Fitbit Data Links 90-Year-Old Man To His Stepdaughter’s Stabbing Death

A 90-year-old man has been arrested for allegedly killing his stepdaughter after investigators found information from the Fitbit she wore at the time of the incident. 

According to a police statement obtained by USA Today, officers found Karen Navarra, 67, dead at her California home on Sept. 13, after a co-worker checked on her when she didn’t arrive to work. The report said Navarra was found slouched in her chair with a kitchen knife in her hand, appearing as though she had committed suicide.

During an interview with authorities, Anthony Aiello, 90, said he visited his stepdaughter to bring her some pizza and only stayed for 15 minutes. According to video evidence, however, Aiello’s car was at her home for a longer period of time. In addition, data from her Fitbit approximates she died while he was in her home.

The police report indicated that information showed Navarra’s heart rate spiked at around 3:20 p.m. on Sept. 8, the same time Aiello’s car can be seen in her driveway. It also indicated that her heart rate started to slow, eventually stopping at 3:28 p.m.

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“Aiello was confronted about the information from Fitbit and the corresponding surveillance video indicating that his car was in the driveway,” the police report read. “After explaining the abilities of the Fitbit to record time, physical movement, and heart rate data,” investigators told Aiello that his stepdaughter had died before he left.

Still, Aiello claimed he was not involved. Instead, he “denied that he was present when she was killed and suggested that someone else might have been in the house,” the report stated.

Aiello is currently being held without bail and will likely be asked to enter a plea during his arraignment on Thursday.