The state has reduced the charges against Kent Mawhinney, an attorney who was charged in connection with the 2019 disappearance of Jennifer Farber Dulos, and he has pleaded guilty to interfering with an officer.
Jennifer, a mother of five, disappeared in May 2019 after dropping her children off at school in New Canaan that morning. She has not been seen since and she is presumed dead.
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WATCH HEREJennifer’ estranged husband, Fotis Dulos, and his then-girlfriend Michelle Troconis were initially charged with tampering with evidence in connection with the disappearance of Jennifer and Fotis Dulos was eventually charged with the murder of Jennifer.
He maintained his innocence and died after attempting suicide.
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Troconis was found guilty in March 2024 of conspiracy to commit murder, conspiracy, tampering with evidence and hindering prosecution charges and was sentenced two months later to 14-and-a-half years in prison.
Mawhinney, who was a friend of Fotis Dulos, had been charged with conspiracy to commit murder and the state reduced the charge to interfering with an officer.
He was sentenced to 11 months and is out of prison after the time he served.
After pleading guilty on Friday, Mawhinney briefly spoke outside court.
He denied knowing what happened to Farber Dulos, and was asked if he knows where she is.
"No. If I did, I would tell them," Mawhinney said.
The family and friends of Jennifer Farber Dulos released a statement on Friday afternoon.
"We want to thank the state’s attorney’s office—in particular, Paul Ferencek, Michelle Manning, and Sean McGuinness—for their long-term commitment to this case and their careful consideration in seeking justice. We also express deep gratitude to the investigators and other law enforcement personnel for their dedication.
"Today’s development does not absolve Kent Mawhinney of conspiracy to murder. His arrest warrant includes evidence sufficient to bring that charge, but the burden of proof is great by necessity. The conspiracy charge was dropped for multiple reasons, including the fact that another lengthy, complex jury trial would come at a substantial cost, financial as well as emotional, to all involved. We are in full support of the state’s attorneys’ decision.
"Recently, we marked the six-year milestone of Jennifer’s disappearance. Many questions remain. It is clear that Jennifer was the victim of a systematically planned, ruthlessly executed murder, and her body still has not been found. We believe that someone possesses additional knowledge about where she is, and we hope fervently that they will come forward with that information.
"We miss Jennifer every day, in every way, and ask that you please respect the privacy of her family and loved ones. Thank you," Carrie Luft said in a statement on behalf of the family and friends of Jennifer Farber Dulos.
The family of Michelle Troconis released this statement on Friday afternoon:
"Today’s decision by the State of Connecticut to drop the conspiracy to commit murder charge against Kent Mawhinney, without ever bringing him to trial, is both deeply disturbing and unjust. The very same prosecutors who claimed there was enough evidence to convict Michelle Troconis are now saying they don’t have enough to prosecute a man.
"This is not justice. This is selective prosecution.
"Today’s outcome only reinforces what we have known all along: This case has never been about equal justice. It’s been about scapegoating Michelle from the start. Our daughter remains incarcerated, serving 14.5 years for crimes she did not commit, based entirely on speculation, not facts. Michelle’s statements were distorted to fit the state’s narrative.
"We remain committed to fighting for Michelle’s exoneration and exposing the failures of a system that prioritized headlines over truth. We call on the media, the public, and legal advocates to take a closer look. Because when someone can be convicted without direct evidence, while another walks free despite it, we are all at risk."
