It’s been years since Jennifer Farber Dulos vanished after dropping her five kids at school in New Canaan, and honestly, the details still feel like a punch to the gut. You probably remember the grainy footage of a black Ford Raptor creeping through Hartford, or the frantic searches through trash plants. But if you think the story ended when Fotis Dulos took his own life in 2020, you haven’t been paying attention to the courtroom in Vernon lately.
Right now, in January 2026, the legal fallout is as messy as ever. Michelle Troconis, the woman the media once dubbed the "other woman," is currently fighting a massive legal battle to overturn her conviction. Just days ago, her habeas corpus trial wrapped up after three days of heavy testimony. She’s essentially arguing that her original lawyer, Andrew Bowman, totally dropped the ball by letting her talk to the cops back in 2019.
The 2024 Conviction and the New 2026 Appeal
Back in May 2024, a judge handed Troconis a 20-year sentence, suspended after 14 and a half years. For Jennifer’s family, it felt like a small piece of justice. For Michelle’s family, it was a tragedy. They’ve always maintained she was "fooled" by a man who was secretly a monster.
In this latest 2026 push for a new trial, the focus isn't on whether she did it, but on whether her constitutional rights were violated. Her new legal team called experts to the stand to argue that Bowman was "inefficient." Why? Because he allowed her to sit for hours of interviews where she gave inconsistent statements. Those interviews were the backbone of the prosecution's case.
The state, however, isn't budging. They rested their case this week without even calling a witness. Judge Carl Schuman now has about 120 days to decide if Troconis gets a second chance at freedom or if she stays behind bars in Niantic.
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What Really Happened on Welles Lane?
To understand why the Fotis Dulos and Michelle Troconis saga remains so polarizing, you have to go back to that Friday morning in May 2019.
Jennifer returned home at 8:05 a.m. By 10:25 a.m., her Suburban was seen pulling out of her driveway. Police believe Fotis was at the wheel, with Jennifer’s body inside. The evidence left in the garage was horrific—blood spatter on the floor and walls, and signs of a "clean-up" that wasn't nearly as thorough as the killer hoped.
The Hartford "Trash Run"
This is the part that still haunts people. At 7:10 p.m. that same night, cellular records put both Fotis and Michelle in Hartford. They weren't there for a nice dinner.
- The Raptor: Surveillance caught Fotis stopping at 30 different trash bins.
- The Bags: Investigators recovered items that make your skin crawl—zip ties, a bloody shirt, and a bra, all soaked in Jennifer's DNA.
- The Alibi: While Fotis was dumping evidence, his phone was sitting at home in Farmington. Prosecutors argued Michelle answered a call to that phone to make it look like he was there.
Michelle has always said she had no clue what was in those bags. She told police she thought they were just running errands and stopping at Starbucks. But the jury in 2024 didn't buy the "oblivious girlfriend" act. They saw a woman who helped burn evidence in a fireplace and helped "detail" a truck that was used to move a body.
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The Estate of Fotis Dulos: A Financial Ghost Town
One thing people often get wrong is the idea that Fotis was some wealthy mogul. He looked the part. He lived in a $5 million mansion at 4 Jefferson Crossing. But by the time he died, he was basically broke.
His company, Fore Group, had a bank balance of zero. He owed Jennifer’s mother, Gloria Farber, roughly $2.5 million in unpaid loans. The beautiful homes he built were buried under liens and foreclosures.
In a weird twist of real estate fate, the Farmington mansion where he attempted suicide actually sold a few years back for about $1.85 million. The proceeds were supposed to go to his five children, but after the banks and the lawyers took their cut, there wasn't a windfall. It’s a grim reminder that the "luxury" life he was fighting for in the divorce was mostly a house of cards.
Why We Still Can’t Look Away
The case of Fotis Dulos and Michelle Troconis isn't just a true crime story; it’s a study in how a toxic relationship can lead to absolute destruction.
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You have five children who are now growing up without both parents. You have a grandmother, Gloria Farber, who has been the hero of this story, stepping in to raise those kids while fighting for Jennifer’s memory. And you have the mystery of Jennifer’s body. Despite years of searching—including a massive dig at a property in 2025—she has never been found.
What You Should Watch For Next
If you're following this, the next four months are critical.
- The Habeas Ruling: Judge Schuman’s decision on Troconis’ new trial request will likely drop by May 2026.
- Kent Mawhinney: The third person charged, Fotis’ former attorney and friend, is still a major factor in the legal background.
- The Search: State police still follow leads. They haven't given up on finding Jennifer, even if the trail has gone cold.
The most practical thing any of us can do is keep the focus on domestic violence awareness. Jennifer was afraid of Fotis. She told the court he was dangerous long before she disappeared. If you or someone you know is in a situation where a partner is using "coercive control" or threats, don't wait for the situation to escalate.
Keep an eye on the Connecticut Judicial Branch website for the official ruling on the Troconis appeal. It’s the next big milestone in a case that, quite frankly, may never feel fully closed until Jennifer is brought home.