Watts family murders

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Watts family murders
File:Watts family colorado murder.jpg
The Watts family, seen here nine months before the murders. Chris poses with his wife Shanann and their children Bella (standing) and Celeste.
LocationFrederick, Colorado, U.S.
DateAugust 13, 2018; 5 years ago (2018-08-13)
Attack type
Familicide, mass murder, uxoricide, filicide, child murder, feticide
Deaths4 (including an unborn child)
PerpetratorChristopher Lee Watts
VerdictPleaded guilty
Convictions
SentenceFive life sentences without the possibility of parole, plus 84 years
Christopher Watts
Born
Christopher Lee Watts

(1985-05-16) May 16, 1985 (age 39)
Spring Lake, North Carolina, U.S.
StatusIncarcerated at Dodge Correctional Institution
Spouse
Shanann Rzucek
​
​
(m. 2012; murdered 2018)​
Details
Victims
  • Shanann Watts
  • Bella Marie Watts
  • Celeste "CeCe" Watts
  • Nico Watts (unborn)
Date apprehended
August 15, 2018

In the early hours of August 13, 2018 in Frederick, Colorado, American oil field operator Christopher Lee Watts (born May 16, 1985)[1] murdered his pregnant wife Shanann by strangulation, and their two children Bella (4) and Celeste (3) by smothering them. He buried Shanann in a shallow grave near an oil-storage facility, and dumped his children's bodies into crude oil tanks. Watts initially maintained his innocence in his family’s disappearance, but was arrested on August 15 after confessing to murdering Shanann in an interview with detectives. He later admitted to murdering his children.

On November 6, 2018, Watts pleaded guilty to multiple counts of first-degree murder as part of a plea deal when the death penalty (which was later abolished in Colorado in 2020) was removed from sentencing. He was sentenced to five life sentences without the possibility of parole, three to be served consecutively.

Background

Christopher Watts and Shanann Cathryn Watts (née Rzucek, January 10, 1984 - August 13, 2018) were from North Carolina: Christopher from Spring Lake and Shanann from Aberdeen. They met in 2010 and were married in Mecklenburg County on November 3, 2012, according to online records.[2] The couple had two daughters: Bella Marie Watts (December 17, 2013 - August 13, 2018) and Celeste Cathryn "CeCe" Watts (July 17, 2015 - August 13, 2018). At the time of her death, Shanann was 15 weeks pregnant with a son who was to be named Nico.[3]

The Watts family lived in a five-bedroom home in Frederick, Colorado, which they purchased in 2013,[4] and declared bankruptcy in 2015.[5] Christopher was employed by Anadarko Petroleum, while Shanann worked from home selling a product called Thrive for the multi-level marketing company Le-Vel.[5][6]

Disappearance

At approximately 1:48 am on Monday August 13, 2018, Shanann, returning from a business trip to Arizona, was driven home by her friend and colleague Nickole Utoft Atkinson. Over that weekend Watts was home with their daughters.[7] Later that day, Shanann and the girls were reported missing by Atkinson, who became concerned when Shanann missed a scheduled obstetrics and gynecology appointment and failed to return her text messages. After Shanann missed a business meeting, Atkinson went to the Watts residence at about 12:10 pm.[8][9] When the doorbell and knocks went unanswered, Atkinson notified Christopher, who was at work, and called the Frederick Police Department.

A Frederick police officer arrived to conduct a welfare check at about 1:40 pm.[10] During the welfare check, Christopher gave the police officer permission to search the house,[11] where the family dog was discovered unharmed, but no sign of Shanann or the girls was found.[12] Searchers discovered Shanann's purse containing her keys and the children's medicine.[11] Her phone was later located between the couch cushions in the family home.[13] Her car, which still contained the girls' car seats, was in the garage.[14] Shanann's wedding ring was found on the bedside table.[11]

The FBI and the Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) joined the investigation the next day. Watts initially told police that he had no idea where his family might be and that he had not seen his wife since 5:15 am the previous day, when he left for work.[15] He gave interviews to Denver stations KMGH-TV and KUSA-TV outside the house, pleading for the return of his wife and daughters. Investigators with search dogs could be heard on the property during the interview.[16][17]

Legal proceedings

Arrest and charges

Watts was arrested on August 15, 2018. According to the arrest affidavit and footage from a security camera in the interview room, he failed a polygraph test and subsequently confessed to murdering Shanann. He asked to speak to his father before confessing. According to the affidavit, Watts was having an affair and claimed he asked for a separation from Shanann. During the investigation, he claimed Shanann had strangled the girls in response to his request for separation and that he had then strangled her in a fit of rage and transported the bodies to a remote oil-storage site leased by his employer, Anadarko Petroleum.[18]

Watts was fired by the company on August 15, the day of his arrest. The authorities located the bodies of the Watts family on the Anadarko Petroleum site on August 16. The girls' bodies were found in crude oil storage tanks, while Shanann was buried in a shallow grave nearby.[19] The girls were placed in different oil tanks, forcing them to not be together in death.[20] The girls were each put through a hatch at the top of each oil tank, with the lid being 8 inches in diameter.[21]According to the medical examiner, "Bella had scratches on her left buttock from being shoved through this hole. A tuft of blonde hair was found on the edge of one of these hatches."[22][23]

On August 21, Watts was charged with three counts of first-degree murder, including an additional one count per child cited as "death of a child who had not yet attained 12 years of age and the defendant was in a position of trust", unlawful termination of a pregnancy, and three counts of tampering with a deceased human body.[24] He was denied bail at his first court appearance. At a later hearing, his bail was set at $5 million, with him being required to put down 15% to be released.

The case has been connected in the media to the crime of family annihilation (familicide).[25] Many of these crimes occur in August, before school starts, which may delay detection and investigation.[25] According to former FBI profiler Candice DeLong, cases such as the Watts' are rare because "family annihilators usually commit suicide after the murders",[26] an action that Watts claimed to have contemplated out of guilt for his actions.[27]

In an interview on Dr. Phil, Watts's lawyer claimed that he confessed to killing Shanann after an argument regarding divorce. During the murder, Bella walked in on the couple. Watts then told her that Shanann was sick. He loaded Shanann's body and the girls, without their car seats, into the back seat of his work truck. He later smothered the girls, one after the other.[28]

Plea deal and sentencing

Watts pleaded guilty to the murders on November 6. The death penalty was not put forward by the district attorney on the request of Shanann's family, who did not wish for any further deaths. They were supportive of his decision to accept the plea deal. On November 19, he was sentenced to five life sentences—three consecutive and two concurrent—without the possibility of parole. He received an additional 48 years for the unlawful termination of Shanann's pregnancy and 36 years for three charges of tampering with a deceased body. His sentence began immediately.[29][30]

On December 3, 2018, Watts was moved to an out-of-state location due to "security concerns".[31] On December 5, he arrived at Dodge Correctional Institution, a maximum-security prison in Waupun, Wisconsin, to continue serving his life sentences.[32][33]

Chris Watts Today

According to an online source, as of August 10, 2022, Christopher Watts has been writing letters to author Cherlyn Cadle from inside prison. In one of these letters, he described how he murdered his children. According to this letter, Watts attempted to smother them with their own pillows, but was unsuccessful. Once he had murdered Shannan, his daughters entered the room. Watts described Bella as having "bruised eyes” and wrote that “both girls looked like they had been through trauma." He later took their lives.[34]

As of today, Watts is incarcerated and working as a butcher in a Wisconsin prison. When he is not working, he sits in the prison library and works on his appeal. He believes he will get out of prison in around 25 years, because he has "found religion”.[35]

Media accounts

On a December 2018 episode of the ABC News series 20/20, Shanann's parents were interviewed for the first time since the murders.[36][37] HLN aired a special report that same month titled Family Massacre: Chris Watts Exposed, in which footage of Watts from police body cameras and security cameras in the police station's interview room were revealed. In a recorded interview released by the CBI with Christopher's mistress, Nichol Kessinger, she revealed his behavioral changes in the days prior to the murders.[38][39]

On a December 2018 episode of the American talk show Dr. Phil, Phil McGraw consulted with four crime experts: former prosecutor and TV journalist Nancy Grace, former FBI profiler Candice DeLong, law enforcement consultant Steve Kardian, and body language expert Susan Constantine. The experts analyzed the motivation, secret life, and profiling of Watts.[40] On a January 2019 episode of the talk show The Dr. Oz Show, commentary is provided on his case by the neighbor who helped build the case against him, who is interviewed in-studio.[41]

In June 2021, Inside Edition reported further confessions from Chris Watts to a pen pal. In multiple letters, Watts explained that he had planned the murder for several weeks and that the oxycontin found in Shanann's system was given to her by him, hoping to end her pregnancy. He "thought it would be easier to be with Nichol if Shanann wasn't pregnant." He also offered new details about the murder of his daughters: he tried to smother them in their beds at home, but failed.[42]

Adaptations

On December 7, 2019, Oxygen released a one hour documentary about the case as the first episode of series three of their television program Criminal Confessions.

On January 26, 2020, Lifetime released a film called Chris Watts: Confessions of a Killer as part of its "Ripped from the Headlines" feature film series. It stars Sean Kleier as Christopher Watts and Ashley Williams as Shanann.[43] Shanann's family spoke out against the film, stating that they had not been consulted about it and were not aware of its making until it was already in production. They have also said they are not making any money from it and fear that it will only increase the harassment online that they had already been receiving.[15]

On September 30, 2020, Netflix released American Murder: The Family Next Door, a documentary about the murders.[3] The documentary features archival footage including home videos, social media posts, text messages, and law enforcement recordings.[44]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Chris Watts has 'no hope for his future' after killing wife, kids". New Zealand Herald. May 14, 2020. Archived from the original on October 18, 2020. Retrieved March 2, 2021.
  2. ^ "Chris Watts: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know". Heavy. August 16, 2018. Archived from the original on August 16, 2018. Retrieved June 1, 2019.
  3. ^ a b "American Murder: The Family Next Door | Netflix Official Site". www.netflix.com. Archived from the original on April 7, 2021. Retrieved September 25, 2020.
  4. ^ Swanson, Sady (August 23, 2018). "Christopher Watts and Shanann Watts: Their friends saw a 'perfect' family. What happened?". Fort Collins Coloradoan. USA Today Network. Archived from the original on September 22, 2021. Retrieved February 2, 2019.
  5. ^ a b "Colorado family struggled with finances before man allegedly killed pregnant wife, kids". CBS News. August 17, 2018. Archived from the original on March 30, 2019. Retrieved February 2, 2019.
  6. ^ Foody, Kathleen; Drew, Jonathan (August 17, 2018). "Colorado man arrested as hunt for family leads to body of pregnant wife, possible remains of young daughters". National Post. Frederick, Colorado: Postmedia Network Inc. Archived from the original on September 22, 2021. Retrieved February 2, 2019.
  7. ^ Helling, Steve (September 18, 2018). "Mom & Kids Vanish, Husband Pleads for Help – Then 3 Bodies Turn Up: How Watts Murder Case Unfolded". People. Archived from the original on August 17, 2019. Retrieved February 2, 2019.
  8. ^ Oberholzer, Annelene (August 17, 2018). "Man arrested for killing his pregnant wife and daughters, days after pleading for their return". News24. Cape Town. Archived from the original on August 17, 2019. Retrieved February 2, 2019.
  9. ^ McDonell-Parry, Amelia (August 21, 2018). "Colorado Man Claims He Killed Pregnant Wife After She Strangled Their Daughters". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on August 17, 2019. Retrieved February 2, 2019.
  10. ^ "Chris Watts case: Everything to know so far about the alleged murders of his wife, daughters". WGCL-TV. Atlanta, GA. August 17, 2018. Archived from the original on August 17, 2019. Retrieved February 2, 2019.
  11. ^ a b c MacBeth, Carmen (August 27, 2020). "Chris Watts update: Is he "haunted" by the murder of his family?". Film Daily. Archived from the original on November 16, 2020. Retrieved January 27, 2021.
  12. ^ Agee, Chris (August 7, 2018). "Neighbor says Chris Watts "cared more about the dog" than pregnant wife and 2 toddlers he allegedly killed". Crime Online. Archived from the original on August 19, 2018. Retrieved January 27, 2021.
  13. ^ "The Unraveling of Chris Watts Before He Murdered His Family". E! Online. 2021-08-13. Retrieved 2022-09-15.
  14. ^ Bonvillian, Crystal (August 23, 2018). "Shanann Watts' girls may have been dead when she got home, husband's charges show". KIRO-TV. Seattle, WA. Archived from the original on August 22, 2018. Retrieved January 27, 2021.
  15. ^ a b "Shanann Watts' family denounces upcoming Lifetime movie about daughter's murder". ABC11 Raleigh-Durham. Durham North Carolina: WTVD. January 16, 2020. Archived from the original on January 16, 2020. Retrieved August 4, 2020.
  16. ^ Low, Rob (August 17, 2018). "The scent of death: Police dogs and the Chris Watts investigation". KDVR. Denver, CO. Archived from the original on August 17, 2019. Retrieved August 25, 2018.
  17. ^ Miller, Blair (August 21, 2018). "Chris Watts murder case: Everything we know so far about the deaths of his wife, daughters". KMGH-TV. Frederick, CO. Archived from the original on August 22, 2018. Retrieved August 25, 2018.
  18. ^ "Chris Watts: Wife killed our girls, so I strangled her". Houston, Texas: KTRK-TV. August 20, 2018. Archived from the original on October 21, 2019. Retrieved February 2, 2019.
  19. ^ Swanson, Sady; Coltrain, Nick. "Christopher Watts will serve 3 life sentences for murdering wife Shanann, 2 daughters". Fort Collins Coloradoan. Fort Collins, Colorado. Archived from the original on September 22, 2021. Retrieved February 2, 2019.
  20. ^ Chris Watts sentencing hearing, retrieved 2022-10-06
  21. ^ Chris Watts sentencing hearing, retrieved 2022-10-06
  22. ^ "Shanann, Bella, Celeste Watts autopsies, read in full here: What do they show?". Crime Online. 2018-12-04. Retrieved 2022-10-06.
  23. ^ Chris Watts sentencing hearing, retrieved 2022-10-06
  24. ^ Park, Madison (August 20, 2018). "Chris Watts case: What we learned from unsealed affidavit". CNN. Atlanta, Georgia: Turner Broadcasting Corporation. Archived from the original on April 11, 2019. Retrieved August 25, 2018.
  25. ^ a b Shapiro, Emily (August 21, 2018). "When people kill close relatives: Explaining 'family annihilators'". ABC News. New York City: American Broadcasting Company. Archived from the original on September 25, 2019. Retrieved February 2, 2019.
  26. ^ "'Chris Watts Is What We Call A Family Annihilator,' Says Former FBI Criminal Profiles". Dr. Phil. Archived from the original on April 9, 2020. Retrieved February 2, 2019.
  27. ^ Harfenist, Ethan (March 8, 2019). "Chris Watts Says He Contemplated Suicide After Murdering His Wife And Two Daughters". Oxygen. Archived from the original on April 9, 2020. Retrieved April 2, 2019.
  28. ^ "Dr. Phil exclusive: Chris Watts' confession and his daughter's final words". WRAL. March 5, 2019. Archived from the original on March 5, 2019. Retrieved March 5, 2019.
  29. ^ Burke, Minyvonne (November 19, 2018). "Christopher Watts sentenced to life in prison without parole for killing his pregnant wife and young daughters". NBC News. Archived from the original on November 7, 2019. Retrieved November 19, 2018.
  30. ^ McLaughlin, Eliott C.; Murray, Kelly. "Chris Watts sentenced to life for 'inhumane' killings of two daughters and pregnant wife". CNN. Atlanta, Georgia: Turner Broadcasting Corporation. Archived from the original on April 26, 2019. Retrieved February 2, 2019.
  31. ^ Hatziefstathiou, Nik (December 14, 2018). "Killer Chris Watts Moved To Unknown Prison Due To 'Safety Concerns'". RadarOnline. Archived from the original on May 20, 2019. Retrieved February 2, 2019.
  32. ^ Hatziefstathiou, Nik (December 5, 2018). "Final Rotting Place: Chris Watts Arrives At Wisconsin Prison To Serve Life Sentence". RadarOnline. Archived from the original on January 25, 2019. Retrieved February 2, 2019.
  33. ^ Anderson, Hannah (December 14, 2018). "NBC15 Investigates: Inmate transfer process, Chris Watts confirmed in WI". WMTV. Madison, Wisconsin: Gray Television. Archived from the original on April 6, 2019. Retrieved February 2, 2019.
  34. ^ "Chris Watts describes himself as having murdered his children "more than once."". Tyla. Retrieved 2022-10-06.
  35. ^ Rice, Lilyanne (2022-01-18). "Where is Chris Watts now in 2022? He is working on his appeal from his Wisconsin prison". TheNetline. Retrieved 2022-10-11.
  36. ^ Carlson, Adam (December 7, 2018). "Chris Watts' In-Laws Didn't Want Him to Go on TV When Family Vanished – but They 'Thank God He Did'". People. Meredith Corporation. Archived from the original on May 14, 2019. Retrieved February 2, 2019.
  37. ^ Collman, Ashley (December 7, 2018). "'He didn't give a flying flip': Shannon Watts' mother speaks about how emotionless her daughter's husband was when she was first reported missing". Insider. Insider Inc. Archived from the original on April 21, 2019. Retrieved February 2, 2019.
  38. ^ Peltz, Kyle (December 13, 2018). "Chris Watts appears nervous in hours after murder, new video shows". Shreveport, Louisiana: KTBS-TV. Archived from the original on December 14, 2019. Retrieved February 2, 2019.
  39. ^ "New evidence released in Chris Watts case". WKTV News. December 14, 2018. Archived from the original on January 29, 2019. Retrieved February 2, 2019.
  40. ^ "Dr. Phil | TV Guide". TV Guide. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on April 22, 2019. Retrieved February 2, 2019.
  41. ^ "Dr. Oz to feature episode on Chris Watts case Tuesday afternoon on KOAA 5". Pueblo, Colorado: KOAA-TV. January 15, 2019. Archived from the original on April 21, 2019. Retrieved February 2, 2019.
  42. ^ "Killer Chris Watts Makes More Shocking Confessions to Penpal - YouTube". YouTube. Archived from the original on 2021-06-26. Retrieved 2021-06-26.
  43. ^ Pederson, Erik (November 19, 2019). "More 'Ripped From The Headlines' With Nia Vardalos, Lyndsy Fonseca, Kirstie Alley, Jamie-Lynn Sigler, Jenn Lyon". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on December 15, 2019. Retrieved December 15, 2019.
  44. ^ "American Murder The Family Next Door Trailer Released By Netflix: Describes The Story Of The 2018's Watts Family Murders". Moviespie. September 18, 2020. Archived from the original on February 15, 2021. Retrieved September 25, 2020.

Further reading

External links

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