The estranged husband of missing Connecticutt mother Jennifer Dulos is apparently pushing for his former mother-in-law to undergo a court-ordered psychiatric exam.
The Hartford Courant reports that attorney Rich Rochlin, who represents Jennifer’s estranged husband, Fotis Dulos, filed a six-page motion in Hartford, asking Superior Court Judge Donna Heller to order a psychiatric evaluation on Jennifer’s mother, Gloria Farber, 85. Dulos’ five children currently live with Farber after a judge awarded her emergency custody earlier this year, following Jennifer’s disappearance.
According to court documents, Rochlin wrote that Farber “has previously been psychiatrically hospitalized.” The court documents also state that Dulos is aware that Farber’s family allegedly “discussed electric shock therapy as an option.”
Rochlin also accused Farber of trying to kill herself previously.
“A court-ordered psychological evaluation of Ms. Farber would be in the minor children’s best interest as it would provide this court with relevant and material information that is critical to making a comprehensive and well-informed inquiry into the minor children’s present best interests regarding their care and custody.”
Farber’s lawyer, Anne C. Dranginis, is reportedly in the process of preparing a response to the motion.
“This is yet another in a long string of gratuitous legal maneuvers by Mr. Dulos’ attorneys,” Dranginis said, according to FOX 61.
Judge Heller ordered Dulos to have no contact with his children, who are between the ages of 8 and 13, after he was charged with hindering prosecution and tampering with evidence. Farber filed for custody of the children in June, while Dulos was still in jail.
“Access to the children is hereby suspended,” the court order read. “There shall be no contact between the defendant and the minor children until further order of the court.”
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 also spent days searching at a large dump facility and scouring Fotis Dulos’ property.
Dulos and his girlfriend, Michelle Troconis, were arrested after authorities said the pair tampered with evidence in connection to Jennifer’s disappearance. According to the arrest affidavit, investigators found,
- 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”
Dulos and Troconis have since bailed out of jail, but both are required to wear a GPS monitor on their ankles.
Bitter Custody Battle
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.
Court documents also state that Fotis reportedly insisted that their children become “world-class skiers.” He would allegedly train them for 11 hours per day, something Jennifer considered excessive and dangerous for the kids.
When one of the children wanted a break from training, Fotis Dulos allegedly broke a ski on a rock in a fit of rage. Another child, according to court documents, developed mental health issues from alleged 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 Dulos 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. Dulos remains at the Farmington home, where he’s required to wear a GPS monitor on his ankle and have no contact with his girlfriend, as well as his children, who now live their maternal grandmother.
Anyone with information regarding Jennifer’s disappearance is urged to call the New Canaan Police Tip Line at 203-594-3544.
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[Feature Photo: Jennifer Dulos/Handout]
