Jennifer Dulos, Conn. Mom Who Disappeared in 2019, Officially Declared Dead Ahead of Court Case
The mother of five was officially declared dead by a Connecticut probate judge in October
Four years after her unexplained disappearance, Jennifer Dulos has been declared dead by a Connecticut court.
The mother of five disappeared from her home in May 2019, and it was later discovered that she was in the midst of a custody battle with her estranged husband, Fotis Dulos.
In August, Jennifer’s mother, Gloria Farber, who has been caring for the five children since her daughter’s disappearance, filed a petition to the Darien-New Canaan Probate Court to declare Jennifer dead, NBC Connecticut reported. The filing was made in an effort to protect the kids and their right to their mother’s assets.
A probate judge declared Jennifer dead in October, citing evidence that “supports the claim that Jennifer sustained non-survivable injuries,” according to court documents obtained by CT Insider.
“The inescapable conclusion is Jennifer is deceased,” Judge William P. Osterndorf wrote in the decision, per the outlet.
Osterndorf cited the fact that “more than four years have passed” since Jennifer was last seen, and her family members have not “been contacted” since May 2019, nor has her body been located as the reasoning behind his decision to declare the 50-year-old dead.
Richard Weinstein, a lawyer for Jennifer’s mother, said that they were “concerned” about Farber “being 88 years of age” and didn’t want to wait another three years for Connecticut law to automatically presume Jennifer dead, the outlet reported.
“As long as Jennifer’s status was undecided, then the children could not inherit from her or from her mother,” Weinstein said of the petition.
Related: Conn. Mom Jennifer Dulos Was Restrained with Zip Ties Before Estranged Ex Killed Her: Police
Fotis was charged with murder in her presumed death seven months after her disappearance. His girlfriend, Michelle Troconis, and his civil lawyer were also charged with conspiracy to commit murder.
On the day Jennifer vanished, Bloodstains were found in the garage of her New Canaan home, indicating a violent struggle, Connecticut State Police said at the time.
Shortly thereafter, her black Chevy Suburban was found abandoned near a local park several miles away.
Police alleged that Fotis was lying in wait for his estranged wife on the day she died, according to court documents.
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Fotis pleaded not guilty to the murder charge and later was found unresponsive in the garage of his home after an attempted suicide. He died two days later, and the murder charges against him were dropped due to his inability to stand trial.
Likewise, Troconis pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to commit murder and is expected in court in Connecticut on Thursday, per the CT Insider. She also faces charges of conspiracy to tamper with physical evidence, tampering with physical evidence and hindering prosecution.
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