A judge dismissed a second juror in the Michelle Troconis trial after the juror compared the case to the Ben Affleck movie “Gone Girl” online.
Judge Kevin Randolph told lawyers on Friday he received a note saying one of the jurors discussed the case in front of other jurors. The juror had allegedly said Troconis’ case was all over social media and compared it to the 2014 movie “Gone Girl.”
In the movie, a woman — played by actress Rosaund Pike — fakes her own death in order to frame her cheating husband, played by Affleck.
The judge ordered a recess to talk to the jurors and investigate the claim. When they came back from the break, Randolph announced the juror had been dismissed.
As with all court cases, the jury is forbidden from expressing their opinions to the public or other jurors by speaking about the case or posting about it online, as it could influence what happens in court and derail the judicial process.
Another alternate juror was dismissed from the high-profile case earlier this week he said “we love you” to a prosecutor in charge of evidence during the trial.
Troconis has been charged with conspiracy to commit murder and other crimes for allegedly helping her former lover, Fotis Dulos, cover up the murder of his wife, Jennifer.
She is alleged to have driven around Hartford, Conn., as Dulos disposed of bags filled with evidence in various grabage cans. Some were believed to have contained Jennifer’s body.
Dulos, Jennifer’s estranged spouse, had split with her after starting a relationship with Troconis. He was eventually charged with killing his wife but died by suicide in 2020 before standing trial.
On Wednesday, a nanny who still cares for the Dulos’ five children testified she panicked when she never got a text reply from Jennifer on May 24, 2019.
Lauren Almeida said she then called the doctor’s office in New York City where Jennifer had an appointment, but she still could not reach her.
“My Stomach just sank,” said nanny Lauren Almeida on the stand. “She never not answered.”
The Dulos’ were in the midst of a bitter divorce and fighting over custody of the children right before the mother of five disappeared.
Jennifer Dulos vanished after dropping their five kids off at school and her body has never been found.
Police have said Fotis Dulos waited for Jennifer to return home that morning, killed her in the garage then tried to clean up the scene.
He then drove off with her body in another SUV, which was later found abandoned at a local park.
A judge officially declared Jennifer dead in October 2023.