Family contends Michelle Troconis prison strip search was inappropriate

Michelle Troconis, left, enters court with her father, Dr. Carlos Troconis, on the day of closing arguments of her criminal trial at state Superior Court in Stamford Feb. 27, 2024. Tyler Sizemore/Hearst Connecticut Media

NIANTIC — The family of Michelle Troconis, convicted in the death of Jennifer Dulos, has filed a complaint with the ombudsman for the state Department of Correction alleging she inappropriately was strip-searched before a planned visit with one of her sisters a few months ago. 

The search occurred where Troconis is serving a 14.5-year prison sentence after being convicted of conspiracy to commit murder and other charges related to the disappearance and death of Jennifer Dulos, a New Canaan mother of five whose remains have not been found. 

Michelle Troconis' father, Carlos Troconis, said she told her sister during the visit that she had just been strip-searched, a controversial tactic that advocates are trying to get banned except in tightly defined circumstances.

"They had never searched her before a visit," Carlos Troconis said. "I don't know if this is some type of psychological torture. Michelle told her sister she had been stripped without reason. I filled out a complaint form and complained to the ombudsman." 

In an email Carlos Troconis sent to state DOC Ombusman DeVaughn Ward on May 10, he expressed his concern that it appeared his daughter was the only inmate searched before a visit a few days before. 

"Given the invasive and degrading nature of strip searches, the absence of clear, individualized suspicion — especially when Michelle was the sole inmate searched — constitutes what I believe to be a potential violation of her constitutional rights," Carlos Troconis said in the email. "It also suggests a possible misuse of correctional authority in a retaliatory manner, which would be wholly unacceptable."

In the email, Carlos Troconis asked Ward to investigate and determine whether the agency followed its own policies and to assess whether Michelle Troconis had been targeted for "prior actions or associations." 

Ward confirmed that his office has been investigating the complaint filed by Carlos Troconis since May. "I just received documents from the DOC today and my office is reviewing them," Ward said. 

The DOC confirmed Tuesday that it is investigating an incident involving Troconis. 

"As the investigation is still ongoing, we are not able to release any additional information at this time," an agency spokesperson said in an email. 

"It is worth noting that the Department of Correction recently was approved funding for four body scanners, which will greatly reduce the need for strip searches," the spokesperson said. "Two of the body scanners are slated for installation at the York Correctional Institution (the state's only prison for females)." 

The state General Assembly passed legislation this year requiring the DOC to file a report to lawmakers on the use of strip searches by 2027. A separate report issued by a firm contracted by the DOC in late 2024 said the agency uses strip searches too often. 

Troconis was the girlfriend of Fotis Dulos, who was embroiled in an acrimonious divorce with his estranged wife, Jennifer Dulos, in 2019 when the mother of his children disappeared. 

Fotis Dulos died following a suicide attempt in January 2020, three weeks after he was charged with the murder of Jennifer Dulos. Troconis was charged with conspiracy to commit murder and other crimes related to the cover up of evidence in the missing persons and murder case. 

According to arrest warrants, police believe Fotis Dulos attacked his estranged wife in the garage of her New Canaan home when she returned from dropping off their children at a nearby school around 8 a.m. on May 24, 2019.

Police said they found signs Jennifer Dulos was the victim of a “serious physical assault” based on blood evidence they found in the garage, arrest warrants state.

Troconis was convicted of the charges in 2024 and sentenced to York Correctional Institution in Niantic, the state's only prison for females. 

Carlos Troconis said his family visits Michelle as often as they can even though they live in Miami, and up until a few months ago she had never been strip-searched before a visit. 

It wasn't the first time her defense team claimed she had been inappropriately strip-searched. Her trial attorney Jon Schoenhorn filed motions in 2020 claiming Troconis was illegally strip-searched as state police were investigating the disappearance of Jennifer Dulos. 

In the court documents, Schoenhorn contended his client was strip-searched and photographed in her underwear in the days following the disappearance. 

Schoenhorn, who was not representing Troconis at the time, said his client was ordered to remove her clothing and searched while state police at Troop L in Torrington photographed her body. The photos, Schoenhorn claims, never were turned in as evidence.

"What happened to those photos?" Schoenhorn said Monday. "It is insane that they did this."

According to Schoenhorn’s motion, "the only purpose for this outrageous conduct by law enforcement personnel was to subject the defendant to severe emotional distress, humiliation and degradation."

Correction: This story has been updated to reflect that the complaint was made to the state Department of Correction ombudsman.

By Lisa Backus, Staff Writer Updated Aug 5, 2025 4:31 p.m.

Lisa Backus STAFF WRITER

Lisa Backus is a local, state and national award-winning crime reporter who covers breaking news and criminal justice policy for Hearst Connecticut Media Group. When she's not working she can be found hanging out with her animal companions Spot and Morgan and her six grandchildren.