Michelle Troconis, who was tried in connection with the disappearance of her live-in boyfriend's estranged wife, Jennifer Dulos, was found guilty on all charges.
Troconis was convicted of conspiracy to commit murder, tampering with physical evidence, conspiracy to tamper with physical evidence and hinder prosecution.
“We have lost a mother, daughter, sister, cousin and dear friend,” Carrie Luft, a spokeswoman for Jennifer Dulos' family and friends, said in a statement Friday.
“This verdict represents the careful collection, analysis and presentation of evidence to uncover a series of unconscionable crimes,” Luft said.
“The vast body of evidence also serves to highlight the gaps that remain in this case. Most importantly, Jennifer Farber Dulos has not yet been found,” Luft said. “We hope that renewed public interest in this case will lead to new and promising clues.”
Jennifer Dulos, a mother of five from Connecticut, disappeared on May 24, 2019, during a custody battle with her estranged husband, Fotis Dulos. Although her body has never been found, a judge declared her legally dead.
Fotis Dulos died by suicide in January 2020, weeks after he was charged with Jennifer Dulos' murder. Prosecutors allege Fotis Dulos murdered his estranged wife on May 24, 2019, in the garage of his home.
The jury at Troconis' trial found that Troconis lied about meeting Fotis Dulos at his home the morning Jennifer Dulos disappeared, New Haven ABC affiliate WTNH reported. He has seen the interrogation video, New Haven ABC affiliate WTNH reported.
“I have no idea where Jennifer is, that's 100 percent,” Troconis said in the interrogation video, according to WTNH. “All I know is that I went to help him as a stupid girlfriend because he said to me, 'Come clean the house,' and I did. ”
”[Fotis Dulos] “I said Jennifer was a monster. Jennifer hated her,” Tronosis said in a video interrogation, according to WTNH.
According to a report in the Hartford Courant, later on the day Jennifer Dulos disappeared, Fotis Dulos was driving in Hartford with Troconis in the passenger seat, and Fotis Dulos stopped and took the alleged evidence. Police testified that surveillance footage showed him throwing it into a trash can. In court, jurors were shown zip ties, gloves and stained clothing that prosecutors said had been removed from a trash can.
Defense attorney John Schoenhorn said Troconis never denied being in the car with her boyfriend, but he doubted Fotis Dulos' involvement or knowledge of any crimes that may have been committed. said he denied it.
In closing arguments, prosecutor Michelle Manning reminded the jury of the garage where investigators believe Fotis Dulos killed his wife and threw blood-stained items into the trash.
“There was blood splattered all over the garage, all over the undercarriage of the two cars, there were footprints and bloodstains,” Manning said. “Her blood soaked shirt and bra were thrown away, along with zip ties, sponges and duct tape. Make no mistake, this was a premeditated and deliberate murder.”
“Jennifer passed away, and Fotis and Michelle Troconis intended it to happen. They agreed to work together to make it happen,” Manning said. “This trial is very simple. It's about conspiracy and cover-up. It's about the actions of Michel Troconis and how she and Fotis Dulos conspired to murder women who got in their way. .It's about the setbacks of Fotis.'' Ms. Duro hasn't seen her children…and every time the children came, Ms. Michel Troconis had to leave the house…and I We know she was tired of it. ”
“Frustration turned to anger and hatred,” Manning told jurors. “Listen to her own words.” [police] Interview – How does she describe Jennifer, whom she has never met? She describes herself as manipulative, angry, and toxic. ”
Defense attorney Schoenhorn said in closing arguments, “Michelle Troconis had no knowledge of whatever Fotis Dulos' role was in the disappearance, nor of Jennifer Dulos' possible death. Fotis Dulos had planned it. She didn't know that,” he said. To hurt her girlfriend. ”
“There's nothing to suggest that Michel thought Fotis was capable of something like that,” Schoenhorn said.
“This is not a Fotis Dulos trial,” he continued. “Because of the trial of Michel Troconis, [to convict her] It must be discovered beyond a reasonable doubt that Michelle is conspiring with the Fortis Duo to not only harm Jennifer Dulos, but to murder her. ”
In order to convict her, the jury must be told that “a variety of factors – some microscopic, some in opaque garbage bags – that Michelle was participating in an evidence destruction scheme'' were required to convict her. ) must be discovered beyond a reasonable doubt, but what did she know?” “She was in it, she knew her purpose, and what she did was with exactly the same intent that Fotis Dulos had planned.”
After the sentencing, State's Attorney Paul Ferencek of the Stamford/Norwalk Judicial District said in a statement, “We hope that today's verdict brings peace to Jennifer's family and friends, but we hope that someday we still have a solution.” I also hope that we can do it.” An open question is where Jennifer is resting. The State of Connecticut and this office are committed to never stopping our investigation. ”
Schoenhorn said Troconis was “devastated” by the verdict.
“We are confident that she is innocent,” added Troconis' sister, Josie.
Bond was set at $6 million cash surety. The judge granted additional conditions requested by the state: house arrest, electronic monitoring and surrender of his passport.
Sentencing for Troconis is scheduled for May 31.
Jennifer Dulos' mother currently has custody of Dulos' five children, who ranged in age from 8 to 13 as of May 2019, according to the Associated Press.
Fotis Dulos' friend and former attorney Kent Mawhinney is also accused of helping cover up the crime. He has pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to commit murder and is awaiting trial.
ABC News' Jason Volak contributed to this report.