Jennifer Dulos' ex-partner's former girlfriend is handed a 14.5-year prison sentence for coordinating a plan to kill the mother of five.
Michelle Troconis, the previous partner of Fotis Dulos who had been accused of murdering his spouse but unfortunately took her own life in January 2020 before facing trial, has been given a sentence of five years' probation for her part in the disappearance and murder of Jennifer Dulos.
The court convicted Troconis in March for one count of conspiring to commit murder, one count of hindering investigation, two counts of conspiring to tamper with physical evidence, and two counts of tampering with physical evidence. She had entered a not guilty plea earlier.
After receiving her sentence, Troconis' lawyer informed the court of their intention to appeal. Troconis used to date Fotis Dulos, who had been accused of murder, felony murder, and kidnapping before he was located dead in January 2020.
Jennifer Dulos had not been seen since May 2019 after dropping her children off at school. Friends raised the alarm as she missed numerous appointments and had no interaction for 10 hours. She was in the midst of a contentious divorce and custody battle with Fotis Dulos at that time, as CNN had previously reported.
Despite her body never being found, Dulos was eventually considered deceased by a Connecticut judge in October 2020, as per court records. She likely endured a combination of "traumatic, blunt-force injuries," according to the state's top medical examiner.
Authorities discovered a substance that looked like blood in three different locations on her automobile, which was parked in her garage in New Canaan. Jennifer Dulos' DNA was found in these areas, as well as on the garage wall and door.
Fotis Dulos and Troconis had both previously been apprehended on suspicion of tampering with evidence in relation to Jennifer Dulos' disappearance. They had both pleaded not guilty to the evidence tampering charge after investigators found a "bloodlike substance" with Jennifer Dulos' DNA in a truck that Fotis Dulos had access to the day she vanished.
According to court documents obtained by CNN, Jennifer Dulos had expressed her fear of him prior to her disappearance.
"I know that filing for divorce and filing this motion will infuriate him," she said, according to the records. "I know he will retaliate by trying to harm me in some way."
'She was the greatest mom'
During Troconis' sentencing on Friday, Dulos' loved ones attended the court and gave poignant victim impact statements.
"The day Jennifer vanished, I knew something awful had happened," Gloria Farber, Jennifer Dulos' mother, stated during her impact statement. "I adored Jennifer since the day she was born."
"I miss Jennifer's brilliance, her gentle, delicate voice, and the sound of her laughter. There are no words that can fully express how losing my sister, Jennifer, has impacted me," Melissa Farber, Jennifer Dulos' sister, added during her impact statement.
Many of the victim impact statements made Troconis appear emotional.
"My mother was the best mom I could ever ask for. She adored me and my siblings unconditionally," Theodore Dulos, Jennifer Dulos' son, said during his victim impact statement. "I'll never talk to her again... I'll never ask her for advice again."
He continued, "She will never see me graduate from high school. She'll never see me graduate college. She'll never see me wed."
"These are just a few of the things, and they apply to my four siblings as well," Theodore added.
Before her sentencing, Troconis addressed the court herself.
"I am profoundly saddened by this disaster that has affected so many people's lives. I found out things before and during the trial about a man, Fotis Dulos, I thought I knew and cared for."
"I deeply regret ever being in a relationship with Fotis Dulos and involving my daughter, my family, and myself in our lives, into this life," Troconis stated.
CNN's Artemis Moshtaghian contributed to this story.
Read also:
The Dulos family expressed their disappointment with Troconis' involvement in the case during their victim impact statements.
Despite being given a prison sentence, Troconis' legal team announced their intention to appeal.
