Mawhinney To Testify Against Troconis In Jennifer Dulos Case

STAMFORD, CT — Though the case is a long way from trial due to coronavirus delays, if Michelle Troconis is tried in the Jennifer Farber Dulos disappearance case, co-defendant Kent Mawhinney will be one of those called to testify, according to Assistant State's Attorney Daniel Cummings.

The prosecutor dropped the news Tuesday during a virtual hearing before Superior Court Judge John Blawie in which Troconis' attorney, Jon Schoenhorn, argued he has yet to receive all the evidentiary materials from Mawhinney's interrogation by state police that aided his release from custody.

"Did he sing for his supper, to use an old phrase?" Schoenhorn asked.

Cummings, while not responding directly to Schoenhorn's rhetorical question, said that Mawhinney's testimony would be just one element of the state's case against Troconis. But Cummings was quick to add that Mawhinney is not considered to be the state's "star witness."

Both Troconis and Mawhinney are facing conspiracy to commit murder charges in the Jennifer Dulos case. The two are accused of helping the late Fotis Dulos kidnap and murder Jennifer, his estranged wife.

Jennifer Dulos vanished from her New Canaan home on May 24, 2019, and is presumed to be dead. Fotis and Jennifer Dulos were in the midst of a contentious divorce and custody battle over their five children at the time of her disappearance.

Her body has not been found, but authorities continue the search. Fotis Dulos, who was charged with murdering her, took his own life in January 2020 before he could stand trial. Mawhinney is one of Fotis' former friends; Troconis is Fotis' former girlfriend.

Troconis and Mawhinney have pleaded not guilty, and both are free on bond. Mawhinney remained in custody for the balance of 2020, because he initially was unable to raise enough money for bond. His bond was lowered in the fall, and he was allowed to visit his ailing father out of state.

Schoenhorn is seeking to have the charges against his client dropped, in part because he claimed in a motion that the "warrant for arrest was false or recklessly disregarded the truth, and was derived from illegally obtained information."

Additionally, Schoenhorn again argued to have the GPS tracking device removed from Troconis' ankle, arguing that his client has worn it for more than a year and half, and she has "proven that she follows directions" concerning her release on bond.

Troconis has been allowed to travel out of state on multiple occasions to be with her daughter and visit her father, who at one point contracted the coronavirus, according to Schoenhorn and prosecutors.

On Tuesday, Blawie again denied the request, stressing that wearing the monitoring device has not impacted her ability to work. The judge, however, said that he would allow Troconis to wear a GPS tracking device on her wrist instead, if the state's probation department offers such technology.

Troconis has been charged three times in the case, having been arrested twice on tampering charges and once on conspiracy to commit murder, and prosecutors are trying to join all the cases into one. The state argues, in part, that the cases have cross-admissible evidence.

Schoenhorn, however, opposes that motion because he believes it is too early in the process to determine what is cross-admissible and what is not.

Blawie has not yet ruled on the state's motion but will soon, he said.

Troconis' next court appearance was not yet scheduled; Mawhinney's next court appearance is set for April 5.

The Dulos case:

• New Details On How Jennifer Dulos May Have Died: Warrant
• Jennifer Dulos' Killer Still At Large, Says Fotis Dulos' Family
• Finding Jennifer Dulos Remains '#1 Focus' For Chief Prosecutor
• Jennifer Dulos Was Never In 'Human Grave' Prosecutor Says: Report
• Shocking Details Revealed In Case Of Missing New Canaan Mom
• The Haggling Over Fotis Dulos Estate Has Begun: Report
• Jennifer Dulos Case: New Updates As Mystery Remains Unsolved
• New DNA Evidence Disclosed In Jennifer Dulos Disappearance
• New Documentary Explores Jennifer Dulos Murder Mystery
• Law Enforcement Convinced Someone Knows Where Jennifer Dulos Is