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Judge Donna Heller has ordered custody of the children to Gloria Farber, rejecting a bid by the children's father, Fotis Dulos, who has been arrested in connection with the case of his missing, estranged wife. The children are all under age 13, including two sets of twins.
The couple had been going through a contentious divorce and child custody case since Jennifer Dulos moved out their home with the children two years ago.
Shortly after Jennifer Dulos moved out of the home, Fotis Dulos' girlfriend, Michelle Troconis, 44, moved into the couple's former Farmingdale home, along with her daughter.
Fotis Dulos recently claimed in court that the couple's children were being kept under guard at Gloria Farber's Manhattan apartment.
The judge has not yet ruled on a motion by Fotis Dulos' attorney's to "suspend" divorce proceedings because Jennifer Dulos is not able to take part.
"Ms. Farber has acted as a parent to the children since the plaintiff disappeared on May 24, 2019," NBC News reported the court ruling said. "Their safety and security has been paramount. They are emotionally bonded to her. It would be harmful for them to be removed from her care."
Fotis Dulos, 51, and Troconis were arrested in June on charges of evidence tampering and hindering prosecution after allegedly being caught on video surveillance dumping items into more than 30 garbage cans and dumpsters that contained items with Jennifer Dulos' blood on them.
Jennifer Dulos has been missing since Friday, May 24, when she was last seen dropping off her children at school.
Since her disappearance, a massive police investigation has been conducted with searches of parks, woods, homes, ponds, a garbage plant, and a reservoir.
The New Canaan Police Department said they have received more than 1,200 tips since the devoted mother vanished.
They said on Wednesday that they would not rest until they found Jennifer.
New Canaan Police asks that anyone with information regarding the disappearance of Jennifer Dulos to call 203-594-3544. Tips and information can also be provided on a dedicated website at FindJenniferDulos.com.
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