could have touched her and later spread her DNA to one of the bags.

Police also said Troconis helped Fotis Dulos write up a timeline of their activities to prepare for potential questioning by police. Troconis told police she only did that at the request of Fotis Dulos and his lawyer. And she also went with him when he had the employee’s truck cleaned and detailed at a car wash, prosecutors said.

And on the morning of Jennifer Dulos’ disappearance, Troconis answered Fotis Dulos’ cellphone, which he had left at his Farmington home. Prosecutors suggested that was part of the murder conspiracy to give Fotis Dulos an alibi. Schoenhorn denied the allegation.

Police interviewed Troconis three times in 2019. They said she initially lied that Fotis Dulos was home the morning of May 24, but acknowledged that wasn’t true in a subsequent interview and said she didn’t see him that morning.

Also charged in the case is Kent Mawhinney, a friend and former lawyer of Fotis Dulos. He pleaded not guilty and awaits trial on a conspiracy to commit murder charge.

The defense began to present its witnesses Wednesday. Testimony in the trial is supposed to finish on Friday or Monday.

How to watch the trial

Our daily special, airing weekdays at 9 a.m. on the NBC Connecticut free streaming channel is available on Roku, Samsung TV plus, Freevee, and a number of other platforms. Here is more on how to watch.

Watch full episodes of “Inside the Trial of Michelle Troconis”

Watch the full episodes of “Inside the Trial of Michelle Troconis” here.

NBC Connecticut has learned there is only one expected witness left. According to defense attorney Jon Schoenhorn, it is his understanding that the last witness is Gloria Farber, Jennifer Dulos’ mother.

That was learned after a day full of testimony. Tuesday was focused solely on the final interview Michelle Troconis did with state police investigators on Aug. 13, 2019.

Former lead investigator in the case, John Kimball, was back on the stand as prosecutors continue to hammer home inconsistencies and new details they want the jury to give strong consideration to.

“This is going through a jury, you have to think about how this story will sound in front of 12 people,” Kimball said to Troconis in the third interview.

The interview foreshadowing a trial and citing inconsistencies with prior interviews, and the addition of new details she was only alerting investigators to during questioning.

“Why didn’t you tell us earlier about the key, or the car wash, or the coffee?” Kimball asked. “You guys didn’t ask,” Troconis responded.

Some of those new details that came up in the third interview include the presence of Pawel Gumienny’s Tacoma and its key, the detailing of the Tacoma, and Fotis allegedly borrowing Gumienny’s axe.

Also, a significant amount of testimony regarding Fotis Dulos’ cell phone that was allegedly left at his 4 Jefferson Crossing home the morning Jennifer disappeared.

Detectives also asked Troconis about smoke seen on surveillance video rising from the 4 Jefferson Crossing home the afternoon Jennifer disappeared.

“Is there any indication that the defendant lit a fire on the timeline here?” Assistant States Attorney Sean McGuinness asked. “There is not,” Kimball responded, following an overruled objection to the answer.

The state wrapped direct examination of Kimball by tying in some of the additional details Troconis was giving during the interview with the timeline seized from Fotis Dulos’ 4 Jefferson Crossing home.

The defense then had their chance to cross.

“She didn’t get to review things she had said in prior interviews?” Schoenhorn asked. “She did not,” Kimball replied.

Schoenhorn pushed back during cross examination, pointing out for the jury that investigators had their own comprehensive notes to reference to get details correct during the third interview.

He added that they, too, admitted to making a few mistakes about details during the interview, and they had the benefit of a timeline.

Schoenhorn also pressed Kimball on investigators’ possible intent to confuse or elicit emotion from Troconis, and calling into question Fotis’ potential contamination of her recollection.

Memory is a key piece of the defense. We learned they intend on calling two experts on memory once the state rests their case.

We also learned more about the timeline of the trial at the end of Tuesday. The state intends to rest Wednesday and the defense will pick up following a motion for acquittal by the defense.

The judge has also decided a contempt hearing will be scheduled for after the defense rests their case, but before closing arguments. The judge also intends to let jurors know the trial could go “a lot longer” than March 1.

Assistant state’s attorney Sean McGuiness said they plan on calling a single witness Wednesday morning and expect that witness’ testimony to take about 15 minutes.

According to defense attorney Jon Schoenhorn, the final state witness will be Gloria Farber, mother of Jennifer Dulos.

That came after the jury heard more testimony about Troconis’ third interview with investigators who were investigating the disappearance of Jennifer Dulos.

Jennifer, a mother of five vanished, on May 24, 2019.

She and her husband, Fotis Dulos, were going through a divorce when Jennifer disappeared.

Police believe Fotis killed Jennifer in the garage of her home in New Canaan after she dropped their children off at school and then cleaned up the crime scene.

Fotis Dulos died in January 2020 by suicide after he was charged with his wife’s murder.

Troconis, 49, was dating Fotis Dulos when Jennifer disappeared and she is accused of helping him cover up the killing of his wife, whose body has never been found.

She has been charged with conspiracy to commit murder, tampering with evidence and hindering prosecution and has pleaded not guilty and denied any involvement.

Her trial, which is underway in Stamford, started in January.

Investigators said the third interview, which was done in August 2019, had the most inconsistencies in her story about the day Jennifer disappeared.

On Friday, the jury heard part of that interview.

Michelle Troconis Feb 16

Judge in Troconis case will not take up a contempt hearing on Friday

Investigator testimony also provided some new details, including an emphasis on smoke coming from Fotis Dulos’ home the afternoon Jennifer disappeared. In neighborhood surveillance video, smoke was seen rising from the chimney in the house.

Video shows the vehicles that Michelle Troconis said she used on May 24 making multiple trips back and forth between Fotis Dulos’ Jefferson Crossing home and the 80 Mountain Spring Road property.

An investigator who testified on Friday said the times where smoke was visible were consistent with the times some of those trips were made.

“Whatever it is, whatever they are trying to claim from a couple of puffs of white smoke at various times on a very windy day, again, it’s pure speculation,” Troconis’ defense attorney, Jon Schoenhorn, said.

How to watch the trial

Our daily special, airing weekdays at 9 a.m. on the NBC Connecticut free streaming channel is available on Roku, Samsung TV plus, Freevee, and a number of other platforms. Here is more on how to watch.

Watch full episodes of “Inside the Trial of Michelle Troconis”

Watch the full episodes of “Inside the Trial of Michelle Troconis” here.

Just as the court day was ending on Thursday, after the jury had been dismissed, state prosecutors told the judge that someone in the courtroom gallery raised a concern that Troconis potentially had part of a sealed custody report on display on her laptop, in the court’s views.

Jennifer Dulos, a mom of five, and her husband, Fotis Dulos, were going through a divorce when Jennifer vanished on May 24, 2019.

Police believe Fotis killed Jennifer in the garage of her home in New Canaan after she dropped their children off at school and then cleaned up the crime scene.

Fotis Dulos died in January 2020 by suicide after he was charged with his wife’s murder.

Troconis, 49, was dating Fotis Dulos when Jennifer disappeared and she is accused of helping him cover up the killing of his wife, whose body has never been found.

She has been charged with conspiracy to commit murder, tampering with evidence and hindering prosecution and has pleaded not guilty and denied any involvement.

Her trial started in January.

The jury heard limited testimony about the sealed custody report on Thursday.

It was completed and shown to Fotis and Jennifer Dulos the month before Jennifer disappeared and is sealed, according to prior testimony, because it contains confidential health information and information about the five Dulos children.

The state told the judge that the report itself remains under seal and no one is supposed to have access to it, including the defendant.

The judge tasked the state’s attorney’s office with learning more about what the person in the gallery saw and how the person recognized the report if they too are not supposed to have seen it. 

“The concern the state has is this notion that she would have access on her device to a report that it starts off that a member of the audience is able to see, which is clearly under seal. So, that is concerning. The second major point is that was displayed for the public with a news camera behind us and that she shouldn’t even have read it to begin with,” assistant state’s attorney Michelle Manning told the judge.

Judge Kevin Randolph said Friday that there will be no computer use in the courtroom other than by counsel, there will be no communication with the gallery at any time and no attempts to show approval or disapproval of a witness’ testimony.

“The court is not going to become a hallway monitor,” Randolph said. “So, if there are efforts to communicate with the jury or a witness, you will be removed. No hearing, just removed.”

Earlier in the day on Thursday, the state called guardian ad litem Michael Meehan to the stand.

As appointed guardian ad litem, his role was to represent the Dulos children’s best interest during the divorce proceedings between Jennifer and Fotis Dulos.

He testified about the ups and downs of the custody process.

He said Fotis Dulos “was down, he was concerned, he was upset,” following a custody ruling that barred Michelle Troconis from having contact with the children, and he claimed it was impacting his relationship with her.

Meehan then referenced a phone call he had with Fotis Dulos and Michelle Troconis in March 2019.

“He indicated that he was concerned that the continued litigation would have an adverse impact on his relationship with Ms. Troconis,” Meehan said.

Following that phone call, Meehan then described Fotis Dulos’ reaction following a custody report completed the month before Jennifer Dulos disappeared.

“He was a combination of emotions, I think. On the one hand, he was encouraged. On the other hand, he was upset and outraged,” Meehan said.

Prosecutors used this testimony to take aim at the heart of the defense.

They offered in prior days of the trial that their case revolves around the lack of motive Fotis Dulos had to kill Jennifer because the custody case was leaning in his favor.

The defense argues that Fotis had given Michelle Troconis the impression, even in the days leading up to Jennifer Dulos’ presumed murder, that the custody battle was leaning in Fotis’ favor.

But the defense was met with multiple objections as they began to pry into the contents of that report, which the judge deemed inadmissible. The court tightened the reigns around testimony from Meehan per a ruling by the judge on Wednesday that kept the contents of the report out of testimony.

The jury also saw new surveillance video from a neighbor of Fotis Dulos in Farmington and the final testimony on the day was from an FBI special agent Kevin Hoyland, who traveled from New Hampshire for testimony about cell phone records seized from AT&T that confirmed what had been learned in prior testimony.

On Wednesday, the defense team won a motion to exclude testimony from Connecticut’s Chief Medical Examiner, Dr. James Gill, when Judge Kevin Randolph ruled in favor of the defense.

Jennifer Dulos, a mom of five, vanished on May 24, 2019.

She and her husband, Fotis Dulos, were going through a divorce when she disappeared and police believe he killed her in the garage of her home in New Canaan after she dropped their children off at school and then cleaned up the crime scene.

The state planned to have Dr. Gill testify about his determination that Jennifer Dulos was likely dead based on information he had been given from investigators on the case.

It’s largely the same evidence jurors saw during the first four weeks of the trial, including the bloody clothing pulled from Albany Avenue in Hartford, DNA, and photographs taken from Jennifer Dulos’ garage.

Fotis Dulos died in January 2020 by suicide after he was charged with his wife’s murder.

In August 2019, Dr. Gill determined that, based on the evidence, Jennifer Dulos sustained injuries that were “non-survivable” without medical intervention.

But because he made that determination based on evidence the jury has also been presented, and a body was never recovered for him to conduct an autopsy on, Judge Randolph ruled in favor of the defense’s motion.

“The jury has heard more than Dr. Gill could testify to. The motion is granted,” Randolph said.

That decision followed a day of quick testimony, including new surveillance footage of Jennifer’s husband, Fotis Dulos, dropping off and picking up Pawel Gumienny’s Toyota Tacoma from a car wash and detail in Avon.

Cederic Candiotti, the manager of the car wash, described various cleaning agents used in the detailing process, including shampoo and all-purpose cleaners. Video surveillance from inside the business showed Fotis Dulos paying cash for the service.

According to court documents, Fotis Dulos left no name for the car, and listed the wrong model Toyota and left Michelle Troconis’ phone number as the number to call when the detailing was complete.

“A customer didn’t provide a name?” Attorney Michelle Manning asked.

“Correct,” Candiotti said.

Troconis’ attorney clarified that information outside court on Thursday.

He said his client’s number was listed next to the Sienna in error, but that error was on the part of the car wash employee.

The time the Sienna arrived didn’t line up with the time the Tacoma was seen on surveillance video arriving.

He speculated that the employee put down the number in the wrong line on the service log and it was not Fotis Dulos offering false information.

Troconis, 49, was dating Fotis Dulos when Jennifer disappeared and she is accused of helping Fotis cover up the killing of his wife, whose body has never been found.

She has been charged with conspiracy to commit murder, tampering with evidence and hindering prosecution and has pleaded not guilty and denied any involvement.

The jury also saw new surveillance footage from a home on Weed Street in New Canaan that showed a person who investigators believe is Fotis Dulos riding a bicycle in the direction of Jennifer Dulos’ home the morning she disappeared.

A little while later, the same camera picked up what investigators believe to be Jennifer Dulos’ Chevy Suburban headed back in the opposite direction, toward Lapham Road, where her Suburban was ultimately found later that evening.

Before the trial started on Wednesday, two motions also offered insight into what else the state intends to present before they rest their case.

One is testimony from another lawyer deeply involved in the divorce proceedings between Jennifer and Fotis Dulos.

The judge also ruled cell phone data seized from AT&T could be brought into the trial after the state submitted an appropriate warrant for the data back at the end of 2023.

Troconis’ defense attorney Jon Schoenhorn attempted to have that evidence suppressed, but the judge decided to deny that motion.

Michelle Troconis Feb 8

Digital forensic evidence dominate testimony for Troconis trial day 20

You can read about what happened on Wednesday here.

How to watch the trial

Our daily special, airing weekdays at 9 a.m. on the NBC Connecticut free streaming channel is available on Roku, Samsung TV plus, Freevee, and a number of other platforms. Here is more on how to watch.

Watch full episodes of “Inside the Trial of Michelle Troconis”

Watch the full episodes of “Inside the Trial of Michelle Troconis” here.

The last day the trial was held was on Thursday and it expected to resume today after a court holiday and a snowstorm that closed the courts on Tuesday.

Last week, experts testified about data that was pulled from cell phones as well as from some of the vehicles central to the case.

Jennifer Dulos, a mom of five, vanished on May 24, 2019.

She and her husband, Fotis Dulos, were going through a divorce when she disappeared and police believe he killed her in the garage of her home in New Canaan after she dropped their children off at school and then cleaned up the crime scene.

Troconis, 49, was dating Fotis Dulos when Jennifer disappeared and she is accused of helping Fotis cover up the killing of his wife, whose body has never been found.

She has been charged with conspiracy to commit murder, tampering with evidence and hindering prosecution and has pleaded not guilty and denied any involvement.

On Thursday, Fairfield Police Detective Michael Clark extracted the data from Fotis Dulos’ cell phones and broke down a gap in time on the morning of May 24, 2019.

The phone appeared not to move from Fotis’ Jefferson Crossing home in Farmington.

Assistant States Attorney Michelle Manning asked about message data pulled from Fotis’ phone that morning,

“None of them were opened and viewed until the earliest being 1:33 in the afternoon. Is that correct?” Manning asked.

Clark replied, ‘Yes.”

But Clark mapped out activity later in the day, tracking the phone at 4 Jefferson Crossing in Farmington, 80 Mountain Spring Road, and Albany Avenue om Hartford.

Clark also testified about a phone call that Fotis received from a friend that, according to investigators, was pre-arranged to provide an alibi for Fotis the morning Jennifer disappeared.

“Call me tomorrow morning (at) mine and we will talk,” Clark read for the jury.

Troconis answered the call, according to statements she gave to police.

Michelle Troconis Feb 8

Digital forensic evidence dominate testimony for Troconis trial day 20

Michelle Troconis Feb 7

Key witness wraps testimony in Troconis trial

Forensic expert Mark Newth, of the state forensic laboratory, also testified on Thursday.

“I have no reason to believe the data is ever that inaccurate,” Newth said while the defense pressed him about the accuracy of location data extracted from vehicles.

Newth offered GPS data from both Fotis Dulos’ Raptor and phone data from Jennifer Dulos’ Chevy Suburban, which was recovered from New Canaan.

The GPS data from the Raptor confirmed its movements on May 24, including Fotis Dulos’ trip to Albany Avenue in Hartford, where police said he was seen disposing of evidence.

From Jennifer’s suburban, Newth testified an iPhone connected to Bluetooth at 2:56 p.m., but he couldn’t say who it belonged to.

The defense brought up the call history of that iPhone, implying it indicated it was Jennifer’s phone.

“Why and how did Jennifer Dulos’ cell phone, her iPhone, attach to her vehicle?” Troconis’ defense attorney Jon Schoenhorn asked outside court on Thursday. “Who had it, who was either in or near her vehicle with it at that time?”

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Some Associated Press content was used in this report.

Some of the details the data went over had already been revealed in prior testimony, but the GPS data and other data helped verify for the jury some locations and timeframes.

“First message in the timeframe was at 7:18,” Detective Michael Clark with the Fairfield Police Department said.

Clark was the officer that extracted the data from Fotis’ cell phones following their seizure after Jennifer’s disappearance. He broke down a gap in time, the morning of May 24, 2019, the phone remained unmoved from Fotis’ Jefferson Crossing home in Farmington.

Assistant States Attorney Michelle Manning asked about message data pulled from Fotis’ phone that morning, “None of them were opened and viewed before 1:33 in the afternoon, correct?” to which Clark replied yes.

But Clark mapped out a flurry of activity later in the day, tracking the phone at 4 Jefferson Crossing, 80 Mountain Spring Road, and Albany Avenue.

He also testified about a phone call Fotis received from a friend of his, that, according to investigators, was pre-arranged to provide an alibi for Fotis the morning Jennifer disappeared.

“Call me tomorrow morning at nine and we will talk,” Clark read for the jury.

The call was answered by Troconis, according to statements she gave to police. Clark was joined by fellow forensic expert Mark Newth with the state Forensic Laboratory.

“I have no reason to believe the GPS data is not that inaccurate,” Newth said while being pressed by the defense about the accuracy of location data extracted from vehicles.

Newth offered GPS data from both Fotis Dulos’ Raptor and phone data from Jennifer Dulos’ Chevy Suburban recovered from New Canaan. The GPS data from the Raptor confirmed its movements on May 24, including Fotis Dulos’ trip to Albany Avenue in Hartford to dispose of evidence.

From Jennifer’s suburban, Newth testified an iPhone connected to Bluetooth at 2:56 p.m., but he couldn’t say who it belonged to. The defense brought up the call history of that iPhone, implying it indicates it was Jennifer’s phone.

“Why and how did Jennifer Dulos’ cell phone or iPhone attach to her vehicle?” defense attorney Jon Schoenhorn asked outside court Thursday. “Who had it, who was either in or near her vehicle with it at that time?”

There is a bit of a break before the trial is back in session. There is no trial on Friday, Feb. 9 or Monday, Feb. 12. The trial picks back up Tuesday morning in Stamford.

She has been charged in connection with the disappearance and presumed death of Jennifer Dulos and has denied the charges of conspiracy to commit murder, evidence tampering and hindering prosecution.

Jennifer Dulos vanished from her home in New Canaan on May 24, 2019.

She and Fotis Dulos were going through a divorce and custody battle at the time and Troconis was dating Fotis when Jennifer disappeared.

After some tense back-and-forth between prosecutors and the defense attorney on Wednesday, Pawel Gumienny, a key witness in the case, finished his testimony and faced cross-examination from the defense about his recollection of events around Jennifer Dulos’ disappearance.

Gumienny testified on Tuesday that Troconis had said, “That b**** should be buried next to the dog” and defense attorney Schoenhorn reiterated the statement on Wednesday.

Schoenhorn questioned Gumienny about his belief that the comments were made as a joke to “cheer” up Fotis Dulos because his dog was ill and needed to be euthanized.

Michelle Troconis Feb 7

Key witness wraps testimony in Troconis trial

Schoenhorn also sought clarification on another statement made following Jennifer’s disappearance, this one allegedly made to Gumienny while the two were working on firewood together and Troconis was expressing frustration regarding photos of herself and her daughter being posted in the media.

She commented she would “kill” Jennifer if she ever turned up.

The defense pointed out that both Troconis and Gumienny at that point, according to testimony, believed she was only missing.

“You thought she might turn up at that point, correct?” Schoenhorn asked. “Yes,” Gumienny replied.

Gumienny testified that at the start of the investigation into Jennifer’s disappearance that he believed she was only missing and Fotis wouldn’t do anything to hurt her.

Schoenhorn called into question Gumienny’s credibility, pushing him on his memory of events and interviews he did with investigators. He also pressed him on concerns he had about his immigration status in 2019 as the investigation progressed.

“Were you nervous about them bringing up your green card status?” Schoenhorn asked.
Gumienny indicated he was.

The jury also had the chance to view new time-stamped surveillance video of the comings and goings of Fotis Dulos, Troconis and Gumienny from 80 Mountain Spring Road in Farmington on the afternoon of Jennifer Dulos’ disappearance.

Outside of court, Gumienny’s attorney, Lindy Urso, answered questions about his client’s testimony and his client’s relief that the testimony is over.

“I think after the last two days, I think the whole thing is mixed because he hates the spotlight, he is a very private individual, but by the same token we’re here now and this is the beginning of the end of the circus for him so he can get back to his life,” Urso said.

There was also an indication that the trial is almost on pace with where it was expected to be, though it’s unclear how many more witnesses the state has left to call.

But at this point, the court indicated that we are still expecting to wrap up around March 1.

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Watch full episodes of “Inside the Trial of Michelle Troconis”

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“That b**** should be buried next to the dog,” defense attorney Schoenhorn reiterating a statement Michelle Troconis allegedly said prior to Jennifer Dulos’ disappearance that was brought up Tuesday during testimony.

Schoenhorn clarified Gumienny believed the comments were made as a joke to “cheer” up Fotis Dulos because of the dog’s illness.

Schoenhorn also clarified another statement made following Jennifer’s disappearance, this one allegedly made to Gumienny while the two were working on firewood together, and Troconis was expressing frustration regarding her and her daughters’ pictures being posted in the media.

She commented she would “kill” Jennifer if she ever turned up. The defense pointing out both Troconis and Gumienny at that point, according to testimony, believed she was only missing.

“You thought she might turn up at that point, correct?” Schoenhorn asked. “Yes,” Gumienny replied.

Gumienny testified he believed at the start of the investigation into Jennifer’s disappearance, Fotis wouldn’t do anything to hurt Jennifer, and she was only missing.

Schoenhorn continued to call into question Gumienny’s credibility for the jury, pushing him on his memory of events and interviews he did with investigators. He also pressed him on concerns he had about his immigration status back in 2019 as the investigation progressed.

“Were you nervous about them bringing up your green card status?” Schoenhorn asked, to which Gumienny indicated he was.

The jury also had the chance to view new surveillance video of the comings and goings of Fotis Dulos, Troconis and Gumienny at 80 Mountain Spring Rd. the afternoon of Jennifer Dulos’ disappearance.

The video offering a time-stamped view for the jury to take in.

Outside court, Gumienny’s attorney, Lindy Urso, answered questions about his client’s testimony, and his clients relief that the testimony is over.

“I think after the last two days, I think the whole thing is mixed because he hates the spotlight, he is a very private individual, but at the same time, this is the beginning of the end of the circus for him so he can get back to his life,” Gumienny said.

There was also an indication that the trial is almost on pace with where it was expected to be, though it’s unclear how many more witnesses the state has left to call.

But at this point, the court indicated that we are still expecting to wrap up around March 1.

Fotis, the estranged husband of Connecticut mother-of-five Jennifer Dulos pressured the employee to get rid of pickup seats that would later become evidence in the investigation of her 2019 killing, Pawel Gumienny, 43, testified on Tuesday as he described getting tangled up in the case unwittingly.

Gumienny is a key witness in the trial of Troconis, who is accused of helping her boyfriend, Dulos’ husband, cover up the killing afterward. Troconis denies charges of conspiracy to commit murder, evidence tampering and hindering prosecution.

Gumienny was an employee of Fotis Dulos, who was going through a bitter divorce and child custody battle with Jennifer Dulos when she vanished from her home in New Canaan on May 24, 2019.

Fotis Dulos died by suicide in January 2020 shortly after being charged with murdering her — which he denied.

Police allege that Fotis Dulos drove Gumienny’s pickup to New Canaan that day, rode a bicycle to Jennifer Dulos’ home, attacked her there after she returned from dropping off their children at school and drove off with her in her own SUV. Her body has never been found, but a probate judge declared her dead last October.

The case has drawn widespread attention and was the subject of a made-for-TV movie.

Jennifer Dulos, 50, was a member of a wealthy New York family and a niece by marriage of fashion designer Liz Claiborne.

Fotis Dulos was a luxury home builder originally from Greece.

On the 18th day of the trial in Stamford, Gumienny testified that Fotis Dulos, in the week after his wife disappeared, had the pickup cleaned inside and out at a car wash and pressured Gumienny to replace the front seats of the truck with other ones. Gumienny said he was growing suspicious as Jennifer Dulos remained missing, but he didn’t think Fotis Dulos was capable of killing her.

Under questioning by prosecutor Sean McGuinness, Gumienny said he got frustrated at one point and asked Fotis Dulos why he had the truck cleaned.

“He said, ‘Don’t worry about it. There’s nothing going on. … I just want to clean everything. The police might come in. They find something, they destroy my name, destroy the company name,’ ” Gumienny testified.

Gumienny said he then asked Fotis Dulos why he wanted to change out the truck seats, which Fotis Dulos told him to get rid of so they wouldn’t be found.

“He said, ‘Can we not talk about it. Can you just do it?’ He kept on pressing me and pressing me on it. … He was growing angry,” Gumienny said.

Gumienny did replace the truck seats, but he kept the old ones and gave them to police. Authorities later said testing indicated Jennifer Dulos’ blood was on one of the old seats.

Gumienny also said Fotis Dulos, a month or two before his wife vanished, showed him and another employee a photo of her house and asked them if they saw any cameras. Gumienny said he didn’t see any, but he added: “She can record you with anything. Just don’t’ do anything stupid when you go there.”

Troconis’ lawyer, Jon Schoenhorn, objected to Gumienny’s testimony about what Fotis Dulos said, calling it hearsay and requesting a mistrial.

Judge Kevin Randolph said the testimony was permitted and denied the request.

Schoenhorn was expected to cross-examine Gumienny on Wednesday.

Gumienny also testified that Troconis said disparaging things about Jennifer Dulos.

Some time before Jennifer Dulos vanished, Fotis Dulos was upset about having to put down his ailing dog, and Troconis said Jennifer Dulos should be buried next to the dog, in an apparent effort to cheer him up, Gumienny said.

In a conversation with Gumienny a week after the disappearance, Troconis was upset that her and her daughter’s photos had been posted online by the media and said she was going to “kill” Jennifer Dulos when she reappeared, he testified.

Jennifer Dulos and the children had moved out of the family’s home in Farmington, where Fotis Dulos was living with Troconis and her daughter in 2019.

Gumienny, a native of Poland who came to the U.S. in 2000 and got a green card, was given immunity from criminal charges by prosecutors in exchange for his testimony.

Outside of court Tuesday, Troconis’ sister told news media that the family has received hundreds of letters supporting Troconis and calling her a good person and good mother who would never hurt anyone.

“I hope that we can continue to (demonstrate) that she had nothing to do with the disappearance of Jennifer Dulos,” her sister, Marisela, said.

While most of the trial has focused on Fotis Dulos, prosecutors say evidence also incriminates Troconis.

Read more about the trial and the case

Michelle Troconis Jan 25

Prosecutors show Michelle Troconis police interview video during trial Thursday

Police said Troconis went with Fotis Dulos when he had Gumienny’s truck cleaned, and she also accompanied him on a trip to Hartford where Fotis Dulos is seen on video throwing away garbage bags in random containers.

Police found some of the bags and said they contained clothing, zip ties and other items containing Jennifer Dulos’ DNA.

Some of the items, including a shirt and bra, had blood-like stains on them. Some items had Fotis Dulos’ DNA on them, and one bag tested positive for Troconis’ DNA. Schoenhorn said Fotis Dulos could have touched Troconis and spread her DNA onto that bag.

Police also said Troconis helped Fotis Dulos write up a timeline of their activities to prepare for potential questioning by police. Troconis told police she only did that at the request of Fotis Dulos and his lawyer.

Gumienny said Fotis Dulos also asked him to write down his whereabouts around the time Jennifer Dulos disappeared, but he refused.

“I was surprised,” Gumienny said. “I told him, ‘What am I going to do? If police is going to come over and ask me, I’m going to pull out a piece of paper and read it to them?’”

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Watch full episodes of “Inside the Trial of Michelle Troconis”

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The former employee, Pawel Gumienny, was the project manager for Fotis Dulos’ company, Fore Group, and police believe Dulos was driving his employee’s red Toyota Tacoma on the day Jennifer Dulos.

Jennifer and Fotis Dulos were going through a divorce when the mom of five disappeared on May 24, 2019.

Police believe he killed her in the garage of her home in New Canaan after she dropped their children off at school and then cleaned up the crime scene.

Troconis, 49, was dating Fotis Dulos when Jennifer disappeared and is accused of helping Fotis cover up the killing of his wife, whose body has never been found.

She has been charged with conspiracy to commit murder, tampering with evidence and hindering prosecution and has pleaded not guilty and denied any involvement.

In part of the testimony on Tuesday, Gumienny relayed a conversation he said he had with Fotis Dulos while Troconis was present.

He said Fotis Dulos’ said he would have to put his dog to sleep because the pet was ill.

“He (Fotis) said something like, ‘Can you believe that Jennifer won’t even let the kids come over and say goodbye to the dog before we put him to sleep?,” Gumienny said.

Gumienny said Troconis’ response was, “That (expletive) should be buried right next to this dog.”

On Monday, the trial centered on results from DNA testing of items collected in the investigation.

The results confirm what is likely to be Jennifer’s DNA on a number of items collected during the investigation and the DNA of others alleged to have been involved in her presumed murder.

“The DNA profile from item 883S-7 is at least 780,000 more likely to occur if it originated from Michelle Troconis and three unknown individuals than if it originated from four unknown individuals,” Kristen Madel, of the Connecticut State Forensics Lab, said.

She was in for testimony as the prosecutors continue to attempt to link Michelle Troconis to the alleged crime by offering testimony about her DNA being located on a single trash bag dumped along Albany Avenue in Hartford the day Jennifer Dulos disappeared. 

“If you come in contact with something it is possible for you leave your own DNA behind on an item,” Madel told the jury when asked about the transfer of DNA to evidence.

Troconis’ DNA was tested twice — in 2019 and again in 2023. When it was tested last year, the likelihood it was Troconis’ DNA dropped, but it still matched her.

Troconis’ defense attorney Jon Schoenhorn pointed out to the jury there was only the equivalent of three skin cells of Troconis’ DNA on the bag.

“Michelle was in a truck with her boyfriend. The fact that three or even 10 cells could have gotten on him when he got out and threw away those bags does not even suggest she ever touched one of those bags,” said Schoenhorn.

During the investigation, police obtained surveillance video from along Albany Avenue in Hartford where Fotis Dulos was seen dumping trash bags into several bins along the road.

Some DNA located was consistent with Fotis Dulos’ DNA, including the same bag Michelle’s DNA was located on, a glove found on Albany Avenue, and the DNA from a hair pulled from a towel seized from Albany Avenue.

The majority of DNA present was that of Jennifer Dulos.

Analysts were using an electric toothbrush Jennifer owned as a reference for her DNA. Her DNA was located on a bloodied shirt and bra pulled from Albany Avenue, various blood-like stains on evidence, and the front seat of a Toyota Tacoma.

Read more on the trial here

Michelle Troconis Feb 5

Results of DNA analysis take center stage in testimony for Troconis Trial day 17

Michelle Troconis Feb 5

Forensic lab expert testifies about DNA during Michelle Troconis' trial on Monday

Prosecutors tracked Gumienny’s Tacoma traveling from Farmington to New Canaan and back the day Jennifer disappeared, and police believe Fotis Dulos was driving it, according to arrest warrants.

Fotis Dulos and Michelle Troconis brought the pickup to Avon to be detailed before the two were arrested and the truck was seized, officials said.

“Any wiping or cleaning could remove any DNA or biological material left behind and could prevent DNA from being detected,” Madel said.

There was also a DNA match from a sponge to Gumienny.

He has been granted immunity in the case.

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Watch full episodes of “Inside the Trial of Michelle Troconis”

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The results confirm what is likely to be Jennifer’s DNA on a number of items collected during the investigation and the DNA of others alleged to have been involved in her presumed murder.

“The DNA profile from item 883S-7 is 780,000 more likely to occur if it originated from Michelle Troconis and 3 unknown individuals than if it originated from 4 unknown individuals,” explained Kristen Madel, with the Connecticut State Forensics Lab.

She was in for testimony as the prosecutors continue to attempt to link Michelle Troconis to the alleged crime, by offering testimony about her DNA being located on a single trash bag dumped along Albany Avenue in Hartford the day Jennifer Dulos disappeared.  

If you come in contact with something it is possible you leave your own DNA on that item,” Madel told the jury when asked about the transfer of DNA to evidence.

Troconis’ DNA was tested twice, in 2019 and again in 2023. When it was tested last year, the likelihood it was Troconis’ DNA dropped, but it still matched to her.

Defense attorney Jon Schoenhorn pointed out to the jury there was only the equivalent of three skin cells of Troconis’ DNA on the bag.

“Michelle was in a truck, with her boyfriend. The fact that 3 or even 10 cells could have gotten on him when he got out and threw away those bags does not even suggest she ever touched one of those bags,” said Schoenhorn.

 Some DNA located was consistent with Fotis Dulos’ DNA, including the same bag Michelle’s DNA was located, a glove found on Albany Avenue, and the DNA from a hair pulled from a towel seized from Albany Avenue. The majority of DNA present was that of Jennifer Dulos. Analysts were using an electric toothbrush owned by Jennifer as a reference for her DNA. Her DNA was located on a bloodied shirt and bra pulled from Albany avenue, various blood like stains on evidence, and the front seat of a Toyota Tacoma.

That is the same Tacoma prosecutors have tracked traveling from Farmington to New Canaan and back the day Jennifer disappeared, believed to have been driven by Fotis Dulos. It is also the Tacoma Fotis Dulos and Michelle Troconis brought to Avon to be detailed before the two were arrested and the truck was seized.

“Any wiping or cleaning could remove any DNA or biological material left behind and could prevent DNA from being detected,” Madel said.

Earlier in the trial, Madel testified about how forensics experts test for DNA and how they establish a DNA profile.

Troconis has been charged in connection with the disappearance and presumed death of Jennifer Dulos, a mother of five, who disappeared on May 24, 2019.

Police believe Jennifer’s estranged husband, Fotis Dulos, killed her in the garage of her home in New Canaan after she dropped their children off at school and then cleaned up the crime scene.

Troconis, 49, was dating Fotis Dulos when Jennifer disappeared and is accused of helping Fotis Dulos cover up the killing of his wife, whose body has never been found.

She has been charged with conspiracy to commit murder, tampering with evidence and hindering prosecution and has pleaded not guilty and denied any involvement.

On Friday a retired state forensics lab employee took the witness stand to explain more about the processing of evidence that was pulled from various scenes.

The trial also offered new insight into other potential material DNA evidence collected from items seized as part of the investigation into the disappearance of Jennifer Dulos.

During the investigation, police obtained surveillance video from along Albany Avenue in Hartford where Fotis Dulos was seen dumping trash bags into several bins along the road.

The forensic expert explained to the jury what items from Albany Avenue screened positive for potential blood and what DNA samples were later pulled and sent to the lab for analysis.

She also offered some new information about a white, hard piece of evidence that was introduced in court on Thursday.

She noted that samples taken from it, like a blue hair-like fiber that was later confirmed to not be human hair, was packaged and sent to a different lab for further examination, but it remains unclear what the evidence was.

Michelle Troconis Feb 2

Michelle Troconis appears in court in Stamford for day 16 of trial

Michelle Troconis Feb 2

Troconis jury hears forensic testimony about hairs, potential blood found on evidence

She testified about five human hairs that were collected from evidence off Albany Avenue and a red Toyota Tacoma that police believe Fotis Dulos was driving the day Jennifer disappeared.

One was from the Tacoma door panel, one from a sponge, one from the towel, one from a clear plastic bag, and one from the knot of black plastic bag.

State police investigators said they tracked the movement of that Tacoma going both toward New Canaan on the morning of May 24, 2019, and back from New Canaan later that morning, according to arrest warrants, and The truck was captured on surveillance video from cameras at rest stops in New Canaan and Fairfield.

Troconis’ defense attorney, Jon Schoenhorn, doubled down on the basis for all of this forensic testimony into screening tests for potential blood, pointing out he attempted to have it all kept from being presented to the jury.

But, since it was ultimately allowed in, he intends to keep the state accountable for what was blood and what ultimately was not or was never confirmed to be blood.

“Even though it’s not about Michelle Troconis, it’s not about her blood, it just keeps coming in and it’s not all blood,”  Schoenhorn said outside court Friday.

Testimony about the DNA results from all of the samples taken from this evidence is expected, but it is not clear when that testimony will be.

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Our daily special, airing weekdays at 9 a.m. on the NBC Connecticut free streaming channel is available on Roku, Samsung TV plus, Freevee, and a number of other platforms. Here is more on how to watch.

Watch full episodes of “Inside the Trial of Michelle Troconis”

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Day 16 also offered new insight into other potential material DNA evidence that was collected from items seized for the investigation into the disappearance of Jennifer Dulos.

“I imagined someone carrying the bag and handling the bag like this,” Anita Vailonis demonstrated to jurors, holding the black bag near the top.

Vailonis was showing the jury part of her thought process for examining evidence when it came into the lab.  

She was on the stand to explain to the jury what items from Albany Avenue in Hartford screened positive for potential blood and what DNA samples were later pulled and sent to the lab for analysis.

She also offered some new information about the white, hard piece of evidence introduced Thursday. She noted samples taken from it, like a blue hair like fiber, that was later confirmed to not be human hair. Ultimately it was packaged and sent to a different lab for further examination, but it remains unclear what the evidence was.

There were also five human hairs in total collected from evidence off Albany Avenue and the red Toyota Tacoma. One from the Tacoma door panel, one from a sponge, one from the towel, one from a clear plastic bag, and one from the knot of black plastic bag.

Defense attorney Jon Schoenhorn doubled down on the basis for all of this forensic testimony into screening tests for potential blood, pointing out he attempted to have it all kept from being presented to the jury. But, since it was ultimately allowed in he intends on keeping the state accountable for what was blood, and what ultimately was not or was never confirmed to be blood.

“Even though it’s not about Michelle Troconis, it’s not about her blood, it just keeps coming in and it’s not all blood,” said Schoenhorn outside court Friday.

There is expected testimony about the DNA results from all of the samples taken from this evidence but it remains unclear when that testimony will be.

The court adjourned for the week just before 1 p.m.

On Thursday, the jury heard from forensics experts and saw evidence, some of which was graphic, that was collected during the investigation.

They also heard from the woman who supervised Fotis Dulos during a designated visit to Jennifer’s home to see his children on May 22.

Jennifer disappeared two days later. She was last seen on May 24, 2019, after dropping her children off at school in New Canaan.

Police believe Fotis Dulos, killed her in the garage of her home in New Canaan after she dropped their children off at school and then cleaned up the crime scene.

Troconis, 49, was dating Fotis Dulos when the mom of five disappeared and is accused of helping Fotis Dulos cover up the killing of his wife, whose body has never been found.

She has been charged with conspiracy to commit murder, tampering with evidence and hindering prosecution and has pleaded not guilty and denied any involvement.

During the investigation, police obtained surveillance video from along Albany Avenue in Hartford where Fotis Dulos was seen dumping trash bags into several bins along the road.

On Thursday, forensics experts went over evidence collected along Albany Avenue, as well as evidence from Jennifer Dulos’ New Canaan home and in the red Toyota Tacoma that police believe Fotis Dulos was driving in the day that Jennifer disappeared.

State police investigators tracked the movement of that Tacoma going both toward New Canaan on the morning of May 24, 2019, and back from New Canaan later that morning.

The truck was captured on surveillance video from cameras at rest stops in New Canaan and Fairfield.

This forensic expert, Christine Roy, a retired employee of the state Forensic Lab, could only testify about the processing of the material evidence collected and the confirmation of blood on certain pieces of evidence.

“I did the glycophorin-a test and it was positive, so therefore I could say human blood was detected,” Roy said, describing testing done on a striped shirt that was pulled from the trash along Albany Avenue in Hartford.

She confirmed the presence of blood on the shirt and a bra, as well as on a hard white material that was also collected from the same location.

Roy explained to the jury the process of testing for blood and pulling samples for later DNA testing. She was only able to testify to the confirmation of blood, though.

Michelle Troconis Feb 1

Forensics expert testifies during day 15 of Michelle Troconis' trial

She also spoke about samples taken for further testing from license plates pulled from the storm drain along Albany Avenue, license plates pulled from the Toyota Tacoma and the door panels and seat from the Toyota Tacoma. But we are waiting on the results from that testing.

Troconis’ defense attorney, Jon Schoenhorn. won’t dispute the presence of confirmed blood but believes going through each item that came back negative or was never confirmed is a waste of time.

“Testing everything else, having it test negative for blood or not confirmed as blood, is kind of a in my view … it’s just taking up a lot of unnecessary time,” Schoenhorn said.

Sidnee Streater, the parenting supervisor who was in charge of supervising Fotis Dulos during his May 22 designated visit to Jennifer’s home to see their kids, also testified.

Jennifer and Fotis were going through a divorce and Streater described interactions between the splitting couple as amicable but said they never shook hands, hugged or physically touched in any way.

She also noted that Fotis never entered Jennifer Dulos’ home during that visit.

“The interaction was cordial as far as you observed?” Schoenhorn asked.

“Yes,” Streater replied.

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Our daily special, airing weekdays at 9 a.m. on the NBC Connecticut free streaming channel is available on Roku, Samsung TV plus, Freevee, and a number of other platforms. Here is more on how to watch.

Watch full episodes of “Inside the Trial of Michelle Troconis”

Watch the full episodes of “Inside the Trial of Michelle Troconis” here.

Sidnee Streater told jurors about the interactions between Fotis Dulos and his children on that day, as well as his interactions with Jennifer.

Up next was Christine Roy, a forensic examiner at the Connecticut State Forensic Laboratory.

Troconis, 49, has been charged in connection with the disappearance and presumed death of Jennifer Dulos, the wife of the man whom Troconis was dating at the time Jennifer disappeared.

Jennifer Dulos was last seen on May 24, 2019, after dropping her children off at school in New Canaan.

Police believe her estranged husband, Fotis Dulos, killed her in the garage of her home in New Canaan after she dropped their children off at school and then cleaned up the crime scene.

Troconis is accused of helping Fotis Dulos cover up the killing of his wife, whose body has never been found.

She has been charged with conspiracy to commit murder, tampering with evidence and hindering prosecution and has pleaded not guilty and denied any involvement.

On Wednesday, much of the testimony focused on a red pickup that police believe Fotis Dulos was driving on the day that Jennifer disappeared.  

State police investigators tracked the movement of that Tacoma as it headed toward New Canaan on the Merritt Parkway on the morning of May 24, 2019 and back later that morning. It was seen on surveillance video from cameras at rest stops in New Canaan and Fairfield.

Retired State Police Detective Matthew Reilly was back on the stand for lengthy testimony about the processing of Pawel Gumienny’s red Toyota Tacoma pickup, which police seized in June 2019.

Gumienny was an employee of Fotis Dulos.

“It appeared to be very clean for an 18-year-old truck,” Reilly said.

He noted it appeared the truck was cleaned inside and out before it was seized and went on to show the contents of the truck, and the processing methods, including swabs that were taken.

Michelle Troconis Jan 31

Red Tacoma, fingerprints and surveillance video dominate day 14 of Troconis trial

Michelle Troconis Jan 31

Michelle Troconis' trial underway for day 14

There was also comprehensive testimony about the seats of the Tacoma when it was seized — Porsche seats that investigators believed came from a wrecked Porsche SUV that came up in testimony earlier.

In the bed of the truck there were two other seats, designated as from the Ford Motor Company, that investigators believed to be the seats inside the vehicle at the time Fotis Dulos took the truck to New Canaan on the morning Jennifer Dulos disappeared.

Gumienny saved the seats, despite Fotis Dulos telling him to get rid of them, and handed those over to investigators as well.

“They cut out the area circled,” Reilly said, pointing to an area of the Ford seats investigators believed there was a blood stain.

Troconis’ defense attorney, Jon Schoenhorn, was quick to point out that no blood was later found inside the Tacoma.

The jury also saw physical evidence in the courtroom and a fingerprint expert with the state forensic lab took the stand.

Kevin Parisi, of the state Forensic Laboratory, testified about evidence pulled from Albany Avenue in Hartford trash cans.

“This is the tape removed from both bags,” Parisi said, showing the jury some of the samples he attempted to pull fingerprints from.

Three of Fotis Dulos’ fingerprints were matched to evidence from Hartford. Other fingerprints identified from evidence were either inconclusive or didn’t have a match.

There was also testimony offered from neighbors of Fotis Dulos in the spring of 2019. They testified about the surveillance video they handed over to police, but we have not seen that surveillance video.

Two retired members of the state forensics lab are expected to testify on Thursday.

How to watch the trial

Our daily special, airing weekdays at 9 a.m. on the NBC Connecticut free streaming channel is available on Roku, Samsung TV plus, Freevee, and a number of other platforms. Here is more on how to watch.

Watch full episodes of “Inside the Trial of Michelle Troconis”

Watch the full episodes of “Inside the Trial of Michelle Troconis” here.

“It was an older model pickup truck, it was an extended cab, it had a bed liner,” Reilly said, pointing to a photo displayed in the courtroom of the Tacoma during processing.

The truck was seized in early June of 2019 and was processed down to the bolts holding the license plates on. Prosecutors having Reilly note the appearance of the Tacoma.

“It appeared to be very clean for an 18-year-old truck,” Reilly said.

He noted it appeared the truck was cleaned inside and out before it was seized. He went on showing the contents of the truck, and the processing methods.

“We then took a sample of that area,” Reilly said.

Samples were swabbed from inside the door and other various points along the Tacoma. There was also comprehensive testimony about the seats of the Tacoma. The seats inside the truck when it was seized were Porsche seats that investigators believed came from the wrecked Porsche SUV that came up in testimony earlier.

In the bed of the truck were two other seats, designated as from the Ford Motor Company that investigators believed to be the seats inside the vehicle at the time Fotis Dulos took the truck to New Canaan on the morning Jennifer Dulos disappeared.

Pawel Gumienny saved the seats from the trip to New Canaan, despite Fotis Dulos telling him to get rid of them and handed those over to investigators as well.

“They cut out the area circled,” Reilly said, pointing to an area of those Ford seats investigators believed there was a blood stain.

Defense Attorney Jon Schoenhorn was quick to point out no blood was later found inside the Tacoma.

The jury was also back to seeing physical evidence in the courtroom. A fingerprint expert with the state forensic lab took the stand.

 “This is the tape removed from both bags,” Kevin Parisi, with the state Forensic Laboratory said, showing the jury some of the samples he attempted to pull fingerprints from.

The samples he was testifying about were from evidence pulled from Albany Avenue in Hartford trash cans.

Three of Fotis Dulos’ fingerprints were matched to evidence from Hartford. Other fingerprints identified from evidence were either inconclusive or didn’t have a match.

There was also testimony offered from neighbors of Fotis Dulos in the spring of 2019. They testified about surveillance video they handed over to police, but we have not seen that surveillance video.

Troconis, 49, has been charged in connection with the disappearance and presumed death of Jennifer Dulos, the wife of the man whom Troconis was dating in 2019, at the time Jennifer disappeared.

Jennifer Dulos was last seen on May 24, 2019, after dropping her children off at school in New Canaan.

Police believe her estranged husband, Fotis Dulos, killed her in the garage of her home in New Canaan after she dropped their children off at school and then cleaned up the crime scene.

Troconis is accused of helping Fotis Dulos cover up the killing of his wife, whose body has never been found.

She has been charged with conspiracy to commit murder, tampering with evidence and hindering prosecution and has pleaded not guilty and denied any involvement.

On Tuesday, the jury heard testimony about a red Toyota Tacoma. Investigators believe Fotis Dulos was driving the truck on the day that Jennifer Dulos disappeared, according to arrest warrants.

Fotis Dulos, a luxury home builder originally from Greece, died by suicide in January 2020 after being charged with his wife’s murder. He denied any involvement in his wife’s disappearance.

State police investigators tracked the movement of that Tacoma as it headed toward New Canaan on the Merritt Parkway on the morning of May 24, 2019 and back later that morning. It was seen on surveillance video from cameras at rest stops in New Canaan and Fairfield.

“I was extremely interested in the items in the back of the pickup truck,” retired state trooper Gregory LeBeau said as an enlarged photo of the bed of the Tacoma appeared on a screen behind him.

“I was interested to see if I could identify what was in the back of the red pickup truck,” he added.

When asked about what he saw in the cargo area of the pickup, LeBeau said, “So, something else I noticed in the bed of the pickup truck was a white square-looking object as well as a round object, which was consistent with a bicycle wheel,” he said.

He wasn’t able to elaborate on what he believed was in the bed of the truck because of a sustained objection.

The truck belongs to Pawel Gumienny, an employee of Fotis Dulos.

On Tuesday, new details were revealed about his first conversations with police as the investigation progressed.

“He appeared to me to be very nervous. I noticed that his breathing rate was elevated – his breathing at a higher rate than you would expect someone to be,” State Police Sergeant Michael Beauton said about his first interaction with Gumienny outside Fotis Dulos’ Farmington home.

During the investigation, Gumienny provided DNA samples, his phone, access to the red Tacoma and a laptop.

“He made a statement to the effect of, ‘if I were going a use a computer to research things, I would use one that didn’t belong to me,’” Beauton said.

Investigators also obtained car seats that Gumienny said Fotis Dulos urged him to get rid of.

The jury also saw new surveillance footage from 77 Mountain Spring Road in Avon, a property across the street from Fotis Dulos’ 80 Mountain Spring Road property. It showed the red Tacoma leaving Dulos’ property around 5:30 a.m. on the day Jennifer Dulos disappeared.

But the defense was quick to tamp down speculation about the truck’s movement and its driver.

“You did not observe from any of the angles anyone actually getting into a truck or even starting it up?” Troconis’ defense attorney, Jon Schoenhorn, asked.

Beauton replied that he did not.

Gumienny is expected to take the stand in Stamford at some point during the trial. NBC Connecticut reached out to his attorney, Lindy Urso, about the upcoming testimony.

“Pawel is under subpoena, and he will abide by it; but he is very eager to put this behind him so he can get his focus back to working hard to provide for his family,” Urso said in a statement.

How to watch the trial

Our daily special, airing weekdays at 9 a.m. on the NBC Connecticut free streaming channel is available on Roku, Samsung TV plus, Freevee, and a number of other platforms. Here is more on how to watch.

Watch full episodes of “Inside the Trial of Michelle Troconis”

Watch the full episodes of “Inside the Trial of Michelle Troconis” here.

Some Associated Press content was used in this story.

“Tubular running board, silver rims, also a snowplow hitch …” retired state trooper Gregory LeBeau said as he described for the jury what he saw in surveillance video of that red Tacoma traveling along the Merritt Parkway the day Jennifer Dulos disappeared.

State police investigators tracked the movement of that Tacoma going both toward New Canaan the morning of May 24, 2019 and back from New Canaan later that morning. The truck was captured on surveillance video from cameras at rest stops in New Canaan and Fairfield.

“I was extremely interested in the items in the back of the pickup truck,” said LeBeau, with an enlarged photo of the bed of the Tacoma behind him. He wasn’t able to elaborate on what he believed was in the bed of the truck because of a sustained objection.

The truck was often used by Pawel Gumienny, an associate of Fotis Dulos, whose name came up in testimony numerous times Tuesday. New details were revealed about his first conversations with police as the investigation progressed.

“Appeared to me to be very nervous, his breathing was elevated and the artery in his neck was beating fast,” said State Police Sergeant Michael Beauton regarding his first interaction with Gumienny outside Fotis Dulos’ Farmington home.

During the investigation, Gumienny would provide DNA samples, his phone, access to the red Tacoma, and a work laptop.

“He made a statement if I was going to look up something I wasn’t supposed to be, I would use one that wasn’t mine,” described Beauton of a statement made to him when retrieving Gumienny’s laptop.

Also provided to investigators were car seats Gumienny says Fotis Dulos urged him to get rid of.

The jury also saw new surveillance footage from 77 Mountain Spring Road in Avon, across the street from Fotis Dulos’ 80 Mountain Spring Road property.

The video shows the Red Tacoma leaving that 80 Mountain Spring Road Property around 5:30 a.m. the day Jennifer Dulos disappeared.

But the defense was quick to tamp down speculation about the truck’s movement, and its operator.

“You did not observe from any of the angles anyone getting in the truck or starting it?” asked Defense Attorney Jon Schoenhorn. Beauton replied he did not.

Pawel Gumienny is expected to take the stand in Stamford. NBC Connecticut reached out to his attorney, Lindy Urso, about the upcoming testimony.

“Pawel is under subpoena, and he will abide by it; but he is very eager to put this behind him so he can get his focus back to working hard to provide for his family,” Urso said in a statement.

How to watch the trial

Our daily special, airing weekdays at 9 a.m. on the NBC Connecticut free streaming channel is available on Roku, Samsung TV plus, Freevee, and a number of other platforms. Here is more on how to watch.

Watch full episodes of “Inside the Trial of Michelle Troconis”

Watch the full episodes of “Inside the Trial of Michelle Troconis” here.

Jennifer Dulos was last seen on May 24, 2019, after dropping her children off at school in New Canaan.

Police believe her estranged husband, Fotis Dulos, killed her in the garage of her home in New Canaan after she dropped their children off at school and then cleaned up the crime scene.

Troconis, 49, is accused of helping Fotis Dulos cover up the killing of his wife, whose body has never been found.

She has been charged with conspiracy to commit murder, tampering with evidence and hindering prosecution and has pleaded not guilty and denied any involvement.

Fotis Dulos, a luxury home builder originally from Greece, died by suicide in January 2020 after being charged with his wife’s murder. He denied any involvement in his wife’s disappearance.

On Monday, the judge started the day by announcing that another juror was gone from the case.

The person had to leave the country on Monday to attend to an emergency, Judge Kevin Randolph said.

One juror and an alternate had previously been dismissed from the case, leaving six regular jurors and two alternates.

Once the case resumed on Monday, Troconis’ attorney, Jon Schoenhorn, spent hours cross-examining John Kimball, the lead investigator into the disappearance of Jennifer Dulos about tactics police used while interviewing his client.

Schoenhorn pointed out what he claimed was Troconis’ willingness to assist state police in the investigation after she was arrested.

Schoenhorn attempted to shore up reasons that Troconis had changes and discrepancies in her account of the day Jennifer Dulos disappeared, putting the blame on investigators for a lack of clarity in their questioning and for using coercive tactics.

“At no time did Ms. Troconis ever say that she knew anything about the disappearance or what Fotis Dulos was up to,” Schoenhorn said outside the courthouse on Monday.

State prosecutors spent the afternoon pushing back, showing new surveillance video of the Troconis and Fotis Dulos inside a West Hartford Starbucks after Fotis was seen disposing of evidence on Albany Avenue.

Prosecutors also doubled down on discrepancies between interviews and the timeline seized from the couples’ home at 4 Jefferson Crossing in Farmington and how it came to be.

Michelle Troconis Jan 29

Juror in Michelle Troconis trial replaced with alternate after notifying court of emergency

The day ended with testimony from State Trooper Suzzanna Sedenszki who collected surveillance from one of Fotis Dulos’ properties in Avon.

How to watch the trial

Our daily special, airing weekdays at 9 a.m. on the NBC Connecticut free streaming channel is available on Roku, Samsung TV plus, Freevee, and a number of other platforms. Here is more on how to watch.

Watch full episodes of “Inside the Trial of Michelle Troconis”

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Associated Press reports were used in this reporting.

Two jurors had already been dismissed earlier in the trial.

The judge had dismissed an alternate juror who reportedly said “We love you” to two prosecutors involved in the case outside the courtroom during a lunch break. Randolph said the comment gave the appearance of favoring the prosecution.

And one juror was dismissed after the panelist likened the case to the novel and movie “Gone Girl.”

Judge Kevin Randolph received an unsigned note from a juror in the trial of Michelle Troconis morning, accusing another member of the panel of making the comment in the presence of other jurors.

The juror “discussed something about the case and it was all over social media,” Randolph said the note read. “Said it was like ‘Gone Girl’ — a brief mention. Several other jurors said, ’Don’t discuss this.'”

The trial now has two alternates remaining, along with six regular jurors.

Monday is the 12^th day of Michelle Troconis’ trial and John Kimball, the lead investigator in the disappearance of Jennifer Dulos, is expected to be back on the stand for more testimony and cross-examination.

Jennifer Dulos was last seen on May 24, 2019, after dropping her children off at school in New Canaan.

Police believe Jennifer’s estranged husband, Fotis Dulos, killed her in the garage of her home in New Canaan after she dropped their children off at school and then cleaned up the crime scene.

Troconis, 49, is accused of helping Fotis Dulos cover up the killing of his wife, whose body has never been found.

She has been charged with conspiracy to commit murder, tampering with evidence and hindering prosecution and has pleaded not guilty and denied any involvement.

Fotis Dulos, a luxury home builder originally from Greece, died by suicide in January 2020 after being charged with his wife’s murder. He denied any involvement in his wife’s disappearance.

On Friday, prosecutors at the courthouse in Stamford showed the jury Troconis’ second interview with investigators following the disappearance of Jennifer Dulos.

The interview that was shown in court on Friday showed investigators push Troconis on discrepancies in the timeline that she gave in the first interview.

The interview lasted three hours and took place in Westport at the office of attorney Andrew Bowman, who was Troconis’ attorney at the time.

Almost immediately in the second interview, investigators pressed Troconis on discrepancies in her account of what happened on the day Jennifer disappeared from the first interview just days prior.

“I have a daughter and I don’t want to be in a jail,” Michelle Troconis said through tears.

They also questioned her initial claim that Fotis was in his office in the morning.

“What if I told you we know he wasn’t at the home at the time?” John Kimball asked.

Troconis also attempted to assist law enforcement by providing a drawn map of the area around Fotis’ properties that the two frequented or that Troconis knew Fotis knew well.

Michelle Troconis Jan 26

Troconis gets emotional as second interview with investigators is shown to jury

Michelle Troconis Jan 26

Testimony continues Friday in Michelle Troconis' trial

She also noted her anger with Fotis following her arrest and learning of what allegedly happened to Jennifer.

“He pulled you into the clean-up?” Detective Corey Clabby asked in the interview.

“I know and I hate him because of that,” Troconis said.

Prosecutors also continued pausing the video at various points to point out discrepancies with the coming third interview and with the written timeline they had obtained.

Troconis’ sister, Claudia, spoke outside court on Friday, maintaining Michelle’s innocence and putting the blame instead on investigators for her mistreatment and for pressing charges.

“We are finally seeing how my sister attempted to cooperate not once, not twice, but three times with the police, saying everything, trying to assist them the best that she could in this case and yet she was charged,” Claudia Troconis said.

Kimball is expected to be back for more testimony and cross-examination on Monday. A third interview is also expected to be played, but it is unclear when.

How to watch the trial

Our daily special, airing weekdays at 9 a.m. on the NBC Connecticut free streaming channel is available on Roku, Samsung TV plus, Freevee, and a number of other platforms. Here is more on how to watch.

Watch full episodes of “Inside the Trial of Michelle Troconis”

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Emotions ran high as investigators pushed Troconis on discrepancies in her timeline that she gave in the first interview.

This interview lasted three hours and took place in Westport at attorney Andrew Bowman’s office. He was her attorney at the time. Almost immediately in the second interview, investigators are poking holes in Troconis’ account of May 24, 2019, the day Jennifer Dulos disappeared.

“I have a daughter and I don’t want to be in a jail,” said Michelle Troconis through tears in Andrew Bowman’s office.

Investigators pressing Troconis on discrepancies in her account of what happened on May 24 from the first interview just days prior, and the timelines obtained from 4 Jefferson Crossing.

They question her initial claim that Fotis was in his office in the morning.

“What if I told you we know he wasn’t at the home at the time?” John Kimball asked.

But the interview isn’t just pressure from investigators. Troconis also attempts to assist law enforcement by providing a drawn map of the area around Fotis’ properties that the two frequented or that Troconis knew Fotis knew well.

She also notes her anger with Fotis following her arrest and learning of what allegedly happened to Jennifer.

“He pulled you into the clean-up?” Detective Corey Clabby asked in the interview. “I know and I hate him because of that,” Troconis said.

Prosecutors also continued pausing the video at various points to point out discrepancies with the coming third interview and with the written timeline they had obtained.

Troconis’ sister Claudia spoke outside court Friday maintaining Michelle’s innocence and put the blame, instead, on investigators for her mistreatment and for pressing charges.

“We are finally seeing how my sister attempted to cooperate not once, not twice, but three times with the police, saying everything, trying to assist them the best that she could in this case and yet she was charged,” Claudia Troconis said.

Lead investigator John Kimball is expected to be back for more testimony and cross examination Monday. There is also a third interview that is expected to be played, but it is unclear when.

Troconis, 49, is accused of helping Fotis Dulos cover up the killing of his wife, Jennifer Dulos, whose body has never been found.

She has been charged with conspiracy to commit murder, tampering with evidence and hindering prosecution and has pleaded not guilty and denied any involvement.

Jennifer Dulos was last seen on May 24, 2019 after dropping her children off at school in New Canaan.

Police believe Fotis Dulos killed Jennifer in the garage of her home in New Canaan after she dropped their children off at school in May 2019 and then cleaned up the crime scene.

Fotis Dulos, a luxury home builder originally from Greece, died by suicide in January 2020 after being charged with his wife’s murder. He denied any involvement in his wife’s disappearance.

On Friday, jurors are hearing more of what Troconis told investigators.

Troconis’ sister, Claudia Troconis, spoke outside court.

“This is evidently a very hard day for us as well, we are finally seeing how my sister attempted to cooperate not once, not twice, but three times with the police, saying everything, trying to assist them the best that she could in this case and yet she was charged. And this was more than 10 hours of my sister telling them, ‘I will do anything to help you. I don’t know anything.’ I know everyone wants answers, but my sister is not the right answer, she doesn’t know anything, and she is innocent. Thank you,” she said.

n Thursday, jurors heard the first interview that Troconis did with investigators after Jennifer Dulos disappeared. During testimony, the lead investigator brought up inconsistencies.

Outside the courthouse on Thursday, Troconis’ defense Attorney Jon Schoenhorn denied the characterization that Troconis was changing her story and continues to deny that she had any role in the disappearance of Jennifer Dulos.

He expects the video will speak for itself to the jury.

“You have to watch the whole videos and you have to judge for yourself if things that were said were allegedly changed, whether things were being clarified, whether she was being cut off,” Schoenhorn said.

You can read more about it here.

The jury is expected to see two other interviews that Troconis did and more testimony from lead investigator John Kimball is expected.

How to watch the trial

Our daily special, airing weekdays at 9 a.m. on the NBC Connecticut free streaming channel is available on Roku, Samsung TV plus, Freevee, and a number of other platforms. Here is more on how to watch.

Watch full episodes of “Inside the Trial of Michelle Troconis”

Watch the full episodes of “Inside the Trial of Michelle Troconis” here.

Jurors got to hear from Michelle Troconis herself a recap of May 24, 2019, the day after she was arrested and brought to the New Canaan Police Department – testimony from a lead investigator on the case. Teeing up inconsistencies in her account.

In the interview, you hear lead investigator on the case John Kimball explain to Troconis what is at stake in the investigation. At the time, he said, “It’s our consensus that Jennifer is still missing and it’s really concerning to us…she may be deceased.”

Investigators were interviewing Troconis in the New Canaan Police Department after she was transported there from Avon where she was arrested. The interview took place the afternoon after she was arrested in the presence of her attorney.

“You are safe, and we are concerned for your safety,” said Kimball, making note of Troconis’ safety because of what Kimball described as Fotis Dulos’ behavior following their arrest.

As the interview continued, Troconis walked Kimball and fellow investigator Corey Clabby through her day on May 24, the day Jennifer Dulos disappeared. One of her first notes was a shower with Fotis.

“Fotis jumps into the shower with me,” Troconis described.

Prosecutors stopped the video and asked investigator Kimball on the stand about future interviews Troconis would do in the coming days and months.

“Did the defendant always maintain the account she showered with Fotis Dulos in her account?” asked Assistant States Attorney Sean McGuinness. “She did not,” Kimball said.

Prosecutors stopped the video a few times throughout Thursday to make note of changes Troconis would make in future interviews, including Fotis Dulos’ presence in his office the morning of May 24, and overnight thunderstorms.

The two hour and 45-minute interview contained investigators continuing to press Troconis on Fotis and Troconis’ alleged role in Jennifer Dulos’ disappearance.

“So, he used me?” Michelle asked of investigators. “Isn’t that what Fotis does?” Detective Clabby replied.

Outside the courthouse, Defense Attorney Jon Schoenhorn denied the characterization she was changing her story and continues to deny Troconis had any role in the disappearance of Jennifer Dulos.

He expects the video will speak for itself to the jury.

“You have to watch the whole videos and you have to judge for yourself if things that were said were allegedly changed, whether things were being clarified, whether she was being cut off,” Schoenhorn said.

There are two other interviews the jury is expected to see that Troconis did, and we are expecting more testimony from John Kimball.

Troconis, 49, is accused of helping Fotis Dulos cover up the killing of his wife, Jennifer Dulos, whose body has never been found.

She has been charged with conspiracy to commit murder, tampering with evidence and hindering prosecution and has pleaded not guilty and denied any involvement.

On Wednesday, prosecutors showed the jury items that police seized from Fotis Dulos’ property and vehicles at the time of Jennifer Dulos’ disappearance.

Police believe Fotis Dulos killed Jennifer in the garage of her home in New Canaan after she dropped their children off at school in May 2019 and then cleaned up the crime scene.

Fotis Dulos, a luxury home builder originally from Greece, died by suicide in January 2020 after being charged with his wife’s murder. He denied any involvement in his wife’s disappearance.

Some of the evidence shown on Wednesday had never been seen publicly before.

It also included a timeline seized from Fotis Dulos’ home that investigators have referred to as the “alibi scripts.”

In addition to Fotis Dulos’ Farmington home, investigators also searched a property at 80 Mountain Spring Road in Farmington and a Deercliff Road property in Avon.

In the garage of the Deercliff Road property, investigators found a Porsche SUV with front-end damage and the airbags deployed.

Retired Connecticut State Police Detective Matthew Reilly made note in testimony that the two front seats of the Porsche were missing and the arrest warrant for Michelle Troconis gives details on the missing seats.

According to the warrant, Pawel Gumienny, an associate of Fotis Dulos, told police that Fotis told him to replace the two front seats of his Toyota Tacoma.

“The only alternative Gumienny could think of was to use the seats from Dulos’ wrecked Porsche, which he removed on 5/31/19,” the arrest warrant reads.

He kept the seats to the Tacoma in case police wanted to see them.

Read more about the case

Michelle Troconis Jan 23

Prosecutors show shirt, bra, zip ties they say link Troconis to Jennifer Dulos' disappearance

Michelle Troconis Jan 17

‘My stomach just sank': Nanny describes frantic day Jennifer Dulos disappeared

Michelle Troconis Jan 12

Testimony about Jennifer Dulos' disappearance continues Friday in trial of Michelle Troconis

Gumienny is expected to testify in the trial at some point, and the Tacoma is expected to come up again.

The timeline paperwork was only a part of a day of day of testimony from Reilly.

Prosecutors also showed the jury the extensive search process of Fotis Dulos’ vehicles after Jennifer disappeared.

Vehicles investigators searched included a 2015 Chevy Suburban, Ford Raptor, and Jeep Grand Cherokee. Investigators seized a pair of gloves and a baseball hat from the Raptor.

When it came to testimony on the Suburban, Reilly said, “following a visual inspection, I applied luminol solution to look for any luminescent areas.”

That presumptive field test rendered a positive result for a substance that police determined needed further testing and ultimately the entire mat in the back of the suburban was seized.

On Thursday, prosecutors plan to show video of state police detectives interviewing Troconis after her arrest in 2019.

How to watch the trial

Our daily special, airing weekdays at 9 a.m. on the NBC Connecticut free streaming channel is available on Roku, Samsung TV plus, Freevee, and a number of other platforms. Here is more on how to watch.

Watch full episodes of “Inside the Trial of Michelle Troconis”

Watch the full episodes of “Inside the Trial of Michelle Troconis” here.

“Friday 5/24, 2019,” read retired Connecticut State Police Detective Matthew Reilly from the top of a timeline seized from Fotis Dulos’ home.

The timeline marks the whereabouts of Michelle Troconis and Fotis Dulos on the day Jennifer Dulos disappeared. The seizure included the original copy and a photocopy made. Investigators commonly referred to these timelines as the “alibi scripts.”

“Went with cleaning supply back to 80 M back with Fotis,” Reilly read from the timeline.

In addition to Fotis Dulos’ Farmington home, a property at 80 Mountain Spring Road in Farmington was also searched, and a Deercliff Road property in Avon as well. In the garage of the Deercliff Road property, investigators found a Porsche SUV with front end damage and the airbags deployed. Reilly also made note in testimony the two front seats of the Porsche were missing.

The arrest warrant for Michelle Troconis gives details on the missing seats. According to the warrant, an associate of Fotis Dulos named Pavel Gumienny told police Fotis told him to replace the two front seats of his Toyota Tacoma.

“The only alternative Gumienny could think of was to use the seats from Dulos’ wrecked Porsche, which he removed on 5/31/19,” the arrest warrant reads.

He kept the seats to the Tacoma in case police wanted to see them.

Gumienny is expected to testify in the trial at some point, and the Tacoma is expected to come up again.

More on the case here.

Michelle Troconis Jan 23

Prosecutors show shirt, bra, zip ties they say link Troconis to Jennifer Dulos' disappearance

Michelle Troconis Jan 10

Michelle Troconis' trial in the disappearance of Jennifer Dulos begins

The timeline paperwork was only a part of a day of day of testimony from Reilly.

Prosecutors showed the jury the extensive search process of Fotis Dulos’ vehicles after Jennifer disappeared. Vehicles searched included a 2015 Chevy Suburban, Ford Raptor, and Jeep Grand Cherokee. Investigators seized a pair of gloves and a baseball hat from the Raptor.

When it came to testimony on the Suburban, Reilly said, “following a visual inspection, I applied luminol solution to look for any luminescent areas.”

That presumptive field test rendered a positive result for a substance that police determined needed further testing and ultimately the entire mat in the back of the suburban was seized.

On Thursday, prosecutors plan to show video of state police detectives interviewing Troconis after her arrest in 2019.

How to watch the trial

Our daily special, airing weekdays at 9 a.m. on the NBC Connecticut free streaming channel is available on Roku, Samsung TV plus, Freevee, and a number of other platforms. Here is more on how to watch.

Watch full episodes of “Inside the Trial of Michelle Troconis”

Watch the full episodes of “Inside the Trial of Michelle Troconis” here.

The evidence included what appeared to be a blood-soaked shirt and bra, as well as zip ties, gloves, plastic ponchos, a box cutter and other things with what State Police Sgt. Kevin Duggan testified was a “blood-like” substance on them. The items were pulled from Hartford, Connecticut, trash receptacles where, according to prosecutors, surveillance video shows Troconis sitting in a vehicle with boyfriend Fotis Dulos as he tossed trash into the same bins shortly after Jennifer Dulos disappeared.

Troconis, 49, is charged with conspiracy to commit murder, tampering with evidence and hindering prosecution. She’s accused of helping Fotis Dulos cover up the killing of his wife, whose body has never been found.

Police believe Fotis Dulos killed Jennifer Dulos in the garage of her home in New Canaan, Connecticut, after she dropped their children off at school in May 2019 and then cleaned up the crime scene.

Troconis, who is not seen handling the trash in any of the videos, has pleaded not guilty and denied any involvement.

“Nothing that was in those bags will be shown to have had anything to do with Michelle Troconis or that she knew what was in any of those bags,” Jon Schoenhorn, Troconis’ lawyer, told reporters outside of the courthouse.

The case drew widespread attention and became the subject of the made-for-TV movie “Gone Mom.” Jennifer Dulos, 50, was declared legally dead in October. She was a member of a wealthy New York family whose father, the late Hilliard Farber, founded a brokerage firm. She also was a niece by marriage of fashion designer Liz Claiborne.

Fotis Dulos, a luxury home builder originally from Greece, died by suicide in January 2020 after being charged with his wife’s murder.

According to Troconis’ arrest warrant, DNA from Jennifer Dulos and Fotis Dulos was found on items in the trash from Hartford, and Troconis’ DNA was found on some of the trash bags. That evidence is expected to come later in the trial.

The surveillance videos from Hartford, which is about 75 miles from Jennifer Dulos’ home, were recorded the evening she disappeared but not discovered for six days. Police have said they believe some evidence may have been lost because much of the trash in that area was picked up during that week.

Video also showed Fotis Dulos placing near a building what police say resembled a vehicle cargo mat missing from his wife’s abandoned SUV and dropping an envelope down a sewer drain. Prosecutors on Monday showed jurors what they said were altered license plates found in an envelope in the sewer drain.

More video evidence was presented Tuesday afternoon from cameras on buses and other surveillance cameras showing Fotis Dulos’ vehicle traveling around the Hartford area.

At the time she vanished, Jennifer and Fotis Dulos were going through a contentious divorce and child custody proceedings that had limited his time with their children. Jennifer Dulos had moved out of the family home in Farmington, Connecticut, and Fotis Dulos was living there with Troconis and her daughter.

How to watch the trial

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This comes after one juror and an alternate were dismissed last week.

Troconis is accused of helping her boyfriend cover up the murder of his estranged wife, Jennifer Dulos. Troconis has denied any involvement.

During the lunch break on Monday, one juror told the court that he had recognized a witness’ name and the court brought him in to determine the nature of the relationship.

The juror said he and the witness went to the same high school,  they didn’t really know each other at all and hadn’t been in communication in more than 20 years.

The juror told the court that he could remain impartial and the judge decided that he could remain.

On Friday, the judge dismissed one juror after the panelist likened the case to the novel and movie “Gone Girl.”

Judge Kevin Randolph had received an unsigned note from a juror, accusing another member of the panel of making the comment in the presence of other jurors.

The juror “discussed something about the case and it was all over social media,” the note read, Randolph said. “Said it was like ‘Gone Girl’ — a brief mention. Several other jurors said, ’Don’t discuss this.'”

Randolph then cleared the courtroom to question jurors about the comment. He ultimately dismissed the juror, identified only as “Juror 186,” who the judge said acknowledged making the “Gone Girl” comment.

“Every (other) juror indicated that they would be able to afford the state and defense a fair and impartial trial,” Randolph said after reconvening the trial.

“Gone Girl,” a 2012 novel by Gillian Flynn that was turned into a 2014 film starring Ben Affleck, is about a woman who fakes her own disappearance and her husband, who becomes a suspect.

That was the second case of alleged juror misconduct in the trial.

On Wednesday afternoon, Randolph dismissed an alternate juror who reportedly said “We love you” to two prosecutors involved in the case outside the courtroom during a lunch break. Randolph said the comment gave the appearance of favoring the prosecution.

The trial now has three alternates remaining, along with six regular jurors.

Troconis, 49, has been charged with conspiracy to commit murder and other crimes on allegations that she helped her then-boyfriend, Fotis Dulos, cover up the killing of his wife, Jennifer Dulos, in 2019.

Troconis has pleaded not guilty and denied any involvement.

Police believe Fotis Dulos attacked his wife in the garage of her home in New Canaan, Connecticut in May 2019, after she dropped off the children at school. Then, authorities said, he drove off in her own SUV with her body, which has never been found.

Fotis Dulos denied having anything to do with her disappearance. He died by suicide in early 2020, shortly after being charged with murder.

Testimony on Friday focused on the patterns of what police said appeared to be blood stains that had been cleaned from the garage of Jennifer Dulos’ home.

At the time she vanished, Jennifer and Fotis Dulos were going through a contentious divorce and child custody proceedings that had limited his time with the children.

Jennifer Dulos had moved out of the family home in Farmington, Connecticut, and Fotis Dulos was living there with Troconis and her daughter.

The case drew widespread attention and was itself the subject of a made-for-TV movie, titled “Gone Mom.” Jennifer Dulos, 50, was a member of a wealthy New York family whose father, the late Hilliard Farber, founded his own brokerage firm. She also was a niece by marriage of fashion designer Liz Claiborne. Fotis Dulos was a luxury home builder originally from Greece.

How to watch the trial

Our daily special, airing weekdays at 9 a.m. on the NBC Connecticut free streaming channel is available on Roku, Samsung TV plus, Freevee, and a number of other platforms. Here is more on how to watch.

Watch full episodes of “Inside the Trial of Michelle Troconis”

Watch the full episodes of”:Inside the Trial of Michelle Troconis” here.

Timeline of the case

Read more about the timeline of the case here.

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Judge Kevin Randolph received an unsigned note note from a juror in the trial of Michelle Troconis Friday morning, accusing another member of the panel of making the comment in the presence of other jurors.

The juror “discussed something about the case and it was all over social media,” Randolph said the note read. “Said it was like ‘Gone Girl’ — a brief mention. Several other jurors said, ’Don’t discuss this.'”

Randolph then cleared the courtroom to question jurors about the comment. He ultimately dismissed the juror, identified only as “Juror 186,” who acknowledged making the “Gone Girl” comment, the judge said.

“Every (other) juror indicated that they would be able to afford the state and defense a fair and impartial trial,” Randolph said after reconvening the trial.

“Gone Girl,” a 2012 novel by Gillian Flynn that was turned into a 2014 film starring Ben Affleck, is about a woman who fakes her own disappearance and her husband, who becomes a suspect.

Troconis, 49, is charged with conspiracy to commit murder and other crimes on allegations that she helped her then-boyfriend, Fotis Dulos, cover up the killing of his wife, Jennifer Dulos, in 2019. Troconis has pleaded not guilty and denied any involvement.

Police believe Fotis Dulos attacked his wife in the garage of her home in New Canaan, Connecticut in May 2019, after she dropped off the children at school. Then, authorities said, he drove off in her own SUV with her body, which has never been found. Fotis Dulos denied having anything to do with her disappearance. He died by suicide in early 2020, shortly after being charged with murder.

Testimony on Friday focused on the patterns of what police said appeared to be blood stains that had been cleaned from the garage of Jennifer Dulos’ home.

At the time she vanished, Jennifer and Fotis Dulos were going through a contentious divorce and child custody proceedings that had limited his time with the children. Jennifer Dulos had moved out of the family home in Farmington, Connecticut, and Fotis Dulos was living there with Troconis and her daughter.

The case drew widespread attention and was itself the subject of a made-for-TV movie, titled “Gone Mom.” Jennifer Dulos, 50, was a member of a wealthy New York family whose father, the late Hilliard Farber, founded his own brokerage firm. She also was a niece by marriage of fashion designer Liz Claiborne. Fotis Dulos was a luxury home builder originally from Greece.

This is the second case of alleged juror misconduct in the trial. On Wednesday afternoon, Randolph dismissed an alternate juror who reportedly said “We love you” to two prosecutors involved in the case outside the courtroom during a lunch break. Randolph said the comment gave the appearance of favoring the prosecution.

The trial now has three alternates remaining, along with six regular jurors.

Read more about the timeline here.

How to watch the trial

Our daily special, airing weekdays at 9 a.m. on the NBC Connecticut free streaming channel is available on Roku, Samsung TV plus, Freevee, and a number of other platforms. Here is more on how to watch.

Watch full episodes of “Inside the trial of Michelle Troconis”

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Inside the Trial of Michelle Troconis: Full Episodes

A member of the State Forensic Lab team, Kristen Madel, testified to how they test for DNA, and how they establish a DNA profile for Jennifer Dulos through her toothbrush, as well as profiles for other members close to the case including the Dulos children, Fotis Dulos, and Michelle Troconis.

“We want to try to include or exclude a person from that evidentiary profile,” said Madel.

The lab in this case deals in probability. Essentially, how likely a DNA profile from evidence collected matches DNA taken from the individuals close to the case versus some random person.

Jennifer Dulos’ DNA taken from her toothbrush was found in multiple suspected blood stains in the garage, kitchen, Range Rover, and Chevy Suburban.

“It was 100 billion times more likely if it originated the source of the profile from the swabbing of the electric toothbrush, than an unknown person,” explained Madel.

But when going through different samples of evidence collected, Jennifer’s DNA was not the only DNA present on a doorknob between the home and the garage, or on the kitchen sink faucet.

“100 billion times more likely to be Fotis Dulos and the swabbing of the electric toothbrush,” Madel explained, referencing Jennifer’s DNA profile from the electric toothbrush.

Fotis’ DNA was of particular interest on the faucet, because according to the nanny’s testimony Wednesday, and an original arrest warrant, Jennifer Dulos was adamant she did not want Fotis anywhere near her home, taking steps to ensure he could not enter the home, and he was not supposed to enter the property without designated court supervision.

“She did not want him entering the home at all,” said nanny Lauren Almeida in testimony Wednesday.

Defense attorney Jon Schoenhorn isn’t disputing the presence of Jennifer’s DNA, but is holding the state to their burden of proof to prove a murder occurred involving Fotis, and maintains his client, Michelle Troconis’ DNA was nowhere to be found.

“There is no place in New Canaan or in that Suburban that has Michelle Troconis’ DNA,” Schoenhorn said outside court Thursday.

Based on testimony Thursday, Michelle Troconis’ DNA did not appear and was ruled out of many of the samples analyzed in the forensics lab, only appearing in a few reports as “inconclusive.”

Madel is expected back on the stand for continued cross examination Friday.

Testimony in Michelle Troconis’ trial will continue for a fifth day on Thursday after the Dulos family’s nanny, who called police on the night of Jennifer Dulos’ disappearance, spoke on Wednesday. The judge also dismissed an alternate juror after a courthouse interaction with an attorney on Wednesday.

Lauren Almeida, a nanny who cares for five children whose mother went missing in Connecticut in 2019, recalled in court on Wednesday the frantic day that Jennifer Dulos vanished, kicking off a search that eventually turned into a murder investigation.

Troconis, who was the girlfriend of Dulos’ estranged husband, Fotis Dulos. Troconis is charged with conspiracy to commit murder and other crimes on allegations that she helped Fotis Dulos cover up the killing of Jennifer Dulos.

Almeida said Wednesday she had four of their children with her — the other was at a friend’s — when she was supposed to meet up with Jennifer Dulos in Manhattan on the afternoon of May 24, 2019. She texted and called Jennifer Dulos, but she didn’t respond.

“My stomach just sank. She never not answered her phone,” Almeida testified in Superior Court in Stamford, Connecticut.

Almeida went to a doctor’s office in Manhattan where Jennifer Dulos had a scheduled appointment, hoping to find her there.

“And so when she wasn’t there … I was shocked but also like, ‘OK, I have the four kids in front of me and don’t know what to do,’” Almeida said. “I just walked outside, and I started to call people who could have heard from Jennifer.”

Police believe Fotis Dulos attacked Jennifer Dulos in the garage of her home in New Canaan, Connecticut, after she dropped off the children at school that day. Then, authorities said, he drove off in her own SUV with her body, which has never been found. Fotis Dulos denied having anything to do with her disappearance. He died by suicide in early 2020, shortly after being charged with murder.

Troconis, 49, has pleaded not guilty and denies the charges, which also include evidence tampering and hindering prosecution.

At the time she vanished, Jennifer and Fotis Dulos were going through a contentious divorce and child custody proceedings that had limited his time with the children. Jennifer Dulos had moved out of the family home in Farmington, Connecticut, while Fotis Dulos was living there with Troconis and her daughter.

In testimony, Almeida described the first time she met Troconis at a Miami ski club in March 2017. She described to the jury that some of the Dulos children acted as though they already knew Michelle and her daughter, and when Almeida flew back to Connecticut following the Miami trip, she noted Fotis stayed behind.

According to testimony it was after Almeida arrived back that Jennifer explained to Almeida, she had proof of Fotis’ affair, and she planned to confront him about it.

“It started to become very tense and uncomfortable to be in the presence of both of them,” Almeida said.

The case drew widespread attention and was the subject of a made-for-TV movie. Jennifer Dulos, 50, was a member of a wealthy New York family whose father, the late Hilliard Farber, founded his own brokerage firm. She also was a niece by marriage of fashion designer Liz Claiborne. Fotis Dulos was a luxury home builder originally from Greece.

Almeida testified that she and Jennifer Dulos had become afraid of Fotis Dulos in 2017, when the Dulos’ relationship deteriorated after she found out he was having an affair with Troconis. That year, Almeida said Fotis Dulos chased Jennifer Dulos outside the home with a piece of paper and had a screaming argument with her inside the Farmington home, where she ran into a room and he tried to barge open the closed door.

When Jennifer Dulos went missing, Almeida said she was in a panic as she called Jennifer Dulos’ friends and others who might know where she was. She also called hospitals but had no luck. She called her mother, who tried to calm her down, she testified. Then she called New Canaan police.

“We told the police that a mother of five was missing and that she was in a very contentious divorce. And I knew that he (Fotis Dulos) had purchased a gun, and so I was afraid. And they were on it right away,” Almeida said.

Judge Kevin Randolph struck the comment about the gun from the record, after prosecutor Sean McGuinness said he was not claiming that Fotis Dulos had a gun. Troconis’ lawyer, Jon Schoenhorn, later called for a mistrial based on Almeida’s comment, but Randolph denied the motion.

Almeida, 32, continues to be a nanny for the five children, who have been living with Jennifer Dulos’ mother, Gloria Farber, in Manhattan since their mother vanished.

Also Wednesday afternoon, Randolph dismissed an alternate juror who reportedly said “We love you” to two prosecutors involved in the case outside the courtroom during a lunch break. Randolph said the comment gave the appearance of favoring the prosecution.

There are now six regular jurors and four alternates.

Wednesday was the fourth day of the trial. Over the first days, police testified about blood evidence found in Jennifer Dulos’ garage and her SUV, which was found abandoned at a New Canaan park.

Police have said there was evidence of an attempted cleanup in the garage. Almeida testified that she had put a 12-pack of paper towels in the kitchen pantry the day before Jennifer Dulos vanished, but there were only two rolls there the next day.

When Almeida went to the home on the day of the disappearance around 11 a.m. — a short time after Jennifer Dulos’ SUV was seen on a neighbor’s camera leaving the neighborhood — she said she did not notice blood in the garage but found Jennifer Dulos’ purse inside the house, which she thought was odd.

Among the evidence expected to be shown to the jury later in the trial is police surveillance video of Fotis Dulos and Troconis driving around Hartford later in the day that Jennifer Dulos disappeared. Fotis Dulos is seen getting out of his pickup and disposing of garbage bags at various locations as Troconis sits in the vehicle. Troconis told police she didn’t know what was in the bags.

Police said they later recovered some of the bags and found clothing, zip ties and other items with Jennifer Dulos’ DNA on them. Some items had Fotis Dulos’ DNA on them, and one bag had Troconis’ DNA on it, police said.

Prosecutors are also expected to show the jury what police dubbed “the alibi script” — a document they say Fotis Dulos and Troconis prepared that detailed their actions and locations on the day of the killing and the day after. Troconis told police that Fotis Dulos’ lawyer had asked them to list their activities on those days.

As testimony ended on Wednesday, we got the first piece of physical evidence presented to the jury – Fotis’ cell phone that was seized when he first met with the New Canaan Police Department after Jennifer’s disappearance.

Ultimately the phone was seized and processed for location data and messages, but the prosecution is moving now toward that surveillance video on Albany Avenue in Hartford.

Following the introduction of Fotis’ phone, New Canaan Detective Thomas Patton testified he brought it to the Fairfield Police Department for processing.

He said investigators pulled messages, photos and location data from his phone – there was objection to the testimony about what was pulled of the phone because Patton was not the one to do it, but he was present. He ultimately was allowed to testify to some of the location data, but the judge ultimately shut down the line of questioning.

Read more about the timeline here.

How to watch the trial

Our daily special, airing weekdays at 9 a.m. on the NBC Connecticut free streaming channel is available on Roku, Samsung TV plus, Freevee, and a number of other platforms. Here is more on how to watch.

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The nanny, Lauren Almeida, testified in the trial of Michelle Troconis, who was the girlfriend of Dulos’ estranged husband, Fotis Dulos. Troconis is charged with conspiracy to commit murder and other crimes on allegations that she helped Fotis Dulos cover up the killing of Jennifer Dulos.

Almeida said Wednesday she had four of their children with her — the other was at a friend’s — when she was supposed to meet up with Jennifer Dulos in Manhattan on the afternoon of May 24, 2019. She texted and called Jennifer Dulos, but she didn’t respond.

“My stomach just sank. She never not answered her phone,” Almeida testified in Superior Court in Stamford, Connecticut.

Almeida went to a doctor’s office in Manhattan where Jennifer Dulos had a scheduled appointment, hoping to find her there.

“And so when she wasn’t there … I was shocked but also like, ‘OK, I have the four kids in front of me and don’t know what to do,’” Almeida said. “I just walked outside, and I started to call people who could have heard from Jennifer.”

Police believe Fotis Dulos attacked Jennifer Dulos in the garage of her home in New Canaan, Connecticut, after she dropped off the children at school that day. Then, authorities said, he drove off in her own SUV with her body, which has never been found. Fotis Dulos denied having anything to do with her disappearance. He died by suicide in early 2020, shortly after being charged with murder.

Troconis, 49, has pleaded not guilty and denies the charges, which also include evidence tampering and hindering prosecution.

At the time she vanished, Jennifer and Fotis Dulos were going through a contentious divorce and child custody proceedings that had limited his time with the children. Jennifer Dulos had moved out of the family home in Farmington, Connecticut, while Fotis Dulos was living there with Troconis and her daughter.

In testimony, Dulos family nanny Lauren Almeida described the first time she met Michelle Troconis at a Miami ski club in March of 2017. She described to the jury that some of the Dulos children acted as though they already knew Michelle and her daughter, and when Almeida flew back to Connecticut following the Miami trip, she noted Fotis stayed behind.

According to testimony it was after Almeida arrived back that Jennifer explained to Almeida, she had proof of Fotis affair, and she planned to confront him about it.

“It started to become very tense and uncomfortable to be in the presence of both of them,” Almeida said.

The case drew widespread attention and was the subject of a made-for-TV movie. Jennifer Dulos, 50, was a member of a wealthy New York family whose father, the late Hilliard Farber, founded his own brokerage firm. She also was a niece by marriage of fashion designer Liz Claiborne. Fotis Dulos was a luxury home builder originally from Greece.

Almeida testified that she and Jennifer Dulos had become afraid of Fotis Dulos in 2017, when the Dulos’ relationship deteriorated after she found out he was having an affair with Troconis. That year, Almeida said Fotis Dulos chased Jennifer Dulos outside the home with a piece of paper and had a screaming argument with her inside the Farmington home, where she ran into a room and he tried to barge open the closed door.

When Jennifer Dulos went missing, Almeida said she was in a panic as she called Jennifer Dulos’ friends and others who might know where she was. She also called hospitals but had no luck. She called her mother, who tried to calm her down, she testified. Then she called New Canaan police.

“We told the police that a mother of five was missing and that she was in a very contentious divorce. And I knew that he (Fotis Dulos) had purchased a gun, and so I was afraid. And they were on it right away,” Almeida said.

Judge Kevin Randolph struck the comment about the gun from the record, after prosecutor Sean McGuinness said he was not claiming that Fotis Dulos had a gun. Troconis’ lawyer, Jon Schoenhorn, later called for a mistrial based on Almeida’s comment, but Randolph denied the motion.

Almeida, 32, continues to be a nanny for the five children, who have been living with Jennifer Dulos’ mother, Gloria Farber, in Manhattan since their mother vanished.

Also Wednesday afternoon, Randolph dismissed an alternate juror who reportedly said “We love you” to two prosecutors involved in the case outside the courtroom during a lunch break. Randolph said the comment gave the appearance of favoring the prosecution.

Wednesday was the fourth day of the trial. Over the first days, police testified about blood evidence found in Jennifer Dulos’ garage and her SUV, which was found abandoned at a New Canaan park.

Police have said there was evidence of an attempted cleanup in the garage. Almeida testified that she had put a 12-pack of paper towels in the kitchen pantry the day before Jennifer Dulos vanished, but there were only two rolls there the next day.

When Almeida went to the home on the day of the disappearance around 11 a.m. — a short time after Jennifer Dulos’ SUV was seen on a neighbor’s camera leaving the neighborhood — she said she did not notice blood in the garage but found Jennifer Dulos’ purse inside the house, which she thought was odd.

Among the evidence expected to be shown to the jury later in the trial is police surveillance video of Fotis Dulos and Troconis driving around Hartford later in the day that Jennifer Dulos disappeared. Fotis Dulos is seen getting out of his pickup truck and disposing of garbage bags at various locations as Troconis sits in the vehicle. Troconis told police she didn’t know what was in the bags.

Police said they later recovered some of the bags and found clothing, zip ties and other items with Jennifer Dulos’ DNA on them. Some items had Fotis Dulos’ DNA on them, and one bag had Troconis’ DNA on it, police said.

Prosecutors are also expected to show the jury what police dubbed “the alibi script” — a document they say Fotis Dulos and Troconis prepared that detailed their actions and locations on the day of the killing and the day after. Troconis told police that Fotis Dulos’ lawyer had asked them to list their activities on those days.

As testimony ended Wednesday, we got the first piece of physical evidence presented to the jury – Fotis’ cell phone that was seized when he first met with the New Canaan Police Department after Jennifer’s disappearance.

Ultimately the phone was seized and processed for location data and messages, but the prosecution is moving now toward that surveillance video on Albany Avenue in Hartford.

Following the introduction of Fotis’ phone, New Canaan Detective Thomas Patton testified he brought it to the Fairfield Police Department for processing. He said investigators pulled messages, photos and location data from his phone – there was objection to the testimony about what was pulled of the phone because Patton was not the one to do it, but he was present. He ultimately was allowed to testify to some of the location data, but the judge ultimately shut down the line of questioning.

After the lunch recess, prosecutors made the judge aware that there had been an interaction between lawyers for the state and one of the alternate jurors in the case.

According to the attorney, they attempted to get onto an elevator and noticed two alternate jurors were on the elevator with a judicial marshal. When they saw the jurors in the elevator, they turned around and walked away. At that point, one of the alternate jurors said “We love you” in a comment directed at assistant state’s attorney Elizabeth Moran, according to prosecutors and the judicial marshal who was in the elevator.

The judge paused the proceeding to bring in the alternate juror and question that individual about the interaction. That questioning was done outside the view of the cameras in the courtroom.

The judge then dismissed the alternate juror. There are still four alternate jurors remaining.

The disruption came as the nanny for Jennifer Dulos’ children took the stand for a second day.

Lauren Almeida was the one who called police in May 2019, on the night Jennifer disappeared.

On Wednesday, she was asked by prosecutors about interactions she witnessed between Jennifer and Fotis Dulos as the couple’s marriage was falling apart.

She had a lengthy interview with investigators and some of it was used to write up arrest warrants for Jennifer’s estranged husband, Fotis Dulos, and his girlfriend at the time, Michelle Troconis.

Fotis Dulos was charged with felony murder, murder and kidnapping.

He maintained his innocence and died in January 2020, days after attempting suicide at his Farmington home. A judge later agreed to nolle the murder charge.

Troconis has been charged with conspiracy to commit murder, tampering with physical evidence, hindering prosecution and additional charges. She has pleaded not guilty to the charges and her trail started on Jan. 11.

On Tuesday, Almeida’s testified to her time with the Dulos family before Jennifer and Fotis started to go through a divorce as well as her time working for Fotis’ company, Fore Group, and taking care of the couple’s five children.

Before the end of the day, prosecutors began digging into her understanding of the dynamic between Fotis and Jennifer Dulos before Jennifer found out about an affair he was having.

“She just felt like arguing with Fotis, like he was harsh and she didn’t like conflict so she could never really express how she really felt because it kind of got looked over,” Almeida said.

Just before the end of testimony for the day, Almeida identified Troconis in the courtroom, saying she met her on a trip with Fotis and the children.

But Troconis’ attorney, Jon Schoenhorn, contested the testimony, arguing there was no value in her testimony regarding the relationship and divorce of Jennifer and Fotis Dulos and it would be nothing but hearsay, and shouldn’t be allowed.

“You try and drag my client into this you’ve now gone so far off the playing field, we’re out of the stadium, we’re not even in the parking lot or down the street by the highway exit,” Schoenhorn said.

That testimony is expected to take center stage in court Wednesday.

Read more about the timeline here.

Watch full episodes of “Inside the trial of Michelle Troconis”

Watch full episode here.

How to watch the trial

Our daily special, airing weekdays at 9 a.m. on the NBC Connecticut free streaming channel is available on Roku, Samsung TV plus, Freevee, and a number of other platforms. Here is more on how to watch.

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Troconis has been charged with conspiracy to commit murder, tampering with physical evidence, hindering prosecution and additional charges. She has pleaded not guilty to the charges.

On Friday, during the second day of the trial, testimony was focused on the early days of the investigation into the disappearance and presumed murder of the mom of five who was living in New Canaan when she disappeared.

On Tuesday, testimony continued from retired state police detective Matthew Reilly about his duties of processing the scene of Jennifer Dulos’ house in New Canaan, as well has her Chevy Suburban. The SUV was found abandoned on Lapham Road in Waveny Park.

Dulos was last seen on May 24, 2019, after dropping her children off at school.

In October, a court declared Dulos dead. Her mother had petitioned for the court to do so to protect the assets of Jennifer and her children.

The court day on Friday ended with the judge dismissing the jury for the day and state prosecutors walking through some of the testimony that would be made by retired state police detective Matthew Reilly.

The judge decided he would take some time to consider if that testimony would be heard by the jury. That is likely where Reilly’s testimony will pick up on Tuesday.

Watch full episode here.

Learn more about the case here.

How to watch the trial

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Troconis is charged in connection with the 2019 disappearance and death of Jennifer Dulos.

Friday’s testimony began with Sgt. Jamie Pearston, of the Connecticut State Police’s Western District Major Crimes Unit. She testified to her role in mapping out the crime scene at the Dulos home on Welles Avenue in New Canaan.

The trial began in Connecticut Superior Court in Stamford Thursday, kicking off with never-before-seen body camera video of a responding New Canaan police officer from the night Jennifer Dulos was reported missing.

Troconis is being charged with conspiracy to commit murder, tampering with evidence and hindering prosecution, among other charges.

A six-member jury will determine whether she helped Fotis Dulos cover up the killing after the fact. She denies the allegations and has pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to commit murder, evidence tampering and hindering prosecution.

Several motions were filed overnight Wednesday into Thursday by the defense attempting to set parameters on how the prosecution could approach certain words like “victim” when referencing Jennifer Dulos. The judge addressed some of the motions but decided he would take up motions when evidence would be coming up in trial.

The trial opening did not include opening arguments, which are not required under state law. It began with the calling of New Canaan Police Lt. Aaron Latourette as the first witness. Latourette was one of the responding officers the night Jennifer Dulos was reported missing by the family babysitter.

Latourette’s partner was equipped with a body camera that night, and the footage after arrival was shown in court.

“It’s strange to me that we have this in connection with a missing person,” you can hear one officer say on camera when referencing what appeared to be blood stains in the garage of Jennifer’s home.

The two officers had already entered the New Canaan home looking for Jennifer. When they get back to the garage, they talk about the potential of a deer strike, but note the lack of fur.

“What appeared to be blood on the front of that vehicle,” Latourette said when answering state prosecutors about what they had noticed when in the garage.

Police allege Fotis Dulos waited for Jennifer Dulos to return home that morning, attacked her in the garage and tried to clean up the scene. He then drove off with her body in another SUV, which was later found abandoned at a local park. At the time, they were going through contentious divorce and child custody proceedings, with Fotis Dulos’ contact with the children having been limited.

The state is continuing to build their case against Troconis, adding evidence including Ring footage from neighbors of Jennifer Dulos’ car traveling from her home but never returning, pictures from the New Canaan home and pictures from where investigators located Jennifer Dulos’ car following her disappearance.

“The burden is on the state,” said Judge Kevin Randolph, the judge presiding over this case, explaining to the jury the presumption of innocence a defendant is entitled to. It is the state prosecutors’ job to demonstrate to the jury beyond reasonable doubt that Troconis was involved in Dulos’ disappearance and alleged murder.

Troconis’ family spoke outside court Thursday, calling the entire situation a “tragedy” for all families involved, and maintained Troconis’ innocence.

“On behalf of my daughter who we know that she is innocent we are trusting the fair trial and we hope the result will be favorable for everybody,” Michelle’s father Carlos Troconis said.

Among the evidence expected to be shown to the jury is police surveillance video of Fotis Dulos and Troconis driving around Hartford later in the day that Jennifer Dulos vanished. Fotis Dulos is seen getting out of his pickup truck and disposing of garbage bags as Troconis sits in the vehicle.

Prosecutors Michelle Manning and Sean McGuinness are also expected to show the jury what police dubbed “the alibi script” — a document they say Fotis Dulos and Troconis prepared that detailed their actions and locations on the day of the killing and the day after. Troconis told police that Fotis Dulos’ lawyer had asked them to list their activities on those days.

The trial is still expected to take six weeks.

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Michelle Troconis has been charged with conspiracy to commit murder, tampering with physical evidence, hindering prosecution and additional charges. She has pleaded not guilty to the charges.

At the time Jennifer disappeared, Troconis was dating Jennifer’s estranged husband, Fotis Dulos.

Fotis Dulos and Troconis were both charged in the case and Fotis died in early 2020 after attempting suicide.

The evidence portion of the trial was set to start on Jan. 8, but that was delayed to refill the alternate juror pool that slowly dwindled as jurors were excused for various personal reasons. It began on Thursday, Jan. 11 and is expected to last several weeks.

You can Watch the Trial live on NBC Connecticut’s Streaming Channel. Coverage begins at 9 a.m. Here’s how to watch.

Here’s a look at who is who in the case and the timeline of the investigation into Jennifer’s disappearance.

Learn more about the people at the center of the case and the timeline here.

The New Canaan mother of five dropped her children off at school on May 24, 2019, and hasn’t been seen since. Authorities believe she is dead.

Her estranged husband, Fotis Dulos, was charged with murder before his death back in 2020.

Troconis was Fotis Dulos’ girlfriend and has pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to commit murder, hindering prosecution and tampering with physical evidence.

At the center of her three arrest warrants, state police describe recorded interviews with Troconis, DNA evidence, surveillance video and information downloaded from her cell phone.

State police said Troconis’ DNA was found on three of the trash bags left along Albany Avenue in Hartford by Fotis Dulos that contained Jennifer Dulos’ blood.

Troconis has maintained her innocence in Jennifer Dulos’ disappearance.

The pandemic largely postponed the trial, which begins at Stamford Superior Court on Wednesday.

Troconis’ attorney requested to move the trial to Hartford after conducting a public opinion poll that found a large percentage of people in Stamford knew about the case.

A judge denied this request.

Troconis was in court Wednesday to listen to questioning for the men and women who could decide her case. 

The jury for Troconis’ trial will consist of six regular jurors and six alternates.

“This is gonna be a slow process, it seems that a lot of people have opinions,” Jon Schoenhorn, attorney for Troconis, said.

The initial 30 potential jurors were handed a witness list and asked if they recognized any of the names.

Jurors who were not immediately excused were then asked five questions:

Have you heard about the case, do you regularly follow media reports about the case, have you posted to social media about the case, have you formed an opinion about the defendant and are you able to not follow media reports, have conversations about or investigate the case? The potential jurors were also informed the trial will be livestreamed.

Jennifer Dulos’ family said in a statement, “We are relieved that the trial process is underway and we are endlessly grateful to the Connecticut State’s Attorney office for their commitment, diligent work and support.”

Jury selection is expected to take up to a month.

The trial is scheduled to start in January, but Troconis’ attorney said he plans to ask for an earlier date.

The evidence portion of the trial is set to start on Jan. 8 and it is expected to last at least six weeks.

Local attorney Kent Mawhinney was also arrested and charged with conspiracy to commit murder. He represented Fotis Dulos in previous civil cases unrelated to Jennifer Dulos’ disappearance.