Ep 32. The Fitbit Alibi

In season 30, episode 32 of 48 Hours, titled "The Fitbit Alibi," viewers follow the case of Richard Dabate, a man who claimed his wife, Connie, was murdered by a home invader in their Connecticut home in December 2015. However, with the help of investigators, it was revealed that Dabate's alibi didn't hold up and his story was full of holes.

When police arrived at the Dabate's home, they found Richard with a gunshot wound and Connie dead from multiple gunshot wounds. Richard claimed that an intruder broke into their home, tied him up, and shot his wife before he was able to escape and call for help. However, there were several inconsistencies in his story.

One of the biggest pieces of evidence was Richard's Fitbit, a popular fitness tracker that he claimed helped to corroborate his story. According to Dabate, he was outside shoveling the driveway at the time of the shooting, but his Fitbit told a different story. The data showed that Richard's movements had been limited to a small area inside the house and contradicted what he had told investigators. Additionally, the Fitbit recorded no signs of struggle or physical activity that would have been expected if Richard had been tied up and forced to fight off an intruder.

Investigators also discovered that Richard had been having an affair with a woman he met through a dating website and had conspired with her to kill his wife. The two had exchanged messages and phone calls leading up to the murder, and it was revealed that Richard had also withdrawn large sums of money from his wife's bank account.

Throughout the episode, viewers witness the complex process of piecing together evidence and unraveling the lies told by Richard. With interviews from investigators, friends, and family of the victim, the show delves into the twisted motives and behavior that eventually led to Richard's arrest.

"The Fitbit Alibi" is a gripping and thought-provoking episode of 48 Hours that highlights the importance of forensic evidence and how technology can be used to solve crimes. The story of Richard Dabate's deception and the murder of his wife is a cautionary tale about what can happen when we trust too much in our technology and how truth can be obscured by lies and deceit.