Prosecutor Credits 'Technology' Investigations In Dabate Conviction

VERNON, CT — The Tolland County state's attorney said that "forensic examinations of various forms of technology" were key to the conviction of Richard Dabate in the 2015 killing of his wife, Connie Dabate, at their Ellington home.

Prosecutor Matthew Gedansky offered an analysis of the 22-day trial Tuesday afternoon, about an hour after a jury rendered a guilty verdict on the case in Rockville Superior Court.

The 45-year-old Dabate was found guilty of murder, tampering with evidence, and making false statements, according to the clerk's office. He is facing 25 years to life in prison, per state statute.

His bond was revised by Judge Corinne Klatt to $5 million and Dabate was ordered to employ GPS monitoring until his next scheduled court date on Sept. 16, according to the clerk's office. Dabate had been free on a $1 million bond throughout the case, for which he was arrested in April 2017. He was taken into custody after the bond was raised and Dabate would be released until his next court date if he posts the $4 million balance, and that would have to be paid at the court in cash or via a surety bond, according t0 the clerk's office.

Dabate's conviction stems from the shooting death of Connie Dabate on Dec. 23, 2015 inside the couple's Ellington home. Gedansky said evidence presented at the trial showed forensic examinations of various forms of technology, including Connie Dabate's personal fitness tracker, Richard Dabate's computer tablet, the home's alarm system and each of the couple's cell phones. Gedansky said the evidence "contradicted Dabate’s claims that a masked intruder perpetrated the murder."

The 50-page warrant for Debate's arrest reads like a Hollywood script. See more on it here.

Sentencing should be rendered on the Sept. 16 court date, Gedansky said.

"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," Gedansky said. "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."

Gedansky credited the "extensive investigative efforts" of the Connecticut State Police Eastern District Major Crime Squad, Inspector P.J. Clark, the division's legal technology specialist, the State of Connecticut Forensic Science Laboratory, the FBI, and "all of Connie’s friends and family who showed patience and grace throughout the prosecution."