Exclusive: State's Attorney, Investigators Meet With Woman Charged In Missing Conn. Mom Case
WESTPORT, Conn. (CBSNewYork) -- There's new information and what could be a major break in the case of missing Connecticut mother Jennifer Dulos, who is feared dead.
CBS2 was at the scene as investigators and the prosecutor showed up to interview a key witness.
CBS2's Tony Aiello uncovered the exclusive information.
#EXCLUSIVE Michelle Troconis and mother leave law office after spending 3 hours with State's Attorney and @CT_STATE_POLICE video team. All signs point to her cooperation in case of missing mom #JenniferDulos pic.twitter.com/bCanfBDvOd
— Tony Aiello (@AielloTV) June 6, 2019
Aiello was at the office of Andrew Bowman, the attorney for Michelle Troconis, who is charged with helping her boyfriend Fotis Dulos dispose of bloody evidence from the home of the missing woman.
WEB EXTRA: Timeline Of Investigation Into Jennifer Dulos's Disappearance
Four Connecticut State Police officers arrived at the lawyer's office Thursday, carrying audio visual recording equipment - the same equipment they use to take statements from suspects, Aiello reported.
A short time later, Richard Colangelo arrived. He's the State's Attorney for the Stamford-Norwalk district, which is prosecuting the case and supervising the Dulos investigation.
Several hours later, Troconis left the office.
Both Colangelo and Bowman refused comment.
Several legal experts Aiello spoke with told him the scenario makes it obvious Michelle Troconis has likely decided to cooperate with investigators and make a videotaped statement for the record.
Troconis was charged Tuesday with evidence tampering and obstruction for allegedly accompanying her boyfriend Fotis Dulos to Hartford to dispose of bloody evidence from the missing woman's home in New Canaan, Aiello reported.
Troconis walked free on $500,000 bond.
That day, Troconis's mother Miresela Arreaza was at the Stamford courthouse. On Thursday, she was also inside the law office as her daughter apparently cooperated with investigators, Aiello reported.
Early on, multiple police sources told Aiello an obvious police effort would be to convince Michelle Troconis to cooperate and flip against Fotis Dulos.
Philip Russell is a renowned local attorney who has been watching the case closely. He says Troconis's attorney Andrew Bowman has one overarching goal.
"Damage control. He's mitigating the punishment likely to befall her," Russell said. "Clearly these people believe she has the key to the unknown and unproveable in this case. This is a major development."
Jennifer Dulos, a mother of five, was last seen in New Canaan on May 24.
Wednesday, state police returned to the Farmington mansion she once shared with her estranged husband. The couple was in the midst of a divorce and custody battle when Jennifer Dulos disappeared.
Authorities say search warrants have been obtained and served on properties owned by Fotis Dulos, but they are not releasing details on their findings at this time.
RELATED STORY: Judge Agrees 5 Children Of Missing Connecticut Mother Should Remain With Grandmother In Manhattan
Investigators also spent a second day digging through garbage at the Materials Innovation and Recycling Authority in Hartford. Sources tell CBS affiliate WFSB they're looking for remains.
"Using heavy equipment, using cadaver dogs to search, and then hand-searching whatever might in fact be needed to be looked at even closer," law enforcement analyst J. Paul Vance said.
RELATED STORY: New Canaan Police Seek Surveillance Video In Search For Missing Connecticut Mother
Authorities say they have received more than 225 tips from the public regarding Jennifer Dulos' disappearance, and they received nearly 70 responses after requesting surveillance video from New Canaan residents and businesses to help them recreate the movements of the suspects.
Anyone with information that may assist law enforcement in their investigation should contact the New Canaan Police Department tip line at (203) 594-3544.