Watts Family Murders
Familicide and Child Murder
CLASSIFICATION: Mass Murder
LOCATION
Frederick, Colorado, U.S.
TIME PERIOD
August 13, 2018
VICTIMS
4 confirmed
In the early hours of August 13, 2018, Christopher Lee Watts murdered his pregnant wife, Shanann Watts (34), and their two daughters, Bella (4) and Celeste (3), at their home in Frederick, Colorado. Shanann was strangled, while the children were suffocated; their bodies were subsequently disposed of at an oil storage site where Shanann was buried in a shallow grave and the children were placed in crude oil tanks. Watts initially denied involvement but was arrested on August 15 after confessing to the murder of Shanann during an interview with detectives, later admitting to the murders of his children as well. On November 6, 2018, he pled guilty to five counts of first-degree murder and was sentenced to three consecutive life sentences without the possibility of parole, plus an additional 84 years for related charges. The case remains closed with no further legal actions pending.
Many believe that Chris Watts was motivated by a desire to start a new life with his mistress, leading him to commit the murders. Some speculate that financial issues and a strained marriage also contributed to his actions. Additionally, there are theories suggesting that Watts may have had a psychological break, as his behavior before and after the murders appeared inconsistent with typical responses to such a tragedy.
The Tragic Tale of the Watts Family Murders
On a seemingly ordinary morning in Frederick, Colorado, the fabric of a family unraveled in the most horrific of ways. The date was August 13, 2018, and Christopher Lee Watts, a man whose outward appearance gave no hint of malice, committed an act so grotesque it would shock the nation. In the dead of night, Chris murdered his pregnant wife, Shanann, by strangulation and then suffocated their two young daughters, Bella and Celeste. The bodies of his precious children were discarded into crude oil tanks, while Shanann was buried in a shallow grave nearby.
A Family and Their Shadows
Christopher and Shanann Watts hailed from North Carolina—Chris from Spring Lake and Shanann from Aberdeen. Their paths crossed in 2010, culminating in their marriage on November 3, 2012, in Mecklenburg County. They settled into a five-bedroom house at 2825 Saratoga Trail, Frederick, Colorado, in 2013. Despite the appearance of domestic bliss, financial strains loomed large over the Watts family; they declared bankruptcy in 2015. Chris worked for Anadarko Petroleum, while Shanann was involved in a multi-level marketing company, Le-Vel, selling a product called "Thrive."
The couple had two daughters: Bella, born in December 2013, and Celeste, born in July 2015. At the time of her death, Shanann was 15 weeks pregnant with a son, who was to be named Nico.
The Disappearance
The morning of August 13 began with Shanann's return from a business trip to Arizona, driven home by her friend and colleague, Nickole Utoft Atkinson, at around 1:48 a.m. That day, concern grew when Shanann missed an obstetrics appointment and failed to return calls and messages. Atkinson, worried by these unusual silences, visited the Watts residence at 12:10 p.m. Receiving no response to her knocks and doorbell rings, she contacted Chris, who was at work, and alerted the Frederick Police Department.
By 1:40 p.m., a police officer was on-site to conduct a welfare check. Chris allowed the officer into the home, where they found no trace of Shanann or the girls but discovered her purse with keys and medicine, her phone wedged between couch cushions, and her car—complete with the children's car seats—in the garage. A poignant symbol of absence, Shanann's wedding ring, lay on a bedside table.
The Deceptive Facade
Detectives from the FBI and the Colorado Bureau of Investigation joined the case the following day. Chris claimed ignorance of his family's whereabouts, insisting he last saw Shanann at 5:15 a.m. on the day she vanished. In interviews with KMGH-TV and KUSA-TV, he pleaded for their safe return, even as search dogs scoured his property.
Unraveling the Deceit
The investigation took a critical turn on August 15 when Chris failed a polygraph test, leading to his confession. Initially, he spun a tale of discovering Shanann strangling Celeste and claimed he killed her in a fit of rage. However, this narrative quickly crumbled. Chris marked the burial sites of his family members on a photograph of an oil field, leading investigators there on August 16. The grim discovery was made: the children, smothered by Chris's hands, were found in oil tanks, and Shanann was in a shallow grave.
On August 21, Chris faced charges including three counts of first-degree murder, unlawful termination of a pregnancy, and tampering with deceased bodies. Surveillance footage revealed Chris loading a gas can and backing his truck into his garage on the night of the murders—evidence of his heinous actions.
The Legal Aftermath
Christopher Watts's courtroom fate was sealed on November 6, 2018, when he pleaded guilty to the murders. The death penalty was off the table, honoring Shanann's family's wishes to avoid further loss of life. On November 19, he was sentenced to five life terms without parole, along with 84 years for additional charges.
In December 2018, due to security concerns, Chris was relocated to Dodge Correctional Institution in Wisconsin, where he continues to serve his sentence.
Media and Public Reaction
The Watts family tragedy inspired widespread media coverage. In December 2018, ABC's "20/20" featured Shanann's parents, while HLN aired a special report, "Family Massacre: Chris Watts Exposed," showing police footage. Chris's girlfriend's revelations of his behavior changes prior to the murders added another layer to the public's understanding of the case.
The case also inspired several adaptations, including Netflix's "American Murder: The Family Next Door" and a Lifetime film, "Chris Watts: Confessions of a Killer." However, these dramatizations sparked controversy, especially with Shanann's family, who were neither consulted nor financially compensated.
A Case of Familicide
The Watts case is a chilling example of family annihilation—a crime often perpetrated by a parent who subsequently commits suicide. Chris's survival, in contrast to this typical pattern, left many seeking answers to his motivations, including a desire to start anew with another woman. As more confessions from Chris emerged, including plans to end Shanann's pregnancy, the depth of his betrayal became painfully clear.
Sources
For more detailed information, visit the original Wikipedia article.
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Watts Family Murdered
Christopher Watts murders his pregnant wife Shanann and their two daughters Bella and Celeste.
Watts Arrested
Chris Watts is arrested after confessing to killing Shanann during an interview with detectives.
Bodies Discovered
The bodies of Shanann, Bella, and Celeste are found at an oil storage site where Chris Watts worked.
Charges Filed
Chris Watts is charged with three counts of first-degree murder and other related charges.
Plea Deal Accepted
Chris Watts pleads guilty to multiple counts of first-degree murder as part of a plea deal.
Sentenced to Life
Chris Watts is sentenced to five life sentences without the possibility of parole.
Transfer to Prison
Chris Watts is transferred to Dodge Correctional Institution in Wisconsin due to security concerns.
In the early hours of August 13, 2018, Christopher Lee Watts murdered his pregnant wife, Shanann Watts (34), and their two daughters, Bella (4) and Celeste (3), at their home in Frederick, Colorado. Shanann was strangled, while the children were suffocated; their bodies were subsequently disposed of at an oil storage site where Shanann was buried in a shallow grave and the children were placed in crude oil tanks. Watts initially denied involvement but was arrested on August 15 after confessing to the murder of Shanann during an interview with detectives, later admitting to the murders of his children as well. On November 6, 2018, he pled guilty to five counts of first-degree murder and was sentenced to three consecutive life sentences without the possibility of parole, plus an additional 84 years for related charges. The case remains closed with no further legal actions pending.
Many believe that Chris Watts was motivated by a desire to start a new life with his mistress, leading him to commit the murders. Some speculate that financial issues and a strained marriage also contributed to his actions. Additionally, there are theories suggesting that Watts may have had a psychological break, as his behavior before and after the murders appeared inconsistent with typical responses to such a tragedy.
The Tragic Tale of the Watts Family Murders
On a seemingly ordinary morning in Frederick, Colorado, the fabric of a family unraveled in the most horrific of ways. The date was August 13, 2018, and Christopher Lee Watts, a man whose outward appearance gave no hint of malice, committed an act so grotesque it would shock the nation. In the dead of night, Chris murdered his pregnant wife, Shanann, by strangulation and then suffocated their two young daughters, Bella and Celeste. The bodies of his precious children were discarded into crude oil tanks, while Shanann was buried in a shallow grave nearby.
A Family and Their Shadows
Christopher and Shanann Watts hailed from North Carolina—Chris from Spring Lake and Shanann from Aberdeen. Their paths crossed in 2010, culminating in their marriage on November 3, 2012, in Mecklenburg County. They settled into a five-bedroom house at 2825 Saratoga Trail, Frederick, Colorado, in 2013. Despite the appearance of domestic bliss, financial strains loomed large over the Watts family; they declared bankruptcy in 2015. Chris worked for Anadarko Petroleum, while Shanann was involved in a multi-level marketing company, Le-Vel, selling a product called "Thrive."
The couple had two daughters: Bella, born in December 2013, and Celeste, born in July 2015. At the time of her death, Shanann was 15 weeks pregnant with a son, who was to be named Nico.
The Disappearance
The morning of August 13 began with Shanann's return from a business trip to Arizona, driven home by her friend and colleague, Nickole Utoft Atkinson, at around 1:48 a.m. That day, concern grew when Shanann missed an obstetrics appointment and failed to return calls and messages. Atkinson, worried by these unusual silences, visited the Watts residence at 12:10 p.m. Receiving no response to her knocks and doorbell rings, she contacted Chris, who was at work, and alerted the Frederick Police Department.
By 1:40 p.m., a police officer was on-site to conduct a welfare check. Chris allowed the officer into the home, where they found no trace of Shanann or the girls but discovered her purse with keys and medicine, her phone wedged between couch cushions, and her car—complete with the children's car seats—in the garage. A poignant symbol of absence, Shanann's wedding ring, lay on a bedside table.
The Deceptive Facade
Detectives from the FBI and the Colorado Bureau of Investigation joined the case the following day. Chris claimed ignorance of his family's whereabouts, insisting he last saw Shanann at 5:15 a.m. on the day she vanished. In interviews with KMGH-TV and KUSA-TV, he pleaded for their safe return, even as search dogs scoured his property.
Unraveling the Deceit
The investigation took a critical turn on August 15 when Chris failed a polygraph test, leading to his confession. Initially, he spun a tale of discovering Shanann strangling Celeste and claimed he killed her in a fit of rage. However, this narrative quickly crumbled. Chris marked the burial sites of his family members on a photograph of an oil field, leading investigators there on August 16. The grim discovery was made: the children, smothered by Chris's hands, were found in oil tanks, and Shanann was in a shallow grave.
On August 21, Chris faced charges including three counts of first-degree murder, unlawful termination of a pregnancy, and tampering with deceased bodies. Surveillance footage revealed Chris loading a gas can and backing his truck into his garage on the night of the murders—evidence of his heinous actions.
The Legal Aftermath
Christopher Watts's courtroom fate was sealed on November 6, 2018, when he pleaded guilty to the murders. The death penalty was off the table, honoring Shanann's family's wishes to avoid further loss of life. On November 19, he was sentenced to five life terms without parole, along with 84 years for additional charges.
In December 2018, due to security concerns, Chris was relocated to Dodge Correctional Institution in Wisconsin, where he continues to serve his sentence.
Media and Public Reaction
The Watts family tragedy inspired widespread media coverage. In December 2018, ABC's "20/20" featured Shanann's parents, while HLN aired a special report, "Family Massacre: Chris Watts Exposed," showing police footage. Chris's girlfriend's revelations of his behavior changes prior to the murders added another layer to the public's understanding of the case.
The case also inspired several adaptations, including Netflix's "American Murder: The Family Next Door" and a Lifetime film, "Chris Watts: Confessions of a Killer." However, these dramatizations sparked controversy, especially with Shanann's family, who were neither consulted nor financially compensated.
A Case of Familicide
The Watts case is a chilling example of family annihilation—a crime often perpetrated by a parent who subsequently commits suicide. Chris's survival, in contrast to this typical pattern, left many seeking answers to his motivations, including a desire to start anew with another woman. As more confessions from Chris emerged, including plans to end Shanann's pregnancy, the depth of his betrayal became painfully clear.
Sources
For more detailed information, visit the original Wikipedia article.
No Recent News
No recent news articles found for this case. Check back later for updates.
No Evidence Submitted
No evidence found for this case. Be the first to submit evidence in the comments below.
Join the discussion
Loading comments...
Watts Family Murdered
Christopher Watts murders his pregnant wife Shanann and their two daughters Bella and Celeste.
Watts Arrested
Chris Watts is arrested after confessing to killing Shanann during an interview with detectives.
Bodies Discovered
The bodies of Shanann, Bella, and Celeste are found at an oil storage site where Chris Watts worked.
Charges Filed
Chris Watts is charged with three counts of first-degree murder and other related charges.
Plea Deal Accepted
Chris Watts pleads guilty to multiple counts of first-degree murder as part of a plea deal.
Sentenced to Life
Chris Watts is sentenced to five life sentences without the possibility of parole.
Transfer to Prison
Chris Watts is transferred to Dodge Correctional Institution in Wisconsin due to security concerns.