Lawyer for Dulos files motion to dismiss criminal charges related to missing mom
On the two-month anniversary of the disappearance of Jennifer Farber Dulos, her estranged husband is seeking to have the criminal charges against him for throwing clothes and towels stained with her blood into dumpsters in Hartford dismissed.
Attorney Norm Pattis filed a two-page motion Wednesday afternoon in Stamford Superior Court seeking to have the two charges against his client Fotis Dulos — hindering prosecution and tampering with evidence — dismissed because there is insufficient evidence to proceed without other felony charges against him.
Pattis said to charge someone with hindering prosecution there must be an accompanying felony charge that is statutorily required for the state to prove its case. As for the tampering with evidence charge Pattis argued there is no evidence to support that the defendant knew that an official proceeding was imminent.
“Furthermore, the charge is logically inconsistent as the State has not charged the defendant with any underlying crime for which he was tampering evidence,” Pattis wrote. “This is telling, as the State, faced with a media firestorm, has clearly put the cart before the horse in charging the defendant.”
Dulos is currently free on a $500,000 bond and must wear a GPS monitor. He is due in court again on the current charges on August 2.
Jennifer Farber Dulos was last seen dropping her children off at the New Canaan Country School on the morning of May 24. She was reported missing about 7 p.m. that night by her friends. Around the same time she was reported missing her estranged husband Fotis Dulos was seen on surveillance videos dropping at least two contractors bags full of bloody clothes and towels into garbage cans on Albany Avenue, police have said.
State’s Attorney Richard Colangelo has said DNA tests revealed the blood belonged to Farber Dulos.
Fotis Dulos and his girlfriend Michelle Troconis have both been charged with hindering prosecution and tampering with evidence for discarding the bags in Hartford. Both are free on $500,000 bonds. Troconis has been interviewed several times by state police.
Police have said Troconis was in the black Ford Raptor pickup Dulos was driving as he made numerous stops on Albany Avenue. One of his last stops was to drop a FedEx package in a storm drain at the corner of Garden Street and Albany Avenue. Police retrieved the package and found an old license plate belonging to Dulos that had been altered with tape.
Meanwhile Wednesday the family of Farber Dulos issued a statement marking the twomonth anniversary of her disappearance. The short statement reminisced about her visit to Fire Island last summer at this time with her five children and urging the public to come forward with any information that could solve the mystery.
“As July nears an end, we’re reminded of Jennifer’s love for the Fire Island beach she visited as a girl,” family spokeswoman Carrie Luft said in a four-paragraph statement. “Last summer she was so happy to be able to share her favorite childhood spot with her own children.”
“Today marks two months since Jennifer, beloved mother, daughter, sister, cousin, and friend, disappeared. We miss her beyond words. Please know that the five children are doing well, surrounded by love and support. The flow of support from the New Canaan and Farmington/Avon communities, individuals as well as organizations, has helped keep us going during this ordeal. We are very grateful to all of you.”