Judge sets new hearing date to determine whether mother-of-five Jennifer Dulos is dead
A Connecticut judge is calling for a new hearing to determine whether missing mother-of-five Jennifer Dulos is dead so that her late estranged husband’s estate can access nearly $200,000 in his retirement account.
Jennifer Dulos, 50, disappeared May 24, 2019, after dropping her five children at school.
Police in January charged her husband, Fotis Dulos, with killing his wife inside her New Canaan home and driving off with her body, which was never found.
He took his own life later that month while facing murder, kidnapping and other charges in his wife’s disappearance.
Probate Judge Evelyn Daly on Friday called for an in-person hearing on February 10, one day after the state’s executive orders placing coronavirus restrictions on court activities expires.
Daly has been asked to determine if Dulos is dead so the estate of her estranged husband Fotis can access his $194,000 individual retirement account, according to the Stamford Advocate.
A Connecticut judge is calling for a new hearing to determine if missing mother-of-five Jennifer Dulos, 50, (left) is dead so that the estate of her late estranged husband Fotis Dulos (right) can access nearly $200,000 in his retirement account
Jennifer and Fotis were embroiled in a bitter divorce and legal battle over the custody of their children (pictured with Jennifer) at the time of her disappearance in May 2019
Daly’s ruling will be a landmark one in the state of Connecticut where no person who has been missing for less than seven years has been declared dead.
Police say evidence shows Jennifer was the victim of a ‘serious physical assault’ in the garage of New Canaan home on the day disappeared and blood was found in the garage.
Jennifer and Fotis were embroiled in a bitter divorce and legal battle over the custody of their children at the time of her disappearance.
In a hearing in October attorneys for the Fotis’ estate and Jennifer’s family asked the missing mother be declared dead.
In that hearing Judge Daly said she needed more time and to hear more evidence.
The estate of Fotis Dulos is considered ‘insolvent’ with Jennifer Dulos’ mother Gloria Farber, who has been caring for the five Dulos children since their mother disappeared.
Farber is owed nearly $2million in a lawsuit she won for unpaid business loans her family made to Fotis and his real estate development company, Fore Group.
Probate Judge Evelyn Daly on Friday called for an in-person hearing on February 10, one day after the state’s executive orders placing coronavirus restrictions on court activities expires. Judge Daly pictured above during a hearing in October where she said she needed more time and more evidence before deciding on whether to declare Jennifer Dulos dead
In the October hearing both Christopher Hug, the administrator for the estate of Fotis Dulos (left), and Richard Weinstein, the attorney of Jennifer’s mother (right) asked for the declaration of death
Attorney Christopher Hug, the administrator for the estate of Fotis Dulos, asked Judge Daly to waive the normal seven-year waiting period to declare a missing person dead citing that he cannot access certain funds to pay creditors of the estate unless it was determined Jennifer died before her husband did.
He also cited that Dulos should be declared dead based on information in arrest warrants which point to Fotis dismembering Jennifer.
He also referenced statements made by state Chief Medical Examiner James Gill who reviewed evidence gathered by police and determined Jennifer likely suffered injuries during an attack that were not survivable without immediate medical intervention.
In that hearing Gloria Farber also asked for the death declaration for closure.
According to arrest warrants Fotis allegedly used an employee’s pick-up truck to drive to New Canaan where he was ‘lying in wait’ for Jennifer to return to her New Canaan home after dropping their kids off at school. A view of police executing a search warrant on Fotis Dulo’s Jefferson Crossing home after he attempted to commit suicide on the property in January above
Michelle Troconis, Fotis’ mistress (left), and his friend Kent Mawhinney (right), have been charged with conspiracy to commit murder
Her attorney Richard Weinstein said: ‘The sooner we can get to the closure of Dulos’ estate, the better it will be for everyone. The tragic truth of the matter is that Jennifer Dulos is dead.’
According to arrest warrants Fotis allegedly used an employee’s pick-up truck to drive to New Canaan where he was ‘lying in wait’ for Jennifer to return home after dropping their kids off at school.
Then later that night he and his then girlfriend Michelle Troconis were seen on surveillance video. He was allegedly seen dumping bags later determined to contain Jennifer’s blood and clothing.
Fotis’ girlfriend girlfriend, Michelle Troconis, and his attorney friend, Kent Mawhinney, have been arrested on charges of conspiracy to commit murder.
Troconis also faces counts of evidence tampering in connection to Jennifer’s killing.
