MICHELLE TROCONIS WAS FOUND GUILTY OF CONSPIRING WITH FOTIS DULOS TO MURDER JENNIFER DULOS - HER SISTER CLAUDIA MARMOL SPEAKS TO "48 HOURS" ABOUT HER UNWAVERING BELIEF IN MICHELLE'S INNOCENCE
Marmol Tells "48 Hours" That Troconis Was Also a Victim of Fotis Dulos: "Unfortunately, He Fooled All of Us ... At the Beginning, He Was This Amazing Guy. But It Turns Out, He Was This Monster."
On May 24, 2019, Jennifer Farber Dulos dropped off her five children at school, drove to her Connecticut home, and was never seen again. Dulos' estranged husband, Fotis Dulos, was charged with her murder, but after he died by suicide the focus turned to his girlfriend, Michelle Troconis. On March 1, 2024, Troconis was found guilty of conspiring with Fotis Dulos to murder Jennifer Dulos and covering it up. 48 HOURS correspondent Erin Moriarty reports on the case against Troconis and her family's unwavering belief in her innocence in 48 HOURS: "The Conspiracy to Murder Jennifer Dulos," to be broadcast Saturday, April 6 (10:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network, and streaming on Paramount+.
"This defendant was undoubtedly part of this plan to kill Jennifer Dulos," prosecutor Sean McGuinness told the jury. "There's no ifs, ands or buts about it."
Her family thinks otherwise. "My sister is not the person that the media has portrayed, that the police and the State have wanted to portray," says Claudia Marmol. "She would never, ever, ever harm anyone else."
Marmol tells 48 HOURS that Troconis was also a victim of Fotis Dulos. "Unfortunately, he fooled all of us," she says. "At the beginning, he was this amazing guy. But it turns out, he was this monster."
The disappearance of Jennifer Dulos and the search for answers have made national headlines since 2019. To this day, Jennifer Dulos' remains have not been found.
Surveillance footage was some of the most damning evidence against Troconis. Police say those videos show Fotis Dulos dumping garbage bags containing Jennifer Dulos' bloody clothing into trash cans the day she disappeared. Troconis was in the car with him.
"She not only did not know what was in those bags ... she had no idea what he was actually doing," Jon Schoenhorn, Troconis' attorney, tells 48 HOURS.
Marmol tells Moriarty that Fotis Dulos was a house builder who would often toss trash into public receptacles rather than pay for a dumpster. "I had gone in 2018, and he had done it in my presence. So, it was very common for him to do that," Marmol says.
The State also accused Troconis of burning evidence in the fireplace at the house she shared with Fotis Dulos. Prosecutors say there were three fires lit on the Friday before Memorial Day weekend. Marmol says this was normal for Troconis and she lit fires regardless of the weather.
"Remember my sister lived in Argentina before," Marmol says. "So, it's very common to put the fireplace on and to just sit around ... And my sister would do it."
Moriarty asked Marmol, "If, in fact, your sister knew where Jennifer's body was ... wouldn't she have tried to make a deal with that information?"
Marmol responds, "Of course ... My sister would have said it. She would have stood up."
Troconis is expected to be sentenced on May 31, 2024, and faces up to 50 years in prison.
Judy Tygard is the executive producer of 48 HOURS, which is broadcast Saturdays at 10:00 PM, ET/PT on CBS, and streams anytime on Paramount+. You can also watch 48 HOURS on the CBS News Streaming Network Wednesdays at 8:00 PM, ET. 48 HOURS is also available on CBSNews.com, Fave TV, Pop TV, Pluto US, Pluto UK, Pluto Nordics, Pluto Canada and Pluto South Africa. Download the CBS News app on your phone or connected TV. Follow 48 HOURS on X, Facebook and Instagram. Listen to podcasts at CBS Audio.
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