Man jailed for 65 years after FitBit data helped prove he'd killed his wife

A man has been sentenced to 65 years behind bars after FitBit data helped prove he'd murdered his wife.

In May, 46-year-old Richard Dabate, from Connecticut, was convicted of three charges against him including murder, tampering with evidence, and making a false statement to authorities.

A jury decided that Dabate was guilty of the fatal shooting of his wife, 39-year-old Connie, at the couple's home in December 2015.

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The convict, from Ellington in Tolland County, previously claimed that a man broke into their house, tied him up and then shot his wife.

However, Dabate's timeline of events conflicted with data uncovered from Connie's FitBit, which showed that she was still moving around for an hour after the time her husband said she was shot.

On Thursday, 18 August, a judge sentenced Dabate to 65 years in prison – 60 years for the murder and five for tampering with evidence, as well as one concurrent year for making a false statement to police.

Speaking outside of the courthouse after the hearing, Connie's brother, Keith Margotta, said he was 'taken back by the sentence'.

"Sixty-five years. I thought that it was appropriate and just," he said. "It enables us to get a little bit of closure – although nothing will bring Connie back – so that as a family we can move forward."

Dabate maintains his innocence, telling the judge, "I’m here before you as an innocent man," and that his wife was killed by an 'unknown individual'. His lawyer Trent LaLima suggested his intent to appeal the verdict.

The felon had previously said he found the alleged intruder in their second-floor bedroom around 9.05am, but it was later discovered that Connie's Fitbit continued to register movement until about 10.05am.

Prosecutor Matthew Gedansky claimed Dabate had planned the killing of his wife and even staged a home invasion after it was alleged that he was having an affair with another woman.

During the third week of the murder trial, Dabate's former lover Sara Ganzer gave testimony, claiming she was pregnant with his child at the time of Connie's death.

Ganzer said she had no clue of Dabate's plans to harm Connie, and that she'd never pushed him for a divorce, telling the court: "I did not want to break up their family."

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While discussing the motive to the jury, Gedansky said: "The pressure is mounting, the baby is coming, and the defendant’s worst fears are going to be realised."

The state attorney later said of the murder conviction: "The thorough and thoughtful examination of technology was key to this investigation and was significant in proving that the defendant was guilty of this crime.

"In the end, though, this was another case of domestic violence. And though much progress has been made in recent years to support victims and survivors and to hold abusers accountable, these domestic violence homicides are still happening so we must continue to work together to end domestic violence."

If you have experienced a bereavement and would like to speak with someone in confidence contact Cruse Bereavement Care via their national helpline on 0808 808 1677 

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