HARTFORD, Conn. _ An arrest warrant released late Wednesday for the first time outlines Connecticut state police investigators' theory of how Fotis Dulos may have killed his estranged wife, Jennifer Farber Dulos, saying they believe he was driving her SUV with her body inside after lying in wait for her the morning of May 24.
The 43-page arrest warrant affidavit details through the use of a variety of video surveillance systems how state police investigators believe Dulos traveled from his Farmington home early on May 24 to Farber Dulos' New Canaan home.
"Dulos was believed to have been lying in wait at 69 Welles Lane for his wife to return home," the affidavit states, referring to Jennifer Farber Dulos' home address. "The crime and cleanup are believed to have occurred between 8:05 a.m. and 10:25 a.m."
Accompanying a picture of Farber Dulos' Chevrolet Suburban driving away from the home at 10:25 a.m., state police investigators wrote: "Dulos is believed to be operating the victim's vehicle, which is carrying the body of Jennifer Dulos and a number of other items associated with the cleanup, which occurred in the garage of the residence."
Investigators believe Dulos drove to New Canaan in a red Toyota Tacoma owned by an employee of his home-building firm, the Fore Group. The vehicle, first seen in Fairfield about 6:30 a.m., was spotted heading north on the Merritt Parkway in New Canaan about 11:12 a.m.
Dulos was released Wednesday evening after posting a $500,000 bond and is scheduled to appear Sept. 12 in Superior Court in Norwalk. His attorney, Norm Pattis, said Wednesday evening that Dulos will plead not guilty to the charge.
The lengthy warrant affidavit details investigators' case that Dulos was driving the Tacoma pickup truck and in New Canaan the morning of May 24, the day Farber Dulos went missing, and later took steps to remove any potential evidence that might link him and that truck to his wife's disappearance.
Investigators later found Dulos' DNA in a swatch of fabric taken from a seat in that pickup truck containing a "bloodlike substance," according to the warrant affidavit.
Under repeated questioning, Dulos' girlfriend, Michelle Troconis, admitted that when the couple met at a Farmington home in the afternoon on May 24, she saw Dulos cleaning what he said was a coffee spill in the Tacoma, but when he handed her a stained rag, it did not smell like coffee, the affidavit read.
After returning the truck to his employee, Dulos repeatedly told the man to replace the seats in the truck and sell it, the man told investigators. The employee said Dulos was concerned about having hugged Farber Dulos on Mother's Day and was concerned police might find a hair in the car, the affidavit read.
The man removed the seats, but held onto them without telling Dulos in the event they were needed by police, he told investigators.
Norm Pattis, lawyer for Fotis Dulos, dismissed the importance of the detailed affidavit.
"It is difficult to see why the state waited for months to serve this warrant. It was unnecessary," Pattis said.
"Apparently, Michelle has changed her tune and a handyman is telling tales to deflect attention from himself. We wish the state police spent more time looking for Jennifer and less trying to build a case against Fotis. We will plead not guilty to these charges next week in Norwalk."
