Current:Home > FinanceJudge dismisses juror who compared Connecticut missing mom case to the ‘Gone Girl’ plot -Prime Capital Blueprint
Judge dismisses juror who compared Connecticut missing mom case to the ‘Gone Girl’ plot
View
Date:2025-04-18 00:58:01
A judge on Friday dismissed a juror in the trial of a Connecticut woman accused of helping her boyfriend cover up the murder of his estranged wife, after the panelist likened the case to the novel and movie “Gone Girl.”
Judge Kevin Randolph received an unsigned note note from a juror in the trial of Michelle Troconis Friday morning, accusing another member of the panel of making the comment in the presence of other jurors.
The juror “discussed something about the case and it was all over social media,” Randolph said the note read. “Said it was like ‘Gone Girl’ — a brief mention. Several other jurors said, ’Don’t discuss this.’”
Randolph then cleared the courtroom to question jurors about the comment. He ultimately dismissed the juror, identified only as “Juror 186,” who acknowledged making the “Gone Girl” comment, the judge said.
“Every (other) juror indicated that they would be able to afford the state and defense a fair and impartial trial,” Randolph said after reconvening the trial.
“Gone Girl,” a 2012 novel by Gillian Flynn that was turned into a 2014 film starring Ben Affleck, is about a woman who fakes her own disappearance and her husband, who becomes a suspect.
Troconis, 49, is charged with conspiracy to commit murder and other crimes on allegations that she helped her then-boyfriend, Fotis Dulos, cover up the killing of his wife, Jennifer Dulos, in 2019. Troconis has pleaded not guilty and denied any involvement.
Police believe Fotis Dulos attacked his wife in the garage of her home in New Canaan, Connecticut in May 2019, after she dropped off the children at school. Then, authorities said, he drove off in her own SUV with her body, which has never been found. Fotis Dulos denied having anything to do with her disappearance. He died by suicide in early 2020, shortly after being charged with murder.
At the time she vanished, Jennifer and Fotis Dulos were going through a contentious divorce and child custody proceedings that had limited his time with the children. Jennifer Dulos had moved out of the family home in Farmington, Connecticut, and Fotis Dulos was living there with Troconis and her daughter.
The case drew widespread attention and was itself the subject of a made-for-TV movie, titled “Gone Mom.” Jennifer Dulos, 50, was a member of a wealthy New York family whose father, the late Hilliard Farber, founded his own brokerage firm. She also was a niece by marriage of fashion designer Liz Claiborne. Fotis Dulos was a luxury home builder originally from Greece.
This is the second case of alleged juror misconduct in the trial. On Wednesday afternoon, Randolph dismissed an alternate juror who reportedly said “We love you” to two prosecutors involved in the case outside the courtroom during a lunch break. Randolph said the comment gave the appearance of favoring the prosecution.
veryGood! (7)
Related
- San Francisco names street for Associated Press photographer who captured the iconic Iwo Jima photo
- Beyoncé surprises 2-year-old fan with sweet gift after viral TikTok: 'I see your halo, Tyler'
- The Best Sunscreen Face Sprays That Are Easy to Apply and Won’t Ruin Your Makeup
- Why Gwyneth Paltrow Is Having Nervous Breakdown Over This Milestone With Kids Apple and Moses
- The Daily Money: Spending more on holiday travel?
- Watch 'The Office' stars Steve Carell and John Krasinski reunite in behind-the-scenes clip
- Relatives of those who died waiting for livers at now halted Houston transplant program seek answers
- It's Take Our Daughters and Sons To Work Day: How to help kids get the most out of it
- Whoopi Goldberg is delightfully vile as Miss Hannigan in ‘Annie’ stage return
- Woman wins $1M in Oregon lottery raffle, credits $1.3B Powerball winner for reminder
Ranking
- Meet first time Grammy nominee Charley Crockett
- US Chamber of Commerce sues Federal Trade Commission over new noncompete ban
- Pickup truck hits and kills longtime Texas deputy helping at crash site
- Army reservist who warned about Maine killer before shootings to testify before investigators
- The company planning a successor to Concorde makes its first supersonic test
- Courteney Cox recalls boyfriend Johnny McDaid breaking up with her in therapy
- The Masked Singer Marks Actress' Triumphant Return After Near-Death Experience
- Army reservist who warned about Maine killer before shootings to testify before investigators
Recommendation
Costco membership growth 'robust,' even amid fee increase: What to know about earnings release
Biden grants clemency to 16 nonviolent drug offenders
Judge orders anonymous jury for trial of self-exiled Chinese businessman, citing his past acts
County in rural New Mexico extends agreement with ICE for immigrant detention amid criticism
Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, Triathlon
Firefighters fully contain southern New Jersey forest fire that burned hundreds of acres
Mississippi city settles lawsuit filed by family of man who died after police pulled him from car
NFL draft trade candidates: Which teams look primed to trade up or down in first round?