The Fitbit Murder
Richard Dabate claims an intruder killed his wife, but the data on her Fitbit caught him in a lie.
The criminal justice system has been revolutionized by advancements in technology and its invaluable contributions to forensic science. These modern tools have significantly improved the accuracy of criminal investigations and cases that would have otherwise gone cold are being solved at a more rapid pace. Electronic devices used to record and store our daily activities, which we often take for granted, are quickly becoming a most important ally to the investigative process.
Connie Dabate’s homicide case is one that proves the immeasurable forensic worth of this technology.
After denying his involvement in her death, a Connecticut man was found guilty of his wife’s murder when investigators saw the data on her Fitbit, a wearable physical fitness monitor. The evidence was overwhelming and Richard Dabate, 45, will be sentenced in September of 2022. He was charged with tampering with evidence, making a false statement, and murder.
He believed his alibi to be rock-solid. However, it began to quickly unravel thanks to everyday technology.
Thirty-year-old Connie Dabate was murdered in her Ellington, Connecticut home only two days before Christmas 2015…
