Troconis Wants Evidence Thrown Out In Dulos Disappearance Case

STAMFORD, CT — Michelle Troconis, one of the remaining suspects in the four-year-old disappearance of Jennifer Farber Dulos, is seeking to have evidence thrown out that was obtained during searches of her former Farmington home.

Troconis' attorney, Hartford-based Jon Schoenhorn, argued Wednesday in Stamford Superior Court that the search warrant used at the home was too broad in scope, and did not establish probable cause.

At the time, late May and early June in 2019, Troconis was living at 4 Jefferson Crossing in Farmington with Fotis Dulos, Jennifer Dulos' estranged husband, who was later charged with kidnapping and murdering his wife.

Jennifer and Fotis Dulos were in the midst of a contentious divorce and custody battle over the five children they shared; Jennifer Dulos disappeared from her New Canaan home on May 24, 2019, and is presumed to be dead. Her body has not been found. Fotis Dulos took his own life in January 2020 and never stood trial in the case.

Schoenhorn argued before Judge Kevin Randolph that law enforcement seized electronic devices not just from his client during those 2019 searches, but also her mother, Marisela Arreaza, who was visiting at the time, and Troconis' young daughter.

Investigators also obtained far-reaching phone records from thousands of people within the Avon, Farmington and West Hartford areas through "cell tower dumps" of data, which Schoenhorn referred to as a "phishing expedition."

"If ever there was a warrant that overly broad, this is it," Schoenhorn said. He claims that vague language in the warrant gave investigators too much leeway in what they could obtain through searches.

Additionally, Schoenhorn argued, Troconis and Dulos were forced out of the home for several days during the searches, though suspects are typically permitted to be present during searches.

Troconis and Kent Mawhinney, a former friend of Fotis Dulos, have been charged separately with conspiracy to commit murder in the case; the two are accused of assisting Fotis Dulos in carrying out the alleged murder and attempted cover up. Both Troconis and Mawhinney have pleaded not guilty.

In his objection to the request to suppress the evidence, Assistant State’s Attorney Sean McGuinness argued that evidence found at the New Canaan scene and in the Hartford area, led investigators to believe that there could be evidence at the Farmington house.

"This court should not read into the search warrant in hypercritical ways," McGuinness said, adding that he did not believe that Schoenhorn had made enough of an argument to question the "facial validity" of the warrant.

Randolph, who will hear arguments next week on a change in venue in the case, said he does not expect to render decisions until early September.

Schoenhorn is looking to move the case from Stamford to Superior Court in Hartford, in part because much of the allegations in the case occurred in Hartford County.

Earlier this week in a state Supreme Court decision, Troconis lost an attempt to obtain transcripts from the Dulos divorce, in a move Schoenhorn hoped might help his client's defense.

The Dulos case

• New Details On How Jennifer Dulos May Have Died: Warrant
• Mystery Continues 3 Years After Jennifer Farber Dulos' Disappearance
• House Arrest Lifted For Suspect In Jennifer Dulos Disappearance Case
• Mawhinney To Testify Against Troconis In Jennifer Dulos Case
• Fotis Dulos Gives Controversial Interview
• Michelle Troconis' Lawyer Says Homicide Charge Possible: Filing