Case overview
Jennifer Dulos was last seen on May 24, 2019, dropping her children off at school in New Canaan, Connecticut. Surveillance captured her SUV returning to her rented home minutes later, but she never appeared again. Her estranged husband and his girlfriend were later charged with murder, tampering with evidence, and hindering prosecution, but her body has never been found.
The morning timeline
Jennifer Dulos left her Welles Lane residence at approximately 8:05 a.m. on May 24, 2019. She drove her black 2017 Chevrolet Suburban to drop off her five children at New Canaan Country School. Video surveillance confirmed the vehicle returned to her driveway at 8:25 a.m.
That was the last confirmed sighting of Jennifer. No neighbor reported seeing her exit the vehicle. No camera captured movement inside or near the home. By evening, when she failed to appear for scheduled appointments and did not pick up her children, New Canaan police were notified.
Officers found her Suburban in the garage. The keys were missing. There were no signs of forced entry, but investigators noted blood stains in the garage and evidence of cleanup attempts.
The custody dispute and restraining order
Jennifer had filed for divorce from her husband, Fotis Dulos, in June 2017. Court filings detailed allegations of controlling behavior, threats, and fears for her safety. She obtained a civil restraining order and was granted sole custody of their children pending the divorce proceedings.
Fotis contested the custody arrangement. The case was ongoing at the time of Jennifer’s disappearance, with significant financial disputes tied to properties, debts, and his luxury home-building business. Court records show Jennifer had expressed concern about her husband’s mental state and what he might do if he lost the divorce.
At the time she vanished, Jennifer was living in a rented home in New Canaan. Fotis was barred from contact under the protective order.
Surveillance from Hartford and the garbage bags
Investigators reviewed hours of surveillance footage from Hartford, approximately 70 miles from New Canaan. On the evening of May 24, video captured a male and female figure making more than 30 stops along Albany Avenue, depositing items into trash receptacles and storm drains.
Police later recovered bags containing clothing, sponges, and items stained with blood. DNA testing matched the blood to Jennifer. The male figure was identified as Fotis Dulos. The female figure was identified as Michelle Troconis, his girlfriend who lived with him at his Farmington home.
Troconis initially told investigators she was with Fotis that day but claimed he made a stop in Hartford to dispose of items from his job sites. Later interviews contradicted those statements. She eventually acknowledged being present during multiple stops and seeing Fotis place items in the trash.
Arrests and charges
On January 7, 2020, both Fotis Dulos and Michelle Troconis were arrested and charged with murder, felony murder, and kidnapping in connection with Jennifer’s disappearance. Kent Mawhinney, an attorney and friend of Fotis, was also charged with conspiracy to commit murder.
The arrest warrant affidavit detailed allegations that Fotis lay in wait at Jennifer’s home on the morning of May 24, attacked her in the garage, and used his employee’s truck to transport her body. Investigators alleged that Jennifer was killed at the home based on the volume of blood evidence and the cleanup efforts.
Fotis denied the charges. His attorneys argued the evidence was circumstantial and that investigators had no body, no weapon, and no definitive proof of death.
Fotis Dulos dies by suicide
On January 28, 2020, the day Fotis was scheduled for an emergency bond hearing, he was found unresponsive in his running vehicle inside his Farmington garage. He had suffered carbon monoxide poisoning. He was transported to a hospital and died two days later.
A note found near his body professed his innocence and expressed love for his children. His death halted the criminal case against him. Charges were formally dismissed following his death, as Connecticut law does not permit posthumous prosecution.
The case against Michelle Troconis
Michelle Troconis stood trial in early 2024. Prosecutors argued she helped Fotis plan the killing, provided him with an alibi, assisted in disposing of evidence, and lied repeatedly to investigators. Text messages, surveillance footage, and her own evolving statements formed the backbone of the state’s case.
Troconis testified in her own defense, stating she had no knowledge of any plan to harm Jennifer and believed Fotis when he said the items in Hartford were related to his construction business. She claimed she was manipulated and did not realize the significance of what she had witnessed.
On March 1, 2024, a jury found Michelle Troconis guilty of conspiracy to commit murder, tampering with evidence, and hindering prosecution. She was sentenced to 20 years in prison, with 14.5 years to serve.
Kent Mawhinney and the outstanding charges
Kent Mawhinney was arrested and charged with conspiracy to commit murder in January 2020. Prosecutors alleged he helped Fotis plan Jennifer’s killing and provided legal and logistical assistance. Mawhinney has pleaded not guilty.
As of late 2024, his case remains pending. He has been released on bond and continues to deny involvement. Investigators have not publicly detailed what direct evidence ties him to the crime beyond his friendship with Fotis and alleged conversations about Jennifer.
What has never been found
Despite extensive searches involving state police, the FBI, and cadaver dogs, Jennifer’s body has never been recovered. Investigators have searched wooded areas, properties tied to Fotis, water reservoirs, and construction sites he had access to in the days following her disappearance.
The missing 90 minutes between Jennifer’s return home and the beginning of the Hartford disposal run remain unexplained in full. Prosecutors believe Fotis used that window to transport Jennifer’s body and stage the scene. No definitive witness or video evidence has accounted for his exact movements during that period.
Jennifer’s family has continued to advocate for answers and for legal reforms related to custody cases involving allegations of domestic violence. Her five children remain in the care of her mother, Gloria Farber, who was granted custody following Jennifer’s disappearance.
Where to look next
- Documentary: “Disappeared: Vanished in New Canaan” (Investigation Discovery)
- Documentary: “Who Killed Jennifer Dulos?” (NBC News Studios)
- Book: “Blood Knot: The Jennifer Dulos Story” by Dave Altimari and Liz Teitz
- Podcast: “Gone in Connecticut” (“Paper Ghosts”, iHeartRadio)
