Jennifer Dulos Farder.
The mother of five disappeared from her home in May 2019, and it was later discovered that she was in the midst of acustody battle with her estranged husband, Fotis Dulos.
In August, Jennifer’s mother, Gloria Farber, who has been caring for the five children since her daughter’s disappearance, filed a petition to the Darien-New Canaan Probate Court to declare Jennifer dead,NBC Connecticutreported. The filing was made in an effort to protect the kids and their right to their mother’s assets.
“The inescapable conclusion is Jennifer is deceased,” Judge William P. Osterndorf wrote in the decision, per the outlet.
Osterndorf cited the fact that “more than four years have passed” since Jennifer was last seen, and her family members have not “been contacted” since May 2019, nor has her body been located as the reasoning behind his decision to declare the 50-year-old dead.
Jennifer Farber Dulos.New Canaan Police Department
Richard Weinstein, a lawyer for Jennifer’s mother, said that they were “concerned” about Farber “being 88 years of age” and didn’t want to wait another three years for Connecticut law to automatically presume Jennifer dead, the outlet reported.
“As long as Jennifer’s status was undecided, then the children could not inherit from her or from her mother,” Weinstein said of the petition.
Fotis wascharged with murder in her presumed deathseven months after her disappearance. His girlfriend, Michelle Troconis, and his civil lawyer were also charged with conspiracy to commit murder.
On the day Jennifer vanished, Bloodstains were found in the garage of her New Canaan home, indicating a violent struggle, Connecticut State Police said at the time.
Shortly thereafter, her black Chevy Suburban was found abandoned near a local park several miles away.
Police alleged that Fotis was lying in wait for his estranged wife on the day she died, according to court documents.
Jennifer Farber Dulos.New Canaan Police Department/Instagram
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Fotis pleaded not guilty to the murder charge and later was found unresponsive in the garage of his home after anattempted suicide. Hediedtwo days later, and themurder charges against him were droppeddue to his inability to stand trial.
Likewise, Troconis pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to commit murder and is expected in court in Connecticut on Thursday, per the CT Insider. She also faces charges of conspiracy to tamper with physical evidence, tampering with physical evidence and hindering prosecution.
source: people.com
