STAMFORD, Conn. — A woman, Michelle Troconis, has been sentenced to over 14 years in prison for aiding her boyfriend in planning and covering up the murder of his estranged wife, Jennifer Dulos, amid a tumultuous divorce in Connecticut.
The sentencing on Friday followed emotional testimonies from Jennifer's mother and children about their devastating loss.
Troconis, 49, was found guilty in March of conspiracy to commit murder, hindering prosecution, evidence tampering, and other charges related to the 2019 disappearance of Jennifer Dulos, whose body has never been found.
A probate judge declared Jennifer legally dead last year.
According to prosecutors, Fotis Dulos killed Jennifer at her New Canaan home and transported her body away.
Fotis, who took his own life in 2020 after being charged with murder, had denied the accusations.
Troconis, who lived with Fotis at the time of Jennifer's disappearance, claimed she was not involved in the crime.
Judge Kevin Randolph sentenced Troconis to 20 years in prison, with the sentence to be suspended after 14 and a half years, followed by five years of probation.
Although she faced a potential sentence of up to 45 years, some of Jennifer Dulos' family and friends felt the sentence was too lenient.
Troconis' lawyer requested her release on bond pending an appeal, but Judge Randolph denied the request.
The courtroom was filled with around 80 people, divided between supporters of Jennifer and those of Troconis.
All five of Jennifer's children and her mother, Gloria Farber, were present.
Jennifer Dulos was last seen on May 24, 2019, after dropping her children off at school.
Farber recounted to the court her immediate fear when Jennifer didn't respond to calls or texts that day, describing her daughter as a loving mother who just wanted to give and receive love.
Petros Dulos, Jennifer’s eldest child, shared his deep sorrow, describing an unfillable void left by his mother’s death and expressing regret for not being a better son during her most challenging times.
Lauren Almeida, the family's nanny, directly confronted Troconis, asking, “Where is she, Michelle?”
The case has attracted significant media attention, including documentaries and a Lifetime movie titled "Gone Mom."
Jennifer came from a wealthy New York City family, with her father, the late Hilliard Farber, being a notable figure in finance, and she was connected by marriage to fashion designer Liz Claiborne.
Troconis, holding dual American and Venezuelan citizenship, had a diverse background, including co-founding a horse-riding therapy program, owning a TV production company in Argentina, and hosting a snow sports show for ESPN South America.
Fotis Dulos was a luxury home builder from Greece.
Troconis' family and friends, including her mother, Marisela Arreaza, described her as a caring and upright person who was deceived by Fotis.
Arreaza explained that Fotis presented himself as a family man going through an amicable divorce, which Troconis believed.
Troconis' daughter, Nicole, described her mother as her best friend and guiding light.
In her statement, Troconis expressed her profound faith and regret over her relationship with Fotis Dulos, stating she prays for those affected.
Her lawyer, Jon Schoenhorn, announced plans to appeal the conviction, arguing that the evidence presented was insufficient to prove Troconis knew about Fotis' plans.
Authorities believe Fotis Dulos killed Jennifer out of frustration over their contentious divorce and custody battle.
Jennifer lived in New Canaan with their children, while Fotis resided about 70 miles away in Farmington.
Surveillance footage showed Troconis with Fotis on the day of Jennifer's disappearance, discarding trash bags in Hartford.
Police, using Fotis’ cellphone data, later recovered bags containing bloodstained items linked to Jennifer through DNA testing.
Troconis claimed ignorance about the contents of the bags and why Fotis disposed of them.
Prosecutors argued that Troconis answering Fotis' phone that day indicated her involvement in creating an alibi.
She denied these claims.
Kent Mawhinney, a friend and former lawyer of Fotis Dulos, is also facing trial on a murder conspiracy charge in Jennifer’s disappearance and has pleaded not guilty.
Comments
Post a Comment