- Fotis was charged with murdering his wife Jennifer in May 2019, but he committed suicide.
- His girlfriend, Michelle Troconis, is on trial for allegedly helping to cover up the crime.
- Detective Kimball said Troconis changed details of his story during police questioning.
Michelle Troconis told police two conflicting stories about what she was doing the morning her boyfriend allegedly killed his ex-girlfriend Jennifer Dulos, jurors have heard. heard.
Jennifer, a 49-year-old Venezuelan socialite, was questioned three times by police after her estranged husband allegedly brutally attacked her in their New Canaan home after Jennifer disappeared on May 24, 2019. received.
John Kimball, the lead detective on the case, told Stamford Superior Court that Troconis initially said he showered with Fotis that morning, but later recanted this detail.
Police say Fotis killed Jennifer as his five children, ages 8 to 13 at the time, returned home from class and then, along with Troconis, disposed of the evidence in trash cans around Hartford, Conn. That's what it means.
The luxury real estate developer committed suicide in January 2020 at the age of 52, leaving his new girlfriend alone with charges of tampering with evidence. She denies knowing anything about Jennifer's death.
On Thursday, former Connecticut State Police Detective John Kimball told the court that he interviewed Troconis three times, on June 2, 6, and August 13, 2019.
Jurors were shown footage of the initial interrogation, in which Troconis told officers that on May 24, 2019, she woke up, took a shower and then “Fotis jumped in the shower with me.” gave a statement.
The state attorney's office paused the video and asked Kimball if Troconis “always maintained the account that he showered with Fotis Dulos” that morning.
“She didn't,” Kimball said.
At the beginning of the interview footage, detectives told Troconis that Fotis was described as controlling and manipulative and that they feared for her safety.
“We have learned some things about Fotis and understand that he is described to us as someone with a very strong personality and a tendency to control and manipulate people.” one of the officers told her.
“We believe he could manipulate you. That's one of the reasons you guys are physically apart right now, you're safe, and we believe you're safe. Get out of here and worry about your safety if he gets out of here… We don't want anything bad to happen to you.''
The court previously heard testimony from several other detectives on the unit that blood-stained objects were found in Jennifer's home in New Canaan, where Fotis allegedly killed her.
State prosecutors also presented several items stained with blood, including a bra, long-sleeved shirt, zip ties and a razor, recovered from several trash cans around Hartford, Connecticut.
Detective Matthew Riley said he also found traces of blood in Jennifer's Chevrolet Suburban, which was illuminated by tests for blood and another substance called Luminol.
Prosecutors allege that on the morning of May 24, 2019, Fotis grabbed Jennifer at a rental property in New Canaan when she returned from a school run with her five children, who were between 8 and 13 years old at the time. It is said that he brutally attacked her.
The state alleges that after sorting through evidence at his home, the man put the body in his Chevrolet and drove about three miles away, where it was discovered. Jennifer's body was never found.
Fotis and Troconis are accused of dumping trash bags containing bloody evidence, including bras, T-shirts and razors, into various dumpsters around Hartford in their Ford Raptor.
Jurors were shown images of each bloody item, as well as some of the items in the courtroom and surveillance footage of Mr. Fotis and Mr. Troconis disposing of the items in the Connecticut town.
In a statement released on behalf of the family, Jennifer's heartbroken friend Carrie Luft described what she felt when she saw the blood-soaked clothes.
“Seeing Jennifer's blood-soaked clothes and knowing they were the shirt and bra she wore on the last day of her life made me realize what Jennifer must have endured on May 24, 2019. It made us reimagine ourselves,” Luft said.
“We hope that seeing this evidence in three dimensions will put an end to any suggestion that Jennifer is 'missing.'
“She died tragically and her loss is felt indescribably. We thank the prosecutors and investigators for their careful collection and presentation of evidence in this case.
“Above all, we believe in justice and hope this trial will help uncover answers and accountability for what happened to Jennifer that day.”
Troconis denies all charges leveled against her, including conspiracy to commit murder, tampering with evidence and hindering prosecution. The trial continues.