What to Know
- Investigators found traces of blood and other evidence while combing through Dulos’ New Canaan home, according to a report citing sources
- Dulos’ disappearance comes amid a contentious two-year divorce from her husband, who was heard on newly uncovered 9-1-1 calls in 2017
- Anyone with information about Dulos' disappearance is asked to call at 203-594-3544
Police returned to a Connecticut park Friday as they intensified their search for Jennifer Dulos, the mother of five who has been missing for seven days, with investigators seen sifting through a shallow pond.
On Friday morning, police were waving down drivers near Waveny Park in New Canaan where Dulos' SUV was found holding a missing person flier and asking them if they had any information. Meanwhile investigators had sectioned off the park's pond and were wading through its murky waters, searching inch-by-inch for anything that might help them find Dulos.
Police said they had not classified the case as a homicide and a body had not been found.
Family and friends of Dulos also released a statement Friday via Carrie Luft expressing their gratitude for the public and police support and asking for privacy. "Jennifer, we love you and we miss you, and we remain hopeful that you will return to us safe and sound," it said.
Earlier, police investigators said they found traces of blood and other evidence while combing through Dulos’ New Canaan home, according to the Hartford Courant, which cited law enforcement sources. It appeared the scene had been cleaned, according to those sources. NBC News could not immediately confirm the information in the newspaper’s report.
Police did tell News 4 they conducted a search on Wednesday of another home in nearby Pound Ridge, New York. That home was reportedly owned by Dulos' parents, the Connecticut Post reported, citing property records.
The 50-year-old was last seen dropping off her kids at school on May 24. Cops found her car, a black Chevrolet Suburban, later that same day at New Canaan’s Waveny Park. Cops expanded their search there Thursday to close-by woods and swamp area.
Dulos’ disappearance comes amid a contentious two-year divorce from her husband, who was heard on newly uncovered 9-1-1 calls trying to find where his wife and kids went the day before she filed for divorce in 2017.
“I am worried about my wife and kids, because they left to go to New York and I haven’t heard from them,” Fotis Dulos can be heard telling the operator two years ago. “I’ve been texting, and I see that the texts are being delivered, but no one is responding to me.”
At that time, Jennifer had moved the family from their Farmington, Connecticut, home to New Canaan.
Dulos said she was “afraid” of her husband, according to court documents. "I know that filing for divorce, and filing this motion will enrage him," she's quoted as saying in a 2017 custody filing. "I know he will retaliate by trying to harm me in some way."
Her husband denied all those allegations, and has not been accused of any wrongdoing. Earlier this week, his lawyer filed an emergency order for custody of the children.
The children were brought to live with Dulos' family in Manhattan, according to court documents, and are under protection of an armed guard.
Local
According to authorities, the investigation is being treated as a missing person case, but as with any missing person case, a criminal investigation is being conducted concurrently to determine if Dulos was the victim of foul play or intentional harm.
Thursday night, hundreds gathered at a church in New Canaan to pray for Dulos to be found safe.
Authorities urge anyone who had contact with Dulos or has information regarding her disappearance to call the New Canaan Police Tip Line at 203-594-3544.
