STAMFORD, Conn. — The family of a woman sentenced to prison for her involvement in the disappearance of New Canaan mother of five Jennifer Farber Dulos is continuing to advocate for her innocence.
Michelle Troconis was sentenced to 14 and a half years in prison, with five years on probation, last month for conspiracy to commit murder charges connected to Jennifer's disappearance five years ago.
Troconis was the one-time girlfriend of Fotis Dulos, who was accused of murdering Jennifer, his estranged wife. Troconis was found guilty of helping Fotis dispose of evidence and creating an alibi for the investigation.
Troconis' family argues that Troconis is innocent and that she "did not fully understand the controlling and manipulative nature of Fotis." She had thought he was a "successful businessman undergoing an amicable divorce," according to Troconis' loved ones.
Loved ones of Jennifer testified during Troconis' March 2024 trial that Jennifer feared for her life during the process of getting divorced and arranging custody of the five children she and Fotis had together.
Troconis spoke to police three times over the summer of 2019, and detectives testified that details in her story changed each time. Her defense team argued that a language barrier and the science behind memory recall contributed to the conflicting stories.
"Michelle believed in the police when they spoke to her. She believed in her former counsel when she had the constitutional right to remain silent. She believed in Fotis," her family said. The family added that the justice system "failed" Troconis after she put her faith in it and helped police in their search for Jennifer.
"This situation represents a significant injustice. Tragically, Michelle is bearing the consequences of actions perpetrated by Fotis Dulos, who ultimately took his own life to avoid prosecution for his alleged crimes," Troconis' family said in the statement.
Hartford city surveillance footage shows Troconis in the passenger seat of a Ford Raptor, in which Fotis was seen dumping evidence into trash bins along Albany Ave. the evening Jennifer went missing.
Troconis also accompanied Fotis to the car wash days later, where he had the Toyota Tacoma he drove to and from Jennifer's New Canaan home detailed, according to court testimony.
At her sentencing, the judge ruled that Troconis would serve 20 years for conspiracy to commit murder charges, five years for one count of conspiracy to commit tampering with physical evidence, five years each for two counts of tampering with physical evidence, and five years for hindering prosecution. These sentences will be served concurrently and she will be released after 14 and a half years served, projected to be in 2038. She will then serve five years of probation.
After sentencing, the judge denied Troconis’ lawyer's request to release her on bond pending an appeal.
FOX61 obtained Friday a copy of a motion her legal team filed this week, petitioning for a review and reversal of the bond appeal denial. In this motion, Troconis' attorney Jon Schoenhorn argues that his client has never been out of compliance with conditions of release in the time since her first arrest in 2019. He also argues that there are no findings that make it necessary for Troconis to stay in custody to guarantee she'd show up for hearings pending the appeal's outcome. Schoenhorn also notes there is no evidence suggesting Troconis is a flight risk or a danger to anyone.
Jennifer was last seen on May 24, 2019, dropping her children off at school. She was reported missing that evening, and an investigation was started.
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