A bombshell has dropped in the Jennifer Farber Dulos case. After years of silence and speculation, former attorney Kent Mawhinney has cut a deal with prosecutors, admitting guilt but dodging the most serious charge in a move that’s enraged many close to the case.
What’s the deal?
Kent Mawhinney, Fotis Dulos’ friend & former attorney, whom State Police charged with conspiracy to commit murder more than 5 years ago, is now a free man. The latest developments from court, along with reaction from the family & friends of Jennifer Farber Dulos @ 4, 5 & 6. #WFSB pic.twitter.com/ZU3AgwxBe1
— Matt McFarland (@MattMcFarland3) June 13, 2025
On June 13, 2025, in a stunning courtroom twist, Mawhinney entered an Alford plea to a misdemeanor count of interfering with police. While not an outright confession, the plea acknowledges that the state had enough evidence to convict him. The conspiracy to commit murder charge—once the most serious accusation hanging over his head—was dropped. He walked out of court a free man, having already served 11 months behind bars.
Who is Jennifer Farber Dulos?
TODAY: Michelle Troconis appeared in court for the first time since she was convicted on all six charges against her, related to the death of Jennifer Farber Dulos. Now, she's back in court for a separate charge, which came about during her trial.
— Julia LeBlanc (@JuliaLeBlancTV) March 21, 2024
Details tonight on @FOX61News pic.twitter.com/18o2hkAi37
Dulos, a Connecticut mother of five, vanished without a trace on May 24, 2019. She had just dropped her children off at school when she disappeared. Police later found blood in her garage and ominous clues that pointed to a violent altercation. Dulos’ body has never been found.
Her estranged husband, real estate developer Fotis Dulos, quickly became the prime suspect. His girlfriend, Michelle Troconis, was also arrested. Fotis died by suicide in January 2020, before he could stand trial.
Fotis’ alleged motive is often linked to his bitter divorce and custody battle, with investigators believing he wanted to end the proceedings and secure sole custody of their five children, amplified by financial and emotional stress.
Others point to his controlling personality and possible narcissism, suggesting he may have felt humiliated by Jennifer’s departure and used manipulation or worse to reassert dominance
Troconis, meanwhile, was convicted in March 2024 of conspiracy, tampering with evidence, and hindering prosecution. She’s now serving over 14 years behind bars.
Mawhinney’s chilling connection
Mawhinney wasn’t just a friend to Fotis Dulos: He was also his lawyer. Investigators say Mawhinney played a key role in the cover-up, helping Fotis create a bogus alibi. It gets creepier. Days before Jennifer vanished, a suspicious hole resembling a grave was discovered on property linked to Mawhinney.
Though no body was ever found there, the implication was sinister enough. Prosecutors also alleged that Mawhinney misled police by falsifying phone records, further muddying the waters in this high-profile mystery.
Mawhinney is off the hook
Mawhinney was charged in January 2020 with conspiracy to commit murder. But for over four years, his legal team fought tooth and nail to keep the case from going to trial. Now, in a carefully negotiated plea deal, he’s off the hook for conspiracy—but not without consequence. The court officially accepted his plea acknowledging that there was enough evidence to convict.
Prosecutors admitted the evidence wasn’t strong enough to ensure a conviction on the murder conspiracy charge. Mawhinney’s lawyers celebrated the outcome, calling it a win for justice, claiming their client had no knowledge of a murder plot. But don’t be fooled—an Alford plea is a legal gray area that still leaves plenty of room for guilt.
Jennifer’s family is heartbroken but not surprised. They say the plea offers some closure, but no real justice. Jennifer’s body is still missing. Her children still don’t have answers. Her family still waits.
Troconis’s supporters are furious. Her family slammed the deal as a double standard, calling it proof of selective prosecution. How is it that Troconis is behind bars for over a decade while Mawhinney, whose alleged role was just as vital, gets to walk free?
Mawhinney will never practice law again
Mawhinney may be a free man, but he’ll never practice law again. He admitted, under oath, to interfering with the investigation of one of Connecticut’s most horrifying missing-person cases. The conspiracy charge has vanished—but the suspicion hasn’t.
The fact remains: Jennifer is still missing. Her husband, the prime suspect, is dead. Her accused accomplice is behind bars. And the third player in the trio? He just walked out of court, guilty but unpunished.
This latest twist in the Jennifer Dulos saga may bring the courtroom drama closer to an end, but it opens a deeper wound for those still searching for the truth. Kent Mawhinney’s deal might save him from prison, but it won’t save his legacy. And as long as Jennifer remains missing, the shadow of guilt will hang over everyone involved.
