Michelle Troconis’ family, defense attorney react to guilty verdict: ‘This is devastating’
About an hour after Michelle Troconis was found guilty by a jury and walked out of Stamford Superior Court in handcuffs, her father, Dr. Carlos Troconis, said he moved her and her sisters to the United States for freedom and opportunity.
“I came many years ago to this country, looking for opportunities, freedom and justice,” he said, mentioning his eight grandchildren. “Today we are here, devastated, because there has been a tremendous injustice in the trial of my daughter. She’s innocent.”
Michelle Troconis, who was raised in South America, was headed to York Correctional Institution in Niantic on Friday afternoon after a six-person jury returned their verdict around 11 a.m. Troconis was found guilty of conspiracy to commit murder, two counts of conspiracy to tamper with physical evidence, two counts of tampering with physical evidence and one count of second-degree hindering prosecution in connection with the disappearance of New Canaan mother Jennifer Farber Dulos on May 24, 2019.
Michelle Troconis found guilty on all charges in disappearance of Jennifer Farber Dulos
Troconis was charged with plotting with her former boyfriend, Fotis Dulos, to kill his estranged wife and cover up the crimes.
After the verdict was delivered, Judge Kevin A. Randolph more than doubled her bond from $2.1 million to $6 million.
Troconis’ parents, sisters and loved ones were openly sobbing in the courtroom when the verdict came down, and the tears continued to fall outside the courthouse as they gathered to speak about what they called a devastating injustice.
“I know that everyone wanted answers, I know that maybe the state is happy that they finally convicted her or someone is paying for the price but she’s not the right one,” said Trocoins’ sister, Claudia Troconis-Marmol, through tears
Troconis’ family has been at her side throughout the trial, which started Jan. 11, and has maintained her innocence.
“Michelle has been supported by us, her family and friends, since Day 1. And we continue standing here because we, too, care to know the truth of what happened to Jennifer,” said Troconis-Marmol. “But we don’t know what happened to Jennifer. And choosing and putting my sister as the guilty person is not the right thing to do because she’s innocent. So we will appeal, and we will not stop fighting for her justice,” she said.
Troconis’ mother, Marisela Arreaza, broke down in tears when she tried to speak.
I’m devastated, she’s innocent and I know that. My heart knows that,” she said, pointing to her chest. “She doesn’t have anything to do and the mystery continues … because to put her in jail it’s not like oh, Jennifer appears. No, nobody still knows what happened to her. She’s not the one that knows. She never knew. She’s innocent and that’s it.”
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In a burst of emotion, another sister of Michelle Troconis, Daniela Troconis, shouted into a microphone, emphatically pointing her finger at news reporters as she blamed the media for what she said was their role in her sister’s conviction.
“My sister’s innocent. This is wrong,” Daniela Troconis said. “This wasn’t a fair trial. From Day 1 wasn’t a fair trial. And you all know that because you are parents, you are moms, you are grandparents. Please look inside your heart, this world needs more love and this is wrong. What happened to my sister today was wrong.”
She and another sister, Marisela Troconis, both said they pray every day for the five Dulos children.
Throughout the trial, some of Troconis’ sisters have been clutching rosary beads in the courtroom.
In a much calmer and quieter voice, Marisela Troconis said her last words on the case were to the Dulos children. Farber Dulos and Dulos shared five children and were in the midst of a divorce and custody battle when Farber Dulos disappeared.
“I’m sorry about what happened to your mom, but my sister is not the answer,” she said.
“And I hope that when you grow up you find your own means to know what happened, to seek for the truth, to seek for real justice,” Marisela Troconis added. “This is devastating and I said since the first time, this is a tragedy for all of the families involved and for all of our children, too.”
The five Dulos children who are now teenagers were in the courtroom twice during the trial: When their grandmother Gloria Farber testified and during closing arguments.
Troconis’ defense attorney Jon Schoenhorn said that Troconis’ daughter, also a teenager, was notified of the verdict. She was not in the courtroom when they were delivered, he said.
“Michelle is devastated,” he said.
Schoenhorn said he was disappointed.
“I’m truly disappointed in this verdict. I don’t believe that this was the correct verdict,” he said.
He went on to say that although he would not criticize the jury’s determination after they listened to about seven weeks of testimony, he didn’t understand it.
“I truly just don’t see how the jury could have reached this verdict,” he said.
Troconis has been out on bond and allowed to travel while awaiting trial but was taken into custody on Friday. She is due back in court later this month for a contempt hearing, and Schoenhorn said her United States passport is in the possession of the court and he has possession of her Venezuelan passport.
Schoenhorn said he plans to file post-trial motions, one being for a judgment of acquittal notwithstanding the verdict. He also said he expects Troconis to post bond in the coming days.