Upon further investigation, authorities said they found traces of Jennifer’s blood in the passenger seat of a truck belonging to Fotis’ co-worker that he and Michelle took to get washed and detailed.
Fotis was charged with murder and kidnapping in connection to Jennifer’s disappearance. He pleaded not guilty, but died of carbon monoxide poisoning in an apparent suicide attempt in January 2020.
Michelle’s trial began on Jan. 12. In a statement read outside the courtroom, her father maintained her innocence.
“On behalf of my daughter who we know that she is innocent,” he told reporters, per NBC Connecticut, “we are trusting the fair trial and we hope the result will be favorable for everybody.”
(E! and NBC are both part of the NBCUniversal family.)