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Two Years After Jennifer Dulos' Disappearance, Domestic Violence Laws Set To Change

Frankie Graziano
/
Connecticut Public Radio
A memorial for Jennifer Farber Dulos was created outside the home of Fotis Dulos in January 2020.

Monday marks two years since Jennifer Farber Dulos was reported missing. The New Canaan mother of five is suspected to have been murdered by her estranged husband, Fotis Dulos, who committed suicide during the investigation. New Canaan Police Chief Leon Krolikowski said he thinks about Jennifer Dulos every day.

“Our investigators and the Connecticut State Police are always looking for another piece of information ... that could put the puzzle together and help us find Jennifer and bring her home and give her family closure,” said Krolikowski.

Her body has never been found, and the investigation remains active for New Canaan and state police.

Although the main suspect is dead, two others have been charged with conspiracy to commit murder: Fotis Dulos’ girlfriend, Michelle Troconis, and lawyer Kent Mawhinney.

Krolikowski believed this case gained international attention because it was a crime that’s all too familiar.

“I’ve said it many times: New Canaan is a very safe place to live, we have very little violent crime, but when it is, it’s domestic violence -- and I think a lot of people can relate to domestic violence and relationships and how things can go horribly wrong.”

Just this month, a bill nicknamed Jennifer’s Law passed in the state Senate. It would expand the definition of domestic violence to include coercive control.

This was something Liza Andrews of the Connecticut Coalition Against Domestic Violence fought for.

“Coercive control entails power and control over the victim through actions such as isolation, humiliation, intimidation, domination, it is not just a single incident,” she said.

Jennifer Dulos was denied an order of protection and emergency custody by a judge in 2017 because she couldn’t prove signs of physical abuse.

“Without a doubt what she experienced, and the coverage of that, has certainly helped to raise up the need to address the nonphysical form of domestic violence,” said Andrews.

Andrews said her organization has received even more calls for help since the pandemic began and that law enforcement is a partner in stopping domestic violence.

Although they no longer can help Jennifer Dulos, Krolikowski and Andrews said preventing this from happening to another woman will help bring some of the justice she deserves.

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