Richard Dabate Charged With Murdering His Wife: State Police

ELLINGTON, CT — Richard Dabate, 39, was arrested Friday and charged with murdering his wife, Connie Dabate, two days before Christmas of 2015, State Police said. He's being held in lieu of a $1 million bond and is formally charged with first-degree murder, tampering with evidence and providing a false statement.

The case has drawn national attention as Dabate, a local mom, was found dead inside her home after an apparent home invasion just two days before Christmas 2015. Her husband was treated for minor injuries, State Police have said. Dabate's death was ruled a homicide shortly after, state police said.

Prior to her death she called police saying she found rags in her car's tailpipe, the The Hartford Courant previously reported. Richard Dabate also said someone damaged his car windshield prior to Connie Dabate's murder, NBC Connecticut reports. Connie Dabate was found dead at her home suffering from a gunshot wound to her head.

According to her obituary, Connie Dabate, 39, left behind her two children and she was a graduate of Ellington High School, Class of 1995.

"Connie earned her undergraduate degree from the University of Connecticut, Class of 1999. She was a pharmaceutical sales representative for Reckitt Benckiser. Connie was a past vice president, and member for many years, of the Ellington Ambulance Corp. She was a loving, cheerful and kind person," her obituary stated. "Connie was the sunshine of so many lives..."

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