Smart bracelet helps police prosecute the husband suspected of killing his wife

Data from the smart bracelet showed the loopholes in the testimony of the husband, contributing to helping police prosecute the suspect in the murder case of his wife.

Richard and Connie Dabate.(Photo: Facebook).

The Connecticut state police said yesterday that a smart bracelet had given them convincing evidence to prosecute a suspected husband murdering his wife, according to the BBC.

Richard Dabate, 40, told police that a stranger had broken into their home in Ellington County, Connecticut, stole his gun and used it to shoot Connie's wife at 9 am December 23 2015, just when she just returned from the gym. He said the intruder was a "tall, obese" man, whose voice was like actor Vin Diesel, dressed in a tight suit and wearing a mask.

Connie was shot twice in the head and back with a shotgun her husband had bought two months ago, according to prosecutors. Richard claimed that the intruder then tied him up after the struggle. Police found Richard with one hand and one leg tied with plastic wire to a kitchen chair at the scene.

However, the police began to suspect when there was no sign of any struggle on Richard. The cut marks on him were the same as self-created, not by others. The professional dog did not detect the smell of any stranger in the house within hours before Mrs. Connie was killed.

Things started to clear up when police decided to analyze data from the Fitbit smart bracelet used by Mrs. Connie. This is a ring using a digital sensor, which can record every movement of the user, bought by Mrs. Connie to serve her fitness.

The smart bracelet helps police find clues to the case.(Artwork: BBC).

Data from Mrs. Connie's last Fitbit bracelet at 10:05, more than an hour after Richard claimed she was shot dead. It also shows that she moved more than 365 meters after returning home, contrary to Richard's testimony that she was killed shortly after entering the house. The distance from where she left the car to the house was only "less than 38 meters", according to police prosecution records.

" This consumer electronics tracking device is a great tool to help investigators break things , " prosecutor Craig Stedman said.

After extending the investigation, police discovered that Richard was having an affair with another woman and was about to have an illegitimate child. Police suspect this is the motive for him to kill his wife.

Richard Dabate was arrested earlier this month on charges of murder, forging evidence and providing false statements to the police. He is being released on bail after paying a million dollar guarantee and will have to go to court on April 28.