When Elliington police arrived at the Dabate home two days before Christmas in 2015, they were greeted with a shocking scene.

Richard Dabate was laying on the living room floor, tied to a folding chair that lay on top of him. His wife Connie lay dead, shot twice, in the other room.

The story Richard would tell police was terrifying- it was the story of 6'2 masked intruder with a voice like Vin Diesel. A man who would threaten the Dabate family if Richard did not give him his money and the pin numbers to his bank and credit cards. A man, who would discover that Connie had returned home from her spin class at the local YMCA and who would shoot her twice- leaving her dead and Richard fighting the man off with a blow torch.

A story that seemed like something that was far too crazy to be true- and investigators quickly seemed to think the same thing.

Was Connie Dabate murdered by a Vin Diesel sounding masked intruder? Or was Richard Dabate telling a story that was completely nuts?

To discuss this case with other true crime fans join the Facebook page: facebook.com/thisstoryisnutspodcast

Thanks so much to Nicole for this week's story suggestion! If you have a case you want me to cover on the show, send me an email: [email protected]

SOURCES:

For a really in-depth podcast about this case check out: Connie Dabate: "The Masked Intruder" (Part 1) - Bing video which has three parts and is very well done.

5 Things to Know About Fitbit Murder Case (people.com)

Connie Dabate murder: How a marriage of secrets and lies turned deadly - NZ Herald

Richard Dabate Gets 65 Years In Wife Connie's 'Fitbit Murder' | Crime News (oxygen.com)

Mystery 'murder' of mom shot dead in her basement cracked by her FITBIT as friend reveals chilling final texts | The US Sun (the-sun.com) (also photo source)