Fotis Dulos tells Greek media his missing wife Jennifer had ‘serious psychological problems’

Fotis Dulos, the estranged husband of missing Connecticut mother Jennifer Dulos, told a Greek newspaper that she had ‘serious psychological problems’ and lived like a ‘hermit’ in a lengthy interview about their marriage despite being banned by a judge from speaking about her in a way that could taint the case against him.

Fotis, 53, made the comments last week to Proto Thema, a news website in Athens. 

The interview was lengthy and included his claims that he was who wanted a divorce in 2016 then again in 2018, despite Jennifer filing paperwork in 2017. 

It was published on September 27, weeks after the September 12 gag order imposed by a judge banning him and his attorneys from speaking about Jennifer’s character in a way that could impact a jury’s opinion of her or the case. 

He said: ‘I’m sorry to say it, but Jennifer was suffering from serious psychological problems that I didn’t immediately understand and didn’t want to go into further.

‘I put it aside because I was in love with her and focused on other things that make our lives beautiful. 

‘Our kids were growing up beautifully, my job was going great and I was trying to enjoy life despite the fact that at my wedding I was no longer happy.   

He also claimed they had been growing apart since 2010 and that he asked her to ‘split’ in 2016 because, he said, their children had noticed them growing distant.

Fotis Dulos is pictured in Connecticut court e on September 23. A judge imposed a gag order on September 12 banning him from speaking about his estranged wife. His lengthy interview with the Greek website was published on September 27 

It was previously revealed that Jennifer filed for divorce until 2017, after trying to overcome his affair with his current girlfriend and co-accused, Michelle Troconis.

Fotis' estranged wife Jennifer has been missing since May 24

Fotis’ estranged wife Jennifer has been missing since May 24

‘My marriage had not been so happy since 2010. 

‘Jennifer had gradually begun to take me out of her life and had become increasingly distant, a hermit,’ Fotis said in his interview this week.

The comments come just weeks after he and his lawyer were warned in no uncertain terms by Connecticut Superior Court Judge John Blawie to stop making public comments about Jennifer and her disappearance. 

His attorney claims the interview is not in breach of the order. 

‘There is no order barring all speech. It is not even a close call,’ he told The Stamford Advocate. 

It remains to be seen how he will respond to them. 

The 33-page order banned him from making any comments about Jennifer’s ‘character, credibility, reputation or criminal record’ that could prejudice a jury.

Fotis has been out on bail since being arrested in May. Jennifer has been missing since May 24 when she was last seen dropping off the couple’s five children at school. 

Her body has not been found but police claim they found traces of her blood in the car Fotis was driving the day she went missing. They also believe they have footage of him depositing plastic bags filled with blood-soaked clothes around Connecticut the night she vanished. 

He and his girlfriend Michelle Troconis have both been charged with tampering with evidence. 

Fotis is due back in court in Stamford on Friday. His attorney, Norm Pattis, is asking for the charges to be dismissed. 

 ‘My marriage had not been so happy since 2010. Jennifer had gradually begun to take me out of her life and had become increasingly distant, a hermit

In his interview with the Greek website, he also talked about the 10 days he spent in custody. 

‘The guards and the officers were kind and fair with me, and I never felt threatened. I was in solitary confinement for nine days in a 2×3 cell and thank God I’m not claustrophobic. 

‘The days were suddenly long and lonely, so I tried to read and think a lot. I even created differential equations and tried to solve them to keep my mind alert. 

Fotis Dulos in his first mugshot. He has been arrested twice on evidence tampering charges

Michelle Troconis, Fotis' girlfriend

Fotis Dulos in his first mugshot (left). He has been arrested twice on evidence tampering charges. His girlfriend Michelle (right) was also arrested. Police say has admitted making up his alibi. She has not spoken publicly 

After posting bond, Fotis took part in an NBC interview where he denied having anything to do with his estrange wife's disappearance

After posting bond, Fotis took part in an NBC interview where he denied having anything to do with his estrange wife’s disappearance 

‘I had very little contact with the outside world and I didn’t know what was going on.

‘As Norm Patis and his team took over the case, things changed after they visited me and together we prepared a plan for the case,’ he said.

He said he missed his ‘freedom’ more than his children or his girlfriend during the time he was locked-up. 

‘My children, Michelle, missed my daily contacts with coworkers and friends, but most of all I lacked my freedom, obviously the most important value in our lives, which I considered to be a given until then,’ he said. 

 We had a civilized conversation and Jennifer asked me to try to save our marriage, but my heart was no longer there. I wanted to be the best parents for our kids, best friends and support each other, but without being together

He claimed it was him who asked for a divorce, saying: ‘After a while I decided that if this situation continued, Jennifer and I would not be [being] honest with ourselves, our children, and of course one another. 

‘So, I asked her to split in December 2016.’ 

Fotis claims his wife asked him to try to ‘save the marriage’ but ‘his heart was not in it’.

‘We had a civilized conversation and Jennifer asked me to try to save our marriage, but my heart was no longer there. I wanted to be the best parents for our kids, best friends and support each other, but without being together,’ he said. 

He claimed that they hadn’t been close by that point for six years. 

‘At that point my contact with Jennifer was centered around the kids…I knew this would require a process for all of us that took time, but for me the decision was made,’ he said of the divorce.

Fotis also alleges in his interview that the pair broke up for good in March 2018 when he said he had feelings for Michelle that he could not get over.

He does not acknowledge the fact he’d been unfaithful with her beforehand and disputes his estranged wife’s court document claims that their fighting was tumultuous. 

He was arrested for a second time in September. He is pictured with his attorney, Norm Pattis, who has made outlandish claims publicly such as that Jennifer staged her own disappearance. Pattis has also been banned from speaking about the case publicly

He was arrested for a second time in September. He is pictured with his attorney, Norm Pattis, who has made outlandish claims publicly such as that Jennifer staged her own disappearance. Pattis has also been banned from speaking about the case publicly 

‘Jennifer and I are both quiet characters. In March 2018, I told her that I had feelings for Michelle and that we could no longer be married. We had long discussions, all at a civilized level. 

 ‘I can’t explain [her disappearance]…. I hope and hope that the police will find her. I hope she is alive.’

‘We decided to break up our marriage in a friendly way, and we agreed that the children would find out after the end of the school year,’ he said. 

Asked about his wife’s disappearance, he said: ‘I can’t explain it. I hope and hope that the police will find her. I hope she is alive.’ 

Asked directly if he thought she was dead, he said: ‘I’m very concerned about her disappearance, so what I believe is not so important. 

‘I say it again, I hope she is alive,’ he said. 

He also spoke of his girlfriend who police claim has turned on him and admitted that she made up is alibi, at his direction, when interviewed a second time. 

‘My heart is with her. Michelle is experiencing incredible pressure. I know her, I love her and I’m sure she’ll tell the truth in the end,’ he said. 

Connecticut Superior Court Judge John Blawie has banned Fotis or any other parties involved in the case from speaking about it publicly

Connecticut Superior Court Judge John Blawie has banned Fotis or any other parties involved in the case from speaking about it publicly

‘I try to be strong. I pray for Jennifer and my children, Michelle and her daughter, and I try to be grateful for the family and friends I have every day. 

‘The only thing that saddens me is that due to a court decision I have almost five months to speak to and see them,’ he said. 

Fotis also claimed he has the full support of his family, friends and colleagues. 

‘My whole family, my friends, my high school classmates, my work colleagues, but also people I’ve never met, who approached me and told me that they support me in all that I experience and that believe,’ he said. 

He added that his friends and family in Greece who had read about the case should know that he is innocent.

‘My friends and acquaintances in Greece know who I am. I don’t have to say much to them,’ he said. 

Pattis previously sickened Jennifer’s family and friends by claiming in a series of media interviews that she staged her own disappearance or might have even killed herself in a ‘Gone Girl’ inspired plot. 

Fotis also gave interviews protesting his innocence and there was, in the beginning, a stream of information coming from police about details of their investigation. 

Many were contained in arrest affidavits which alleged that Fotis ‘lay in wait’ for Jennifer in her rented home the day she went missing. 

In his order, Judge Blawie blasted the parties involved for ‘fanning the flames’ of media interest. 

Jennifer's family begged for new information last week on what was her 51st birthday. There have been no traces of her since May 24

Jennifer’s family begged for new information last week on what was her 51st birthday. There have been no traces of her since May 24 

‘The level of press coverage it has engendered in today’s new social media environment has also seen the publication of many different opinions, theories masquerading as facts, and stories based upon unauthorized leaks of partial information.

‘The extent and nature of the coverage is not merely a result of the public record of the case, but rather it reflects the tendency of some to fan the flames of publicity by providing the media with salacious, inadmissable and often prejudicial details,’ he ruled. 

Pattis has been trying to have the order thrown out.  

He says it infringes on his client’s freedom of speech and that he is not allowed now to criticize the prosecutors who he says are unfairly targeting him. 

Jennifer and Fotis were in the midst of an incredibly acrimonious custody battle when she vanished.

Her family are also suing him for $2million, claiming they gave him business loans which he is now refusing to give back. 

Fotis, who us a property developer, insists the money was a gift. 

He denies ever being violent towards his estranged wife. In court documents, she said she was afraid of him. 

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