What to Know
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Police searched a body of water outside Hartford in connection with the investigation into the disappearance of Jennifer Dulos, police said[hhmc]
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Cops and dive teams could be seen combing through the water at the pond on Old Farms Road in Avon[hhmc]
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Jennifer Dulos, a 50-year-old mother of five young children, has been missing for 19 days[hhmc]
Police searched a body of water outside Hartford in connection with the investigation into the disappearance of Jennifer Dulos, according to New Canaan police.
Cops and dive teams could be seen combing through the water at the pond on Old Farms Road in Avon, where people frequently water ski. It was not confirmed if the Dulos family ever went waterskiing at this particular body of water, but the sport was a point of contention between Jennifer and Fotis Dulos, according to court papers.
Court filings revealed Jennifer contended Fotis bullied and pressured their kids into participating, and went into fits of rage if they refused. Fotis denied these claims during the divorce proceedings, acccording to court paperwork.
Police K9s were deployed at the water's edge and in nearby woods. The search concluded by 6 p.m. Wednesday.
Jennifer Dulos, a 50-year-old mother of five young children, has been missing for 19 days.
She was last seen while dropping her children off at school in New Canaan the morning of Friday, May 24. She was reported missing later that night after she missed several appointments and her friends became concerned when they could not reach her, according to court documents.
When police searched Jennifers home on Welles Lane in New Canaan, they found human blood on the floor of her garage and suspected she was the victim of a serious assault, court documents state.
In the last two and a half weeks, New Canaan police said they have received 475 tips from all over the United States and even from Australia and 80 videos after putting out a request for surveillance from people in town.
“Jennifers family, friends, and above all her children are living in limbo — missing her embrace, her lilting laugh, her bedtime backrubs, her gentle strength. Please know that the children are safe and loved and supported in every respect. But more than anything in the world, they long to know where their mother is,” a statement Jennifer Dulos family and friends released Tuesday says.
Someone has information about Jennifers disappearance or her whereabouts. The New Canaan Police Department has created a website, FindJenniferDulos.com, and a dedicated email address, FindJenniferDulos@newcanaanct.gov. If you have any information at all, no matter how small, please email or call the New Canaan Police tip line at (203) 594-3544,” the statement goes on to day.
Jennifer Dulos estranged husband, Fotis Dulos, 51, and his 44-year-old girlfriend, Michelle Troconis, have both been arrested in connection with her disappearance and pleaded not guilty Tuesday to evidence tampering and hindering prosecution.
Fotis Dulos had been in police custody since his arrest on June 1 but was released after posting bond and turning over his passport. He has been ordered to wear a GPS-monitored ankle bracelet.
Troconis was released on bond after the court appearance a week earlier and ordered to wear a GPS-monitored ankle bracelet.
READ THE COURT DOCUMENTS IN THE CASE
The prosecutor in the case against Fotis Dulos said the state has new evidence against him. According to prosecutors, his DNA was found mixed with Jennifer Dulos' blood on the kitchen faucet of her New Canaan home.
Norm Pattis, the well-known attorney representing Fotis Dulos, countered this new evidence, saying his client was at Jennifers home the Wednesday before she disappeared. The states attorney objected, saying witnesses report he was only in the backyard, not in the house.
Pattis said Dulos can account for his whereabouts for most of the day his estranged wife went missing. He said in court that Dulos voluntary handed over his cell phone to investigators but that the state refused to give it back.
The judge in Stamford Superior Court on Tuesday kept Fotis Dulos' bond set at $500,000. The state's attorney wanted the bond number set at $850,000 while Dulos' attorney requested the bond be lowered to $100,000.
“We deny the charges. We dont know where Mr. Dulos ex-wife is. Were resolute and determined to try this case and we believe fully that our client will be exonerated,” Pattis said outside court Tuesday. “I would ask everyone to put aside the easy narrative here that an angry ex-spouse took matters into his own hands as a result of a custody dispute. That didnt happen.”
Following his client's release on bond, Pattis sent the following statement:
“I am not sure what the delay was in posting the bond. We were retained over the weekend and were able to assemble a bond package in short order. Obviously, were happy to see him head home. We are also looking forward to the forthcoming trial. Mr. Dulos had no motive to kill Jennifer. A recent court-ordered recommendation was that Mr. Fotis share custody 50/50 with Ms. Fotis. We will soon address how he is best able to resume his relationship with his children.”
Jennifer Dulos had lived in Farmington prior to filing for divorce, then moved to New Canaan.
Jennifer Dulos' mother, Gloria Farber, has filed for custody of her grandchildren and Fotis Dulos appeared in family court Tuesday, hours after pleading not guilty to charges connected to the disappearance.
Fotis was asked to take the stand during the custody hearing but chose not to. The judge hearing the case has not issued a ruling.
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