>> PEOPLE STARTED REACHING OUT TO ME, AND THEY'RE LIKE, "DID
YOU HEAR WHAT HAPPENED AT
CONNIE'S HOUSE?"
>> WE HEARD IT WAS A BREAK-IN.
>> IT WAS AN ALARMING SCENE.
HE WAS IN THE KITCHEN, BOUND TO
A FOLDING CHAIR, MOANING
SHE WAS LOCATED IN THE BASEMENT
DRESSED IN WORKOUT GEAR.
THERE WAS AN OBVIOUS SIGN OF
GUNSHOT WOUND TO HER
>> IT WAS, LIKE, A SICK FEELING.
CONNIE DIDN'T MAKE IT.
>> THERE'S THIS BIG MYSTERY IN
TOWN
WHO CAME IN AND DID THIS
>> WE HAD UNIDENTIFIED DNA IN
SIX KEY PLACES
>> Reporter: A LOT OF
INFORMATION STARTED COMING OUT,
INCLUDING A BIG BOMBSHELL.
>> UNBELIEVABLE.
>> Reporter: SHE REALLY BECAME
ONE OF YOUR KEY WITNESSES.
>> SHE WAS NOT A WILLING
WITNESS.
IT WAS DIFFICULT
>> Reporter: YOU TOOK A NUMBER
OF ELECTRONIC DEVICES FROM THE
HOUSE.
>> WE TOOK THE FITBIT
TRANSMITTER OFF OF HER BODY.
>> Reporter: IT WAS THE SILENT
WITNESS.
>> CORRECT
DIGITAL EVIDENCE IS POWERFUL
>> Reporter: THIS WAS A BIG
TWIST THAT YOU WERE NOT
EXPECTING.
>> NO.
>> IT'S DEVASTATION.
IT'S BETRAYAL.
HOW COULD THIS HAPPEN?
>> MY JAW ALMOST DROPPED TO THE
FLOOR.
I KEPT THINKING, "OH, MY GOD."
>> A FITBIT CAPTURED THE LAST
MOMENTS OF A LOVING MOM'S LIFE
YOU'LL SEE HOW IT ALSO HELPED
INVESTIGATORS CATCH HER KILLER
I'M LESTER HOLT, AND THIS IS
"DATELINE.
♪
HERE'S ANDREA CANNING WITH "THE
SECRETS OF BIRCH VIEW DRIVE.
>> Reporter: BIRCH VIEW DRIVE
WAS A QUIET STREET IN A QUIET
NEIGHBORHOOD IN A QUIET
CONNECTICUT TOWN CALLED
ELLINGTON.
IT WAS ALSO HOME TO THREE
BOISTEROUS FRIENDS
DARLENE BEAUDRY, PEGGY GIOTSAS,
AND CONNIE DABATE.
YOU ALL LIVED SO CLOSE TO EACH
OTHER.
>> YEAH, WE DID.
WE DID
>> WE DO
THAT'S MY HOUSE OVER THERE
>> THAT'S MY HOUSE THERE
AND CONNIE LIVED RIGHT BACK
THERE.
>> Reporter: CLOSE HOUSES, EVEN
CLOSER FRIENDS
CONNIE ALWAYS KNEW HOW TO MAKE
HERSELF AT HOME.
>> MY FAVORITE THING THAT SHE
DID IS SHE WOULD -- BACK THEN,
WE WOULD ALWAYS LEAVE THE GARAGE
DOORS OPEN
SO SHE'D COME THROUGH THE
GARAGE
SHE'D SAY, "HONEY, I'M HOME.
[ LAUGHTER ]
>> YEAH.
>> AND THEN, JUST LIKE PEGGY DID
TODAY, SHE WOULD JUST -- SHE'D
JUST WALK RIGHT IN
THERE WAS NO KNOCKING.
THERE WAS -- SHE'D JUST THROW
THE DOOR OPEN.
>> Reporter: I -- I THINK YOU
THREE HAVE A FRIENDSHIP THAT SO
MANY -- SO MANY OF US LADIES
WOULD LOVE TO HAVE
>> WE ACTUALLY REALLY DID BECOME
LIKE FAMILY.
WE COOKED TOGETHER, HUNG OUT
TOGETHER
PEGGY WOULD OFFER ENDLESS ADVICE
ABOUT BABIES
>> Reporter: AND YOU GUYS HAD A
NAME FOR YOURSELVES?
>> EITHER -- EITHER THE THREE
MUSKETEERS OR THE --
>> -- THREE AMIGOS
[ LAUGHTER ]
>> DEPENDING ON WHATEVER DAY
WE HAD A LOT OF FUN TOGETHER
>> Reporter: FUN
CONNIE WAS ALL ABOUT THE FUN,
ESPECIALLY WITH THE HOLIDAY
SEASON UPON THEM
BUT ON THE MORNING OF
DECEMBER 23rd, 2015, THERE WAS
ONLY CHAOS AT CONNIE'S HOUSE
>> I CAME TO THE SINK.
AND I LOOK OVER, AND I'M LIKE,
"HOLY COW, THERE'S A STATE
TROOPER WITH HIS RIFLE DRAWN ON
THE HOUSE.
>> Reporter: PEGGY IMMEDIATELY
CALLED CONNIE, BUT SHE DIDN'T
PICK UP.
SO PEGGY TRIED DARLENE
>> AND ASKED HER IF SHE KNEW
WHAT WAS GOING ON AND HAD SHE
HEARD FROM CONNIE.
>> AND SHE SAID THERE WAS A
FIRST RESPONDER CAR AND A
SHERIFF AT CONNIE'S HOUSE.
AND HE WAS OUTSIDE THE CAR WITH
HIS RIFLE.
>> Reporter: THAT'S REALLY
SCARY.
>> IT WAS LIKE, "WHAT?
>> BEFORE WE CAN SAY ANOTHER
SENTENCE, THIS ENTIRE STREET WAS
FULL OF STATE TROOPERS
THE DRIVEWAY HAD ABOUT 1,000 OF
'EM COMIN' UP.
I MEAN, IT JUST SEEMED LIKE
IT'S -
>> Reporter: ARE THEY JUST --
ARE -- ARE THEY SCREAMING --
>> THEY'RE SCREECHING AT --
THEY'RE SCREECHING IN --
>> Reporter: -- BY WITH SIRENS
>> ONE BY ONE BY, YES, YES.
I MEAN, IT WAS LIKE --
>> Reporter: FULL SPEED.
>> SOMETHING YOU WOULD SEE OUT
OF THE MOVIES, YEAH.
>> Reporter: THE MASSIVE POLICE
PRESENCE WAS IN RESPONSE TO AN
ALARM TRIGGERED AT THE HOUSE
CONNIE SHARED WITH HER HUSBAND,
39-YEAR-OLD RICK DABATE, AND
THEIR TWO CHILDREN
THAT AND A CRYPTIC 911 CALL.
>> 911
HELLO?
>> NEED HELP
>> Reporter: DAVID LAMOUREUX AND
RYAN LUTHER RACED TO THE SCENE
BACK THEN, THEY WERE CONNECTICUT
STATE POLICE DETECTIVES.
WHAT DO YOU SEE AS YOU PULL UP
IN THIS, YOU KNOW, QUIET
SUBURBAN NEIGHBORHOOD?
>> THERE WAS NUMEROUS UNIFORMED
TROOPERS THERE
THERE WAS OUR CANINE UNIT,
TROOPERS THERE WITH THEIR
CANINES OUT.
AND THEY HAD THE SCENE SECURED
AT THE TIME WITH CRIME SCENE
TAPE
>> I BELIEVE MEDIA WAS ACTUALLY
STARTING TO SHOW UP.
>> Reporter: WHAT ARE YOU BEING
TOLD BY THE FIRST RESPONDERS
ABOUT WHAT THEY SAW IN THE
HOUSE?
>> INITIALLY THAT IT WAS CALLED
IN AS A HOME INVASION AND THAT
THERE WAS A DECEASED PERSON IN
THE BASEMENT
>> Reporter: TROOPERS WERE
ALREADY SCOURING THE
NEIGHBORHOOD, POUNDING ON DOORS
UP AND DOWN THE STREET
>> THEY WERE SAYING THERE WAS
HOME INVASION AND THE INTRUDER
HAS FLED ON FOOT AND IS
SOMEWHERE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
>> Reporter: AND YOUR CHILDREN
ARE HOME
>> MY CHILDREN WERE HOME
SO -
>> Reporter: THE PANIC THAT YOU
MUST'VE FELT
THE -- JUST THE FEAR
>> FEAR.
>> Reporter: ONE OF THE TROOPERS
SAID THEY NEEDED TO CLEAR
DARLENE'S HOUSE TO MAKE SURE THE
INTRUDER WASN'T INSIDE
>> AND HE SAID, "IS THIS A -- IS
THIS A BATHROOM?
IS THIS A POWDER ROOM HERE?"
AND I SAID, "YES."
AND HE SAID, "I WANT YOU TO GET
IN THE BATHROOM WITH YOUR
CHILDREN."
I TOOK THEM OFF THE COUCH.
THEY WERE WITH THEIR IPADS
AND I -- I PUT THEM BACK BEHIND
THE TOILET
AND I JUST PUT -- SHUT THE DOOR.
PUT MY BACK AGAINST THE DOOR
AND THE TROOPER SAID, "I'M GONNA
CLEAR THE HOUSE, AND I DON'T
WANT YOU TO COME OUT UNTIL YOU
HEAR ME KNOCK TWICE.
WHEN YOU HEAR ME KNOCK TWICE,
THEN YOU'LL KNOW THE HOUSE IS
CLEAR.
>> Reporter: YOU -- YOU'RE ALL
HUDDLED IN THERE
>> WE'RE ALL HUDDLED
>> Reporter: WITH THE DOOR -
>> WITH THE DOOR SHUT.
>> Reporter: WHEN THEY FINALLY
GOT THE ALL-CLEAR, DARLENE AND
HER CHILDREN CAME OUT OF THE
BATHROOM
BUT THEY WERE ORDERED TO STAY
INSIDE THE HOUSE
>> HE CAME OUT AND STOOD HERE
AND HE SAID, "I'M GONNA GO OUT
THAT DOOR.
I WANT YOU TO LOCK THE DOOR
BEHIND ME.
DO NOT OPEN THE DOOR UNDER ANY
OTHER CIRCUMSTANCE."
SO THAT'S WHAT WE DID.
>> Reporter: MEANWHILE, ACROSS
THE STREET, PEGGY WAS STILL
TRYING TO REACH CONNIE
>> I WAS FEELING ANXIOUS
I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WAS GOING ON.
I CALLED THERE
I'M LIKE, "WHAT IS GOING ON?
PLEASE CALL ME BACK.
LET ME KNOW THAT YOU GUYS ARE
OKAY."
NO ONE ANSWERED.
IT WENT STRAIGHT TO VOICEMAIL.
>> Reporter: SHE WAS STANDING BY
HER WINDOW WHEN SHE HEARD THE
CRACKLE OF A POLICE SCANNER.
>> I HEARD, "DOA GOING TO
HARTFORD HOSPITAL.
I CALLED HER AND I WAS LIKE --
>> SCREAMING
>> I COULDN'T BREATHE.
I WAS SCREAMING.
>> SCREAMING
>> I WAS LIKE, "SOMEONE'S DEAD."
LIKE, WHAT'S" --
>> Reporter: OH, MY GOSH
>> -- "GOING ON?
I DON'T UNDERSTAND."
AND SO -
>> Reporter: EVERYONE KNOWS WHAT
DOA MEANS.
>> EXACTLY
>> Reporter: AN APPARENT HOME
INVASION
AN INTRUDER ON THE LOOSE
SOMEONE DEAD
WHAT HAD HAPPENED AT RICK AND
CONNIE'S HOUSE
AND WHY ON EARTH WASN'T CONNIE
PICKING UP HER PHONE
>>> FIGURING THAT OUT WOULDN'T
BE SO EASY
WHEN WE COME BACK, FOR
INVESTIGATORS, THE CHAOS OUTSIDE
THE HOUSE WAS ABOUT TO GIVE WAY
TO A SERIES OF CHILLING
DISCOVERIES INSIDE
>> HE WAS IN THE KITCHEN, BOUND
TO A FOLDING CHAIR
SHE WAS LOCATED IN THE FAR
CORNER OF THE BASEMENT
>> Reporter: BIRCH VIEW DRIVE,
NORMALLY PEACEFUL, WAS IN
UPHEAVAL
AN APPARENT HOME INVASION AT
CONNIE AND RICK DABATE'S HOUSE,
POLICE CARS ALL OVER THE PLACE
DETECTIVES LAMOREAUX AND LUTHER
HAD TO MAKE SENSE OF IT ALL.
WHAT DO YOU SEE?
>> WELL, IT'S A LARGE HOUSE.
WE WERE ABLE TO JUST DO A
WALK -- GENERAL WALK-THROUGH OF
THE HOUSE BEFORE WE BEGIN
PROCESSING TO GET A FEEL FOR
WHAT'S GOIN' ON.
>> IT WAS TWO DAYS BEFORE
CHRISTMAS.
YOU HAVE THIS CHRISTMAS TREE AND
PRESENTS AND DECORATIONS
YOU KNOW
AND WE LATER LEARNED ABOUT THE
TWO BOYS THAT THEY HAD
>> Reporter: THANKFULLY, THE
BOYS, JUST 6 AND 9 YEARS OLD,
WERE AT SCHOOL
BUT RICK AND CONNIE HAD BEEN
HOME
FIRST RESPONDERS FOUND RICK IN
THE KITCHEN.
>> HE WAS PARTIALLY BOUND TO A
FOLDING CHAIR.
THERE WAS WHAT LOOKED LIKE BLOOD
ON THE FLOOR, SMEARED ON THE
FLOOR.
HE WAS REPORTEDLY JUST MOANING
WHEN THEY GOT THERE.
>> Reporter: HE WAS INJURED BUT
ALIVE.
THE RESPONDERS RUSHED HIM TO THE
HOSPITAL
BUT CONNIE -
>> SHE WAS LOCATED IN THE FAR
CORNER OF THE BASEMENT, IN THE
UNFINISHED PORTION
SHE WAS DRESSED IN WHAT LOOKED
LIKE WORKOUT GEAR.
LIKE, SWEATPANTS AND A SWEAT
TOP, WEARING SNEAKERS.
SHE WAS OBVIOUSLY DECEASED
THERE WAS OBVIOUS SIGNS OF
GUNSHOT WOUND TO HER
>> Reporter: CONNIE DABATE HAD
BEEN SHOT TO DEATH
SHE WAS THE DOA PEGGY HAD HEARD
MENTIONED ON THAT POLICE
SCANNER.
DARLENE GOT THE NEWS FROM RICK'S
DAD.
>> HE SAID THERE WAS A HOME
INVASION AND CONNIE DIDN'T MAKE
IT
IT WAS, LIKE, A SICK FEELING
LIKE, "CONNIE DIDN'T MAKE IT
WHAT ARE YOU SAYING?
>> Reporter: CONNIE'S BROTHER,
KEITH MARGOTTA, AND HIS WIFE
DONNA, FOUND OUT FROM KEITH'S
FATHER
>> HE CALLED AND SAID THAT
THERE'S BEEN A TRAGEDY OR A HOME
INVASION AT MY SISTER'S HOUSE IN
ELLINGTON AND THAT CONNIE WAS
GONE, IS WHAT HE SAID.
I FELT LIKE I WAS JUST GONNA
COLLAPSE
>> YEAH.
WE WERE JUST TRYIN' TO PROCESS
WHAT WE'VE BEEN TOLD
WE CAN'T -- WE CAN'T FATHOM IT
BECAUSE WE'VE JUST SEEN HER.
YOU KNOW, IT -- IT'S NOT REAL.
IT CAN'T BE REAL
>> Reporter: SOON WORD OF
CONNIE'S MURDER SPREAD
ONE OF HER OLDEST FRIENDS,
KIM PHILLIPS, GOT THE NEWS BY
TEXT
SHE SAYS SHE CRUMBLED.
>> MY KIDS WERE 5 AND 6.
SO I JUST REMEMBER, LIKE, I
DIDN'T WANT THEM TO SEE ME
GETTING SO UPSET
SO I RAN UPSTAIRS AND JUST
SCREAMED INTO THE PILLOW
AND I HATE THAT -- THAT I'M
SAYING THIS, BUT I WAS LIKE,
"WHY IS IT HER, AND WHY COULDN'T
IT BE SOMEBODY ELSE?
>> Reporter: THAT WAS YOUR, YOU
KNOW, NATURAL REACTION IN THE
MOMENT
>> IT REALLY WAS THE WORST,
WORST NEWS I COULD EVER HEAR,
AND THE WORST PERSON THAT IT
COULD EVER BE.
>> Reporter: CONNIE?
WHO WOULD HAVE MURDERED HER?
SHE WAS THE SWEETEST PERSON, THE
BABY IN THE FAMILY WITH TWO
OLDER SISTERS AND A BROTHER.
>> I TEASED HER A LOT AS A BIG
BROTHER, AS BIG BROTHERS MIGHT
YOU KNOW, AND -- AND AS ADULTS,
SHE -- SHE HAD REMINDED ME OF
THAT
>> Reporter: HOW WOULD YOU TEASE
HER?
HOW WOULD YOU TORMENT YOUR
LITTLE SISTER?
>> SHE SAYS I PUT HER OUT THE
WINDOW ONE TIME.
>> DID NOT
>> THAT WAS JUST -- IT WAS -- IT
WAS MAYBE HER FEET
BUT.
>> Reporter: DON'T YOU LOVE HOW
LITTLE SIBLINGS CAN EXAGGERATE
LIKE THAT?
>> THEY DO -- THEY DO
EXAGGERATE, YEAH
>> Reporter: WHEN THEY WANNA GET
YOU IN TROUBLE
>> YEAH.
YEAH
SHE -- SHE -- SHE THOUGHT MY
FATHER -- YOU KNOW, I'D GET IN
TROUBLE WITH MY FATHER WHEN I
WAS 40 OR SOMETHING.
>> Reporter: AND DONNA, YOU CAME
IN TO CONNIE'S LIFE WHEN SHE WAS
QUITE YOUNG.
>> YES
SHE WAS 6 YEARS OLD.
I MET CONNIE -- I WAS DATING
HER -- HER BROTHER
CONNIE TOOK DANCE FROM THE SAME
DANCE TEACHER I DID.
SHE WAS LIKE A LITTLE SISTER
>> Reporter: FAMILY, FOR CONNIE,
ALSO INCLUDED HER FRIENDS, LIKE
KIM.
>> I MET CONNIE MY SOPHOMORE
YEAR OF HIGH SCHOOL.
SHE HAD JUST MOVED TO ELLINGTON,
AND WE JUST GOT ALONG FROM THE
START.
>> Reporter: THIS IS EVERYTHING
I KEEP HEARING ABOUT CONNIE, IS
JUST HER WAY OF PUTTING PEOPLE
AT EASE, GETTING TO KNOW PEOPLE
VERY QUICKLY, HAVING THOSE
INSTANT CONNECTIONS.
>> YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.
SHE WAS SOMEONE THAT, THE FIRST
TIME YOU WOULD MEET HER, YOU
WOULD AUTOMATICALLY JUST BE
ATTRACTED TO HER PERSONALITY
YOU WOULD WANNA SPEND MORE TIME
WITH HER
>> Reporter: IT'S THAT QUALITY,
KIM SAYS, THAT MADE EVERYONE WHO
KNEW CONNIE THINK OF HER AS A
BEST FRIEND.
YOU KNOW, USUALLY IT'S, LIKE,
MAYBE A SMALL GROUP OF BEST
FRIENDS.
THIS WAS, LIKE, EVERYBODY WAS,
"CONNIE WAS MY BEST FRIEND."
>> IT MAKES ME FEEL SO GOOD TO
KNOW THAT SO MANY PEOPLE THOUGHT
OF CONNIE AS THEIR BEST FRIEND
AND I JUST THINK IT'S -- AGAIN,
SHE WAS ABLE TO REACH INTO
PEOPLE
SHE PUT EVERYONE ELSE BEFORE
HERSELF.
>> Reporter: AND THAT MADE IT
EASY TO ROOT FOR CONNIE WHEN SHE
GUSHED OVER A NEW MAN IN HER
LIFE
SHE MET RICK AT A PARTY WHILE
HOME FROM COLLEGE ONE SUMMER
>> SHE'S LIKE, "I MET THIS GREAT
GUY, AND HE'S ITALIAN.
AND, YOU KNOW, SHE LOVED ITALIAN
MEN.
AND SO I WAS LIKE, "OKAY," YOU
KNOW, "IF CONNIE LOVES HIM, I'LL
LOVE HIM."
>> Reporter: WHAT DID YOU THINK
ABOUT INITIAL IMPRESSIONS OF --
OF RICK, AND CONNIE AND RICK
TOGETHER
>> I REALLY LIKED RICK
I THOUGHT HE WAS A GOOD FIT FOR
CONNIE
I MEAN, HE WAS FUN
SHE WAS FUN.
>> Reporter: RICHARD AND
JULIE DABATE SAY THEIR SON HAD
ALWAYS BEEN THAT WAY
>> HE WAS EASY GOIN'
HE WAS ALWAYS, LIKE, A JOKER
>> AND WHEN HE BROUGHT CONNIE
HOME, I SAID TO MY HUSBAND,
"THIS IS DIFFERENT
I THINK SHE'S THE ONE.
>> Reporter: WHAT WAS DIFFERENT
ABOUT IT
>> HE WAS GLOWING.
AND CONNIE FIT RIGHT IN.
>> Reporter: CONNIE WAS THE ONE.
THE TWO MARRIED, HAD THE BOYS,
AND THEIR HOUSE ON BIRCH VIEW
DRIVE BECAME THE HAPPY CENTER OF
THEIR SOCIAL LIVES
>> IT WAS FUNNY BECAUSE WE
ACTUALLY CALLED CONNIE'S HOUSE
THE DABATE ESTATES BECAUSE WE
USED TO ALWAYS GO THERE THAT -
>> Reporter: SOUNDS LIKE A
WINERY
[ LAUGHTER ]
>> BUT IT WAS TRUE 'CAUSE THAT'S
WHERE -- PEOPLE WOULD JUST
CONGREGATE AT THAT HOUSE
>> Reporter: BUT NOW THE DABATE
HOUSE WAS A CRIME SCENE.
CONNIE WAS DEAD AND THE PEOPLE
CONGREGATING THERE WERE STATE
POLICE INVESTIGATORS
>> WE ARE A TEAM OF FIVE
DETECTIVES THAT WILL INVESTIGATE
THE MOST SERIOUS CRIMES THAT
OCCUR.
>> Reporter: DETECTIVE SERGEANT
BRETT LANGEVIN, LIEUTENANT
BILL UTERMARCK, AND JEFF PAYETTE
WERE DETECTIVES AT THE TIME AND
ALSO ASSIGNED TO THE CASE.
JOB ONE FOR PAYETTE AND
LANGEVIN -- GET OVER TO THE
HOSPITAL WHERE DOCTORS WERE
TREATING RICK.
WHAT DO YOU WANNA FIND OUT FROM
THE HUSBAND, SINCE HE WAS -- HE
WAS IN THE HOUSE WHEN THE POLICE
ARRIVED?
>> EVERYTHING HE KNOWS
HE'S THE BEST WITNESS.
HE'S A VICTIM.
HE COULD POTENTIALLY TELL US WHO
DID IT
>> Reporter: OR AT LEAST PROVIDE
A DESCRIPTION OF THE INTRUDER.
>> THE SOONER WE GET THAT
INFORMATION AND GET IT OUT TO
EVERYBODY, THE BETTER OFF
EVERYONE IS.
>> Reporter: THE QUESTION WAS,
HOW SOON COULD THEY GET IT
RICK WAS LYING IN A HOSPITAL
BED.
WHAT, IF ANYTHING, WOULD HE BE
ABLE TO TELL POLICE?
>>> COMING UP --
RICK RECOUNTS WALKING INTO A
CLOSET AND DISCOVERING A MASKED
MAN.
>> HE WAS BIG.
>> AND THERE WAS ONE OTHER THING
THE MAN'S MASK COULDN'T COVER.
>> I JUST HEARD THIS LITTLE,
DEEP, VIN DIESEL-LIKE VOICE.
>> Reporter: HOURS AFTER THE
ATTACK AT CONNIE AND
RICK DABATE'S HOUSE, DETECTIVES
WERE INSIDE AN E.R
RICK HAD SUFFERED WOUNDS TO HIS
LEGS, SHOULDER, AND THE BACK OF
HIS HEAD
BUT HE WAS CONSCIOUS
>> HE SEEMED WELL SPOKEN,
COHERENT
WE COULD SEE A LITTLE BIT OF
BLOOD ON ONE OF -- ON THE SIDE
OF HIS CHEEK, SOME BLOOD ON HIS
HANDS.
>> Reporter: DETECTIVES
JEFF PAYETTE AND BRETT LANGEVIN
NEEDED RICK TO TELL THEM WHAT
HAPPENED
>> I SAW CONNIE ON THE GROUND,
AND I CAN'T GET THAT IMAGE OUT
OF MY MIND
>> Reporter: WITH A RECORDER
ROLLING, THE DETECTIVES LISTENED
AS RICK WENT BACK OVER THAT
MORNING GETTING THE KIDS OFF TO
SCHOOL, WATCHING CONNIE GET
READY FOR THE GYM, DRIVING OFF
TO WORK.
HE SAID HE WASN'T TEN MINUTES
DOWN THE ROAD WHEN HE STOPPED.
>> I REALIZED I NEED TO GO BACK
FOR MY LAPTOP.
>> Reporter: AT THE SAME TIME,
HE SAID THE ALERT NOTIFICATIONS
ON HIS PHONE WENT OFF -- TROUBLE
WITH HIS HOME SECURITY SYSTEM.
>> SHOT AN EMAIL TO MY BOSS
SAYING THAT I'LL BE LATE, KIND
OF TOLD HER I NEEDED TO CHECK
OUT SOME THINGS ON MY SECURITY
SYSTEM
>> Reporter: HE DROVE BACK HOME,
HEADED INSIDE, AND HEARD A NOISE
UPSTAIRS
>> THE CATS MAKE A LOUD,
OBNOXIOUS MESS
I FIGURED IT WAS JUST THE CATS
>> HE THOUGHT THAT IT WAS THE
CATS BECAUSE IT WASN'T UNCOMMON
FOR THEM TO KNOCK THINGS OVER
AND -- AND MAKE NOISE.
>> Reporter: SO HE WENT TO CHECK
IT OUT
HE SAYS THE CATS WEREN'T THERE,
BUT SOMEONE WAS.
>> WHEN YOU FIRST WALK INTO OUR
BEDROOM, THERE'S A WALK-IN
CLOSET RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME --
US
THAT LIGHT WAS ON TOO WHEN I
OPENED UP, AND THERE'S THIS
CAMOUFLAGED DUDE IN --
>> IN YOUR CLOSET?
>> YES
JUST LOOKING AROUND FOR
ANYTHING, TRYING TO FIND
SOMETHING, I DON'T KNOW,
SOMETHING OF VALUE
>> DID YOU WATCH HIM FOR A
LITTLE WHILE
>> NO.
NO, I OPENED THE DOOR PRETTY
QUICK.
THIS IS WHERE IT ALL JUST GETS
SO -- I NEVER HAD ANYTHING LIKE
THIS HAPPEN.
I -- I JUST --
>> TAKE YOUR TIME.
>> Reporter: RICK SAID THE MAN
WAS A HUGE, HULKING GUY.
>> HE WAS BIG.
>> Reporter: BUT THAT WAS ALL HE
COULD SHARE AS FAR AS PHYSICAL
APPEARANCE BECAUSE HE SAID THE
INTRUDER WORE A MASK
>> HE DID NOT DESCRIBE SKIN
COLOR OR ANY OTHER DESCRIPTORS
>> Reporter: BUT IF RICK
COULDN'T DESCRIBE THE MAN'S
FACE -
HIS VOICE -- THAT HE COULD
DESCRIBE
>> I JUST HEARD THIS -- THIS
DEEP, VIN DIESEL-LIKE VOICE.
>> WORD ON THE STREET IS YOU GOT
LOCKED UP.
>> Reporter: VIN DIESEL, THE
MEGAWATT HOLLYWOOD STAR OF THE
HIT "FAST & FURIOUS" FILM
FRANCHISE.
HIS DEEP, GRAVELY VOICE IS
INSTANTLY RECOGNIZABLE
>> YOU GET INVOLVED HERE, YOU
PUT EVERYTHING YOU HAVE AT RISK.
>> Reporter: IT'S AN INTERESTING
WAY TO DESCRIBE A VOICE.
>> VERY SPECIFIC
>> Reporter: SO YOU'RE LOOKING
FOR A LARGE MAN, DEEP VOICE, IN
CAMOUFLAGE
>> OBESE TO STOCKY, OVER SIX
FOOT TALL, COVERED IN GREEN
CAMOUFLAGE, WITH A DEEP VOICE.
>> Reporter: THAT'S SCARY.
>> YES
>> Reporter: HE TOLD DETECTIVES
THE VIN DIESEL INTRUDER WAS
HOLDING A KNIFE, DEMANDING
RICK'S WALLET AND PINS
>> HE SAID, "YOU'RE GOING TO
GIVE ME WHAT I WANT, OR I'M
GOING SIT HERE QUIETLY AND WAIT
FOR YOUR FAMILY TO GET HOME.
>> Reporter: THAT'S WHEN HE
HEARD IT -- THE GARAGE DOOR
OPENING BELOW, CONNIE WALKING
INTO THE HOUSE
>> SO I YELLED TO HER TO GET OUT
OF THE HOUSE
MY WIFE DIDN'T RUN
SHE MUST HAVE RAN INTO THE
BASEMENT BECAUSE WE HAVE -- WE
HAVE TWO GUNS IN THE HOUSE
ONE WAS IN THE BASEMENT IN A
LOCKBOX, AND ONE IS IN OUR
CLOSET
SHE RAN DOWNSTAIRS
>> Reporter: RATHER THAN SAVING
HERSELF, CONNIE WAS APPARENTLY
TRYING TO SAVE HER HUSBAND
RICK SAID THE INTRUDER KNOCKED
HIM TO THE GROUND AND CHASED
AFTER CONNIE
HE SAID HE STAGGERED BEHIND,
CATCHING UP WITH THEM IN THE
BASEMENT
>> I -- SORRY -- AROUND THE
CORNER I JUST -- LIKE, I JUST
HEAR, LIKE, THE LOUDEST BANG
AND I SAW MY WIFE GO -- I THINK
I SAW HER LAYING ON THE GROUND
I -- I DON'T KNOW.
I DIDN'T HEAR HER AT ALL AFTER
THAT
>> Reporter: SUDDENLY, HE SAID,
THE MAN WAS BACK ON HIM.
>> MY EARS WERE RINGING.
AND THEN THEY -- HE -- HE'S --
PUTS ME IN THIS, LIKE, NECK ARM
THING.
I COULDN'T GET OUT OF IT
AND HE JUST GUIDED ME OVER TO
THE OTHER SIDE, THREW ME IN A
CHAIR, AND STARTED USING MY
OWN -- TOOLS ON ME
>> WHAT TYPE OF CHAIR WAS IT
DO YOU REMEMBER?
>> UH, UM, FOLDING CHAIR
>> Reporter: THEN RICK DESCRIBED
HOW THE INTRUDER TIED HIM TO THE
CHAIR WITH ZIP TIES, STABBED HIM
WITH A BOX CUTTER, AND BURNED
HIM WITH A HANDHELD BLOWTORCH,
ALL FROM A BAG OF TOOLS RICK
KEPT IN THE BASEMENT
>> I'M SITTING IN THE CHAIR
HALF -- I WAS KIND OF HALF TIED
UP AND IN SHOCK, I GUESS
>> WHAT DO YOU MEAN HALF TIED
UP
>> I HAD ONE LEG FREE AND AN ARM
FREE
HE TIED ONE LEG.
HE TIED ONE ARM, AND THEN HE
TIED MY -- MY NECK FAIRLY TIGHT
WITH TIE WRAP.
>> Reporter: RICK SAID HE USED
HIS FREE ARM TO FIGHT BACK
>> AND I -- I GOT THE TORCH TO
KIND OF JUST BLOW IN HIS MASK A
LITTLE BIT, AND IT CAUGHT ON
FIRE
HE DROPPED THE BLOWTORCH
>> Reporter: DROPPED THE
BLOWTORCH AND RAN.
>> I WAS STARTING TO SCREAM FOR
HELP
I SCREAMED FOR HELP, YOU KNOW.
I COULDN'T HEAR A SOUL
I GOT REALLY, REALLY DIZZY
>> Reporter: RICK SAID HE THEN
CRAWLED UPSTAIRS, STILL
PARTIALLY ZIP TIED TO THE CHAIR,
TRIGGERED THE HOME ALARM AND
CALLED 911
YOU HAVE A LOT OF THINGS YOU
HAVE TO CHECK OUT --
>> WE DO
>> Reporter: -- AND CORROBORATE
FROM HIS STORY
>> WE HAVE TO PROCESS THE SCENE.
WE HAVE TO TALK TO PEOPLE,
INTERVIEW PEOPLE, LOOK UP
ELECTRONIC DATA, EXPLORE EVERY
OPTION
>> Reporter: AS RICK WAS
SPEAKING TO THE DETECTIVES, HIS
PARENTS WERE TRYING TO FIND HIM.
ALL THEY KNEW WAS THAT HE HAD
BEEN TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL
>> WHEN I FINALLY GOT TO THE
HOSPITAL, TO -- TO THE -- TO THE
EMERGENCY ROOM, THEY ASKED TO
SEE HIM.
AND THEY STILL WOULDN'T LET US
SEE HIM YET.
WE WAITED IN EMERGENCY ROOM FOR
A COUPLE MORE HOURS BEFORE THEY
WERE LEADING HIM OUT OF THE
ROOM
HE'S ASKIN' ME, "WHERE ARE THE
BOYS?"
I SAYS, "MOM HAS THE BOYS.
THEY'RE AT THE HOUSE."
>> Reporter: TO HIS PARENTS'
RELIEF, RICK'S INJURIES WERE NOT
SEVERE AND HE WAS DISCHARGED
FROM THE HOSPITAL THE SAME DAY
HIS FIRST STOP WAS HIS AUNT
JANICE'S HOUSE TO CLEAN UP
HE DIDN'T WANT HIS SONS TO SEE
HIM BLOODY AND BRUISED
HIS COUSIN LAURIE WAS ALSO
THERE.
>> HE WAS DEVASTATED
HE WAS IN TEARS.
HE WAS JUST A MESS
HE WAS STUNNED BY EVERYTHING
TOO.
IF HE SAID IT ONCE, HE MUST'VE
SAID IT 50 TIMES
"HOW ARE MY BOYS
HOW ARE MY BOYS?
>> Reporter: LATER THAT NIGHT,
RICK WENT TO HIS PARENT'S PLACE.
HE SAT HIS TWO BOYS DOWN AND
TOLD THEM WHAT HAPPENED TO THEIR
MOM.
>> IT WASN'T EASY.
AND THEY WERE VERY YOUNG TO
UNDERSTAND SOMETHING LIKE THAT
AND RICK TOLD THEM THAT,
"SOMEONE CAME INTO THE HOUSE AND
HURT MOMMY, AND I COULDN'T HELP
HER, AND SHE'S GONE.
AND ONE OF THEM, I THINK, SAID,
"MOMMY'S DEAD?
AND RICK SAID, "YES.
>> Reporter: IT MUST HAVE BROKEN
YOUR HEART TO SEE THOSE LITTLE
BOYS' FACES.
>> YEAH.
>> Reporter: TRAGIC AND
HEARTBREAKING.
MEANWHILE, BACK AT THE DABATE
HOUSE, THE CRIME SCENE TAPE WAS
UP AND THE FLOOD LIGHTS WERE ON.
IT WAS GOING TO BE A LONG NIGHT
SCOURING FOR EVIDENCE AND CLUES
AND TALKING TO NEIGHBORS
NEIGHBORS WHO HAD STORIES TO
TELL
STORIES THAT COULD POSSIBLY LEAD
DETECTIVES TO THAT DEEP-VOICED
INTRUDER
>>> COMING UP --
ONE STORY WAS ABOUT THE DABATES
AND SOMEONE THEY HIRED
>> THEY WERE HAVING AN ARGUMENT
WITH THE CONTRACTOR.
>> A SPIRALING SITUATION,
SPARKING REAL FEAR
>> THIS CONTRACTOR WAS SO OUT OF
CONTROL THAT MAYBE THEY SHOULD
>> Reporter: IN THE SEARCH FOR
CONNIE DABATE'S KILLER, POLICE
HAD FANNED OUT AND CANVASSED THE
NEIGHBORHOOD LOOKING FOR ANYONE
WHO HAD SEEN SOMETHING
WERE YOU SURPRISED THAT NO ONE
SAW ANYTHING
>> I DON'T KNOW IF IT WAS
SURPRISE
>> I MEAN, THAT TIME OF MORNING
AT THE SCENE, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF
PEOPLE WORK IN THAT
NEIGHBORHOOD
SO THERE COULD'VE BEEN A VERY
GOOD CHANCE THAT JUST NOBODY WAS
AROUND AT THAT TIME.
>> Reporter: WHILE THE
CANVASSING TROOPERS HAD STRUCK
OUT, THE MAJOR CRIMES SQUAD WAS
GATHERING EVIDENCE AT THE HOUSE,
DUSTING FOR FINGERPRINTS,
SWABBING FOR DNA, AND
PHOTOGRAPHING THE ENTIRE SCENE,
INCLUDING WHERE THE INTRUDER MAY
HAVE SNEAKED INSIDE.
YOU JUST NOTICED THAT IT WAS --
THE WINDOW WAS OPEN?
>> YES, INTO THE BASEMENT.
>> Reporter: THE BASEMENT DOOR
WAS ALSO OPEN.
THIS IS WHERE RICK SAYS THE --
THE ASSAILANT CAME OUT OF THE
HOUSE?
>> YES
>> Reporter: RIGHT THERE
>> YES
>> AND IT -- THEY WERE ACTUALLY
OPEN
ONE DOOR WAS OPEN AT THE TIME
WHEN WE PROCESSED THE SCENE.
>> Reporter: AND JUST OUTSIDE
THAT DOOR, POLICE FOUND THIS
THIS IS THE WALLET FOUND IN THE
BACKYARD
RICK HAD TALKED ABOUT THE
ASSAILANT TAKING HIS WALLET?
>> YES
YES.
>> Reporter: AND IN THE
BASEMENT -
>> THIS IS THE AREA THAT RICK
HAD TOLD DETECTIVES WHERE HE WAS
SEATED IN THE CHAIR, BEING
ABUSED
>> Reporter: THIS IS LIKE A BAD
GAME OF CLUE
ALL THESE POTENTIAL WEAPONS?
>> YES
>> MANY OF THEM HAD A -- WOULD
APPEAR TO BE BLOOD ON THEM
>> Reporter: OKAY.
DO YOU -- DID YOU KNOW WHERE
THESE DROPLETS CAME FROM, WHO
THEY CAME FROM AT THE TIME
>> NOT AT THAT POINT
WE DIDN'T KNOW WHO -- I COULD'VE
BEEN FROM THE ASSAILANT.
IT COULD'VE BEEN FROM RICK
WE DON'T KNOW AT THAT POINT, NO.
>> Reporter: A REVOLVER, THE
PRESUMED MURDER WEAPON, WAS
FOUND NEAR CONNIE'S BODY
SHE HAD BEEN SHOT TWICE -- ONCE
IN THE STOMACH AND ONCE IN THE
BACK OF THE HEAD
ANY OTHER CLUES AROUND HER,
AROUND THE BODY IN THE BASEMENT
THAT YOU COULD SEE
>> SHE DID HAVE HER CELL PHONE
ON HER, TUCKED INTO HER RIGHT
WAISTBAND.
AND SHE ALSO HAD A FITBIT
TRACKER CLIPPED TO HER LEFT
WAISTBAND.
>> Reporter: A CELL PHONE AND A
FITBIT TRACKER
DETECTIVES BAGGED THEM ALONG
WITH OTHER ELECTRONIC DEVICES IN
THE HOUSE.
AND THOUGH THE TROOPERS HADN'T
FOUND ANY WITNESSES, THEY DID
UNCOVER A SUBSTANTIAL CLUE WHILE
TALKING TO THE NEIGHBORS
THE DABATES, IT TURNED OUT, MAY
HAVE HAD AN ENEMY.
>> THEY WERE HAVING AN ARGUMENT
WITH THE CONTRACTOR OVER WORK
THAT HAD NOT BEEN DONE RIGHT,
ACCORDING TO RICK.
AND THEY WERE WORRIED THAT THE
CONTRACTOR WOULD BREAK INTO THE
HOUSE.
>> Reporter: HIS NAME WAS
KEN SWEENEY.
KIM HAD GOTTEN A TEXT MESSAGE
FROM CONNIE VENTING ABOUT HIM.
>> JUST THAT HE WASN'T FINISHING
THE WORK
AND I THINK THEY WERE LOOKING TO
SUE HIM.
AND THERE WAS A LOT OF
DISCUSSIONS WITH HIM AND
ARGUMENTS WITH HIM
AND I JUST SPECIFICALLY REMEMBER
IT SEEMING LIKE IT WASN'T A GOOD
SITUATION.
>> Reporter: A BAD SITUATION
THAT SEEMED TO GET WORSE IN THE
WEEKS BEFORE THE MURDER.
>> THEY HAD FOUND SOME TOWELS
THAT WERE IN ONE OF THE
VEHICLES' MUFFLERS
AND THEY FOUND THAT SUSPICIOUS
AND THOUGHT THAT THAT COULD BE
ASSOCIATED WITH THIS CONTRACTOR.
>> Reporter: A WEEK LATER, IN
THE DRIVEWAY, THEIR CAR'S
WINDSHIELD WAS SMASHED
THAT WAS WHEN CONNIE CONFIDED IN
HER FRIENDS THAT SHE AND RICK
WERE SO SCARED THEY WERE
CONSIDERING BUYING A GUN
>> CONNIE WAS DEATHLY AFRAID OF
GUNS
BUT THIS CONTRACTOR WAS SO OUT
OF CONTROL THAT MAYBE THEY
SHOULD GET A GUN
>> Reporter: DID THEY THINK THAT
THE CONTRACTOR WAS THE ONE WHO
VANDALIZED THE CAR
>> YEP
THAT'S WHAT THEY TOLD EVERYONE
>> Reporter: DID YOU THINK THAT
THE CONTRACTOR HAD KILLED
CONNIE
>> WHEN THEY QUESTIONED US, THEY
ASKED, "IS THERE ANYBODY THAT
YOU COULD THINK OF THAT HAD A
GRUDGE OR DIDN'T LIKE CONNIE AND
RICK
IS THERE ANYBODY?"
AND THEN IT HITS YOU
YOU'RE LIKE, "YEAH, THERE IS
SOMEBODY
THE CONTRACTOR."
I MEAN, MOST PEOPLE ON BIRCH
VIEW SAID, "THE CONTRACTOR."
>> I ACTUALLY HAD THE TEXT
AND I REMEMBER WHEN THE
DETECTIVES CAME TO INTERVIEW
THEM, I'M LIKE, "I'M GONNA SHOW
THEM THIS TEXT BECAUSE I THINK
THIS IS GONNA HELP
I THINK THEY NEED TO LOOK INTO
THIS PERSON.
>> Reporter: YOU'RE THINKING THE
CONTRACTOR COULD BE A SUSPECT?
>> YEAH, I JUST REMEMBER THEM
HAVING A LOT OF TENSIONS WITH
HIM.
AND I THOUGHT, LIKE, "MAYBE THIS
IS -- MAYBE THIS IS WHO DID
THIS."
>> Reporter: THE THOUGHT ALSO
OCCURRED TO RICK
HE MENTIONED IT WHEN TALKING TO
THE DETECTIVES
>> DO YOU KNOW OF ANYBODY WHO
WOULD WANT TO DO THIS?
>> WHEN OUR CARS WERE
VANDALIZED, MY WIFE SEEMED TO
THINK IT WAS A CONTRACTOR THAT
WE TOOK TO SMALL CLAIMS COURT
BECAUSE HE TOOK SOME OF OUR
MONEY.
WE HAVE ZERO WAY TO PROVE THAT
>> Reporter: THE STATE POLICE
HAD A LEAD TO PURSUE
MAYBE THIS WASN'T A HOME
INVASION GONE WRONG.
MAYBE THE DABATES HAD BEEN
TARGETED
>> DETECTIVES WERE SENT OUT
RIGHT AWAY TO FIND HIM AND TALK
TO HIM
>>> COMING UP --
AT CONNIE'S WAKE, A CURIOUS
ENCOUNTER TRIGGERS QUESTIONS
ABOUT SOMEONE IN THE FAMILY.
>> THAT WAS THE MOST BIZARRE
THING WE'VE EVER BEEN INVOLVED
IN
>> Reporter: INVESTIGATORS HAD A
TIP TO RUN DOWN IN THE BRUTAL
MURDER OF 39-YEAR-OLD
CONNIE DABATE, A THEORY ABOUT
THE KILLER THAT WAS ALMOST
UNIVERSALLY HELD AMONG FAMILY
AND FRIENDS.
IT WAS THE CONTRACTOR.
>> THAT'S EXACTLY WHO I THOUGHT
WAS AT THE HOUSE AT THE TIME IN
THE -- THE MORNING OF THE
MURDER
>> Reporter: HAD RICK AND CONNIE
TALKED TO YOU ABOUT THE
CONTRACTOR
>> THEY SUED HIM
I MEAN, THEY -- THEY HAD TO SUE
HIM BECAUSE HE DIDN'T FINISH THE
JOB.
SO THEY KNEW HE WASN'T HAPPY
>> HE WAS VERY UGLY TO THEM.
AND THERE WERE ALWAYS THINGS
HAPPENING THERE THAT I THOUGHT,
"OH, MY GOD, THIS MUST HAVE BEEN
THE CONTRACTOR."
>> Reporter: STATE POLICE SOUGHT
OUT THIS CONTRACTOR,
KEN SWEENEY, SPEAKING WITH HIM
AT HIS HOUSE
HE ADMITTED TO HAVING ISSUES
WITH THE DABATES
>> THE CONTRACTOR SAID THAT THEY
HAD AGREED -- OR HE HAD AGREED
TO DO WORK IN THE BATHROOM OF
THE RESIDENCE AND THAT, AS THE
JOB WENT ON, SOME OF THE
SPECIFICS AS TO WHAT THEY WANTED
DONE MAY NOT HAVE BEEN ALIGNED
WITH THE PRICE, AND HE BACKED
OUT.
AND THEN THERE WAS A CIVIL SUIT.
>> Reporter: THE CASE WAS
SETTLED FOR A FEW THOUSAND
DOLLARS IN SMALL CLAIMS COURT
BEFORE CONNIE WAS KILLED
DID THIS CONTRACTOR HAVE A
RECORD, ANY VIOLENCE IN HIS
PAST
>> NOTHING THAT WOULD GO TO THIS
LEVEL.
>> YEAH.
NOTHING AS VIOLENT AS THIS
>> Reporter: KEN SWEENEY DENIED
BREAKING INTO THE DABATE HOME
AND KILLING CONNIE AND SAID HE
HAD AN ALIBI
HE WAS WORKING AT ANOTHER JOB
SITE THAT MORNING.
AS DETECTIVES INTERVIEWED HIM,
THEY NOTICED SOMETHING STRAIGHT
AWAY
HE WASN'T AN OVERLY LARGE MAN,
AS RICK DESCRIBED.
AND THERE WAS ANOTHER THING THAT
DIDN'T MATCH
HIS VOICE.
DID HE SOUND LIKE VIN DIESEL
>> NO.
>> Reporter: SO HE DIDN'T FIT
RICK'S DESCRIPTION AT ALL.
POLICE ASKED IF THEY COULD
PHOTOGRAPH HIS FACE, HANDS, AND
BODY FOR SIGNS HE HAD BEEN IN AN
ALTERCATION.
THEY DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING
BUT IT WAS POSSIBLE THE
CONTRACTOR HAD SOMEONE ELSE
BREAK INTO THE DABATE HOME
DETECTIVES WOULD HAVE TO CHECK
OUT THAT ANGLE AND CONFIRM HIS
ALIBI.
AS INVESTIGATORS WORKED ON THAT,
CONNIE'S FAMILY WAS MOURNING HER
DEATH AND THINKING OF ALL SHE
HAD LEFT BEHIND.
YOUR HEART MUST HAVE JUST ACHED
FOR YOUR NEPHEWS TO LOSE THEIR
MOM THAT WAY AT THAT AGE WHEN
THEY NEED HER THE MOST
>> YEAH.
IT'S DEVASTATING
>> Reporter: DID YOU THINK ABOUT
ALL THOSE THINGS THAT SHE WON'T
BE THERE, YOU KNOW, FOR THEM
>> I DEFINITELY, DEFINITELY
THOUGHT THAT, YOU KNOW, THERE'S
NO MORE HOLIDAYS, NO MORE
BIRTHDAYS.
>> WE THINK ABOUT IT EVERY DAY
WE LIVE IT EVERY DAY
>> Reporter: THEY WEREN'T ALONE
IN THEIR GRIEF
ON A BLUSTERY LATE DECEMBER DAY
OF WHAT IS NORMALLY A FESTIVE
WEEK BETWEEN CHRISTMAS AND NEW
YEAR'S, HUNDREDS BRAVED THE COLD
IN ELLINGTON TO SAY GOOD-BYE TO
CONNIE
>> SO OBVIOUSLY WHENEVER A YOUNG
PERSON DIES, THERE'S A LOT OF
PEOPLE THAT COME TO THE WAKE
BUT MULTIPLY THAT BY 100 JUST
BECAUSE OF WHO CONNIE WAS AND
HOW MANY PEOPLE, YOU KNOW,
VIEWED HER AS, LIKE, A BEST
FRIEND
THE LINE WAS JUST OUT THE DOOR
IT WAS HORRIBLE WEATHER, LINES
AND LINES OF PEOPLE.
I MEAN, JUST HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE.
AND JUST LOOKING AT HOW MANY
PEOPLE IN THERE, IT WAS SURREAL.
>> Reporter: SHOWS HOW MUCH
CONNIE WAS LOVED
>> RIGHT
SHE WAS VERY MUCH LOVED.
>> Reporter: AND NOW VERY MUCH
MISSED
CONNIE'S FELLOW MUSKETEERS,
PEGGY AND DARLENE, WERE EAGER TO
OFFER THEIR CONDOLENCES TO THEIR
GOOD FRIEND'S HUSBAND, RICK.
BUT AS THE WOMEN APPROACHED, HE
SEEMED CONFUSED.
>> THAT WAS THE -- THE MOST
BIZARRE THING WE'VE EVER BEEN
INVOLVED IN.
PEGGY AND I WENT TOGETHER.
WE WAITED IN, LIKE, A THREE-HOUR
LINE
HE GREETED US BY ASKING US WHO
WE WERE AND HOW WE KNEW CONNIE
>> Reporter: WHAT?
>> UH-HUH.
>> "HOW DO -- HOW DID YOU KNOW
MY WIFE?
>> Reporter: DID YOU THINK THAT
MAYBE HE WAS JUST SO OUT OF IT
FROM EVERYTHING THAT HAD
HAPPENED
I DON'T --
>> WE -- WE THOUGHT SHE --
>> I THINK AT THAT MOMENT, WE
WERE LIKE --
>> "HE'S IN SHOCK.
>> SHOCK AND -
>> BUT AT THAT TIME, WE ALSO
LOOKED AT EACH OTHER AND WERE
LIKE, "HE DOESN'T HAVE A SCRATCH
ON HIM."
>> YEAH.
HE DIDN'T HAVE A SCRATCH ON HIM.
>> NOT ONE BRUISE ON THE FACE.
NOT ONE ANYTHING
>> Reporter: THE NEXT DAY,
CONNIE'S FAMILY AND CLOSEST
FRIENDS GATHERED AGAIN FOR HER
FUNERAL.
A CONTINUATION OF MOURNING FOR
MOST
BUT ACCORDING TO CONNIE'S FRIEND
KIM, IT WAS ALSO A CONTINUATION
OF STRANGE BEHAVIOR BY RICK.
>> WHEN WE WENT TO THE CEMETERY,
I DON'T EVEN KNOW IF HE GOT OUT
OF THE CAR
I MEAN, HE MUST'VE GOTTEN OUT OF
THE CAR.
BUT I REMEMBER IT WAS ME AND MY
FRIENDS WERE THE LAST PEOPLE AT
HER GRAVE.
AND HE LEFT.
AND I'M THINKING, "THAT'S ODD.
LIKE, "WHY ISN'T HE STILL HERE
WHY DOESN'T HE FEEL THE SAME WAY
THAT I FEEL RIGHT NOW, THAT I
JUST CAN'T LEAVE THIS GRAVE?
AND I THOUGHT THAT WAS WEIRD
>> Reporter: CONNIE'S
SISTER-IN-LAW DONNA NOTICED RICK
ALSO CUT SHORT HIS STAY AT THE
RECEPTION AFTER THE BURIAL
>> IN THE MIDDLE OF THE
LUNCHEON, HE JUST DISAPPEARED
WITH HIS MALE FAMILY MEMBERS
HE DIDN'T STAY TO THE END.
HE WAS MAYBE THERE FOR AN HOUR
OR SO, AND THEN JUST EVERYBODY
GOT UP AND LEFT.
SO THAT WAS VERY ODD TO ME
LIKE, "WHERE DID THEY GO
WHERE ARE THEY HEADING OFF TO?
THAT WAS VERY, VERY -- THAT WAS
A MOMENT FOR ME WHERE I SAT
THERE AND SAID, "THIS IS -- THIS
IS STRANGE."
>> Reporter: THERE IS NO SCRIPT
FOR GRIEF.
NO ONE-WAY ROAD MAP FOR MOURNING
THE DEAD, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT'S
YOUR WIFE, THE MOTHER OF YOUR
CHILDREN
THEN AGAIN, DOES ANYONE EVER
REALLY KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON
INSIDE SOMEONE ELSE'S MARRIAGE
>>> COMING UP --
THE DABATES IN THE DAYS BEFORE
TRAGEDY STRUCK
WHY FRIENDS SAY THEIR
RELATIONSHIP WAS ONE THEY
ENVIED
>> HE DOTED OVER HER
HE WOULD TELL US, "HEY, YOU
KNOW, SHE'S HAVING A BAD DAY."
♪
>> Reporter: IT WAS THE HOLIDAY
SEASON
A TIME FOR JOY, CELEBRATION,
FAMILY GATHERINGS.
CONNIE'S FAMILY WANTED TO HANG
ONTO SOME SEMBLANCE OF THAT --
FOR HER BOYS
SO, THEY DID THEIR BEST.
WRAPPED THEIR GIFTS, WIPED THEIR
TEARS, PUT ON THEIR COATS.
CONNIE HADN'T EVEN BEEN DEAD TWO
DAYS
>> WE STILL WANTED TO BRING
PRESENTS TO THE CHILDREN, AND HE
WAS STAYING AT HIS PARENTS'
HOUSE.
SO OUR FAMILY WENT TO VISIT WITH
HIS FAMILY AT HIS PARENTS'
HOUSE.
>> Reporter: AND WHAT WAS THAT
LIKE, THAT -- WHEN YOU -
>> -- IT WAS VERY HARD
WE WERE ALL TOGETHER, EVERYBODY
WAS VERY EMOTIONAL
>> Reporter: EVERYBODY, DONNA
NOTICED, BUT RICK --
AND IT WAS A VERY STRANGE
EVENING.
HIS DEMEANOR OF -- OF NOT BEING
ABLE TO LOOK ME IN THE EYE
WAS -- WAS VERY TELLING TO ME
THAT NIGHT
TALKING, TELLING JOKES, TELLING
STORIES, WE WERE ALL VERY
DEVASTATED, AND, YOU KNOW, RIGHT
OR WRONG, I -- I DIDN'T SENSE A
LOT OF SADNESS OR EMOTION FROM
HIM.
>> I WOULD SAY THAT THE PAIN AND
GRIEF THAT WAS ON OUR FAMILY'S
FACES ALONG WITH HIS FAMILY WAS
DIFFERENT THAN HIS DEMEANOR.
HIS DEMEANOR WAS, LIKE, YOU
KNOW, IT'S LIKE A -- LIKE IT'S
A -- JUST A PARTY.
>> Reporter: PEGGY AND DARLENE
FELT IT, TOO -- THAT SOMETHING
WAS JUST OFF WITH RICK IN THE
DAYS AFTER CONNIE'S DEATH.
>> HE WOULD TEXT US AND SAY,
LIKE, "HEY, GOOD NEIGHBORS
WHERE DO YOU GUYS GET TAKEOUT?
LIKE, WHERE DO WE GET TAKEOUT?
YOU'VE LIVED HERE ALL THESE
YEARS.
AND -- WHO'S WORRIED ABOUT
TAKEOUT?
WE'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF THIS
HORRIBLE TIME.
>> Reporter: AND WHY WAS RICK SO
WILLING TO ENGAGE OVER TEXT BUT
NOT IN PERSON?
PEGGY REMEMBERS HIM PLAYING THE
ARTFUL DODGER AT A HARDWARE
STORE.
>> I WAS AT THE REGISTER AND I
HAD TO JUST SIGN THE FORM -- TO
GET A REFUND
AND THEN I SAW HIM, I WAVED, I
S -- YOU KNOW, LOOKED DOWN
I SIGNED, I LOOKED BACK UP, AND
HE WAS GONE.
I IMMEDIATELY CALLED HER AND I
WAS LIKE, "I'M LOOKING FOR HIM
WHERE IS HE?
HE'S TRYING TO AVOID ME AND I
DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY."
>> Reporter: THEN AGAIN,
CONNIE'S FRIENDS DIDN'T WANT TO
JUDGE.
OTHERS
NOT SO CHARITABLE.
>> QUICKLY THE -- THE TOWN
GOSSIP PICKED UP
AND -- MOST FOLKS WERE SAYING,
"RICK DID THIS."
>> Reporter: WHY
WHAT -- WHAT WAS LEADING THEM --
>> HIS BEHAVIOR GOT SO STRANGE
LIKE, HE -- YOU KNOW, HE'S OUT
AT BARS HANGING OUT DURING THE
HOLIDAY, HAVING DINNER,
DRINKING, AND LOOKING --
HAVING PEOPLE OVER AT HIS
HOUSE --
>> -- JOLLY.
HAVING A PARTY -
>> LIKE, JUST --
>> -- AT HIS HOUSE -
>> Reporter: TOO HAPPY FOR
SOMEONE WHOSE --
>> TOO HAPPY FOR SOMEBODY WHO
LOST -
>> Reporter: -- WIFE -
>> EVERYTHING --
>> Reporter: -- HAD DIED IN A
BRUTAL WAY
>> EVERYTHING.
YEAH, RIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS IT
WAS JUST ODD BEHAVIOR THAT JUST
STARTED TO PUT QUESTION MARKS.
>> Reporter: STILL, PEGGY AND
DARLENE RESISTED THINKING THE
WORST OF RICK.
THEY DIDN'T WANT TO GO THERE
>> Reporter: DID YOU THINK THAT
IT WAS POSSIBLE THAT RICK KILLED
CONNIE
>> Both: NO.
>> UNH-UH.
>> Reporter: WHY NOT
>> HE WAS JUST LOVING.
HE DOTED OVER HER.
HE ALWAYS CHECKED IN ON HER.
HE WOULD TELL US, "HEY, YOU
KNOW, SHE'S HAVING A BAD DAY
GO OUT FOR DRINKS.
>> -- ALWAYS RUBBING HER
SHOULDERS OR -
>> "CAN I MAKE YOU A PLATE?"
LIKE, IF THERE WAS A PARTY, "CAN
I MAKE YOU A PLATE
GO SIT DOWN.
LIKE, YOU KNOW, THEN WE'D BE
LIKE, "OKAY, CAN SOMEBODY MAKE
US A PLATE?"
>> Reporter: YEAH, SO HE'S
PUTTING ALL THE HUSBANDS TO
SHAME IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
>> YEAH, HE REALLY DID
HE DID
>> Reporter: THE WAY
KIM PHILLIPS SAW IT, RICK AND
CONNIE WERE ALWAYS IN
LOCK-STEP -- PARTNERS ON LIFE'S
DANCE FLOOR.
>> WE SPENT A LOT OF TIME
TOGETHER AS COUPLES -- WITH MY
HUSBAND.
AND THE MORE AND MORE TIME WE
SPENT TOGETHER, THE MORE AND
MORE, YOU KNOW, HE GREW ON US,
AND -- AND -- AND WE LOVED HIM
AND YOU KNOW, WE JUST -- AND WE
THOUGHT HE WAS, PERFECT FOR HER.
>> Reporter: WHICH IS WHY THE
NASTY RUMORS FLYING THROUGH TOWN
LANDED LIKE DAGGERS FOR RICK'S
FAMILY
>> TWO DAYS BEFORE CHRISTMAS,
YOU TAKE YOUR WIFE DOWN INTO THE
BASEMENT AND SHOOT HER
NO
NO, RICK WOULD NOT DO ANYTHING
LIKE THAT TO CONNIE.
HE WOULD NEVER HURT CONNIE
NO
>> I DON'T THINK ANYONE WHO
KNOWS RICK WELL WOULD EVER
BELIEVE THAT HE'D BE CAPABLE OF
MURDER
IT'S JUST NOT HIS NATURE
>> Reporter: BUT A TOWN'S RUMORS
AREN'T MUCH USE TO A MAJOR
CRIMES SQUAD
FACTS, ON THE OTHER HAND, ARE.
AND RIGHT NOW, THE FACTS WERE
HELPING DETECTIVES WORKING
CONNIE DABATE'S MURDER
YOU WERE SEEING RED FLAGS POP UP
IN THIS INTERVIEW?
>> YES
>> ABSOLUTELY.
>>> COMING UP --
WHAT HAD INVESTIGATORS' WHISKERS
TWITCHING?
>> GENERALLY, PEOPLE WILL RECALL
EVENTS DIFFERENTLY
BUT WHEN THEY'RE GIVING VERY
SPECIFIC ANSWERS, IT CAN LEAD US
TO BELIEVE THAT THAT PERSON MAY
BE TRYING TO CONVINCE US OF
SOMETHING.
FRIENDS HAD STARTED TO WONDER IF
RICK'S ODD BEHAVIOR IN THE DAYS
AND WEEKS AFTER HER MURDER MEANT
HE HAD SOMETHING TO HIDE
AND THEY WEREN'T THE ONLY ONES
DETECTIVES JEFF PAYETTE AND
BRETT LANGEVIN HAD INTERVIEWED
RICK IN THE HOSPITAL FOR NEARLY
SEVEN HOURS THE DAY OF THE
ATTACK
>> RICK'S ACCOUNTS VARIED AS THE
PROGRESSION OF THE INTERVIEW
WENT ON.
>> Reporter: DO YOU THINK THAT
JUST WITH ALL -- ALL THAT HAD
HAPPENED THAT MORNING THAT IT
WAS HARD FOR HIM TO GET IT OUT,
JUST, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE IT WAS
SUCH A TERRORIZING EVENT
>> THE DETAILS HE WAS PROVIDING
US WEREN'T DETAILS THAT SHOULD
HAVE HAD DIFFERENT ANSWERS
WHETHER OR NOT HE SAW HIS WIFE
GET SHOT -- THAT WAS CHANGING.
>> Reporter: AT FIRST, HE SAID
HE ONLY HEARD CONNIE GET SHOT.
>> I HEARD IT FIRE, I THINK,
TWICE.
ONCE FOR SURE.
>> Reporter: BUT A MINUTE LATER,
HIS STORY WAS THIS
>> DID YOU ACTUALLY SEE HIM
SHOOT YOUR WIFE?
>> YES
>> Reporter: AND THEN HE WASN'T
SURE CONNIE HAD BEEN SHOT AT
ALL.
>> SO YOU'RE NOT -- YOU'RE NOT
ACTUALLY SURE IF SHE GOT SHOT --
>> I DIDN'T KNOW AT THAT POINT
>> WE STARTED HAVING QUESTIONS
AS FAR AS TRYING TO GET A
CONSISTENT STORY FROM HIM.
>> Reporter: THERE WERE OTHER
TIMES DURING THE INTERVIEW THAT
THE DETECTIVES THOUGHT RICK WAS
OVERLY DESCRIPTIVE, SOMETHING
THEY ALSO FOUND SUSPICIOUS
>> GENERALLY, PEOPLE WILL RECALL
EVENTS DIFFERENTLY
BUT WHEN THEY'RE GIVING VERY
SPECIFIC ANSWERS, IT CAN LEAD US
TO BELIEVE THAT THAT PERSON MAY
BE TRYING TO CONVINCE US OF
SOMETHING.
>> Reporter: IS THERE A MOMENT
IN THE INTERVIEW WHERE YOU TWO
LOOK AT EACH OTHER AND IT'S
LIKE, "WHAT ARE WE DEALING WITH
HERE?"
BECAUSE HE'S SUPPOSED TO BE THE
VICTIM
ARE YOU STARTING TO GET A PIT IN
YOUR STOMACH A LITTLE BIT, LIKE,
"HMM"?
>> ONE OF THE BIGGEST THINGS WAS
THE TIMELINE HE WAS PROVIDING
US
HE'S SAYING HE GETS HOME AT
9:00
HIS WIFE GETS HOME, SAY, FIVE
MINUTES AFTER HIM.
AND THEN EVERYTHING HAPPENS.
THE CHASE DOWN THE STAIRS.
HIS -- HE WITNESSES HIS WIFE'S
MURDER
BUT THE 911 CALL IS 10:19.
SO WE'RE MISSING OVER AN HOUR.
THAT WAS ONE OF THE BIGGEST RED
FLAGS.
>> Reporter: RED FLAGS, BUT NOT
EVIDENCE THAT RICK KILLED
CONNIE
AND RICK'S MOM SAID ANYONE WHO
HAD ENDURED WHAT HER SON HAD
COULD BE FORGIVEN FOR A HAZY
MEMORY OR A CHANGING STORY
>> WELL, HE HAD SIX HOURS AT
THAT HOSPITAL TO, UM, BE
INTERROGATED AND TO THINK ABOUT
WHAT HAPPENED TO CONNIE.
AND HE'S -- LIKE, HE CAN'T EVEN
THINK, YOU KNOW, "MY WIFE IS
DEAD AND SOMEONE BROKE INTO OUR
HOUSE.
AND -- AND IT'S JUST A LIFE THAT
TOTALLY TURNED UPSIDE DOWN
I THINK HE WAS IN SHOCK.
>> Reporter: IN SHOCK AND WELL
AWARE THAT THE POLICE WERE
SUSPICIOUS OF HIM.
HE TOLD HIS FATHER BEFORE THEY'D
EVEN LEFT THE HOSPITAL THAT DAY.
>> HE SAYS, "DAD, THEY THINK I
DID IT."
>> Reporter: OH, WOW
>> THIS IS THE DAY IT HAPPENED
I SAYS, "THEY'RE THINKIN' YOU
DID SOMETHIN'.
SO I SAYS, "YOU HAVE TO STOP
TALKIN' TO 'EM RIGHT NOW."
>> Reporter: RICK'S FAMILY
BELIEVES TUNNEL VISION HAD
ALREADY SET IN
>> IT'S LIKE THEY JUST ONLY HAD
ONE PERSON IN MIND
THEY NEVER DID ANYTHING TO LOOK
FOR ANYBODY ELSE
>> Reporter: RICK HIRED A
PROMINENT DEFENSE ATTORNEY
AND THEY WAITED, ANTICIPATING
THE WORST.
BUT THERE WERE NO ARRESTS.
SPRING CAME.
THEN SUMMER.
THE LEAVES BEGAN TO FALL
THE HOLIDAYS APPROACHED ONCE
AGAIN.
>> SO AS THE WEEKS AND MONTHS GO
ON AFTER CONNIE'S MURDER, THERE
WAS A LOT OF SPECULATION GOING
AROUND BECAUSE POLICE HAVE NOT
NAMED A PERSON OF INTEREST, A
POTENTIAL SUSPECT.
>> Reporter: NBC CONNECTICUT
ANCHOR AND REPORTER
SHANNON MILLER
>> SO THERE'S THIS BIG MYSTERY
IN TOWN.
WHO COULD BE THIS PERSON
RESPONSIBLE?
WHO CAME IN AND DID THIS
THERE'S A LOT OF FEAR.
THERE'S A LOT OF FRUSTRATION AS
TO WHY THE ANSWERS ARE NOT
COMING FAST ENOUGH
>> Reporter: RICK'S FAMILY
WANTED AN ARREST TOO, PARTLY TO
PUT AN END TO ALL THE RUMORS
>> WE WERE HOPEFUL THAT THERE
WOULD BE SOME OTHER EVIDENCE TO
SOMEONE -- TO POINT TO SOMEONE
ELSE BECAUSE WE KNEW IT COULDN'T
POSSIBLY BE RICK
SO THERE HAS TO BE SOMETHING
ELSE OUT THERE PROVING THAT IT'S
NOT HIM.
>> Reporter: BY THE FIRST
ANNIVERSARY OF CONNIE'S MURDER,
HER KILLER WAS STILL OUT THERE
ALL HER FAMILY AND FRIENDS COULD
DO WAS GATHER TO HONOR THAT
BRIGHT LIGHT THAT HAD BEEN
EXTINGUISHED FROM THEIR LIVES.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING
OUT TONIGHT.
IT'S AMAZING TO SEE ALL THE
SUPPORT FROM CONNIE'S FRIENDS
AND FAMILY IN THE ELLINGTON
COMMUNITY.
WE WANTED TO DO SOMETHING
SPECIAL FOR HER, PRIMARILY
BECAUSE WE KNEW THAT SHE WOULD
DO THAT FOR US
>> Reporter: FRIENDS SPOKE ABOUT
CONNIE AND SANG HER FAVORITE
SONGS.
♪ SOMEWHERE OVER THE RAINBOW ♪
>> LAST TIME I SAW HER, SHE WAS
SINGING "SOMEWHERE OVER THE
RAINBOW.
>> Reporter: JUST DAYS BEFORE
CONNIE'S MURDER, DARLENE RAN
INTO HER AT THEIR CHILDREN'S
SCHOOL
CONNIE WANTED TO GO GET A COFFEE
AND CHAT
DARLENE WAS IN A RUSH.
>> AND SHE WAS LIKE, "I WISH YOU
WOULD JUST GO AND GET A CUP OF
JOE.
AND THEN, AS SHE WENT BY ME, SHE
STARTED TO SING "SOMEWHERE OVER
THE RAINBOW.
SHE JUST -- AS SHE TURNED --
LAST TIME I SAW HER, SHE TURNED
AROUND AND SHE WAS JUST LIKE --
SHE KINDA GAVE ME THIS SMILE
SHE USED TO ALWAYS GO LIKE -
AND I WAS LIKE -
>> LIVE EVERY MOMENT
LAUGH EVERY DAY.
LOVE BEYOND WORDS.
THIS IS HOW
CONNIE MARGOTTA DABATE LIVED IN
HER LIFE EVERY DAY
>> Reporter: HOW HARD WAS IT
HAVING THAT VIGIL WHEN YOU'RE
TRYIN' TO CELEBRATE CONNIE AND
YOU KNOW THAT HER KILLER IS
STILL OUT THERE?
>> YEAH.
YEAH
WELL, I KNEW IT WAS HIM BY
THAT -- BY THAT TIME
HE JUST NEEDED TO GET ARRESTED
>> Reporter: HIM WAS CONNIE'S
HUSBAND RICK
KIM AND MANY OTHERS CLOSE TO
CONNIE, WITH ALL THEY HAD SEEN
AND HEARD IN THE YEAR SINCE HER
MURDER, NOW BELIEVED RICK WAS
HER KILLER
EVEN PEGGY AND DARLENE, WHO HAD
SPENT SO MUCH TIME WITH THE
DABATES AND OBSERVED THE
MARRIAGE THAT WAS THE ENVY OF
BIRCH VIEW DRIVE, COULD NO
LONGER IGNORE WHAT HAD BECOME SO
CLEAR TO OTHERS.
>> WE WERE THE LAST TWO.
I ALWAYS SAY THIS TO HER --
"WE'RE THE LAST TWO DING DONGS
ON THAT TRAIN.
'CAUSE WE -- EVERYBODY ELSE,
LIKE, JUMPED OFF A LONG TIME
AGO, AND WE HUNG ON.
AND WITH THE BEHAVIOR AND JUST
THE CONVERSATIONS, THE WEIRD
TEXT MESSAGING, WE WERE KINDA
LIKE, "YEAH, THIS DOESN'T, LIKE,
ADD UP."
>> DOESN'T ADD UP.
>> AND WITHIN THAT YEAR, LIKE,
HE NEVER APPROACHED US TO ASK
US, "DID YOU SEE ANYTHING THAT
DAY?
WAS THERE ANYTHING ODD?"
>> Reporter: BUT IF THE
AUTHORITIES WERE FOCUSING ON
RICK DABATE, THEY WERE
TIGHT-LIPPED ABOUT IT.
AND STATE'S ATTORNEY
MATTHEW GEDANSKY HAD NO
INTENTION OF RUSHING THE CASE.
>> WE'RE NOT JUST GONNA GO "A"
TO "Z.
WE'RE GONNA HIT EVERY LETTER IN
BETWEEN AND CHECK EVERY BOX,
CROSS EVERY "T," DOT EVERY "I.
>> Reporter: AND WHAT MAY HAVE
LOOKED LIKE A LACK OF PROGRESS
WAS ANYTHING BUT
THE NEIGHBORS ON BIRCH VIEW
DRIVE WERE ABOUT TO EXPERIENCE A
CASE OF DEJA VU.
>>> COMING UP --
>> NEXT THING I KNEW, THERE WERE
HUGE SUVS AND COP CARS AND
SIRENS
>> WHAT WAS GO
>> Reporter: MORE THAN A YEAR
AFTER CONNIE DABATE WAS SHOT TO
DEATH, STATE POLICE STILL HADN'T
MADE AN ARREST
BUT THAT'S NOT TO SAY THEY
WEREN'T WORKING THE CASE
HARD
THEY KNEW IT WASN'T THE
CONTRACTOR
HIS ALIBI CHECKED OUT.
AND THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE THAT
HE'D BEEN THE ONE TO DAMAGE THE
DABATE'S CARS.
HE WAS CLEARED OF ANY
INVOLVEMENT.
THEIR SUSPICION WAS FIRMLY ON
CONNIE'S HUSBAND, RICK DABATE.
THEY WERE HAVING TROUBLE WITH
HIS ACCOUNT OF WHAT HAPPENED
THIS WAS BEING CALLED A HOME
INVASION
>> YEAH.
>> Reporter: SUSPICION AROSE IN
THOSE CRUCIAL FIRST HOURS OF THE
INVESTIGATION.
AS NEIGHBORS HID IN THEIR HOUSES
OR HUDDLED ON THE STREET,
TROOPER FIRST CLASS RYAN CLOUKEY
AND HIS K-9 ROCKY WERE CALLED TO
THE SCENE TO TRY TO PICK UP THE
SCENT OF THAT ELUSIVE INTRUDER
A MASKED MAN WHO RICK SAID HAD
MOST LIKELY FLED FROM THE OPEN
BASEMENT DOOR.
THEY HAD LEFT SOMETHING BEHIND
>> THERE WAS A WALLET LYING ON
THE GRASS PRETTY MUCH RIGHT
OUTSIDE OF THAT -- OF THAT
ENTRY -- BASEMENT DOOR
>> Reporter: TROOPER CLOUKEY PUT
ROCKY TO WORK.
>> I BROUGHT HIM UP TO THAT
BASEMENT DOOR WHERE I STARTED
HIM, AND HE INITIATES A TRACK --
WITH HIS HEAD DOWN TRACKING --
INTO THE REAR YARD AREA WHERE HE
COMES UP TO THAT WALLET THAT WAS
LYING ON THE GROUND.
HE CONTINUES THAT TRACK PRETTY
INTENSELY AROUND THE DECK AREA
OF THE RESIDENCE ON THE GRASS
UNTIL HE MAKES HIS WAY TO THE
FRONT OF THE HOUSE
>> Reporter: ACCORDING TO
ROCKY'S NOSE, WHOEVER HAD LEFT
THE BASEMENT DID NOT RUN TO THE
WOODS OR FLEE THE PROPERTY, BUT
RATHER WENT AROUND THE HOUSE AND
RIGHT BACK IN THE FRONT DOOR
WAS THAT ODD TO YOU BECAUSE YOU
ALMOST THINK IF IT WAS AN
INTRUDER WHO RAN AWAY AND WAS
TRYING TO GET AWAY, THEN THEY
WOULD'VE KEPT GOING AWAY FROM
THE HOUSE INSTEAD OF BACK INTO
THE HOUSE.
>> YEAH.
IT'S NOTE WORTHY AT THE TIME
>> Reporter: WHAT MADE IT EVEN
MORE NOTEWORTHY WAS WHAT ROCKY
DID ONCE HE GOT INSIDE THE
HOUSE.
>> HE COMES IN VERY CLOSE
PROXIMITY TO WHERE -- MR. DABATE
WAS IN THE HOUSE -- RECEIVING
MEDICAL ATTENTION.
>> Reporter: IT APPEARED THAT
ROCKY HAD TRACKED RICK'S SCENT,
WHICH INDICATED TO HIS HANDLER,
TROOPER CLOUKEY, THAT RICK WAS
THE ONE WHO LEFT THROUGH THE
BASEMENT DOOR.
COULD THAT BE RIGHT?
>> SO I WANT A PROOF OF THAT
TRAIL THAT WE JUST RAN
DID WE MISS SOMETHING?
MAYBE.
>> Reporter: 'CAUSE IT WAS
ABNORMAL
>> YEAH.
>> Reporter: SO LET'S TRY IT
AGAIN.
ROCKY FOLLOWED THE SAME TRAIL
FROM THE BASEMENT DOOR TO THE
FRONT OF THE HOUSE
>> HOWEVER, THIS TIME INSTEAD OF
GOING ONTO THE PORCH AND INTO
THE HOUSE -- ROCKY TAKES A LEFT
TURN INSTEAD OF THE RIGHT AND
GOES INTO THE AMBULANCE
ESSENTIALLY -- RIGHT TO THE
STRETCHER -- IN THE AMBULANCE IN
THOSE TIGHT QUARTERS WHERE --
WHERE MR. DABATE WAS LAYING.
>> Reporter: AND IT WASN'T JUST
THE CANINE THAT HAD SNIFFED
SOMETHING OUT THAT DAY, BECAUSE
WHEN DETECTIVES PROCESSED THE
SCENE, THEY FELT THE WHOLE THING
LOOKED STAGED.
WHAT DID YOU THINK IN
PARTICULAR
WHAT WAS REALLY STICKING OUT TO
YOU, AS LOOKING STAGED
>> IF THIS WAS A BURGLARY, WHERE
SOMEONE'S IN THERE TO STEAL YOUR
STUFF, IT DIDN'T APPEAR LIKE
ANYTHING WAS REALLY DISTURBED.
THE DRAWERS WEREN'T PULLED OUT
AND THE UPSTAIRS CLOSET WHERE
THE INTRUDER REPORTEDLY WAS WITH
RICK DABATE, WHERE YOU COULD SEE
ALL OF CONNIE'S JEWELRY RIGHT
THERE, NOT DISTURBED
NONE OF THE DRAWERS WERE OPENED.
>> Reporter: SO, THEIR
CONCLUSION, NO MASKED INTRUDER
NO VIN DIESEL-SOUNDING MAD MAN
COULD THERE HAVE REALLY BEEN AN
INTRUDER
>> NO.
DEFINITELY NOT
HE WANTED TO COME OUT, LOOKING
LIKE HE SURVIVED A HOME
INVASION, BUT HIS WIFE
UNFORTUNATELY WAS MURDERED
BUT WHAT IT COMES DOWN TO IS
DOMESTIC HOMICIDE.
>> Reporter: GOOD FRIDAY,
APRIL 14, 2017
IT HAD BEEN ALMOST A YEAR AND A
HALF SINCE CONNIE'S MURDER WHEN
DARLENE LOOKED OUT HER WINDOW
AND SAW RICK DABATE DRIVING UP
TOWARD HIS HOUSE
>> NEXT THING I KNEW, SAME THING
AS THE DAY OF THE MURDER, THERE
WERE HUGE SUVS, AND COP CARS,
AND SIRENS
AND -- THEY FORCED HIM, YOU
KNOW, OUT OF THE CAR
>> Reporter: RICK DABATE WAS LED
AWAY IN HANDCUFFS AND CHARGED
WITH THE MURDER OF HIS WIFE,
CONNIE
>> I THOUGHT, "IT'S OVER."
>> Reporter: BUT FOR RICK'S
PARENTS, IT WAS FAR FROM OVER.
BECAUSE NOW, A NEW NIGHTMARE HAD
JUST BEGUN
WHAT DO YOU SAY TO YOUR SON,
AFTER HE'S BEEN ARRESTED FOR
MURDER
>> SAY, "WE'LL GET THROUGH THIS.
WE'RE GONNA GET THROUGH IT."
WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO STAY
POSITIVE
>> YEAH, I COULDN'T BELIEVE IT
>> Reporter: THE BOYS WENT TO
LIVE WITH CONNIE'S OLDER SISTER
AFTER RICK'S ARREST.
HOW'S HE HANDLING IT
>> LOUSY
LOST HIS JOB RIGHT AWAY.
HE LOST HIS BOYS
LOST HIS WIFE.
HE WAS ALONE
HE WAS TERRIFIED
HE WAS SCARED ABOUT HOW THE BOYS
ARE GONNA HANDLE THIS NEWS
AND -- IT WAS NOT GOOD
>> Reporter: DID YOU BELIEVE
RICK'S STORY
ABOUT THE INTRUDER, THE -- YOU
KNOW, BEING ZIP-TIED TO THE
CHAIR AND THE INTRUDER SHOOTS
CONNIE
>> YES
>> WE HAD NO REASON TO DOUBT IT.
NO REASON AT ALL
>> Reporter: THE ARREST HAD COME
AS A SHOCK TO RICK'S AUNT JANICE
AS WELL.
>> I HONESTLY THOUGHT THEY WERE
LOOKING ELSEWHERE, I REALLY
DIDN'T THINK THEY WERE LOOKING
AT RICK.
>> Reporter: BUT THE AUTHORITIES
RICK, AND PRETTY SOON EVERYONE
WOULD KNOW ABOUT A SECRET THEY'D
DISCOVERED
>> MY JAW ALMOST DROPPED TO THE
FLOOR.
I COULDN'T BELIEVE IT.
>>> COMING UP --
WHAT HAD CONNIE'S FRIENDS AND
FAMILY FLOORED
>> I JUST KEPT ON THINKING, "OH,
MY GOD."
>> Reporter: RICK WAS LIVING A
SECRET LIFE.
WAS ARRESTED FOR KILLING HIS
WIFE CONNIE, MANY WONDERED HOW
THIS SEEMINGLY PERFECT MARRIAGE
COULD HAVE POSSIBLY ENDED IN
MURDER
DID RICK DABATE HAVE ANY HISTORY
OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE THAT YOU
COULD FIND
>> NO.
>> Reporter: CRIMINAL RECORD
>> NO.
NO
>> Reporter: IT SEEMS ODD THAT
SOMEONE WOULD, YOU KNOW, GO FROM
HAVING A CLEAN SLATE TO KILLER
>> IT DOES
AND THAT WAS CERTAINLY A HURDLE
I CONSIDERED ON THIS CASE.
I'VE GOT TO CONVINCE THE JURY
THAT THIS NORMAL, SUBURBAN,
PROFESSIONAL GUY WITH NO RECORD
KILLED HIS WIFE.
>> Reporter: STATES ATTORNEY
MATTHEW GEDANSKY FELT CONFIDENT
HE COULD OVERCOME THAT HURDLE
BECAUSE HE BELIEVED HE HAD FOUND
THE MOTIVE
>> HE HAD A LONG-TERM AFFAIR
WITH THIS OTHER WOMAN.
SHE BECAME PREGNANT IN MAY OF
2015
>> Reporter: AN AFFAIR
A PREGNANT GIRLFRIEND.
THE PROSECUTOR WAS CONVINCED
RICK KILLED CONNIE TO BE WITH
THE OTHER WOMAN.
INVESTIGATORS HAD KEPT THIS
BOMBSHELL QUIET DURING THE
COURSE OF THEIR NEARLY 18-MONTH
INVESTIGATION, BUT RICK HAD ONLY
KEPT IT QUIET FROM THEM FOR A
COUPLE OF HOURS.
HE MUST HAVE GUESSED THEY'D FIND
OUT SOON ENOUGH, SO HE BROUGHT
IT UP RIGHT THERE ON DAY ONE
FROM HIS HOSPITAL BED.
HE TOLD YOU THIS IN THE
INTERVIEW?
>> HE DID.
>> Reporter: THIS IS HUGE.
>> IT IS
>> Reporter: HER NAME WAS
SARA GANZER, AND SHE AND RICK
HAD BEEN FRIENDS SINCE JUNIOR
HIGH
SHE HAD EVEN DONE A READING AT
RICK AND CONNIE'S WEDDING.
AND THE WAY RICK TOLD IT TO
DETECTIVES, IT ALL SOUNDED ABOVE
BOARD.
SARA, HIS NEWLY-SINGLE, LONGTIME
FRIEND, WANTED TO HAVE A BABY.
AND HE AND CONNIE OFFERED TO
HELP
>> WE WERE GOING TO DONATE SPERM
TO HER TO HAVE A KID
>> BUT IT BECAME TOO EXPENSIVE,
SO THAT IN ORDER FOR HER TO
CONCEIVE A CHILD, THEY HAD TO DO
SOME UNTRADITIONAL THINGS.
>> Reporter: RICK HAD TO SLEEP
WITH SARA.
>> YES
>> Reporter: INSTEAD OF DOING IT
A DIFFERENT WAY --
>> YES
>> Reporter: -- LIKE THE THE
SCIENCE ROUTE?
>> CORRECT
>> YES
>> Reporter: OLD FASHIONED
>> YES
>> UNTRADITIONAL, BUT
TRADITIONAL IN THE WAY THAT THE
BABY WAS CONCEIVED
>> YEAH.
>> OKAY.
YOU THINK YOUR WIFE HAD ANY
ISSUES WITH THAT
>> IT WAS HER IDEA, IN A WAY
>> Reporter: HER IDEA?
HARD TO BELIEVE CONNIE WOULD
HAVE BEEN OKAY WITH THE PLAN,
LET ALONE COME UP WITH IT.
RICK MAY HAVE SENSED THE
DETECTIVES WERE SKEPTICAL, SO HE
TRIED AGAIN.
>> THERE WAS CHEATING GOING ON
IN THE BEGINNING
>> Reporter: AND THEN, FINALLY,
RICK SETTLED ON THE REAL STORY
>> WAS HER GETTING PREGNANT
UNEXPECTED
>> IT WAS UNEXPECTED
>> Reporter: AFTER RICK'S
ARREST, WORD GOT OUT ABOUT THE
AFFAIR
YOU THOUGHT THEY HAD A GOOD
MARRIAGE
>> I HONESTLY THOUGHT I WAS
BEING PUNKED
I WAS LIKE -
>> IT WAS UNBELIEVABLE
>> MY HUSBAND TOLD ME.
HE'S LIKE, "LISTEN, HE HAS A
GIRLFRIEND
SHE'S PREGNANT."
I'M LIKE, "GET OUT OF HERE
WHAT ARE YOU TALKIN' ABOUT?"
>> Reporter: FRIENDS AND FAMILY
BELIEVE THERE'S ZERO CHANCE
CONNIE KNEW ABOUT IT, AS RICK
HAD CLAIMED.
DO YOU THINK CONNIE FOUND OUT?
>> SHE DEFINITELY DID NOT KNOW
IF SHE HAD EVER FOUND OUT OR IF
SHE HAD KNOWN THAT WAS
HAPPENING, SHE WOULD'VE SAID
SOMETHING TO SOMEONE
THAT IS SOMETHING THAT SHE
WOULD'VE NOT ACCEPTED.
>> IT WOULD HAVE BEEN VERY
APPARENT, I THINK, IF SHE KNEW
I THINK SHE WOULD HAVE BEEN --
>> ANGRY
>> VERY ANGRY.
SHE WAS VERY CLOSE TO MY MOTHER.
SHE WOULD HAVE CALLED, SCREAMING
AND YELLING AND --
>> Reporter: CONNIE WAS NO
SHRINKING VIOLET
>> NO.
SO I DON'T -- I DON'T BELIEVE
SHE KNEW
>> AND I JUST KEPT ON THINKING,
"OH, MY GOD.
I WAS SHOCKED.
>> Reporter: RICK WAS LIVING A
SECRET LIFE.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
YEAH
>> Reporter: THE PROSECUTOR
BELIEVED RICK'S SECRET LIFE WAS
ON A COLLISION COURSE WITH HIS
REAL LIFE.
>> AND SO THE PRESSURE WAS
BUILDING
AND HE ACTUALLY VOICED THAT TO
THE HANDFUL OF PEOPLE THAT HE
TOLD ABOUT THIS, THAT HE WAS
WORRIED ABOUT A DIVORCE, THAT HE
WAS WORRIED THAT HE WAS GONNA
LOSE HIS FRIENDS
HE WAS GONNA LOSE HIS FAMILY
>> Reporter: HE NEEDED TO
RESOLVE THIS SITUATION TO THE
POINT THAT -- THAT YOU BELIEVED
HE TOOK A LIFE, HIS WIFE
>> WELL, WE DON'T GRADE THEM ON
THE WISDOM OF THEIR PLAN
WE JUST GRADE 'EM WHETHER
THEY'RE GUILTY OR NOT GUILTY
AND BY ANY STRETCH OF THE
IMAGINATION, NO ONE WOULD THINK
THIS WAS A GOOD PLAN TO RESOLVE
HIS PROBLEM.
NO ONE WOULD
BUT THIS WAS THE PLAN HE CAME UP
WITH
>> Reporter: THE PROSECUTOR'S
PLAN WAS TO LAY IT ALL OUT FOR A
JURY
BUT AS HE WOULD SOON FIND OUT,
THINGS DON'T ALWAYS GO ACCORDING
TO PLAN.
>> I THINK SHE WAS A VERY
RELUCTANT WITNESS.
I THINK SHE WAS VERY RELUCTANT
TO PROVIDE ANSWERS
>>> COMING UP --
IS THE PROSECUTION'S STAR
WITNESS ABOUT TO THROW A CURVE
BALL
>> Reporter: HOW WOULD YOU
DESCRIBE SARA GANZER IN COURT?
WAS SHE ON YOUR SIDE
>> I WOULD SAY SHE WAS NOT ON
THE STATE'S SIDE
I WOULDN'T SAY SHE WAS HOSTILE
BUT I WOULD SAY SHE APPROACHED
>> Reporter: RICK DABATE HAD
BEEN ARRESTED AND CHARGED WITH
THE MURDER OF HIS WIFE, CONNIE
HE HAD PLANNED FOR THIS
POSSIBILITY WHEN, THE DAY AFTER
CONNIE'S MURDER, HE HIRED
HUBERT SANTOS, ONE OF THE MOST
HIGHLY REGARDED DEFENSE
ATTORNEYS IN THE STATE, AND HIS
PARTNER TRENT LALIMA
AND THAT WAS THE MORNING OF
CHRISTMAS EVE?
>> YES
>> Reporter: THAT'S AN
INTERESTING TIME TO GET A CALL
FROM A POTENTIAL NEW CLIENT.
>> SOMETIMES IN CRIMINAL DEFENSE
THINGS ARE URGENT.
THINGS COME UP
>> Reporter: BUT A SENSE OF
URGENCY DIDN'T SEEM TO APPLY TO
THE COURTS
AND ANY NOTION THAT JUSTICE
WOULD BE SWIFT QUICKLY
EVAPORATED
THE TRIAL WAS DELAYED AGAIN AND
AGAIN.
AND AGAIN.
THREE YEARS PASSED
AND THE ENTIRE TIME, RICK WAS
FREE ON BAIL
HOW DID YOU COPE
>> NOT EASY.
IT'S NOT EASY.
>> YOU PUT IT IN A BOX
YOU TAKE IT OUT AND DEAL WITH IT
WHEN YOU HAVE TO
YOU PUT IT BACK ON THE SHELF
AND I THINK WE ALSO LEANED ON
EACH OTHER
BUT THERE'S NO MANUAL FOR THIS
YOU DON'T KNOW HOW TO -- HOW TO
COPE WITH THIS
>> Reporter: DID YOU FEEL LIKE
HE'S GETTING THIS KIND OF FREE
PASS IN THE MEANTIME THAT HE IS
OUT AND ABOUT?
>> DEFINITELY.
>> YEAH.
>> I REMEMBER ONE PERSON SAYING,
"THE ONLY PERSON DANCING IN THE
STREETS IS HIM."
AND SO, YOU KNOW, THE FAMILY'S
DEVASTATED
>> Reporter: THE DEVASTATION WAS
COMPOUNDED WHEN CONNIE'S FATHER
DIED OF CANCER IN 2019
>> I'M CONVINCED, FOR HIM -- HE
WAS HOLDING ON WITH VERY BAD
HEALTH, HOPING TO SEE THIS
THROUGH, JUST WANTING TO BE
THERE FOR ALL OF US.
I MEAN, HE WANTED TO BE THE ROCK
FOR US
AND HIS BODY JUST GAVE OUT
>> Reporter: EVENTUALLY THE
OPPOSING SIDES ASSEMBLED IN A
CONNECTICUT COURTROOM AND
SELECTED A JURY.
IT WAS THE EVE OF THE TRIAL,
MARCH 2020
>> AND THEN COVID HAPPENED
AND WE THOUGHT WE'D BE OUT A
WEEK OR TWO.
BUT OBVIOUSLY COVID HAD OTHER
IDEAS FOR US
IT WASN'T A WEEK
IT WASN'T TWO WEEKS.
AND THEN IT TURNED INTO MONTHS
AND YEARS.
>> Reporter: RICK'S ATTORNEY,
HUBERT SANTOS, PASSED AWAY
DURING THIS TIME, CAUSING A
FURTHER DELAY.
TRENT LALIMA WOULD NOW TRY THE
CASE WITHOUT HIS PARTNER AND
MENTOR
>> WE ALREADY KNEW WHAT OUR
STRATEGY WAS, WHAT OUR DEFENSE
WOULD BE
AND SO AS MUCH AS HE WAS NOT
THERE FOR THE TRIAL, HIS IDEAS,
HIS PLANNING, THEY WERE.
>> Reporter: YOU BELIEVE THE
POLICE REALLY HAD TUNNEL VISION
IN THIS CASE FROM THE BEGINNING.
>> THAT WAS A CLEAR PART OF OUR
THEORY AT TRIAL.
THE STATE HAD ALREADY HONED IN
ON HIM FROM THE BEGINNING, AND
THAT THEY MADE THEIR MIND UP AND
WORKED BACKWARDS FROM THERE.
>> Reporter: WHEN THE TRIAL
FINALLY STARTED IN APRIL 2022,
THE STATE, LED BY
MATTHEW GEDANSKY, TOLD THE JURY
IT WAS NOT TUNNEL VISION THAT
POINTED THE FINGER AT RICK
DABATE, BUT CONCRETE EVIDENCE.
LOTS OF IT
HE BROUGHT IN THE STATE POLICE
TO EXPLAIN HOW THE CRIME SCENE
LOOKED STAGED, HOW ROCKY THE
K-9 HAD TRACED RICK'S, AND ONLY
RICK'S, SCENT AT THE SCENE
AND HE SPELLED OUT WHAT HE SAID
WERE HOLES IN RICK'S STORY ABOUT
THAT DAY
AND, OF COURSE, THE PROSECUTOR
TOLD THE JURY WHY RICK KILLED
CONNIE
>> SO THE MOTIVE WAS HIS
PREGNANT GIRLFRIEND.
>> Reporter: AND WHO BETTER TO
EXPLAIN THAT TO THE JURY THAN
THE WOMAN HERSELF.
>> THE STATE IS GOING TO CALL
SARA GANZER NEXT
>> Reporter: CAMERAS WEREN'T
ALLOWED IN THE COURTROOM, BUT
THIS IS AN AUDIO RECORDING OF
THE WOMAN AT THE CENTER OF THE
LOVE TRIANGLE, SARA GANZER
REPORTERS COVERING THE TRIAL
WERE KEENLY FOCUSED ON HER
TESTIMONY.
>> WHEN SARA GANZER WALKS INTO
THE COURTROOM, I MEAN, YOU COULD
HEAR A PIN DROP.
THIS IS THE TESTIMONY THAT SO
MANY PEOPLE HAD BEEN WAITING TO
HEAR
>> AT SOME POINT, UM, DID YOU
BECOME PREGNANT?
>> I DID
>> AND WHO WAS THE FATHER OF THE
BABY
>> RICK DABATE
>> I THINK THE JURY EMPATHIZED
WITH SARA.
SHE TOLD THE COURT SEVERAL TIMES
THIS WAS TOUGH TESTIMONY TO DO
SHE WAS SHARING HER MOST
PERSONAL, INTIMATE DETAILS WITH
STRANGERS.
>> MISS GANZER, EVEN BEFORE YOU
GOT PREGNANT WITH THE
DEFENDANT'S BABY, WAS THE
DEFENDANT INDICATING TO YOU THAT
THERE WAS GOING TO BE A DIVORCE?
>> YES
>> Reporter: THE PROSECUTION
ARGUED THAT DESPITE WHAT RICK
HAD TOLD SARA, THERE WAS NO
EVIDENCE HE AND CONNIE WERE
DIVORCING.
BUT SARA'S TIME ON THE STAND WAS
NOT WITHOUT ITS PROBLEMS FOR
GEDANSKY AND HIS CASE.
HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE
SARA GANZER IN COURT
WAS SHE ON YOUR SIDE
>> NO.
I WOULD SAY SHE WAS NOT ON THE
STATE'S SIDE
I WOULDN'T SAY SHE WAS HOSTILE
BUT I WOULD SAY SHE APPROACHED
THAT LINE.
>> Reporter: THE PROSECUTION'S
THEORY WAS THAT RICK DABATE WAS
UNDER IMMENSE PRESSURE
BUT THAT'S NOT WHAT SARA SAID.
>> MISS GANZER, IS IT YOUR
TESTIMONY YOU NEVER CONVEYED
THAT YOU WERE UPSET THAT HE DID
NOT FILE FOR A DIVORCE
>> I DON'T -- I DON'T RECALL
TELLING HIM THAT
>> DID YOU EVER SHUT HIM OUT, SO
TO SPEAK, AND SAY, "THAT'S IT"
>> WELL, YEAH.
THAT'S DIFFERENT FROM SAYING, "I
WANT YOU TO GET A DIVORCE.
>> DID HE COMPLAIN ABOUT THE
PRESSURE OF YOUR SITUATION AND
HIS SITUATION?
>> NOT -- NOT -- NOT REALLY TO
ME
HE NEVER SAID, "THE PRESSURE IS
GETTING TO ME.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT BEHAVIORS
WOULD CHARACTERIZE THAT.
>> SO I THINK THE PROSECUTION,
OBVIOUSLY, KINDA HAD THIS
PREGNANCY AS THE REASON, THE
MOTIVE BEHIND THIS MURDER.
BUT IN SARA'S TESTIMONY, SHE
WASN'T LOOKING TO BREAK UP A
FAMILY AT ALL.
AND SO I THINK, IN SOME CASES,
YOU KNOW, IT HELPED PAINT THE
PICTURE THAT SHE WAS NOT PUTTING
PRESSURE ON RICHARD DABATE TO
MAKE A DECISION.
>> Reporter: IN THE MONTHS
LEADING UP TO THE MURDER, RICK
HAD TEXTED TENDERLY WITH SARA,
REFERRING TO HER AS HIS "LITTLE
LOVE NUGGET.
AND WHEN INVESTIGATORS DUG INTO
SARA'S PRIVATE FACEBOOK
MESSAGES, THEY SAID THERE WAS
EVIDENCE RICK HAD BEEN TRASHING
HIS WIFE TO HIS GIRLFRIEND
>> DID HE EVER CALL HER NAMES
THAT WERE --
>> I THINK THAT MARRIED PEOPLE
SAY, AND EVEN DATING PEOPLE SAY,
FLIPPANT THINGS ABOUT EACH OTHER
ALL THE TIME TO OTHER PEOPLE
>> DID HE EVER CALL HER NAMES?
>> I'M SURE HE DID
PLEASE DON'T ASK ME TO REMEMBER
ANY OF 'EM BECAUSE IT WAS SEVEN
YEARS AGO.
>> Reporter: SARA APPEARED
RELUCTANT TO HELP THE
PROSECUTION.
AND IN FACT, DEFENSE ATTORNEY
TRENT LALIMA BELIEVED SHE
ACTUALLY HELPED HIS CLIENT
>> IT WAS QUITE CLEAR SHE WASN'T
PUTTING ANY PRESSURE ON HIM.
SHE HAD TOLD HIM THAT, "YOU JUST
SAY THE WORD AND I WON'T PUT THE
FATHER'S NAME ON THE BIRTH
CERTIFICATE.
I WON'T MENTION YOUR NAME TO
ANYBODY.
NO ONE WILL EVER KNOW THAT THIS
IS YOUR CHILD.
SO HOW WAS THE PRESSURE ON IF
SHE'S TELLING HIM, "YOU CAN JUST
GO BACK TO HER AND THIS -- AND
WE CAN PRETEND THIS NEVER
HAPPENED"?
>> Reporter: AND THAT WAS
EXACTLY THE POINT THE DEFENSE
WANTED TO HAMMER HOME WHEN THEY
QUESTIONED SARA.
>> BECAUSE OF YOUR NATURE, WAS
IT OFTEN THE CASE THAT YOU
DIDN'T REGULARLY BRING UP THE
PROSPECT OF THE DIVORCE WITH
RICK DABATE?
>> OF THAT, AND BECAUSE I DID
NOT WANT TO BE THE CAUSE OF A
BREAKUP OF THEIR FAMILY.
IT WAS ENOUGH THAT I WAS
PREGNANT
I DID NOT WANT TO BREAK UP THEIR
FAMILY
>> Reporter: BUT SARA CLEARLY
WANTED TO BE WITH HIM.
SHE TOLD THE JURY HER
RELATIONSHIP WITH RICK CONTINUED
EVEN AFTER HE HAD BEEN ARRESTED
AND CHARGED WITH CONNIE'S
MURDER
>> WELL, I THINK RICK WAS
ARRESTED IN 2017, IN APRIL
SO IT WAS, AGAIN, PROBABLY
MONTHS AFTER THAT THAT -- YES,
YEP, WE STARTED SEEING EACH
OTHER AGAIN.
>> Reporter: RICK'S FAMILY SAYS
THE IDEA THAT CONNIE WAS KILLED
OVER AN AFFAIR WAS NONSENSE.
HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THAT AS A
POSSIBLE MOTIVE?
THAT, YOU KNOW, HE WANTED CONNIE
OUT OF THE WAY TO, YOU KNOW, BE
WITH -
>> NO.
NOT THAT
NO
>> NO.
>> HE WOULD DEAL WITH IT
HE WOULD HAVE DEALT WITH IT, AND
CONNIE WOULD HAVE TOO.
THEY WOULD HAVE SOMEHOW MANAGED.
>> Reporter: AND IT WASN'T SUCH
A BIG SECRET AFTER ALL
HE HAD, IN FACT, CONFIDED IN HIS
COUSIN LAURIE ALL ABOUT IT
>> I THINK AT THE TIME HIS
INTENTION WAS TO TELL CONNIE AND
TO TRY TO KEEP HIS FAMILY
TOGETHER
AND, YOU KNOW, THAT THAT WAS
GONNA BE DIFFICULT, AND I WAS
GONNA BE THERE TO DO WHATEVER I
COULD TO HELP.
>> Reporter: SARA GANZER'S
TESTIMONY HAD NOT GONE AS
SMOOTHLY AS THE PROSECUTION HAD
HOPED.
BUT THERE WAS MORE FOR THE JURY
TO CONSIDER, INCLUDING WHAT
COULD AMOUNT TO THE PROVERBIAL
SMOKING GUN.
>>> COMING UP --
THE STORY TOLD BY DATA
>> Reporter: IT WAS THE SILENT
WITNESS.
>> CORRECT
MULTIPLE SILENT WITNESSES.
DIGITAL EVIDENCE IS -- IS
POWERFUL
>> Reporter: THE PROSECUTION HAD
PUT A RELUCTANT WITNESS ON THE
STAND WHO PROVIDED THE JURY WITH
A WHY IN THE CASE AGAINST
RICK DABATE.
BUT NOW THEY HAD PERHAPS AN EVEN
BETTER WITNESS
A WITNESS WITH NO EMOTIONAL TIES
TO THE DEFENDANT
IT WAS THE SILENT WITNESS.
>> CORRECT
MULTIPLE SILENT WITNESSES.
DIGITAL EVIDENCE IS -- IS
POWERFUL
>> Reporter: THE STATE HAD WHAT
IT SAID WAS COLD, HARD DATA.
DETECTIVE SERGEANT
BILL UTERMARCK TOLD THE JURY,
AND US, HOW THE DABATES'
ELECTRONIC DEVICES HELD A
TREASURE TROVE OF INFORMATION.
>> AND WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT
ELECTRONICS, YOU'RE TALKING
ABOUT FACEBOOK ACCOUNTS, THE
ALARM, REPORTING
YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT CELL PHONE
DOWNLOADS.
>> CAMERAS, SURVEILLING CAMERAS.
>> CAMERAS, THE FITBIT,
SURVEILLANCE CAMERAS
A LOT OF DIFFERENT WORK THAT
CAME INTO PLAY
>> Reporter: IT ALL ADDED UP TO
A TIMELINE FOR BOTH CONNIE AND
RICK -- WHAT THEY DID, WHERE
THEY WENT, WHO THEY TALKED TO.
WHAT ARE YOU LEARNING ABOUT
CONNIE'S LAST DAY?
WHAT HAD SHE DONE THAT MORNING
>> AFTER SHE WAKES UP, I BELIEVE
THE FIRST THING SHE DOES IS GO
ON HER PHONE
SHE MESSAGES SOME FRIENDS.
AND THEN SHE STARTS HER DAY.
WE HAVE HER PUTTING ON HER
FITBIT SHORTLY AFTER SHE GOT UP.
>> Reporter: CONNIE WORE THE
FITBIT DEVICE ON HER WAISTBAND
IT RECORDED WHEN SHE WAS MOVING,
WHEN SHE WAS STATIONARY, AND HER
STEPS TAKEN THAT DAY
>> SHE'S STARTING THE DAY WITH
THE KIDS, GETTING THE KIDS READY
FOR SCHOOL
SHE HAS A COUPLE OF HER TEXT
MESSAGES DURING THE MORNING.
AND THEN WE CAN SEE HER LEAVING.
>> GETTING IN THE CAR, DRIVING
TO THE "Y.
>> WE CAN SEE WHEN SHE HOPS IN
HER CAR BECAUSE THERE'S NO
MOVEMENT ON THE FITBIT
SHE'S NOT WALKING ANYMORE.
>> Reporter: CONNIE ARRIVED AT
THE YMCA, AS SEEN IN THESE
SURVEILLANCE IMAGES, BUT DIDN'T
STAY LONG BECAUSE HER EXERCISE
CLASS HAD BEEN CANCELLED
SHE DROVE STRAIGHT HOME.
AND THE FITBIT PICKS HER UP,
GETTING HOME, GETTING OUT OF THE
CAR?
>> SO SHE STARTS GETTING STEPS
AGAIN ON THE FITBIT.
SO THAT'S AROUND 9:18, 9:20.
SO THEN SHE'S MOVING
SPORADICALLY INSIDE THE HOUSE.
WE CORRESPOND THAT WITH SOME OF
THE FACEBOOK THINGS THAT SHE'S
DOING AS WELL.
>> Reporter: THIS IS WHERE THE
FITBIT BECOMES REALLY CRITICAL
BECAUSE RICK'S STORY WAS THAT
CONNIE CAME HOME AND HE WAS
YELLING AT HER TO ESCAPE OR TO
FLEE THIS INTRUDER
>> AND RICK'S STORY IS THAT THIS
OCCURRED AT 9:00
SO NOW WE HAVE HER STEPS ON HER
FITBIT UP TO 10:05
SO IT'S AN HOUR AND FIVE MINUTES
THAT -
>> Reporter: SO YOU'VE GOT A
TIME DISCREPANCY
>> CORRECT
>> Reporter: CONNIE'S ELECTRONIC
FOOTPRINT WAS TELLING A
DIFFERENT STORY THAN WHAT RICK
WAS TELLING YOU.
>> NOT JUST -- NOT JUST
CONNIE'S
>> IT DID RICK'S AS WELL
IT PROVIDED US ALL KIND OF
INFORMATION, SHOWING US THAT HE
REALLY NEVER LEFT THE PROPERTY
HE'S VERY CLOSE TO THE HOUSE, IF
NOT IN THE HOUSE
>> Reporter: SO THE STORY ABOUT
HIM DRIVING AWAY, REALIZING HE
FORGOT HIS LAPTOP AND GOING
BACK -- THAT YOU WERE FINDING
THAT THAT WAS NOT --
>> THAT WAS NOT THE CASE
>> Reporter: ACCORDING TO THE
ELECTRONIC DATA, RICK DABATE
NEVER LEFT THE PROPERTY.
INSTEAD, ACCORDING TO THE
PROSECUTION, RICK STAYED HOME
AND WAITED FOR CONNIE TO RETURN,
THEN SPENT NEARLY AN HOUR
BUILDING UP THE NERVE TO LURE
HER DOWN INTO THE BASEMENT WHERE
HE SHOT HER DEAD AND STAGED HIS
OWN ATTACK
BUT THAT THEORY WAS FULL OF
HOLES, SAID DEFENSE ATTORNEY
TRENT LALIMA
>> AND IT'S IMPORTANT TO
REMEMBER IT'S THE STATE'S JOB TO
PROVE, BEYOND A REASONABLE
DOUBT, THEIR CASE.
>> Reporter: AND REASONABLE
DOUBT WAS EVERYWHERE, HE SAID.
STARTING WITH THE FACT THAT RICK
WAS NOT A VIOLENT MAN.
>> RICK DABATE HAS NEVER HAD AN
ALLEGATION OF VIOLENCE IN HIS
HISTORY.
THERE'S NO ALLEGATION OF ANY
VIOLENCE AGAINST CONNIE DABATE
OR THAT HE HAS EVER ATTACKED
ANYONE ELSE.
AND YOU DON'T GO FROM THAT TO
WHAT THE STATE ALLEGES THAT
MORNING.
>> Reporter: AND HE SAID THE
PROSECUTION'S EVIDENCE TO THE
CONTRARY COULD NOT BE TRUSTED.
>> THESE ELECTRONIC DEVICES ARE
NOT PREPARED WITH THE IDEA THAT
THEY'RE GONNA BE USED IN A
MURDER TRIAL
FITBIT DESIGNED THEIR DEVICE TO
MAKE MONEY
IT'S NOT MEANT TO BE A
ABSOLUTELY ACCURATE, SCIENTIFIC,
OR LEGAL DEVICE.
AND, IN FACT, THE PEOPLE THAT
TESTIFIED AT TRIAL COULDN'T EVEN
TELL US HOW THE FITBIT REACHED
THE CONCLUSIONS IT DID
THEY COULD ONLY TELL US THE
NUMBERS IT SPIT OUT, NOT HOW IT
GOT THE NUMBERS.
>> Reporter: BUT YOU'RE STILL
HAVING TO SAY THAT EVERY SINGLE
DEVICE WAS FAULTY OR INACCURATE.
>> I THINK IT'S QUITE POSSIBLE
THAT ALL THESE ELECTRONIC
DEVICES ARE NOT PERFECT.
>> Reporter: BUT THEY ALL WERE
WRONG?
>> THEY COULD ALL HAVE ERRORS,
ABSOLUTELY
>> Reporter: THE DEFENSE ARGUED
THERE WAS ONE THING THE JURY
COULD RELY ON.
>> THE OLD-FASHIONED,
TRIED-AND-TRUE FORENSIC
EVIDENCE, WHICH WAS IN OUR
FAVOR.
>> Reporter: DNA AT THE CRIME
SCENE.
INVESTIGATORS HAD FOUND PLENTY
OF IT.
AND THE DEFENSE SAID IT
CONFIRMED RICK DABATE'S STORY
ABOUT AN INTRUDER.
>> IN THIS CASE, WE HAD
UNIDENTIFIED DNA IN SIX
DIFFERENT KEY PLACES
STARTING WITH THE MASTER BEDROOM
CLOSET, GOING DOWN TO THE SAFE
BOX IN THE BASEMENT WHERE THE
GUN WAS KEPT, GOING TO THE GUN
ITSELF, INCLUDING THE INSIDE OF
RICK DABATE'S SHIRT AND
INCLUDING THE DOOR EXITING THE
BASEMENT OUT THE HATCHWAY.
AND IT'S IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER,
RICK DABATE, WHEN HE TOLD HIS
STORY TO THE POLICE THAT FIRST
DAY, BEFORE HE COULD HAVE EVER
KNOWN WHAT THE DNA RESULTS WERE,
HE WAS CITING THOSE EXACT
PLACES, SAYING, "THAT'S WHERE
THE INTRUDER WAS
THAT'S WHAT THE INTRUDER TOUCHED
IN THE HOUSE."
>> Reporter: THE DEFENSE ALSO
WANTED TO MAKE CLEAR TO THE JURY
THAT DESPITE WHAT THE
PROSECUTION WANTED THEM TO
BELIEVE, RICK DABATE NEVER
WAVERED IN HIS STORY ABOUT WHAT
HAPPENED THAT MORNING ON BIRCH
VIEW DRIVE
>> HIS WIFE IS SHOT FEET AWAY
FROM HIM AFTER HE'S ATTACKED BY
AN INTRUDER.
THAT WOULD BE THE MOST TRAUMATIC
DAY OF ANYBODY'S LIFE, THE MOST
TRAUMATIC EXPERIENCE OF
ANYBODY'S LIFE
AND ARE WE GOING TO EXPECT THAT
HE'S GONNA HAVE THE EXACT TIME
OF HOW LONG EVERYTHING HAPPENED,
REMEMBER EVERY SMALL DETAIL OF
WHAT HE DID ON HIS IPAD OR HIS
TABLET THAT MORNING?
THE BIG DETAILS, THAT HE WAS
HOME, AN INTRUDER WAS IN THE
HOME, ATTACKED HIM, AND THEY RAN
DOWN TO THE BASEMENT, AND THAT
MAN SHOT HIS WIFE THOSE DETAILS
WERE ALWAYS CONSISTENT
>> Reporter: BUT THE JURORS
WOULDN'T HAVE TO TAKE HIS WORD
FOR IT
THEY WOULD HEAR IT STRAIGHT FROM
RICK DABATE HIMSELF.
>> THE DEFENSE WILL CALL
RICHARD DABATE JR.
>>> COMING UP --
RICK RECOUNTS STRUGGLING WITH
THE INTRUDER AND THE HORROR OF
HIS WIFE'S LAST MOMENTS.
>> WHAT DID YOU SEE AND HEAR
>> HEARD A LOUD BANG
BELIEVE A FLASH.
AND I REMEMBER SEEING CONNIE
FALL MOTIONLESS TO THE GROUND.
>> WILL JURORS BELIEVE HIS
STORY?
>> LADIES AND GENTLEMEN OF THE
JURY, HAVE YOU AGREED UPON A
..RDICT?
WAITED MORE THAN SIX YEARS TO
TELL HIS SIDE OF THE STORY
NOW WAS HIS CHANCE AS HE TOOK
THE STAND IN HIS OWN DEFENSE
>> HOW HAS CONNIE'S LOSS
AFFECTED YOU
>> UH, I DON'T KNOW WHERE TO
START WITH THAT.
UH, IT AFFECTED ME IN THE MOST
AWFULLY NEGATIVE WAY POSSIBLE.
THE BOYS DON'T HAVE A MOTHER
LIFE IS IRREVERSIBLY CHANGED FOR
THE WORSE.
>> Reporter: RICK ACKNOWLEDGED
TO THE JURY HE HAD CHEATED ON
CONNIE WITH SARA
>> AND DID IT HAPPEN ON MULTIPLE
OCCASIONS?
>> YES, IT DID
>> AT SOME POINT AROUND THIS
TIME PERIOD, DID SARA TELL YOU
ANYTHING
>> YES, SHE DID.
>> WHAT DID SHE TELL YOU
>> SHE TOLD ME SHE WAS PREGNANT.
>> Reporter: BUT JUST AS
SARA GANZER HAD TESTIFIED, RICK
DENIED FEELING PRESSURED TO
CHOOSE BETWEEN HER AND CONNIE.
>> DID SHE TELL YOU TO DO
ANYTHING
>> NO.
>> DID SHE PRESENT OPTIONS TO
YOU?
>> YES, SHE DID.
>> WHAT OPTIONS DID SHE PRESENT
TO YOU
>> SHE SAID, "IF YOU STAY WITH
CONNIE" -- UH, THAT SHE WOULDN'T
TELL ANYONE WHO THE DAD WAS.
>> Reporter: AND THEN, RICK TOOK
THE JURY THROUGH THAT AWFUL
MORNING.
>> WHAT HAPPENED WHEN YOU GOT
UPSTAIRS
>> WENT UPSTAIRS
UH, AND WHEN I OPENED UP THE
CLOSET DOOR, THERE WAS AN
INTRUDER
>> Reporter: HE TOLD THEM HOW
THE INTRUDER DEMANDED HIS
WALLET, AND THEN WHAT HAPPENED
WHEN HE HEARD CONNIE COME HOME
>> WHAT DID YOU DO
>> I YELLED, "CONNIE, THERE'S
SOMEONE IN THE HOUSE
RUN.
THE INTRUDER GRABBED MY HAND,
TWISTED IT SOMEHOW
FORCED ME TO THE GROUND AND RAN
OUT, RAN DOWNSTAIRS --
>> WHAT DID YOU DO
>> AFTER I EVENTUALLY GOT UP, I
RAN AFTER HIM.
>> Reporter: AND HE DESCRIBED
GETTING TO THE BASEMENT JUST
SECONDS TOO LATE
>> WHAT DID YOU SEE AND HEAR
>> HEARD A LOUD BANG
BELIEVE A FLASH.
AND I REMEMBER SEEING CONNIE
FALL MOTIONLESS TO THE GROUND.
>> Reporter: NEXT HE TOLD THE
JURY HOW HE WAS TORTURED,
EVENTUALLY FIGHTING OFF THE
INTRUDER WITH THE BLOWTORCH.
>> I THOUGHT MAYBE I BURNED HIS
MASK, BUT HE PUT HIS HANDS UP ON
HIS FACE -- UM, DROPPED THE, UH,
BLOWTORCH AND RAN.
>> Reporter: RICK DABATE
PROFESSED HIS LOVE FOR CONNIE
AND HIS INNOCENCE IN HER MURDER.
>> WHO SHOT CONNIE DABATE?
>> THE INTRUDER.
>> DID YOU SHOOT CONNIE?
>> NO.
>> DID YOU STAGE ANY OF THE
EVIDENCE AT THAT SCENE
>> NO, I DIDN'T.
>> Reporter: THAT PART OF RICK'S
STORY NEVER WAVERED.
BUT THERE WERE SUBTLE
DIFFERENCES BETWEEN WHAT HE
INITIALLY TOLD INVESTIGATORS AND
WHAT HE SAID IN COURT.
FOR INSTANCE, IN 2015 HE TOLD
DETECTIVES THIS.
>> I WALKED IN, PUT MY PHONE
DOWN
AND THEN I HEARD SOMETHING
UPSTAIRS
I HEARD SOMETHING FALL AND
SOMEBODY BREAK -- CATS, UH,
BREAK SOMETHING AGAIN.
THEN I WENT UPSTAIRS, AND THAT'S
WHEN IT HAPPENED
>> Reporter: BUT THIS IS WHAT HE
TOLD THE JURY IN 2022.
>> WHAT DID YOU DO WHEN YOU WENT
INSIDE
>> PUT MY KEYS DOWN ON THE
HUTCH.
PUT MY PHONE NEAR THE KEURIG
'CAUSE I WAS GONNA MAKE A
COFFEE
AND AT THAT POINT, SINCE I
ALREADY TOLD MY BOSS I WAS
RUNNING LATE, I WAS -- DECIDED
TO KIND OF VEG OUT A LITTLE BIT
AND SURF THE INTERNET AND KINDA
TAKE MY TIME
>> NOW, AT SOME POINT, WAS THIS
INTERRUPTED?
>> YES
>> WHAT HAPPENED
>> HEARD SOMETHING UPSTAIRS.
>> Reporter: THE ALLEGATION WAS
THAT HE WAS CHANGING HIS STORY
TO FIT WHAT HE'D HEARD DURING
THE TRIAL.
>> I MEAN, WHAT CHANGED WERE THE
GAPS IN BETWEEN THE BIG MOMENTS.
HOW LONG WAS HE HOME
WAS HE MAKING A COFFEE
YOU KNOW, DID HE GO ON HIS IPAD
FOR A BIT TO KILL SOME TIME?
THOSE GAPS CHANGED, BUT THE
DETAILS WERE THE SAME.
HE STUCK TO THE KEY PARTS OF HIS
STORY THAT HE HAD TOLD THE
POLICE AND THE FAMILY OVER AND
OVER AGAIN
AND THOSE HAVE NEVER CHANGED
OVER THE YEARS
>> Reporter: BUT NOW IT WAS
STATE'S ATTORNEY
MATTHEW GEDANSKY'S TURN TO ASK
THE QUESTIONS.
AND PERHAPS NOBODY HAD LISTENED
MORE CLOSELY TO RICK'S STORY
THAN HE HAD.
>> I WAS LOOKING FORWARD TO
CROSS-EXAMINE HIM.
>> Reporter: YEAH.
DID YOU BEAT HIM UP?
>> I GUESS THAT'S FOR SOMEONE
ELSE TO DETERMINE.
>> Reporter: THE PROSECUTOR
PULLED NO PUNCHES, ACCUSING RICK
OF GETTING RID OF HIS WIFE WHILE
TRYING TO MAKE HIMSELF LOOK GOOD
IN THE PROCESS
>> AND SO THIS IS THE PLAN YOU
CAME UP WITH FOR THIS DILEMMA
THAT YOU WERE IN
>> THERE'S NO PLAN, SIR.
>> YOU COULD BE THE HERO
A FAILED HERO, BUT A HERO.
>> NO.
>> Reporter: HE PRESSED RICK TO
ACCOUNT FOR THE INCONSISTENCIES
IN HIS STORY
>> AND YOU COULD SEE FROM THE
DATA THAT YOU AND CONNIE WERE
HOME TOGETHER FOR A GOOD HALF
HOUR OR SO THAT DAY BEFORE SHE
WAS KILLED
>> AT SOME POINT, I -- OKAY.
>> BUT THAT -- THAT DISPUTES
YOUR STORY
YOUR STORY IS THAT SHE CAME HOME
AND SHE RAN DOWN TO THE
BASEMENT
>> THAT'S NOT THE FULL STORY,
SIR.
>> YOU NEVER LEFT THAT HOUSE,
DID YOU?
>> I ABSOLUTELY LEFT THE HOUSE
THAT DAY
>> Reporter: AND EVERY CHANCE HE
GOT, THE PROSECUTOR MADE SURE TO
EMPHASIZE ONE KEY ELEMENT OF
RICK'S STORY
A HOLLYWOOD ELEMENT.
>> THERE WERE TWO PEOPLE IN THAT
CLOSET, YOU AND VIN DIESEL
THAT MUST BE YOUR WRESTLING
MATCH WITH VIN DIESEL, CORRECT
VIN DIESEL -
THIS VIN DIESEL GUY --
YOU MUST'VE BEEN FIGHTING WITH
VIN DIESEL, WERE YOU NOT
>> I WAS FIGHTING WITH AN
INTRUDER, YES.
>> Reporter: WHY BRING UP A
MOVIE STAR SO MANY TIMES IN YOUR
CROSS-EXAMINATION?
>> HE'S THE ONE WHO SAID THE GUY
SOUNDED LIKE VIN DIESEL.
SO I WAS CERTAINLY GONNA USE IT
WITH HIM
>> Reporter: WAS HE TRYING TO
GET A RISE OUT RICK?
OR WAS IT A WINK AND A NOD TO
THE JURY -- A WAY TO EMPHASIZE
HOW RIDICULOUS HE FOUND THE
WHOLE STORY.
>> YOU CHASED VIN DIESEL, WHO
WAS CHASING YOUR WIFE?
>> Reporter: THE EXCHANGES WERE
TENSE, OFTEN ACCUSATORY, BUT
RICK DABATE STUCK TO HIS STORY
HE DIDN'T KILL CONNIE.
AN INTRUDER DID.
>> YOU SHOT HER IN THE BACK OF
THE HEAD, DID YOU NOT?
>> ABSOLUTELY NOT, SIR
>> AND THEN YOU WENT UP TO HER
AND YOU PULLED HER BACK AND YOU
PUT ANOTHER SHOT IN HER STOMACH
TO FINISH HER OFF, DIDN'T YOU?
>> ABSOLUTELY NOT, SIR
>> Reporter: WAS HE LYING?
IT WAS NOW UP TO THE JURY TO
DECIDE
>> LADIES AND GENTLEMEN OF THE
JURY, IN THE CASE OF STATE
V. RICHARD DABATE, HAVE YOU
AGREED UPON A VERDICT?
>> WE HAVE
>> Reporter: LESS THAN A DAY'S
WORTH OF DELIBERATING WAS ALL IT
TOOK
>> WILL THE DEFENDANT,
RICHARD DABATE, PLEASE RISE AND
FACE THE JURY.
>> MADAME FOREPERSON, IS THE
DEFENDANT GUILTY OR NOT GUILTY
>> WE FOUND THE DEFENDANT
GUILTY
>> Reporter: HOW DID YOU FEEL
WHEN YOU HEARD GUILTY?
>> LIKE A -- LIKE A VICTORY.
YOU KNOW, DEFINITELY FELT LIKE A
WEIGHT LIFTED OFF MY SHOULDERS
>> Reporter: IT HAD BEEN YEARS
>> YEARS
>> Reporter: FINALLY, THIS PART
WAS OVER
>> YEAH.
IT WAS RELIEF.
>> Reporter: AFTER 6 1/2 YEARS
FROM THAT DAY THAT YOU WENT TO
THAT CRIME SCENE, YOU FINALLY
HAD THE GUILTY VERDICT
>> YOU KNOW, WE FELT A GREAT
RESPONSIBILITY TO CONNIE
AND OBVIOUSLY VERY HAPPY WITH
THE VERDICT.
THE IRONY IS THAT HE CAME UP
WITH THIS CRAZY, EVIL PLAN TO
PROTECT HIS REPUTATION
AND THIS IS HOW HE'S GOING TO BE
REMEMBERED
>> Reporter: RICK DABATE,
CONVICTED WIFE KILLER.
HE WAS SENTENCED TO 65 YEARS IN
PRISON
>> IT WAS AN AMAZING FEELING
LIKE, IT WAS BETTER THAN I
THOUGHT IT WAS GONNA BE.
AND I JUST THINK IT WAS BECAUSE
I CAN MOVE ON NOW.
'CAUSE THOSE SEVEN YEARS, THERE
WAS JUST SO MUCH ANXIETY
I CHANGED AS A PERSON.
I LOST A PART OF ME THAT I'LL
NEVER GET BACK
>> Reporter: ON THE OTHER SIDE
OF THE COURTROOM, DIFFERENT
TEARS.
THAT'S A TOUGH MOMENT WHEN --
NOW YOUR SON IS BEING LED AWAY
FOR MURDERING HIS WIFE
>> YUP
YEAH
I CAN'T BELIEVE HE'S THERE
>> Reporter: TWO FAMILIES, TORN
APART, LEARNING TO LIVE WITH
DIFFERENT TYPES OF PAIN.
BUT THEY ALL SHARE ONE THING --
A LOVE FOR CONNIE.
>> EVERYTHING SHE DID WAS OUT OF
HER HEART.
THERE ARE PEOPLE WE NEVER MET
THAT WOULD REACH OUT AND SAY,
"SHE DID THIS SMALL ACT OF
KINDNESS" OR "SHE DID SOMETHING
AMAZING.
>> Reporter: AND DO YOU FEEL
THAT CONNIE WILL LIVE ON IN HER
BOYS
>> I KNOW SHE WILL
LIKE, SHE JUST -- SHE HAD A
GREAT, BEAUTIFUL INFLUENCE ON
THEM
AND I KNOW THEY WILL CARRY THAT
FORWARD.
>> Reporter: AND MAYBE A GOOD
PIECE OF ADVICE IS TO GO THROUGH
LIFE TREATING PEOPLE LIKE THEIR
MOM DID?
>> ABSOLUTELY.
>> Reporter: PEGGY AND DARLENE
WILL FOREVER MISS THEIR THIRD
MUSKETEER.
BUT THEY KNOW CONNIE'S LEGACY
LIVES ON ALONG THE ONCE AGAIN
QUIET BIRCH VIEW DRIVE
>> CONNIE WAS THE CONNECTOR.
CONNIE WANTED TO CONNECT ALL OF
THE NEIGHBORS TO ONE ANOTHER
>> Reporter: HER DEATH BROUGHT
EVERYONE TOGETHER?
>> ABSOLUTELY.
>> SHE WAS BEAUTIFUL FROM THE
INSIDE OUT
HER LIGHT WAS SO BRIGHT THAT YOU
JUST WANTED TO BE IN THE LIGHT
WITH HER
>>> THAT'S ALL FOR THIS EDITION
OF "DATELINE."
WE'LL SEE YOU AGAIN NEXT FRIDAY
AT 9:00, 8:00 CENTRAL.
AND, OF COURSE, I'LL SEE YOU
EACH WEEKNIGHT FOR "NBC NIGHTLY
NEWS."
I'M LESTER HOLT.
FOR ALL OF US AT NBC NEWS, GOOD