Police were searching the Farmington home of the man accused in the murder of his estranged wife Jennifer Dulos, one day after he attempted to kill himself in that home’s garage. NBC New York’s Sarah Wallace reports.
What to Know
- Jennifer Dulos, a mother of five from suburban Connecticut, vanished in late May after dropping her children off at school
- Her estranged husband, Fotis Dulos, attempted to take his own life at his Farmington home on Jan. 28 before a bond hearing
- Fotis Dulos was previously arrested on murder and other charges; his ex-girlfriend is charged with conspiracy
Police in Connecticut executed a search warrant at the Connecticut home of Fotis Dulos, just one day after the man accused of murdering his long-missing wife tried to take his own life.
Dulos remained in critical condition in a New York City hospital intensive care unit Wednesday, his attorneys said. The man's sister and another relative were coming to the city from Greece to see him, and his attorneys say he may not recover.
The Western District Major Crimes unit obtained the warrant for the Farmington home on Jefferson Crossing and detectives were executing it Wednesday afternoon, the town's police said on Twitter.
It was not immediately clear what police may be searching for in the home, or why the search warrant was executed after Dulos' attempted suicide.
It is the same the home where Dulos was found unresponsive in his garage, apparently from carbon monoxide poisoning, when he failed to appear for an emergency bond hearing in Connecticut Tuesday. Describing his condition as "perilous," lead attorney Norm Pattis said the potential for a bond revocation was devastating news to his client but "not once did it ever occur to me that he might be a risk of suicide."
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Dulos' attorneys were back in court for a bond hearing on Wednesday afternoon. During the bond hearing, it was determined that a new bonding company will look into compiling a new $6 million bail package since the initial bonding company is off the hook. The bail, technically, has not been revoked. If it were revoked, he would technically be in New York City custody and that would limit access by family members to visit him in the hospital.
Additionally, during the court hearing, both parties have agreed that when and if Dulos does get better, he will be rearrested and extradited back to Connecticut. Due to his condition, which Pattis described as "dire" and "grim" on Wednesday and the fact that his bail was technically not revoked, his family is currently allowed to visit him while he is hospitalized.
Although Dulos is not in custody in New York due to his medical condition, Pattis did say that "there are guards posted."
Dulos has been under house arrest since he was taken into custody this month on murder and other charges in the disappearance of his wife Jennifer. She vanished in May; no body has been found.
Pattis, who said he was away in Washington, D.C., when Dulos tried to take his own life, refused to speculate why his client may have tried to end his own life. Pattis said he had previous clients attempt suicide and he always wondered what he could have done better.
"I feel that I let him down, that he trusted me to be his good shepherd through the valley of the shadow of death and perhaps he reached out and I didn't hear what he needed, and I feel a sense of responsibility for his welfare," Pattis told NBC News.
Meanwhile, police declined to say Tuesday if they found any indications, such as a note, that would suggest it was a suicide attempt, saying the investigation was "too early" to conclude that.
Dulos was first transported to UConn Health Center to be treated for carbon monoxide poisoning, then airlifted to a hyberbaric chamber at the Bronx's Jacobi Medical Center. He was removed from that chamber Tuesday night.
The emergency hearing Tuesday had been called to address whether there was adequate security for his $6 million bond. On Wednesday, April Wallace, with Palmetto Surety Corporation, the company that secured Dulos' bond, told NBC News they had called the hearing after finding that one of the six properties that Dulos had used for collateral was foreclosed in December.
Between $1 million and $2 million in equity was tied to the property to meet the bond, but since it was foreclosed, "we would not be able to see any of it," Wallace said. The Connecticut Insurance Department first alerted Palmetto Surety that there might be issues with the collateral, she added.
Meanwhile, people who live in the Fairfield County town where Jennifer Dulos lived and is believed to have been murdered were shocked at the latest development — with many saying the suicide attempt convinced them more than ever that he may be guilty.
"Could be guilt. Maybe he had something to do with it. I don’t think you act like that if you don’t have a guilty conscience," Deshawn Richardson said.
Another New Canann resident said it "proves he doesn't has his conscience very clear. "
In a message to the people who speculated the reason for Dulos' attempted suicide, Pattis said, "If they made up their minds before seeing the evidence ... then shame on you."
The 52-year-old father was arrested on murder and kidnapping charges Jan. 7 in connection with what authorities say was the killing of Jennifer Dulos, who hasn't been seen since she dropped her children off at school on May 24. Authorities cited circumstantial evidence, including DNA testing and surveillance camera footage, in arrest warrants. He has denied any involvement in her disappearance or death.
Police allege Fotis Dulos lay in wait at Jennifer Dulos' home in New Canaan for her to return after dropping the children off at school. Authorities say Fotis Dulos attacked the woman in her garage, leaving behind a bloody crime scene, and drove off with her body, which has not been found.
Dulos' former girlfriend, Michelle Troconis, was charged with conspiracy to commit murder. She is also under the same house arrest and GPS monitoring conditions. Also facing that charge: Dulos' friend, attorney Kent Mawhinney. Police said they helped Fotis Dulos try to cover up the killing, including by creating bogus alibis.
Last week, Dulos waived his right to a probable cause hearing so he could ask for a speedy trial that may start as early as next fall.
