NORWALK, Conn. – After weeks of testimony in the trial of Michelle Troconis, attorneys presented their closing arguments to the jury on Tuesday. In her statement to the jurors, assistant state’s attorney Michelle Manning adamantly declared, “Jennifer is dead. Let’s be very clear. She was murdered on May 24, 2019.” Manning proceeded to outline the evidence that the state believes establishes Troconis’s complicity in the alleged plot to kill Jennifer Dulos. Both the prosecution and the defense were given one hour each to summarize their cases for the jury.
Troconis’s defense attorney, Jon Schoenhorn, contended that much of the prosecution’s case was based on speculation rather than concrete facts. Schoenhorn referred to a video of one of Troconis’s police interrogations, in which the then-Fairfield County state’s attorney Richard Colangelo expressed doubt about Troconis’s knowledge of the murder. Schoenhorn argued, “I submit to you, ladies and gentlemen, if he thought she didn’t know, then that’s reasonable doubt right there.”
On Monday, a charge conference took place between the attorneys and Judge Kevin Randolph, during which the jury instructions were discussed following the closing arguments. These instructions covered concepts such as burden of proof, presumption of innocence, credibility, and the definition of charges.
The case revolves around the disappearance of Jennifer Dulos, a mother of five, who has been missing since May 24, 2019, and is presumed dead. Law enforcement believes that Jennifer’s estranged husband, Fotis Dulos, attacked and killed her at her New Canaan home. Fotis Dulos died by suicide in January 2020, shortly after being charged with Jennifer’s murder. At the time of her disappearance, Jennifer and Fotis were engaged in a contentious divorce and child custody battle.
Troconis, who was dating Fotis Dulos and living with him in Farmington after Jennifer and the children had moved out, faces charges of conspiracy to commit murder, hindering prosecution, tampering with physical evidence, and conspiracy to commit tampering of physical evidence. Troconis denies any involvement in covering up Jennifer Dulos’s killing.
The defense team rested its case last Friday, following three days of testimony. Troconis opted not to testify in her own defense. After the proceedings, Troconis and her family reiterated her innocence. Her sister, Claudia Troconis, asserted, “The state still did not prove my sister was connected in any of this, and my sister’s attorneys did prove that she had nothing to do with any of this.”
A separate contempt hearing has been scheduled for March 5 to address concerns that Troconis potentially possessed part of a sealed custody report during the trial. The report, which remains under seal, contains confidential health information and details about the Dulos children.
As the trial nears its conclusion, the jury could receive the case as early as Tuesday afternoon.