Friday’s “Dateline” episode will feature a new development related to a 2019 crime.
The episode is focused on Michelle Troconis, who on Friday was found guilty of conspiracy to murder Jennifer Dulos, who was her boyfriend’s estranged wife when she disappeared.
Per NBC News, Troconis, 49, was also convicted of tampering with evidence and hindering the investigation. Jennifer’s body has never been found, but last October, a court issued her declaration of death.
The 2019 disappearance
Around the time of her disappearance, Dulos was a 50-year-old mother of five living in Connecticut, reported HuffPost. She was last seen with Fotis Dulos, her estranged husband, dropping off their kids at school on May 24, 2019.
The estranged couple was in the midst of a heated two-year divorce process and custody dispute. Jennifer Dulos had been working to limit how and when Fotis could see the couple’s children.
According to CNN, friends of Jennifer Dulos reported her missing after she missed some scheduled events — with no communication — over multiple hours. Initial investigations revealed a “bloodlike stain in three places on her vehicle,” which was later confirmed to have Jennifer’s DNA, per CNN.
Surveillance video from May 24 showed Fotis Dulos placing garbage bags that were allegedly full of gloves, zip ties, tape and other items in trash cans, according to NBC News.
“He was also captured on camera allegedly disposing altered license plates,” the article said.
Investigators found Troconis’ DNA in the bags alongside Jennifer’s DNA, per NBC News.
The 2020 arrests
After further investigation, in January 2020, Fotis Dulos was charged with murder, felony murder and kidnapping, while his then-girlfriend, Troconis, and Dulos’ attorney, Kent Mawhinney, were charged with “conspiracy to commit murder,” per CNN. Troconis and Mawhinney pleaded not guilty, and Mawhinney is currently awaiting trial.
After posting a $6 million bond, Fotis Dulos was placed under house arrest. But before going to trial, according to NBC News, he attempted suicide and died two days later after being flown to a New York hospital.
The recent trial
Per HuffPost, prosecutors presented the case against Troconis over the course of 25 days of testimony, using over 150 exhibits. They alleged that Fotis Dulos planned out the scheme, using multiple vehicles and driving multiple hours to dump the bags while Troconis rode along with him.
According to prosecutors, Troconis answered a prearranged call from Dulos’ friend in Greece made to Dulos’ cell phone, which helped Dulos avoid “having his movements tracked” because he’d left his phone in his home office, according to HuffPost.
Troconis’ defense attorney, Jon Schoenhorn, stated Troconis did not have any knowledge of or involvement in the crimes allegedly committed by Fotis, according to ABC News.
Her sentencing will commence May 31.