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The Fitbit Alibi | Full Episode

2025-08-05 News & Politics
1.8m
17.2k
1.4k
48 Hours
48 Hours
2.5m subscribers

Technology vs. Testimony in a Wisconsin Murder Case

Discover how high-tech forensic data, including Fitbit fitness tracking and smartphone GPS logs, cleared an initial suspect and eventually convicted the true killer in a brutal 2016 murder.

Short Summary

  • Initially cleared the boyfriend, Doug Dietri, using Fitbit data that confirmed his alibi of being asleep.
  • The breakthrough relied on DNA evidence matching George Burch, linking him via cell tower location data (Google Dashboard).
  • Burch offered an elaborate counter-narrative on the stand, claiming the victim’s boyfriend committed the murder at gunpoint.
  • The jury ultimately convicted Burch, affirming the power of digital forensics over manufactured testimony.

This report details the investigation into the death of Nicole Vanderhiden in Green Bay in 2016. It highlights the crucial role technology (Fitbit, Google data) played in exonerating the first suspect, Doug Dietri, and securing evidence against the eventual perpetrator, George Burch.

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Description

A suspect in a murder swears he didn’t do it – can his Fitbit prove he’s innocent? "48 Hours" correspondent Erin Moriarty reports. This episode aired on July 19, 2025. Watch more full episodes of "48 Hours" on Pluto TV. #48hours #crime #mystery True crime. Real justice. "48 Hours" investigates the most intriguing crime and justice cases that touch on all areas of the human experience including greed and passion. "48 Hours," which premiered in 1988, has developed a rich history of original reporting and impact journalism that has helped exonerate wrongly convicted people, caused cold cases to be reopened and solved, and along the way changed lives. Subscribe to the "48 Hours" YouTube channel: https://youtube.com/48hours Watch full episodes of "48 Hours": https://cbsnews.com/48-hours/full-episodes/ Listen to the "48 Hours" podcast: https://link.chtbl.com/48-Hours Listen to the "My Life of Crime with Erin Moriarty" podcast: https://link.chtbl.com/CBSNewsMLOC Follow "48 Hours" on Instagram: https://instagram.com/48hoursCBS/ Like "48 Hours" on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/48hours Follow "48 Hours" on Twitter: https://twitter.com/48hours Subscribe to our newsletter: https://cbsnews.com/newsletter/ Download the CBS News app: https://cbsnews.com/mobile/ Try Paramount+ free: https://paramountplus.com/?ftag=PPM-05-10aeh8h For video licensing inquiries, contact: [email protected]

Top Comments (10)

@ThatBigN8V 2025-08-05

Men, never leave your girl behind or at another bar.

1.6k 106 replies
@mattjack3983 2025-08-06

Had Doug not been wearing that Fit Bit, he would almost certainly be sitting in prison right now. It makes me wonder how many innocent people have been wrongfully condemned to die in prison.

1.2k 24 replies
@Geronimo2Fly 2025-08-07

This is the type of crime that, before DNA and technology, Doug would've been locked up for life.

1.2k 17 replies
@magdadarosadesert354 2025-08-05

George's account of what happened is the most pathetic I've ever heard. They should dig deeper into his past; he is likely to have killed more than two.

1.1k 8 replies
@fredajordan5704 2025-08-05

So happy for DNA. And fitbit.

1.0k 10 replies
@nishthefish28 2025-08-05

Imagine the audacity of the actual murderer lying through his teeth and blaming the boyfriend so casually

594 5 replies
@malalamalala6769 2025-08-05

I hope stories like this inform people. Evil exists. They’re are people in our civilization that mean harm to others. Learn to protect yourselves. Hone your intuition.

398 7 replies
@Rakel6784 2025-08-06

How scary to be arrested when you're innocent

354 5 replies
@Christryingtogetname 2025-08-05

This guy really thinks that his DNA is there, his phone shows he was at crime scene, where her body was dumped AND where her stuff was tossed out window and tries blames her boyfriend???

352 11 replies
@BrandyStaples-d8l 2025-08-05

A "possible" suspect should not be held on a million dollar bond. That alone is so corrupt.

106 1 replies

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