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A Connecticut laptop technician in love with two completely different ladies has been discovered responsible of killing his spouse, then floating a preposterous cowl story that an overweight, masked intruder with a deep, bass voice like actor Vin Diesel truly broke in and shot her after asking for his or her bank cards and PIN numbers.
Richard Dabate, a 40-year-old from the city of Ellington, was convicted by a jury Tuesday on all costs—first-degree homicide, tampering with bodily proof, and offering a false assertion—within the Dec. 23, 2015 demise of Connie Dabate. Richard Dabate’s seemingly hermetic alibi unraveled earlier than his very eyes, because of information from Connie’s Fitbit that undercut his story.
“The thorough and considerate examination of know-how was key to this investigation and was vital in proving that the defendant was responsible of this crime,” State’s Legal professional Matthew Gedansky mentioned. “In the long run, although, this was one other case of home violence. And although a lot progress has been made lately to assist victims and survivors and to carry abusers accountable, these home violence homicides are nonetheless taking place so we should proceed to work collectively to finish home violence.”
Outdoors the courthouse after the decision, Connie Dabate’s household mentioned in a press release: “Justice has prevailed at present. As you already know this trial was designated because the ‘Fitbit trial.’ The trial was not a couple of Fitbit however a couple of cold-blooded and deliberate homicide of Connie, our daughter... There might be no closure for the Margotta household however there's lastly justice for Connie.”
Dabate’s protection attorneys mentioned outdoors court docket that they had been upset within the verdict however that their battle was not over.
Through the five-week trial, Dabate was described by prosecutors as “a ticking time bomb” who had painted himself right into a romantic nook. Detectives found that Dabate had impregnated his mistress, Sara Ganzer. The 2 first met in junior highschool, and started a bodily relationship in Could 2015, Ganzer testified. A few month later, Ganzer mentioned she came upon she was pregnant.
Seven months later, 39-year-old pharmaceutical rep Connie Dabate can be useless, shot twice behind the pinnacle and dumped within the basement of the house she shared together with her husband. Dabate was arrested in April 2017 and launched on $1 million bail.
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In statements to police and in court docket, Dabate claimed the camouflage-clad intruder led him into the kitchen after capturing Connie and stabbed him within the legs with a boxcutter, subsequently rendering him motionless by zip-tying him to a chair. Whereas tied down, Dabate mentioned he managed to seize a blowtorch and burned the intruder’s face, who then fled the scene.
However a number of neighbors testified that they had been close by through the alleged residence invasion, bringing their children to high school or heading to work, and none noticed a masked man in full camo. And Dabate’s story appeared to disintegrate utterly when investigators subpoenaed Fitbit for the information from Connie’s system.
Dabate mentioned he left the home shortly after 8 a.m. that morning to deliver his two sons to the varsity bus cease, then returned round 8:30 to placed on a “work shirt,” the arrest warrant states. He claimed he noticed Connie backing her automobile out of the driveway as he returned, and that she was headed to a spin class on the native YMCA. Nevertheless, the category was canceled, so Connie went again residence.
Sooner or later throughout his 40-minute commute to the workplace, Dabate mentioned he realized he had forgotten his laptop computer, so he circled and drove residence. When he arrived between 8:45 and 9 a.m., Dabate claimed he heard a noise upstairs, which he assumed was the cat. Dabate then claimed he was “manhandled” by an intruder, and heard Connie stroll in whereas he was getting roughed up.
Dabate mentioned he then heard two pictures, and that after the supposed intruder tied him up, he freed himself, pressed a panic button linked to the couple’s residence alarm system, and referred to as 911.
Detectives mentioned Dabate’s story saved altering, and Connie’s Fitbit sealed the deal, in accordance with the warrant.
The primary exercise on the system on Dec. 23 occurred at 7:52 a.m., with an “prolonged interval of inactivity…in step with [Connie] driving to the YMCA,” the warrant states. Connie is seen on surveillance video on the Y, then her Fitbit registered one other 10-minute inactive interval “in step with” her drive again residence. She arrived at roughly 9:20 a.m., and the Fitbit was stationary from 9:37 a.m. to 9:43 a.m., in accordance with the warrant. After a couple of minutes of non-movement, throughout which period detectives imagine Connie was resting, the Fitbit confirmed common motion for the subsequent 20 minutes or so.
On-line information reviewed by investigators revealed that Connie was lively on Fb between 9:40 a.m. and 9:46 a.m., and posted movies from her iPhone from an IP deal with linked to the home, in accordance with the warrant.
“[Connie’s] ‘Fitbit’ registers motion at 1005hrs,” the warrant states. “That is the final motion registered by the sufferer’s ‘Fitbit.’”
Taken collectively, this is able to imply Connie was alive and effectively for roughly an hour after Dabate mentioned he had witnessed her demise. Police K9 items detected no different human scents within the residence.
In court docket, Dabate testified that he was in love with two ladies and didn’t know what to do. To cowl his tracks, Dabate informed his spouse lies about working late and enjoying playing cards with associates. With Ganzer, Dabate continued to insist he was about to file for divorce. Dabate informed his buddies that he had gotten Ganzer pregnant throughout a one-night stand, and informed police that she was carrying a toddler for him and Connie as a surrogate.
Prosecutors argued that Dabate killed Connie as a result of he didn't need to lose associates or have his repute harmed by a divorce. Dabate additionally anxious in regards to the monetary implications of splitting from his spouse, in addition to having to cope with understanding custody preparations for the couple’s two kids. He additionally reportedly mentioned that he feared changing into a “black sheep” in his household. Prosecutors mentioned they found proof that Dabate had additionally been concerned in a second extramarital relationship, however the choose barred that data from the trial.
Whereas testifying in his personal protection, Dabate provided a barely completely different story than the one he informed police. He hadn’t heard the “intruder” as quickly as he walked in, however as a substitute mentioned he sat down at his laptop and solely later did he discover any form of commotion. Underneath cross-examination, Dabate didn’t have a great reply when requested why he first informed police he had heard one or two gunshots, when there have been truly three.
Shortly earlier than Connie was killed, she and Dabate spent a “romantic weekend” collectively in Vermont, he testified. However when Connie posted images of the journey on Fb, Ganzer noticed them and realized her lover was not within the midst of divorcing his spouse, as he had promised. The one method out for Dabate, prosecutors argued in court docket, was to do away with Connie.
Dabate steadfastly maintained his innocence all through the trial. In Connecticut, homicide carries a jail time period of as much as 60 years. His sentencing is scheduled for Sept. 16.