Norwalk businessman spreads word, hoping for community help

NEWCANAAN — A Norwalk business owner has begun distributing flyers about the disappearance of Jennifer Dulos, working in hopes of aiding her family.

Sky Mercede, owner of the Forever Sweet Bakery on Main Avenue in Norwalk, said he began printing and sharing flyers last Saturday. So far, they’ve been placed in a number of businesses, including his own. Soon, another 1,000 will be distributed with pizzas from Pinocchio’s of New Canaan and Dave’s Planet Pizza of Norwalk.

Mercede said he was “in shock” after Dulos disappeared, like many, and wanted to do something to help her five children. Her family suggested he help with the search; the effort to distribute flyers began soon thereafter.

“I would want someone to do that for me and my family if something like that happened for me,” Mercede said.

He hopes, through his efforts, he can help keep Dulos’ disappearance fresh in the mind of the public and spur someone with knowledge of the situation to come forward.

“All I’m trying to do is keep the story going,” said Mercede. “Maybe someone would come forward.”

In the interim, Mercede is seeking community members that would like to help with the effort to distribute flyers. A printer would be particularly useful, as it’s expensive to create 1,000 fullcolor flyers, he said.

Mercede said working to spread the word about Dulos has helped him cope with the situation.

“If I can help, that makes me feel better,” said Mercede. “Your heart just goes out to five children... they’re without their mom right now and maybe without their dad.”

It has been seven weeks since Jennifer Dulos disappeared. She was last seen around 8 a.m. May 24 dropping off her children at school.

Police believe Jennifer Dulos was the victim of a “serious physical assault” after blood spatter was found in the garage of her New Canaan home.

Her estranged husband, Fotis Dulos, 51, and his girlfriend, Michelle Troconis, 44, have each pleaded not guilty to tampering with evidence and hindering prosecution.

According to their arrest warrants, two people matching their descriptions were seen in Hartford the night Jennifer Dulos disappeared. Fotis Dulos was seen on video surveillance dumping bags that contained his wife’s blood, according to the warrants. State’s Attorney Richard Colangelo said Fotis Dulos’ DNA was also found mixed with his wife’s blood on the faucet of her kitchen sink.

Jennifer and Fotis Dulos have been involved in a contentious twoyear divorce that mostly centered on custody of their children. Jennifer Dulos’ mother, Gloria Farber, has been caring for the children since the disappearance and is seeking legal custody of them.

Fotis Dulos has been banned from contacting his children as part of the conditions of his release on $500,000 bond. His attorneys have moved to suspend the divorce proceedings since Jennifer Dulos is unable to participate.

Mercede’s thoughts turned to the children Saturday.

“Let’s pray for her safety, pray for her family — those five children,” Mercede said.

william.lambert @hearstmediact.com