HARTFORD, Conn. – A Connecticut mother of five who went missing in May 2019 and was presumed to be killed by her estranged husband has been declared legally dead. Just days before the trial of her ex’s girlfriend, who is accused of aiding in the cover-up of the alleged crime, the news of her legal death broke. Jennifer Dulos disappeared on May 24, 2019, and her body was never found. However, evidence of her blood in her garage and other locations led the state medical examiner to conclude that she suffered injuries that would have been fatal without medical treatment, resulting in the case being deemed a “homicide of violence.”
Her estranged husband, Fotis Dulos, was charged with felony murder and kidnapping in connection to her disappearance and presumed death in January 2020 but later took his own life. His then-girlfriend, Michelle Troconis, is facing charges of conspiracy to commit murder, tampering with physical evidence, and hindering prosecution in connection with the case.
Following a request by the guardian of Jennifer Dulos’ children – her 88-year-old mother, Gloria Farber – a probate judge granted the request to declare Jennifer legally dead last October. This decision was made to protect the family’s assets. Although Connecticut state statutes usually specify that a person can be presumed dead after seven years of being missing, the judge noted that this was not a requirement in this case and concluded that Jennifer Dulos is indeed deceased.
The trial of Troconis, who has pleaded not guilty to all charges, is set to start soon and is expected to last six to eight weeks. Jennifer Dulos’ friend, Carrie Luft, expressed gratitude to state and local authorities for their dedication and requested that her friend remain the central focus in stories about the case, emphasizing the impact on the five children who have lost their mother and the family’s desire for accountability and answers.
The legal declaration of Jennifer Dulos’ death comes as a significant development in a case that has captured national attention. Despite Fotis Dulos’ death, the search for truth and justice in this tragic case continues.