Civil Lawsuit Filed in Ellington Dabate Murder Case

ELLINGTON/ROCKVILLE, CT – The sister of an Ellington woman killed two days before Christmas in 2015 has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the husband accused of carrying out the crime, court records indicate.

Marliese Shaw, the sister of Connie Dabate, named Richard Dabate, the husband, in the suit. Shaw was appointed executor of Connie Dabate’s estate in May after a probate judge removed Richard Dabate from that capacity.

The lawsuit is dated Nov. 22. Connie was 39 at the time of her death and the couple had two young sons together.

Shaw is seeking at least $15,000 in monetary and punitive damages from Richard Dabate as well as court costs and other expenses. That is not even close to other money matters regarding the estate. Probate Judge O. James Purnell III ordered an explanation as to how more than $70,000 was whittled down to just more than 6 bucks, court records indicate.

Richard Dabate, 41, was charged with murder in April. He has entered a not guilty plea in the criminal case to the charges and is free on a $1 million bond. His next scheduled court date is Jan. 19, according to judicial system records. A 50-plus page arrest warrant accuses him of botching up a story about an intruder killing his wife and having an affair.

He is scheduled to return to Vernon court to face the criminal charges on Jan. 19.

Photo Credit: Chris Dehnel