Cops in Connecticut arrested estranged husband of missing mother-of-five along with his Argentine girlfriend, a day after authorities obtained DNA and hair samples from the pair

Real estate developer Fotis Dulos and his girlfriend Michelle Troconis, were arrested on Saturday related to the disappearance of Jennifer Dulos, 50

Fotis is the estranged husband of  Jennifer Farber Dulos, with whom he is locked in a custody battle over their five children after a 14-year marriage

Fotis, 51, and Troconis, 44, both have been charged with hindering prosecution and tampering with evidence, and Troconis has been booked on similar charges 

Some 20 state police units including half a dozen K9 units began searching a second Farmington property owned by Fotis’s company, The Fore Group, on Sunday morning

The search efforts concentrated around  the back of the 80 Mountain Spring property, next to a wooded area

Authorities obtained a search warrant for the the estranged couple’s primary residence at Jefferson Crossing home  in Farmington on Friday

After filing for divorce, Jennifer and her children moved from the family’s luxury home in Farmington to a home she rented in New Canaan, Ct., in June 2017

Jennifer was last seen leaving her children at day care on May 24, four days before Fotis sought sole custody

After they were questioned, Fotis and Troconis were taken to a police station where they gave DNA samples 

Fotis Dulos, [right], the estranged husband of the missing mother-of-five, and his girlfriend, Michelle Troconis, [left], were arrested on Saturday related to the disappearance of Fotis’s estranged wife Jennifer Farber Dulos

The estranged husband of a missing Connecticut mom and his girlfriend have been arrested Saturday, in a case that has changed status from a missing person to a case of possible homicide.
Fotis Dulos, 51, and his partner Michelle Troconis, 44, were taken into custody around 11 p.m. Saturday in Avon, Ct., according to the New Canaan police department, police said.
Both suspects were charged with tampering with evidence and hindering prosecution, authorities said.
Dulos’ estranged wife and mom-of-five Jennifer Dulos disappeared May 24. She lives in New Canaan.
After obtaining DNA from estranged husband of missing Connecticut  mother-of-five, Jennifer Farber Dulos, police are searching Farmington properties connected to the real estate developer.
Connecticut police have initiated a large scale search of a second property owned by the man who has been arrested, along with his girlfriend, related to the disappearance of his estranged wife more than one week ago.


The massive search conducted by 20 state police units including at least six K9 units began combing a second property owned by the Fore Group, which is Fotis Dulos company, in Farmington on Sunday morning, after Fotis, 51, and his girlfriend, Michelle Troconis, 44, were arrested on Saturday related to the disappearance of Jennifer Farber Dulos, 50.
Fotis is the estranged husband of Jennifer of New Canaan, Connecticut, who is the the mother of his five children and has been missing for more than a week. He has been charged with hindering prosecution and tampering with evidence, and Troconis has been booked on similar charges.

Jennifer Dulos [left] was last seen on May 24 dropping her five children off at day care. Her estranged husband Fotis Dulos [right], was  questioned by police shortly after 6pm on the grounds of his Jefferson Crossing home in Farmington, Ct. on Friday evening. On Sunday cops announced his arrest along with his partner

Fotis Dulos was arrested in Avon, Connecticut on Saturday at around 11pm and processed at the New Canaan Police headquarters, Fox News reported.
On Sunday at Fotis’s home located at 80 Mountain Spring in Farmington, there was a forensics van at the back of the property, parked out of sight from the driveway which was being guarded by a Connecticut State Trooper.
The search seemed to be focused on the back of the property, which abutts a heavily wooded area.
Jennifer Farber Dulos was last seen on May 24 dropping her five children off at day care. 

Jennifer and Fotis Dulos are in the midst of a bitter custody battle, with Fotis filing for sole custody of their kids on Tuesday, four days after their mother disappeared after dropping them off at day care on May 24.
Fotis was arrested on Saturday, after authorities questioned him shortly after 6pm on the grounds of his mansion in on Jefferson Crossing in Farmington, Connecticut on Friday.

 

Intense search continue Sunday morning  at Fotis’s 80 Mountain Spring home, in Farmington Ct. Twenty state police units including several K9 units began searching this other property owned by The Fore Group,, the luxury home builder owned by Fotis Dulos

On Friday, Connecticut police obtained DNA samples from Fotis while they searched his $4.3million, 14,000-square-foot home on Jefferson Crossing for clues.
Investigators served a search warrant to Fotis and spent Friday and Saturday morning looking for evidence at his massive Farmington property near Hartford, according to the Hartford Courant.
The search of that property was suspended on Saturday afternoon and was expected to resume on Sunday, before police were spotted at the 80 Mountain Spring estate.

The lead detective who questioned Fotis late last week was on the scene, appearing to oversee the search of the home.
As of late Saturday night and early Sunday morning, lights were on at Fotis’s Jefferson Crossing house and police stationed there were on duty securing the area.

The search seemed to be focused on the back of the property, which adjoins a heavily wooded area

Heavy police presence as the search at the Mountain Spring property begins. Police are treating the investigation as both a missing person case as well as a criminal matter

Police K9 unit prowls the grounds of the home owned by Fotis at 80 Mountain Spring in Farmington, Ct. on Sunday morning as as the search for Jennifer Farber Dulos continues

Police are treating the investigation as both a missing person case as well as a criminal matter.
Fotis Duloswas seen speaking to authorities shortly after 6pm on Friday evening on the grounds of his mansion and was escorted from that home by officers shortly thereafter.
A convoy of police vehicles arrived at the property and at first spoke to Fotis at the rear of the home before entering with him and his girlfriend, Troconis.

Around an hour later, Dulos and his partner accompanied police left were taken to give hair and DNA samples to investigators, according to the Hartford Courant.

Earlier on Friday, officers had returned to dredge the murky water of a pond in Waveny Park, New Canaan, close to where Jennifer’s ’ black Chevy Suburban was discovered after she was reported missing more than one week ago.

Fotis Dulos [in the gray shirt], is questioned by state police at his Farmington home on Friday evening, as Troconis hugs a child [left], before leaving the pair left the property

Police have also revealed they found traces of blood at Jennifer’s rented home in New Canaan, where she lives with her five children.
Farmington Police Department confirmed earlier this week the existence of ‘several incident reports’ relating to the Dulos’ family home at Jefferson Crossing, but later stated late Friday that they were no longer authorized to release the reports due to the ongoing investigation.

Fotis and Jennifer’s children are currently being cared for by their maternal grandmother in New York City under the protection of an armed guard.
New Canaan Police Lt. Jason Ferraro said the case is not classed as a homicide but the investigation is a missing person and criminal case.
No body has been recovered.

A K9 officer and a search dog are seen above at the Jefferson Crossing property on Friday. Dulos lives in a $4.3million, 14,000-square-foot home on Jefferson Crossing in Farmington, a suburb outside of Hartford, Connecticut

State police were also seen at Dulos’ Jefferson Crossing home on Friday.
On Friday, five unmarked police cars arrived at the Jefferson Crossing home shortly before 6.00 pm Officers walked up to front door and knocked and no one answered, then checked the rear of the property.
They started canvassing the area. Around 20 minutes after police arrived, Fotis pulled up in a black SUV and went into his driveway.

Officers spoke to him for five minutes in the car before he got out. When he got out of the car, he had a backpack and it was searched by officers.
Fotis then walked with police into his home. They were in the home for 15 minutes and then he re-emerged onto the driveway with one officer while other police were still in the house.

Officers spoke with Fotis and his girlfriend before the couple got into his black SUV and drove off the property escorted by police

Fotis’s girlfriend, Michelle Troconis, [right], also got out the car and shook hands with the officer

Shortly afterwards a white Jeep pulled in and an older woman with a young girl got out.
Fotis’s girlfriend, who a source confirmed is Troconis, also got out the car and shook hands with the officer.
The three talked for five minutes in the driveway and then police escorted her into the house. She emerged ten minutes later with a travel bag, accompanied by the young girl and the older woman.
The young girl was kissed goodbye by Troconis and the older woman, believed to be a nanny, left in the white Jeep.
Fotis got into his black SUV with his girlfriend and drove off the property escorted by police.
Police searching for Jennifer returned to the park where her car was found to search its murky pond on Friday.

It is the second time they have searched it and it remains unclear what led them to go back.   

On Thursday, search teams visited a house that previously belonged to Jennifer’s late father, but it is unclear if they found anything.  

Search teams are shown on Thursday. Search teams returned to Waveny Park in Connecticut on Friday to search its pond. Investigators also searched an old house that belonged to Jennifer’s late father and her home in New Canaan

Jennifer [right], has been locked in a vicious custody battle with her estranged husband, Fotis Dulos, [left] for the last two years. In 2017 divorce filing, she claimed she was ‘afraid’ of him, stating that he would ‘harm’ her

In a statement Friday, Jennifer’s family thanked well-wishers for their support and made an emotional plea for her to come home.
‘We miss her beyond measure – her five young children, her family, her friends, colleagues, and neighbors, as well as countless people who have never met her but who have responded to the spirit of grace and kindness that Jennifer embodies,’ they said.
‘Jennifer, we love you and we miss you, and we remain hopeful that you will return to us safe and sound.’
Jennifer was last seen on the morning of May 24 in the wealthy town of New Canaan when she dropped her children off at school.
Jennifer has been locked in a vicious custody battle with her estranged husband for the last two years.
She was ‘afraid’ of her partner and feared he would harm her in retaliation for their 2017 divorce.
DailyMail.com previously revealed that in 2017, Fotis called 911 claiming he did not know where his family was.
It was the night before Jennifer filed for divorce.  In her filing, she said: ‘I know that filing for divorce, and filing this motion will enrage him.
‘I know he will retaliate by trying to harm me in some way.’

Fotis and Jennifer have twin boys, a twin boy and girl, and a daughter. The children are between the ages of eight and 13. 

Police found traces of blood which they say someone had tried to clean up in this New Canaan, Ct

Friends of Dulos describe her as an ‘incredibly devoted mother’ who would never leave her children behind voluntarily.
‘She is the most reliable and conscientious person I know,’ said Carrie Luft. ‘She is never late for anything, she shows up early to everything in her life.’
‘She is engaged in her children’s lives. They make up her entire world.’
Friends reported Jennifer missing on Friday night after they hadn’t heard from her for 10 hours and discovered she had missed several appointments that day.

After filing for divorce, Jennifer and her children moved from the family’s luxury home in Farmington on Jefferson Crossing (pictured) to a home she rented in New Canaan in June 2017

Jennifer claimed that Fotis had been obsessed with water skiing during their marriage and put their children through a strenuous regimen that would turn them in world-class water skiiers

Although the court forbade exposure to romantic partners as part of the Couple’s temporary custody agreement. However Jennifer said,  Fotis who cheated on her, then told her he planned to move his new partner Michelle Troconos [photo], and daughter into the home 

Authorities later found Jennifer’s car, a black 2017 Chevrolet Suburban, near Waveny Park, which is about a mile from her home in New Canaan.
Detectives then shifted their search to the 300-acre park on Wednesday, scouring a wooded area, pond, and cornfield with K-9 officers and a police drone.
Jennifer’s mother was also fighting Fotis in court, claiming he owed her $2.5million in property loans.
Court records detail years of alleged abuse.
‘During the course of our marriage, he told me about sickening revenge fantasies and plans to cause physical harm to others who have wronged him,’ Jennifer said in her June 2017 filing.
‘I am afraid for my safety and the physical safety and emotional well-being of our minor children.’
In August 2017, Jennifer claimed that Fotis almost struck her with his car in her driveway in front of their children and called her ‘insane’.
‘Why don’t you pop another pill,’ he said, according to the court motion. ‘You should be put in an insane asylum. You’re an unfit mother.’
He also allegedly told her: ‘I can do whatever I want. You don’t have a restraining order.’
Jennifer filed an emergency order for full custody of her children in July 2017, saying that she feared her estranged husband would kidnap their children.
‘I believe him to be highly capable and vengeful enough to take the children and disappear,’ she wrote in the filing. Her request was denied.
Jennifer claimed that Fotis had threatened to ‘take all of the children’ and ‘disappear’ in his native Greece or another country. She alleged he told her ‘you will never find us.’

The desperate search for missing Connecticut mother-of-five Jennifer Dulos, 50, continues as family revealed that her children missed her ‘terribly’

In one filing, Jennifer claimed that Fotis had applied for Greek passports for himself and their five children, according to the Hartford Courant.
The couple had both been required to turn over their US passports as part of their temporary custody agreement.
Jennifer also claimed that Fotis had been obsessed with water skiing during their marriage and insisted that their children train to become world-class water skiiers.
She alleged that he put them on a ‘dangerous and excessive’ training regiment, sometimes making them practice up to 11 hours in a day.
Fotis allegedly threw a ski against a rock, breaking it, when one of his children refused to train one day.
‘We are all terrified to disobey my husband,’ Jennifer wrote in the affidavit.
Jennifer said her children wanted to stop water skiing and begged for her help.
She also claims the training was so intense that one of her son’s developed severe issues with his mental health because of it.
She mentioned this while noting that Fotis had purchased a handgun that he kept in the house.
‘I am terrified for my family’s safety, especially since discovering the gun, since my husband has a history of controlling, volatile, and delusional behavior,’ she wrote.
‘I am concerned that one of the children will find it, especially in light of my concerns with our son.’
Fotis later turned the gun over to the Farmington Police Department.
After filing for divorce, Jennifer and her children moved from the family’s multi-million dollar home on Jefferson Crossing to Farmington to a home she rented in New Canaan in June 2017.

Fotis Dulos [right] and his alleged current partner Michelle Troconis [left], seen in November announcing real estate awards won by the Fore Group

FFotis still lives in the Jefferson Crossing home, where he operates his real estate development company The Fore Group.
For more than a decade, Jennifer’s family have loaned money to Fotis to spport his real estate business, according to court documents.
Her father, the late Hilliard Farber, would lend Fotis money so that he could buy properties to build luxury homes. After selling the homes, he would repay Farber.
Jennifer’s mother Gloria and Hilliard’s estate claim that Fotis has since stopped making repayments on the loans, alleging that he owes more than $2.5million.
They also claim that Fotis has stopped paying the mortgage on the couple’s six-bedroom Farmington home, which had been guaranteed by Hilliard and Farber.
In a 2017 court filing, Jennifer claimed that she and Fotis had previously agreed they would separate and she and the children would move to her mother’s house in Pound Ridge, New York while he would stay in the Jefferson Crossing home.
However Jennifer stated,  Fotis cheated on her, then told her he planned to move his new partner Michelle Troconos, and daughter into the home – even though the court forbade exposure to romantic partners, as a condition of the custody negotiations.

The couple now under investigation, Jennifer’s estranged husband, ski buff Fotis Dulos [left] and his girlfriend Michelle Troconis [right], at a water ski tournament with children in a photo shared to social media on June 16, 2016

The presence of After Fotis Argentinian lover Michelle troconis [photo], in the  Jefferson Crossing house, be came a flashpoint in the custody proceedings, leading to  the judge limiting his access to their’ children.

After Fotis allowed his Argentinian lover to stay at the Jefferson Crossing house, the judge began limiting his access to the Dulos’ children

She also said that, around the same time, Fotis would switch between ‘telling me our marriage is over and threatening me that he will never allow me to divorce him’.
After Fotis allowed his Argentinian lover to stay at the Jefferson Crossing house, the judge began limiting his access to the Dulos’ children.
‘In view of the close bond among all five children the court finds it highly likely that all five of the children have been adversely impacted by the breakdown of their parents marriage, the defendant’s relationship with [his Argentine lover], and the pressure that the defendant has placed on them to lie,’ the judge wrote.
A court-appointed guardian recommended that Fotis have limited access to his children and that all visits be supervised and all phone calls be taped.
In January 2018, the court suspended Fotis’ phone privileges with his children after he cried during a conversation with them.