It's been deemed the "Fitbit murder" after part of the evidence used in prosecutors' timeline of the crime, but the 2015 murder of Connie Dabate of Ellington was less about the device than it was about the shocking, needless death of the proud mother of two boys, her wayward husband and his claim that a masked intruder killed her.
A jury did not believe that alibi, taking just a few hours in May to convict Richard Dabate, 46, of murder, tampering with evidence and giving a false statement to authorities. Thursday, Rockville Superior Court Judge Corinne Klatt sentenced Dabate to 65 years in state prison, without possibility of parole.
Connie's family and friends were in court to give witness impact statements and to welcome the long-awaited sentence, which comes more than 6 1/2 years after the crime.
“He’s a liar. He’s a thief. He’s a murderer,” says Darlene Beaudry of Ellington, who is still missing her friend and neighbor. "I have a very hard time looking across the street, at her house. I try to never look at it, because our lives will never be the same... she's not there anymore."
Prosecutors say Mr. Dabate was having an affair at the time of killing, and was feeling pressure because his mistress was pregnant. They say he shot and killed his wife in the family basement.
Dabate claimed that an intruder shot his wife, then tied him up. Police found no evidence of an intruder. Addressing the court before sentencing, Dabate maintained his innocence.
Prosecutors say that data from the Fitbit proves Connie Dabate was moving around on the morning of Dec. 23, 2015, well after Mr. Dabate claimed she was killed.
Defense attorney Trent LaLima says an appeal of the conviction, which partially relies on the prosecution's Fitbit evidence, will continue: "As Rick Dabate said in the court today, he is completely steadfast in his innocence and dedicated to proving his innocence."
In court, then later speaking to reporters, friends and family praised Connie Dabate.
"Before Connie's death, we had sort of this friendly divide. There was the one side of the neighborhood, then there was our side of the neighborhood," says Beaudry. "Connie wanted the neighborhood to come together as a family. She was a connector... After her death, that's exactly what happened. She got her wish."
The couple's sons, now 15 and 13 years old, are in the custody of relatives.
Connie's mother, Cindi Margotta, says her daughter lives on, through the boys: "I think that's her legacy, that she brought up two beautiful boys. One is very, very smart, very technical. The other one is funny. He's always joking around."
