Michelle Troconis trial: Jennifer Dulos hired bodyguard as she was scared of killer husband, claims nanny
FARMINGTON, CONNECTICUT: During the ongoing trial of Michelle Troconis, the nanny of slain Jennifer Dulos testified that the Connecticut mother had hired an armed bodyguard while plotting to escape from her husband, Fotis Dulos, almost two years before her disappearance.
During the highly awaited trial of Troconis, 49, accused of aiding her late boyfriend and Jennifer's ex-husband in concealing the alleged murder on May 24, 2019, nanny Lauren Almeida, 32, recounted a chilling story of the 50-year-old mother of five's frantic efforts to protect herself and her children.
What did Lauren Almeida say during her testimony?
According to Almeida's testimony on day four of the trial at Stamford Superior Court, Jennifer was terrified of what Fotis might do if she filed for divorce while still living under the same roof. In June 2017, she fled from her Connecticut home to a Manhattan hotel as she planned to file for divorce. "The plan was, she told him that we were all going to be visiting her father's grave and we were going to New York," Almeida said.
"We went to New York often because that's where Jennifer's parents were. We left that afternoon I believe. We just got in the car and the plan was to stay at a hotel that we've never stayed in before, so we stayed at the Mandarin Oriental in the city. Jennifer hired a bodyguard to be outside of her room because she was afraid, because her plan was to file for divorce once we were in the city in the hotel," the nanny told the court, as per Daily Mail.
Lone Michelle Troconis faces charges in Jennifer Dulos' murder cover-up
The trial has been closely watched as American-Venezuelan socialite and former TV host Troconis faces charges related to her alleged involvement in covering up Jennifer's murder, orchestrated by Fotis. However, the 52-year-old took his own life in January 2020 after Connecticut prosecutors charged him with the murder of his estranged wife.
According to prosecutors, Fotis allegedly assaulted Jennifer at her New Canaan residence, subsequently discarding bloodied items in 30 trash bins with assistance from Troconis. Regrettably, the mother of five's body has never been recovered.
The trial is set to continue for six weeks, with Troconis facing charges of conspiracy to commit murder, evidence tampering, and hindering prosecution.
