Jennifer Dulos Murder Trial Begins with Footage of Blood Stains Allegedly Found in Garage of the Mother of 5

Michelle Troconis is accused of helping her now-deceased boyfriend, Fotis Dulos, cover up the murder of his estranged wife

On Thursday, nearly four years after Connecticut mother Jennifer Farber Dulos vanished after dropping her five children off at school, the trial of the woman accused of helping her estranged husband cover up her mysterious slaying began with grisly video of blood stains in her garage.

Jurors in the trial of Michelle Troconis, 49, at Stamford Superior Court in Stamford, Conn., viewed police body cam footage allegedly showing visible blood spatter on the grill of a Range Rover that was parked in the middle bay of the three-car garage inside Farber Dulos's spacious New Canaan Colonial on May 24, 2019, the day she vanished.

The footage also showed what seemed to be blood on the concrete floor of the garage and a partial bloody footprint.

Troconis is charged with conspiracy to commit murder in connection with the disappearance and death of Farber Dulos, 50, who police believe was attacked in her garage by her estranged husband, Fotis Dulos, 52. Her body has never been found. She was declared officially deceased in October by a probate judge.

Troconis, who was in a relationship with Fotis Dulos while he was embroiled in a bitter divorce and custody battle with his estranged wife, is also charged with two counts of conspiracy to tamper with physical evidence, two counts of tampering with physical evidence and second-degree hindering prosecution. She pleaded not guilty to all charges.

Fotis Dulos, 52, died by suicide in Jan. 2020 just weeks after being charged in connection with Farber Dulos's murder.

Related: How a Conn. Couple's 'Stereotypically Perfect' Marriage Went Sour Before Mom of 5 Disappeared

On Thursday morning, the first witness called by the prosecution was Lt. Aaron LaTourette of the New Canaan Police Department, who was one of the first on the scene when Farber Dulos's babysitter called 911 to report that her employer was missing on May 24, 2019.

When he and New Canaan Patrol Officer Matthew Blank arrived, the babysitter and the five children were not home.

They allegedly found the blood in the garage when they went to the house. "You can see a blood smudge on the floor to the left of the driver's side door," Officer Blank can be heard saying in the body cam footage. "It's strange (given) that we have a missing person."

When Stamford Supervisory State's Attorney Michele Manning asked LaTourette what else was in a picture she was displaying for the court, he said, "Drops on the rear left on the concrete floor," and "an area that appeared to be smeared as if it was cleaned up."

Lt. LaTourette, who was a sergeant at the time of the 911 call, also testified that he found Farber Dulos's purse and light spring jacket inside the home "between the mudroom and the kitchen," he said. Inside the jacket he found a notepad and the key fob for a Chevy vehicle.

The babysitter, he testified, "said the purse would not be at the residence if Jennifer was not at the residence."

Blood Allegedly Found on the Outside of Farber Dulos' Abandoned Chevy Suburban

Now-retired New Canaan Police Sgt. Scott Romano testified that he saw what appeared to be blood on the passenger side of Farber Dulos's Chevy Suburban, which was found abandoned on a road just outside of New Canaan's Waveny Park on May 24, 2019. He was tasked with guarding it on the night of May 24, 2019, until it was impounded and taken to police headquarters.

He said he saw something on the outside of the car that "appeared to have been wiped." He also said he saw "small amounts of what looked to be a blood-like substance on the lower part" of the SUV.

Jurors also saw footage from a neighbor's surveillance camera showing Farber Dulos's SUV leaving the street before 8 a.m. that day, returning at 8:05 a.m., and then driving away from the house again at 10:25 a.m. — never to be seen on that road again.

Allegedly Dumping Evidence of a Violent Murder

On the evening of May 24, 2019, Farber Dulos vanished, Fotis Dulos was captured on surveillance video driving around Hartford and other areas throwing garbage bags into bins, arrest warrants alleged.

He and Troconis were living in the family's Farmington home in upstate Connecticut at the time.

The bags allegedly contained items with Farber Dulos's blood and DNA on them, according to the arrest warrants.

Surveillance video allegedly captured Troconis sitting in the passenger seat while Fotis Dulos drove, police said.

Related: Estranged Conn. Husband Arrested for 2nd Time in Case of Missing Mom Jennifer Dulos

She is also accused of helping him to write a timeline of their whereabouts on May 24, 2019, when Farber Dulos vanished, prosecutors said.

Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for PEOPLE's free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases.

Police interviewed Troconis several times in the days after Farber Dulos disappeared.

“Accountability and Answers”

The day before the trial began, Carrie Luft issued a statement on behalf of the family and friends of Farber Dulos, saying, “It has been more than four years and seven months since Jennifer Farber Dulos was murdered and disappeared. We, her family and friends, have waited patiently, understanding that the justice process moves slowly and deliberatively, especially given the disruption of a global pandemic."

Adding: “As this trial begins, it is crucial to remember who is at the center: Jennifer, whose five children have lost their mother and, as an eventuality, both parents. Jennifer’s family and loved ones have lost a loving daughter, sister, cousin, and lifelong friend. We do not seek closure, as nothing can bring Jennifer back. Our hope is that this trial provides for accountability and answers.

“As this trial gets underway, we ask that you prioritize and respect the privacy of Jennifer’s family and loved ones. Thank you.”

During a lunch break on Thursday, Troconis's family spoke to reporters.

“For us, it’s a very important day,” Carlos Troconis, Michelle Troconis’ father, said, reports CT Insider. “We have been waiting for this opportunity for more than four years. “We know that she’s innocent,” he said. “We are trusting that this is a fair trial.”

Related: Jennifer Dulos, Conn. Mom Who Disappeared in 2019, Officially Declared Dead Ahead of Court Case

Troconis’ lawyer, Jon Schoenhorn, did not respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment. State prosecutors had no comment.

For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter!

Read the original article on People.