The lawyer for a man accused of tampering with evidence in connection with the disappearance of Connecticut mom Jennifer Dulos, says that woman wrote her own “Gone Girl” style novel before disappearing.
New York Post reports that Norm Pattis, a lawyer for Jennifer’s estranged husband, Fotis Dulos, stated Jennifer wrote a 500-page manuscript years ago that’s reminiscent of “Gone Girl,” a book about a woman who fakes her own death but leaves behind that clues that points to her husband as the killer. The attorney reportedly admitted to the outlet that he had yet to actually read Jennifer’s manuscript.
“This is a person who has a pretty florid imagination and motives to use it to hurt Mr. Dulos,” Pattis explained.
The attorney also reportedly added that Jennifer was a heroin addict with psychiatric issues who “had a relationship with a person who would import heroin from Cambodia,” and once “lived for years under a false name” when she allegedly disappeared from New York previously.
“From our perspective this is a perfect storm: a mysterious illness we don’t know about, a history of substance abuse, and a history of having disappeared,” said Pattis.
“If she were critically ill, thought she was about ready to lose control of her children, disappearing in such a way that made it look as though [her husband] were the culprit is the best piss off you can give somebody.”
A family friend laughed at the claims of Jennifer having psychiatric issue. The friend also said they read Jennifer’s manuscript which “has nothing in common with “Gone Girl,'” according to the Post.
The reason she had a different name at one point, according to according an attorney for Jennifer’s family member, is because she was using a pen name to write. The lawyer also said Jennifer has never had a substance abuse problem.
“It’s a classic act of desperation to slander the victim,” Anne Dranginis, lawyer for Jennifer’s mother, Gloria Farber, told The Post.
As CrimeOnline previously reported, Jennifer was last seen on May 24 around 8 a.m. while 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. A cleaning service arrived to her home at noon on Friday but Jennifer was not there.
Jennifer also missed several appointments that day, including one at 11 a.m. and one at 1 p.m. Since she vanished, she has not used her cellphone or her credit cards.
Search dogs and search teams scoured through wooded areas by Jennifer’s home, as well as a 300-acre park, bodies of water and a cornfield. Authorities spent days at a large dump facility, searching for any clues.
- Bags of blood-stained clothing and sponges that Dulos allegedly dropped into trash cans at businesses in Connecticut
- Stains of blood on Jennifer’s garage floor
- Blood spatter in numerous areas of Jennifer’s home
- Dulos’ DNA mixed in with Jennifer’s blood on her kitchen faucet
- Obvious attempts to clean up the scene
- Altered Connecticut license plates that belonged to Dulos
- Security footage of Dulos driving his Ford pickup to various locations, dropping trash bags into different public trash receptacles
- Security footage of Troconis “leaning out of the passenger seat of the Ford pickup and either placing something on the ground or picking up an item”
Meanwhile, as the search for Jennifer continues, court documents obtained by the Stamford Advocate shed light on the lengthy and tumultuous child custody battle between Jennifer and her husband
“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.
Jennifer filed for divorce in 2017, after 13 years of marriage. Prior to the divorce, the family lived in Farmington with Fotis, 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.
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 Fotis’ 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. Fortis would then construct high-end homes through his company. Once Fortis sold the homes, he would repay his father-in-law, but according to Farber, Fortis 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.
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/Handout]
