UPDATE: Dulos Arraigned Following Murder Charge, Girlfriend + Lawyer Also Face Charges
After a series of events that occurred within the past 24 hours, the widely-publicized disappearance of Jennifer Dulos of New Caanan, Connecticut is no longer a missing persons case.
Dulos’ husband, Fotis Dulos, and his ex-girlfriend, Michelle Troconis, were both arrested and charged on Tuesday (January 7) in association with the murder of the New Caanan mother of five. Alleged murder and kidnapping by Fotis, along with Troconis’ alleged conspiracy to murder, are among the chief charges associated with their most recent arrests.
In addition to the arrest of both Dulos and Troconis, local attorney Kent Mawhinney is also facing charges regarding the case.
Interestingly, the latest development shows that Kent Mawhinney's arrest warrant includes an alleged grave-like hole that was dug outside of his Gun Club in East Granby. The hole was reportedly found with a tarp and a bag of lime. Despite finding nothing there, police suspect Mawhinney temporarily dug this hole for a potential cover-up burial of Dulos’ body.
As previously reported, Dulos and Troconis were arrested back in September on evidence tampering charges, alleging that the couple had disposed of what was believed to be Jennifer Dulos’ bloody clothing in a Hartford trash can. Police say other further investigations turned up evidence that there may have been an attempt to clean up the original crime scene. Both Dulos and Troconis have maintained their innocence.
Now, according to the Connecticut State Police, they believe even more dots of the months-long investigation have finally been connected.
Through a series of press releases and a press conference held at 3:00 PM on Monday, police explained that a diligent investigation in the months since the evidence tampering arrests has turned up enough evidence to charge the couple with murder despite the fact that no one has been able to locate Jennifer Dulos' body.
Contrary to the accusations, Dulos' attorney, Norm Pattis, is adamant that the evidence isn’t convincing enough to prove his client murdered his wife. Nevertheless, Troconis and Dulos appeared in a Stamford court today (January 8) for arraignment.
According to WTNH, the three defendants are being held at bonds each over a million dollars prior to trial. Troconis and Mawhinney did not make their respective $2 million and $1.5 million bonds and will consequently remain in police custody under the charges of conspiracy of murder. Dulos, however, according to his attorney, is expected to make bond at $6 million soon. If he does, he will remain under house arrest, during which he will not be able to have contact with his children.
Although Jennifer’s body is yet to be found, and despite Pattis' confidence in his defense, police still believe there’s enough to prove the three guilty. The children are in the custody of their Grandmother, Gloria Farber, as she nervously awaits the results of the case.