JENNIFER DULOS CASE: New Canaan mom still missing 3 years later; where the search and case stand

Three years after Jennifer Dulos's presumed death and disappearance, her family is still waiting for her body to be brought home so they can bury her.

News 12 Staff

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May 24, 2022, 9:30 AM

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Updated 949 days ago

Three years after Jennifer Dulos's presumed death and disappearance, her family is still waiting for her body to be brought home so they can bury her. Searches have spanned the state including Waveny Park in New Canaan, a garbage processing plant in Hartford, the reservoir in West Hartford, a lake in Avon, and properties associated with her estranged husband's home-building company.

On this somber third anniversary, Carrie Luft, the spokesperson for Jennifer Dulos' family, released a statement on behalf of her family and friends:

May 24, 2022, marks three years since Jennifer Farber Dulos was murdered and disappeared. We feel the immeasurable loss of her person every day; we also delight in her presence and celebrate her spirit as they manifest in her five incredible children. We are deeply grateful that Jennifer's children are thriving and her mother, Gloria, is healthy and well.

There is still an open investigation into Jennifer's murder and disappearance, and we are indebted to the Connecticut State Police for their ongoing dedication to this case. As court proceedings have resumed, we await the next steps in the legal process for the two key individuals who have yet to stand trial.

Above all, we miss Jennifer more than words can express, and we are thankful for the continuing support. In Jennifer's memory, we ask that you hold your loved ones extra close and make time to laugh with friends. Please also remember that there are many missing and murdered people whose stories are never covered in the press, whose families and loved ones continue to grieve. You can help by supporting local organizations that assist survivors of intimate partner violence and by encouraging the press to give equal attention to all victims.

Jennifer Dulos was last seen dropping off her kids, then ages 8-13, at school in New Canaan on May 24, 2019. Investigators believe when she returned home, she was attacked by her estranged husband who was "lying in wait" in the garage. Jennifer and Fotis Dulos had been involved in a bitter divorce and custody fight the previous two years.

Fotis Dulos was charged with her murder in January 2020 and killed himself a few weeks later, possibly taking with him the secret of where her body is. His girlfriend at the time, Michelle Troconis, and his friend and former attorney, Kent Mawhinney, were also arrested in connection with the case and have pleaded not guilty. Troconis faces several charges including conspiracy to commit murder, evidence tampering, conspiracy to commit evidence tampering and hindering prosecution. Mawhinney is charged with conspiracy to commit murder. Both are free on bond while their cases slowly move through the court system. Troconis' next hearing is remote and set for June 7. Mawhinney's case is waiting for a trial date. The state has said Mawhinney may testify against Troconis at her trial.

The case garnered international headlines when Jennifer Dulos first disappeared and has been the subject of network news magazine shows, a TV movie and a documentary. Though time has passed, Jennifer Dulos' memory hasn't faded from the New Canaan community. There's a memorial at the Lapham Road entrance to Waveny Park, not far from where police found Jennifer Dulos' SUV abandoned. The tribute began in 2019 after rocks painted with the words "Justice for Jennifer" popped up there. It's since grown with candles, flowers, ribbons, and pinwheels, along with signs about the legislation her case helped spur. "Jennifers' Law" broadens the definition of domestic violence to beyond physical abuse. It's named for Jennifer Dulos and Jennifer Magnano, a Litchfield County mom killed by her husband in 2007.