Alleged murder accomplice Michelle Troconis breaks down in court as footage plays of police grilling her about Jennifer Dulos case
Venezuelan socialite Michelle Troconis — an alleged accomplice in the murder of Jennifer Dulos — broke down in tears Thursday when prosecutors showed the court footage of her first police interview following the Connecticut mother’s disappearance.
The emotional 10th day of Troconis’ trial focused on how investigators grilled her as they probed the missing person case of Dulos in May 2019.
Troconis is accused of helping then-boyfriend Fotis Dulos cover up the murder of his estranged wife.
Fotis died by suicide shortly after he was charged with the murder of the New Canaan mom of five in 2020.
At one point Thursday, Troconis was seen with her glasses above her head and her hands on her face as she shed tears. She also wiped her nose with a tissue while sitting at the defense table.
One of her sisters gripped rosary beads as footage played while her mother held a prayer card during Thursday’s testimony, CT Insider reported.
Part of the footage shown to jurors included Troconis — after she was detained — telling detective John Kimball on June 2 that Fotis “jumped in the shower” with her on May 24, 2019 – the same day Jennifer vanished.
But Kimball, who was on the stand, said in court that Troconis didn’t always maintain that narrative, according to the Daily Mail.
Other footage played in court showed authorities expressing concern for Troconis’ safety because Fotis was staring her down the night of May 31 when he was initially questioned and detained.
“I learned that the interaction between Fotis Dulos and Michelle Troconis on the evening of May 31 was concerning because Fotis Dulos was overly concerned with Michelle Troconis’ statements and conduct and was exhibiting behavior that was concerning,” Kimball said, per CT Insider.
“His physical behavior was concerning toward the defendant, Michelle Troconis.”
Later in the footage though, detectives became more aggressive while questioning Troconis, who became more animated.
Kimball and Detective Corey Clabby told her Jennifer’s disappearance was premeditated with Clabby directly saying, “Foris killed Jennifer, OK? We know this,” leading Troconis to cover her face with her hands and deny any knowledge of Jennifer’s whereabouts.
When Kimball asked her where Fotis would dump a body, Troconis replied “Oh my God, I don’t know.”
“We believe she might have been in the back of the truck,” Clabby then reportedly said, leading her to bury her head in her hands again.
Outside the courtroom, Troconis’ lawyer, Jon Schoehorn said his client attempted to be as accurate as possible even though she was exhausted and kept in a frigid cell, the outlet reported.
It has not been determined yet whether Troconis will testify in her defense, he added. She is facing charges of conspiracy to commit murder, evidence tampering and hindering prosecution.
The day before, jurors were shown a blood-soaked bra, razor and zip ties recovered from the garbage after Troconis allegedly helped her lover cover up the murder.
So far, two jurors have been dismissed from the trial. One told a prosecutor “We love you” and another compared the case to Ben Affleck’s flick “Gone Girl.”
Dulos’ body has never been found, but she was declared dead last year.
