A Connecticut courtroom has become captivated by the chilling testimony of Lauren Alme, the former nanny of Jennifer Dulos, a mother of five who vanished in 2019. Alme’s account offers a glimpse into the unraveling marriage of Jennifer and her estranged husband, Fotis Dulos, who died by suicide in 2020 while facing murder charges in Jennifer’s disappearance.
Alme, who worked for the Dulos family for seven years, initially described an idyllic family life. Jennifer was a devoted mother, while Fotis, at first, seemed like a “role model.” However, this facade of perfection crumbled in 2017 when Jennifer discovered Fotis was having an affair with Michelle Troconis, who is currently on trial for her alleged role in Jennifer’s disappearance.
The nanny detailed a dramatic shift in the Dulos household following the revelation of Fotis’ infidelity. The once charming husband transformed into a threatening figure, prone to angry outbursts and threats. Alme recounted a harrowing incident where she witnessed Fotis chasing a terrified Jennifer, and shared Jennifer’s fears that Fotis would abduct their children and flee to his native Greece.
Jennifer and Fotis Dulos with their children.
The escalating tension came to a head in May 2017 when Alme found herself caught in the middle of a volatile argument between the couple. She vividly described Jennifer’s fear as she barricaded herself and her daughter in a bedroom while Fotis attempted to force his way in. Alme’s presence, along with the couple’s daughter, seemed to diffuse the situation, with Fotis abruptly changing his demeanor from rage to a disturbingly calm facade.
By June 2017, Jennifer had secretly moved out of the family home with her children, seeking refuge at her mother’s house in New York. Fearing for their safety, they even hired an armed bodyguard. A bitter custody battle ensued, during which Fotis confronted Alme, accusing her of kidnapping his children. Despite the turmoil, Fotis was eventually granted supervised visitation.
Jennifer Dulos with her five children.
The morning of May 24, 2019, began like any other for Alme. She exchanged text messages with Jennifer about the children’s schedules but grew increasingly alarmed when her subsequent messages went unanswered. A knot of dread twisted in her stomach – Jennifer always answered her phone. Arriving at Jennifer’s house, Alme was met with an eerie silence. There was no sign of Jennifer, but she noticed a peculiar detail: ten rolls of paper towels were missing from the garage, despite her having restocked them the previous evening.
Later that day, Fotis contacted Alme, demanding she bring the children for his scheduled visit. Alme refused. It later came to light that Fotis was not cooperating with the police investigation into Jennifer’s disappearance.
Prosecutors allege that Fotis attacked Jennifer in the garage of her New Canaan home, disposing of her body with Troconis’s help. Investigators found traces of Jennifer’s blood in the garage and in trash bags that Fotis was seen discarding in Connecticut. Despite Fotis’s death and suicide note proclaiming his and Troconis’s innocence, the trial continues, with the prosecution building a case against Troconis for her alleged role in covering up the crime.
Alme’s testimony, spanning two days, has provided a chilling account of the events leading up to Jennifer’s disappearance. Her detailed recollections paint a picture of a marriage fractured by infidelity and marred by fear and violence. The trial continues, with the jury tasked with deciphering the truth behind Jennifer Dulos’s disappearance and determining whether Michelle Troconis played a role in the tragic events of that fateful May morning.
