Prosecutors target girlfriend in search for evidence
Troconis meets with state’s attorney as experts speculate on a possible plea deal
A meeting between Michelle Troconis and state prosecutors could be a turning point in the investigation into the disappearance of Jennifer Dulos, experts say.
Legal commentators, and a top forensic expert, say finding the body of Jennifer Dulos is crucial to resolving the case. The cooperation of Troconis, the girlfriend of Fotis Dulos, 51, who was involved in a bitter divorce case with Jennifer Dulos at the time of her appearance over two weeks ago, could be instrumental in finding out what befell the 50-year-old mother of five from New Canaan.
A source close to the case confirmed Troconis and her Westport attorney, Andrew Bowman, met Thursday with State’s Attorney Richard Colangelo and state police investigators. Colangelo declined to comment, as did Eugene Riccio, Fotis Dulos’ criminal defense attorney.
"It would not be productive for me to make any statement regarding that report,” Riccio said Friday.
But criminal-defense lawyers and a law professor with decades of expertise in the field say it would be likely for the state’s attorney to seek to gain Troconis’ cooperation, likely with incentives that could keep her out of prison. She is currently free on $500,000 bond and is being monitored by an electronic bracelet.
In addition, Dr. Henry Lee, former chief criminologist at the Connecticut Crime Lab and a leading forensic expert, says law enforcement was singularly focused on finding physical evidence.
“One of the most important things is you have to try to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the victim is dead,” said Lee, a former police captain in Taiwan who immigrated to the U.S.
“That is very difficult, and that is why the police are looking for the primary scene of the crime, whether it is in the house or someplace else. I don’t know, you would have to ask New Canaan police how much blood there was in the house,” Lee said.
To prosecute a homicide, he said, there are two main approaches. There has to be physical evidence — or witnesses have to be found. That is where Michelle Troconis fits in.
Lindy Urso, a defense attorney who has worked on numerous high-profile criminal cases, said, “It’s logical to assume her lawyer has her in there, attempting to cooperate as fully as she can. Presumably she had nothing to do with the disappearance. If that’s the case, it behooves her to cooperate.”
There could be a major incentive for Troconis to cooperate, as she is facing prison time for the charges filed against her, tampering with evidence and hindering prosecution. “It’s jail or no jail. And I don’t think she’d fare too well in jail,” said Urso.
Troconis, 44, is dating Fotis Dulos and had moved into the Farmington home that the estranged couple had previously shared with their five children. Jennifer Dulos moved out of the home in 2017, and in divorce filings, she said she feared her husband in regard to her safety.
“The burning priority for law enforcement at this juncture is to locate the human remains, if in fact, it’s a homicide. The most direct path is this witness,” said attorney Phil Russell.
Quinnipiac University Law Professor William Dunlap concurred. “I’d be surprised if the prosecutors weren’t trying to get her to implicate Fotis Dulos. She’s clearly facing criminal liability, for tampering and hindering. They (prosecutors) have a lot of leeway, in offering leniency,” he said.