Fitbit Used by Police to Solve Murder Case

Police from the US state of Connecticut have charged Richard Dabate of murder after information has surfaced that contradicts his story from the victim’s FitBit. The murder victim is Connie Dabate, wife of the suspect who was wearing the activity-tracking device when Richard allegedly shot her twice, once in the back of her head with .357 revolver that was registered to his name.

The accused initially claimed that the perpetrator was a tall, obese man with a deep voice wearing camouflage and a mask. This intruder broke into their home at 9:00 AM on December 23, 2015 and supposedly tied-up Mr. Dabate’s arms and legs with zip ties after a struggle. He was found by police bound to a chair in the kitchen but first reponders at the scene noted that only one arm and one leg of his was tied, and described that he had superficial knife wounds that are possibly self-inflicted

Investigators stated that there were no signs of forced entry and that they could not find physical signs of a struggle as described by Dabate. Three separate K-9 units were also unable to pick up any other scent at the house that would indicate there was a third person present.

As luck would have it, Connie Dabate wore her FitBit for exercise class in the morning and did not take it off until her eventual murder at around 9:00. The data found on the FitBit reveals that her last movement was logged at 10:05 AM, more than an hour after what Richard Dabate claimed in the statement. This data, together with the house alarm and cellphone evidence, allowed investigators to create a timeline of events that discounts Dabate’s police statement.

According to the investigators, Dabate was having an affair with another woman who is actually pregnant with his child and cited this as motive for the killing. He is currently free after posting bail of $1 million and the murder trial is scheduled for April 28. His lawyer maintains that he is innocent.