Authorities searching the home of missing Connecticut mother Jennifer Dulos found blood and additional evidence that have led them to believe foul play was involved in her disappearance. The case is now being treated as a homicide.
The Hartford Courant reports that investigators found the evidence inside a New Canaan home where 50-year-old Jennifer Dulos lives with her five children. Detectives with the State Police Western District Crime Squad found traces of blood in the home, but it’s still unclear whether the blood has been matched to Jennifer. It’s also unclear what other evidence has been found.
The search for Jennifer has expanded from Connecticut to New York, where her late father, Hilliard Farber, once owned property in Pound Ridge, off of 40 Mallard Lake Road.
As CrimeOnline previously reported, Jennifer was last seen on Friday morning after dropping her children off at the New Canaan Country School in the prominent New Canaan community. Police later found her vehicle, a black 2017 Chevrolet Suburban, parked off of Lapham Road. Jennifer was nowhere to be found.
Since then, search dogs and search teams have scoured through wooded areas by Jennifer’s home, a 300-acre park, bodies of water and a cornfield, but have yet to find any signs of the missing woman.
As the search continues to unfold, court documents obtained by the Stamford Advocate shed light on the lengthy and tumultuous child custody battle between Jennifer and her husband, Fotis Dubos.
“I am afraid of my husband,” Jennifer said, according to court documents. “I know that filing for divorce and filing this motion will enrage him. I know he will retaliate by trying to harm me in some way.”
“During the course of our marriage, he told me about sickening revenge fantasies and plans to cause physical harm to others who have wronged him. I am afraid for my safety and the physical safety and emotional well-being of our minor children…..I believe him to be highly capable and vengeful enough to take the children and disappear.”
The pair share five children together, who are now between the ages of 8 and 13. According to court documents, Jennifer said her husband was “obsessed” with water skiing and tried to get their children involved in the sport as well.
Fotis reportedly insisted that their children become “world-class skiers” and would train them for 11 hours per day, which Jennifer considered excessive and dangerous for the kids.
When one of the children wanted a break from training, Fotis Dubos allegedly broke a ski on a rock in a fit of rage. Another child, according to court documents, developed mental health issues from alleged the intense, severe training.
“We are all terrified to disobey my husband,” Jennifer wrote.
Fotis Dubos, according to his lawyer, denies the allegations. He reportedly claimed that his children had their own choice and he never forced them to ski.
Jennifer also claimed that her husband bought a handgun, and she feared what he was capable of doing with it, given his “controlling, volatile, and delusional behavior.” Fotis Dubos later handed the gun over to police upon request.
As CrimeOnline previously reported, Jennifer filed for divorce in 2017, after 13 years of marriage. Prior to the divorce, the family lived in Farmington, but Jennifer took the children and moved to a New Canaan rental home. The home is situated in an area that was once was called “one of the nation’s wealthiest communities,” according to CNN Money.
Fotis apparently still lives at the Farmington home, and continues to manage his real estate development company, The Fore Group. However, he reportedly stopped making payments on the home and has it listed for sale.
On Thursday, FOX 61 went to Fotis’ home in Farmington to talk to him, but he didn’t answer the door and called police, complaining that a news crew was knocking on his door.
Since Jennifer’s disappearance, all five children have been staying with her mother in New York. An armed guard watches over the kids at all times, according to to Folis’ lawyer, Michael J. Rose. The attorney recently filed a request asking a judge to allow Fotis Dubos to see his children. It’s unclear whether a judge has yet ruled on the motion.
Court records also indicate that Jennifer’s family sued Fotis, claiming that the man owes them more than $2.5 million.
Prior to his death, Hilliard Farber loaned Fotis money to buy properties. Fotis would then construct high-end homes through his company. Once Fotis sold the homes, he would repay his father-in-law, but according to Farber, Fotis stopped making payments.
Fotis Dubos has not made public comment since his wife’s disappearance. According to court documents, however, he claimed Jennifer was the one who made threats toward him, the Hartford Courant reports.
“Í can have the mafia break your dad’s legs with a baseball bat,” Dulos claimed his wife said, according to court records.
Meanwhile, authorities are treating the case as criminal investigation as they continue to search for the missing mom. Earlier this week, her family released a statement indicating that Jennifer would have never left her children voluntarily.
“Those who know Jennifer know her to be a devoted mother; an extremely thoughtful, reliable, and organized woman; and attest that she would never, ever, disappear when she is responsible for the lives of five loving and energetic children…….Jennifer is 50 years of age, very slender, 5’7”, with a soft voice, dark brown eyes, and shoulder-length brown hair.”
No one has been named a suspect in Dulos’ disappearance. Anyone with information regarding Jennifer’s disappearance is urged to call the New Canaan Police Tip Line at 203-594-3544.
[Feature Photo: Jennifer Dulos/New Canaan PD via Instagram]
