He then claimed that Shannan strangled their children in response to his request for a separation. They found Ryan injured but alive, and his girlfriend Heather dead from a gunshot wound to the head. Chris Wattss behavior around his missing and pregnant wife raised red flags for those following the case instantly along with local law enforcement. People may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Baby Mia Jade Riley: Parents Lani and Tom Riley speak out after dog attack killed their 5-week-old infant, Bruce Willis's mom Marlene 'not sure if her son still recognizes her' as 'aggressiveness' creeps in, Kyle Sambrook: Hiker falls 100ft to death while carrying his dog in one hand through 'appalling' weather, Julia Faustyna: 21-yr-old girl who claims to be Madeleine McCann admits to making 'pornographic videos' in past, Internet finds similarities between Julia Wandelt and Livia Schepp, 6, who went missing 12 years ago. Frank Rzucek Sr., left, and Frankie Rzucek, Shanann Wattss father and brother, in court in 2018. After I left Cece's room, then I climbed back in bed with Shanann and our argument ensued. Get bonus content from Generation Why at: patreon.com/generationwhyListen ad free with Wondery+. Its difficult to imagine the level of devastation and heartbreak one must feel having their entire family so suddenly ripped away. He will spend the rest of his life in prison and is currently being housed at Dodge Correctional Institution in Wisconsin. Join Wondery+ for exclusives, binges, early access, and ad free listening. According to the official case documents, on Sunday, Aug. 12, 2018, at around 5 p.m., Chris texted a co-worker in reference to the Cervi Ranch oil field, "I'm gonna go straight out there from my house in the morning." #shinelikeshanann #shannanwatts #love #angel #motivation #beautifulsmile, A post shared by Darlenes Avon Page (@darlenes_avon_page) on Jul 23, 2020 at 1:36pm PDT. Throughout her time away, she texted friends about some of the issues going on between her and Chris. They also believe Watts decision to give our reporter, Tomas Hoppough, that impromptu interview on his front porch was a textbook attempt to show homicide detectives that he was just a regular guy trying to help find his family. While on the outside, things looked perfect things were much different behind closed doors. }); Carlsbad, California. I just hope there's normalcy for her since she's on the outside." As for Christopher Watts, he is now serving three life sentences without the possibility of parole at a state prison in Wisconsin. So yes, theyve helped me with my victim shame. We put that question to a pair of Colorados most respected police psychology experts, Lottie Flater and John Nicoletti. Meanwhile, his time with Kessinger brings back memories of his younger days that were bereft of responsibilities. Basically, it would appear that Chris was living a double life before he murdered his wife and children. window.googletag.pubads().addEventListener('impressionViewable', function(event) { They were soon reported missing by a family friend. His insistence that he wanted his family back and that his pregnant wife and two young girls' disappearance was tearing me apart would have been more convincing had he shown even a shred of emotion. In fact, he was already having an affair with a co-worker and had been chatting casually with her about how he was planning to move out of the family home into an apartment of his own. Ryan was taken to the police station and questioned before the police realized he really had been shot in the face and survived his injuries for two days.Get bonus content from Generation Why at: patreon.com/generationwhyListen ad free with Wondery+. Is the same thing gonna happen to me as Cece? he said Bella had asked him before she died. https://wondery.app.link/generationwhy.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Watts received three life sentences for his crimes. According to theDaily Mail, "Footage from a police officer's body camera has been getting attention because it appears to show a little girl playing inside the Watts' home after Chris' wife and daughters were reported missing." No one knew that he had then walked upstairs to his daughters rooms andkilled them in their beds. But she never made it, Sheree vanished. After pleading guilty to the crimes, Chris whohad been having an affair with a coworker prior to the murders was sentenced and is now in prison. No tears. They kiss and fall in love. Watts is rumored to have had other extramarital encounters as well, but those have not been verified. When convicted killer Christopher Watts spoke to Denver7 reporter Tomas Hoppough and then later to investigators last August, it was what he did not say and do that raised a lot of eyebrows. They already knew the gender of their third child, a boy, who they planned to call Nico. Shanann often advertised the products on her social media but the majority of her Instagram feed revolved around her seemingly perfect family. She continued, "He has changed. And although there was distrust around Charles Warren, he wasnt the only suspect when Sheree went missing. She planned to ask him what he wanted to do. According to ABC News, Watts had strangled his wife and children in their home, after which he took their bodies out to an oil well, where he buried Shanann in a shallow grave and hid the girls' bodies in oil tanks on the site. Like were banning together, instead of just feeling sorry for victims. Watts's chilling aloofness has kept the lurid murders in the public eye for years now. Cindy and Ronnie Watts told ABC 11 WTVD Eyewitness News that their son was suffering at the hands of his wife while she was still alive. In an interview (posted on YouTube) with the Denver ABC affiliatetwo days after the murder, Watts said, "I hope that she's somewhere safe right now and with the kids." Chris worked for Anadarko Petroleum, while Shanann sold products for the multi-level marketing company, Le-vel. The day after Shanann and the girls "went missing," however, Watts wasn't quite so believable. "I'm not sure how they woke back up, but they did. I love that. pg.acq.push(function() { eventAction: 'view' Lifetime produced a feature film about the murders called Chris Watts: Confessions of a Killer, released in January 2020. Phoenix, Arizona. let gads_event; You didnt see emotion when his family was killed.. When the case first began, Chris's pregnant wife, Shanann Watts, and their two daughters, 4-year-old Bella and 3-year-old Celeste were reported missing by a close friend on August 13th, 2018. You put up with 3 impatient, demanding women in the house. During this same interview, Chris also emotionally suggested that if he hadn't begun an affair, he might not have become dissatisfied with his marriage to Shanann Watts. I really enjoy this podcast. Pictures of her husband, 34 year old Christopher Watts, were captioned with loving and thankful words: Happy Husband Appreciation Day! Chris hadnt been in contact with his wife that day either and said she hadnt answered any of his calls or messages. Nichol Kessinger Is Part of 'Chris Watts: Confessions of a Killer', but She Didnt Want the Spotlight, The Incredible True Story of Kidnapping Victim Mary Stauffer Is Being Made Into a Lifetime Movie. According to Nichol, Chris told her that he and his wife were in the process of divorcing, and that she frequently bad-mouthed him in front of their daughters. We didn't just start dating yesterday! Cadle released a book about their letters titled Letters From Christopher in October 2019. Once he had murdered his entire familyand disposed of them, he set the wheels in motion for what he believed would be his new life, his fresh start. She planned to explain that she knew heneeded space, as did she, but wanted to ask what they could do to mend their marriage. Chris Watts appeared on local interviews expressing how devastated he was and pleaded for his family to come home. eventAction: 'click_adunit' As Flater and Nicoletti watched the interview, they immediately saw something that is very unusual for a man coming to the realization that his wife and two girls are gone. He also received 12 years for tampering with the bodies of each victim.". While Googling romance advice isn't necessarily bizarre in and of itself, the fact that Chris Watts was searching for dating tips while married to Shanann Watts is troubling. They are used to being lied to. window.googletag.pubads().addEventListener('slotOnload', function(event) { But it's unknown whether the family still had money issues in 2018 when the killings occurred and if that was a factor in Watts' motive. OK, it's up. I freaked out.. WebChris Watts was in an abusive marriage with Shanann who often humiliated him, claims Chris Watts: Confessions of a Killer. That is one evil man.. If you dont know, he has sadly confessed to the killing When Shanann Watts was killed on Aug. 13, 2018, she'd just returned from a business trip in the early hours of the morning. No sense in both of us going out there lol. }); Just days before Christopher Watts was sentenced to life in prison for murdering his pregnant wife and two daughters, his parents claimed he was actually the one being abused in the relationship. Chris Watts had spent the weekend with their daughters, Celeste and Bella, and according to him, they'd had a rather normal time together at home. He deserves a life sentence for each and every act on top of one another, Mr. Rourke said. I don't know who he is." On August 14, 2018, Chris Watts paced his neighbor Nathaniel Trinastich's living room in agitation. I kept looking at my phone all night and no response from you. Christopher worked as an operator for Anadarko Petroleum and although Shananns new job saw her traveling more than she used to, the family looked as happy as ever. #ChrisWatts #ShannanWatts #PsychicMedium, A post shared by Shavonda Tate (@shavondaspsychicreadings) on Dec 27, 2019 at 1:25pm PST. Later that day a friend of the family contacted Christopher and expressed concern that Shanann had failed to answer any of their calls and messages. One of the unanswered questions in the Watts family murders that has kept true crime nuts obsessed with the case is the involvement of Nichol Kessinger, a geologist in the environmental department of the oil company for which Watts worked. WebThese unseen confession tapes show the moment Chris Watts explains why he put the bodies of his family in oil tanks. eventCategory: event.slot.getSlotElementId(), Roll credits.But that would be boring, wouldnt it? Along with Trinastich and officers of the Frederick, Colorado, police department, Watts watched himself on the TV screen loading large, bulky packages into his pickup truck. He was charged with multiple counts of murder, tampering with a body and the unlawful termination of a pregnancy. I love you so much and so grateful you hung around when I tried pushing you away in the beginning! she wrote under one of the pictures. April 21st, 2020 Denison, Texas. }); Shanann, Bella, Celeste, if youre out there, just come back, Mr. Watts said, staring into the camera. At this juncture, Chris was already having an affair with his mistress Nichol Kessinger and is mentally weighing his relationships with both women in his life. It was already late, and Chris had to leave for work around 5am, but the pair continued having what Christopher described as an emotional conversation until it was time for him to leave. Nobody had any idea what Chris had done only hours before showing up to work. Chris Watts' case is pretty much infamous at this point, after he pleaded guilty to the murders of his pregnant wife, Shanann Watts, and their two daughters, 4-year-old Bella and 3-year-old Celeste. "When I came home and then walked in the house, nothing. He looks like he's trying to cover his tracks.". Even when detectives showed Watts several family pictures, there was no emotional response. That is, until Watts finally confessed. Chris Watts is incarcerated at the maximum-security Dodge Correctional Institution in Waupun, Wisconsin. However, the fact that she Googled Frey's net worth and book deal might also suggest that she may have been hoping to capitalize on her situation. A triple homicide is a very aggressive act, and in this case, the aggression is mixed with sadism. He also confessed that he had poisoned his wife with the painkiller Oxycodone, hoping to cause her to miscarry. Chris spends his days in prison communicating with his many pen pals. In a disturbing prison letter obtained by The Daily Mail, Chris went into more detail about how and why he committed this heinous crime. As well as Googling wedding dresses and the name of Chris Watts' wife, Nichol Kessinger also searched online for Amber Frey, the infamous mistress in another murder case. But what has them so enthralled? ", According to Genius, the lyrics include lines like, "Smashing through the boundaries, lunacy has found me / Cannot stop the battery / Pounding out aggression, turns into obsession / Cannot kill the battery / Cannot kill the family, battery is found in me. As investigators wrote in the official case documents, Chris' co-worker revealed "that no one really likes going out there to Cervi as it is so far," but they "did not know the last time [Chris Watts] may have been out to Cervi Ranch. Since Chris Watts was arrested for the murders of his wife, Shannan Watts, two daughters, Bella and Celeste, and their unborn child, other people have come forward to claim that they were romantically involved with him. After that, he said, he strangled his wife. Listen and Subscribe to The Generation Why Podcast! ", On Aug. 15, 2018, less than a week after his wife and daughters disappeared, Chris Watts failed a polygraph test. Hes a wealthy beauty entrepreneur with his own range of toiletries.Girl meets boy. Mr. Wattss arrest the day before the grisly announcement put an end to the nearly three-day search across Frederick, a small town about 30 miles north of Denver. Shanann was buried in a shallow grave, while Bella and Celeste were left submerged inside two oil tanks at the site. At around 8 a.m. on Aug. 13, 2018, he was filmed "picking up a sandwich and chatting with the cashier." Empathy is something victims lack, and a lot of crime podcasts lack the anger towards predators. As reported by The Denver Post, Chris reportedly told Kessinger that "he was separated and at the end of divorce proceedings," with his mistress saying that she "believed" she was dating a soon-to-be divorced man with which there would be nothing wrong. His demeanor never changed. It is thought the tanks of gas were used in an attempt to disguise the odor of decay. Many people have watched the Netflix documentary,American Murder: The Family Next Door, which pieces together the events leading up to the murders of Shanann Watts, her two daughters, and unborn son. Searches of her phone revealed that she had been chatting with a close friend about their relationship troubles and had drafted out what she wanted to say to Christopher over text. While one can say their judgment was clouded owing to their relationship with Chris, was there an element of emotional abuse on Shanann's part that contributed to the horrific killings? Feelings of my love for her was overcoming me. The answer is yes. Which leads us into the interrogation room at the Weld County Sheriffs office and the unraveling of a killers account. Vilifying Shanann. Furthermore, he thinks Kessinger actually cares for his wants and desires and is a far cry from the dominating nature of his wife Shanann. At the time, Watts was having an affair with girlfriend Nichol Kessinger. Shanann appears to display some signs of narcissism when she disregards what Chris wants to eat and proceeds to order for both of them. Join Wondery+ for exclusives, binges, early access, and ad free listening. Investigators discovered a plethora of hidden photos and messages in the app on Chris' phone, and they noted in the discovery documents, "I'm certain Watts communicated far more with Kessinger than is reflected in his phone data, perhaps facilitated through the Secret Calculator application. Chris Watts and Shanann Watts at their wedding. "He was in sports from when he was five until 17 years old," his mom said. I couldn't do anything right. But he did give some clues following their murders: He did reveal more about his motive to Cheryln Cadle, a woman he began corresponding with while in prison. He said he then murdered Shanann and disposed of all three bodies. He allegedly confessed to police that he was responsible for the slaying of his family. Why can Chris Watts show strong emotion for himself but not for others? They never would come home. As reported by theDaily Mail, surveillance footage of Chris was captured at a convenience store on the morning of the murders. While Shanann tried to bring them closer together, Chris was making plans to distance himself as far away from his wife and their problems as he could get. The 2018 murders of Shanann Watts and her two young daughters in Colorado are the subject of a new Netflix documentary. Watts initially told authorities he killed his pregnant wife "in a rage" after discovering she had strangled their two daughters to death. The Generation Why Podcast Blog Christopher Watts Charged with the Murder of his Wife and Children April 02, 2022 On the 13 th of august, 2018, 34 year old I barely knew him.". Her daughters were also missing and she had neglected to take any important items with her such as her purse, cellphone and medication. Her friend responded, "What do you mean? He avoided an honest conversation with his wife for weeks in favor of pursuing his secret affair but Shanann wasnt easily fooled, deep down she knew. That made the act that much worse knowing I went to their rooms first and knowing I still took their lives at the location of the batteries.". Her final Instagram post was one of joy and happiness: You know what I love about waking up everydayIts a brand new day to have a fresh start, to be better than I was yesterday, To help someone feel better and happier, to make someone smile and laugh! she wrote. Shanann booked a trip to Aspen which the couple were due to take just a few days after she went missing. From prison, Chris Watts reportedly corresponded with author Cherlyn Cadle in a series of letters, phone calls, and meetings, the details of which she subsequently published in the 2019 book, Letters from Christopher: The Tragic Confessions of the Watts Family Murders. But none of those descriptions really explain what led him to commit murder. He then said that he killed her in response to her killing their daughters. He was charged with the murder of his wife and children, and according to an affidavit released on August 21st, admitted to killing them in a rage after he said he witnessed his wife suffocating his kids. He then admitted to taking their bodies to a remote oil storage site belonging to his former employer. ", According to the author, Chris also revealed, "The darkness inside of me had won, it was still in me, though, I thought maybe permanently. "He has changed. He was normal, he didn't have a temper, he was just easy-going like his Dad. 21-year-old Polish national, Julia Faustyna, claims to be Madeleine McCann- the story so far, CCTV Footage from New Jersey Gas Station Shows Woman Escaping Alleged Captor, Two men arrested in connection with the 1975 murder of Indiana teenager Laurel Jean Mitchell. Mr. Watts continued to interview with local news reporters appealing to the public or information pertaining to the whereabouts of his pregnant wife andtwo young daughters. One of the reasons, then, that some people speculated that Chris' mistress, Nichol Kessinger, might have allegedly been involved in the murders was because of a mysterious text she reportedly sent him soon after the killings had taken place. The four of them were constantly smiling in pictures and Shanann often wrote out long captions about how much she loved her husband and kids and how happy they were to have a new baby on the way. Chris had every right to walk out of that room at any moment so we were trying to appease Chris, if you will. hitType: 'event', if(document.querySelector("#google_image_div")){ Disclaimer : The views expressed in this article belong to the writer and are not necessarily shared by MEAWW. He was caught. Once again, no one was buying the story. Well its desperation, Flater explained. I just listened to the Brock Turner case, which is what inspired me to write this review. It made me feel dirty.". My kids are my life. Police were sure it was the 34 year old mother and later tests proved it indeed was. No joke. Although Watts worked for Anadarko Petroleum and Shanann sold products for the multi-level marketing company, Le-vel, they filed for bankruptcy in 2015. That same evening Mr. Watts had been chatting with a co-worker via text message, where he revealed that the next morning that he planned to drive to one of the many oil plants owned by the oil company that they worked for. Under the agreement, Mr. Watts agreed to serve consecutive life sentences for each of the three deaths. According to Film Daily, the Watts family murders have been the subject of quite a few true crime documentaries, television shows, podcasts, YouTube specials, and more. He then did the same to Bella. https://www.distractify.com/p/why-did-chris-watts-kill-his-family Thousands of documents pertaining to Watts' family's annihilation were released after the murder investigations were concluded. In his first confession, he claimed that he was having an affair and had asked Shanann for a separation. Its understandable, the couple were burdened with financial problems like late mortgage payments, maxed out credit cards and unpaid debt. However, he admitted in the letter that he had been plotting the murders for some time. As Insider reported in December 2018, Shanann's mother, Sandra Rzucek, told 20/20 that Watts didn't seem worried in the slightest when his wife and kids were first reported missing. He was funny. Then the tears poured like rain. Nothing was here. }); While Chris Watts initially denied murdering his pregnant wife, Shanann Watts, and their children, it later transpired that he'd revealed to a coworker his plans to visit the remote oil field in Frederick, Colo., where their bodies were found. Shanann used to work at a childrens hospital as a phone operator, but had recently secured a much more glamorous position at a health and wellness company called Le-Vel. We are one of the worlds fastest growing That is until she meets: Dean. She and her husband, Christopher Watts, got into an argument while their two daughters, Bella, 4 and Celeste, 3, were sleeping upstairs. I couldnt imagine a better man for us. "Thats kind of keeping it together and hes trying to maintain control. I barely knew him. Ultimately, it's impossible to have all the answers as to why Watts killed his wife and children. Bella's eyes were bruised and both girls looked like they had been through trauma. Vanished. No tears when hes talking about killing the girls. You Work so hard everyday to provide for us. According to ABC News, Shanann's mother, Sandra Rzucek, was aware of the change in her son-in-law and revealed on 20/20 that "her daughter had told her that the transformation happened over the course of 'a few weeks, maybe a month.'". eventCategory: event.slot.getSlotElementId(), Bella fought back for her life, he said, adding that she had bitten her tongue several times before she died. December 30, 1999. Though Mr. Watts initially insisted that he had not killed his children, he said he had dumped their bodies in oil tanks and had buried his wife nearby. Then a fidgety Watts scurries out of the house, and Trinastich tells the officers he's got a funny feeling about his neighbor's behavior. In the Netflix documentary, Shanann's texts to with Chris and friends revealed more about their crumbling relationship. Copyright 2023 Apple Inc. All rights reserved. Dont forget to follow Generation Why on FB [X] , Instagram [X] and Twitter [X]. As The Denver Post, with whom Kessinger gave her only press interview, later reported, "Kessinger was working in the environmental department with an Anadarko Petroleum contractor when the two met One day in the middle of June [2018], he walked into her office to introduce himself." The murder of the Watts family quickly received national attention with Chris at the center of a murder investigation. It would seem that Chris' behavior toward Shanann became noticeably different, as she told her friend via text, "l told him last [night], I don't feel safe with him after what he said about the baby. If you know anything about Chris Watts, you might be scrambling for an explanation. On Aug. 13, 2018, Mr. Wattss wife, Shanann Watts, 34, who was 15 weeks pregnant, and the couples young daughters were reported missing. The story he told me that night, I believed it: The way he looked at me, the way he was crying, I believed it." Copyright 2023 Distractify. OK, it's up. There was a mini pool at the birthday party and his girls 'had an epic time.' Laci was eight months pregnant when she disappeared on Christmas Eve in 2002, and it wasn't until April 2003 that the bodies of Laci and her unborn child were found. It was important that each of those beautiful human beings be reflected in the ultimate sentence that will be imposed.. Im getting caught so I gotta come up with something. Chris Watts took a plea deal to avoid the death penalty after pleading guilty to the murders including that of his unborn child. Sadism, in not so many words, is revenge for humiliation by taking pleasure inflicting pain onto the humiliator. One day after killing his pregnant wife and two daughters, Christopher Watts gave a TV interview from his porch in Frederick, Colo., begging them to come home. ", After failing the test, Chris confessed to a version of the truth, which included him alleging that he'd only murdered his wife, Shanann Watts, after she supposedly smothered their two daughters. Why Did Chris Watts Kill His Wife And Daughters? According to the discovery documents compiled by investigators, data from Kessinger's phone showed that she'd Googled Shanann Watts' name the year before she started an affair with Chris, on Sept. 1, 2017. Thank you listeners! ", "I try to give you space, but while you are working and living the bachelor life I'm carrying our 3rd and fighting with two kids daily and trying to work and make money," she continued in another text. Shanann Watts' Friend Not Surprised Chris Watts Killed Fami We have a lot to offer you for just $5 a month! document.querySelector("#ads").addEventListener('click',function(){ Speaking with theDaily Mail, Cadle claimed that Chris had told her, "If I had not met Nikki, I would never have killed my family. media-tech companies with hubs around the world. When the investigators asked Chris if he was hoping to speak to Kessinger one day, he replied, "Maybe once just to say, I'm sorry this all happened." "There's not one person you can talk to that will say anything about this kid. }); }); ", On Feb. 18, 2019, Chris Watts sat down for a five-hour interview with the Frederick Police Department, the Colorado Bureau of Investigation, and the FBI the audio of which was released to the public. Per ABC News, Frey helped convict Scott Peterson of the murder of his wife, Laci Peterson, and their unborn son. The following day no one could get into contact with Shanann and she was quickly reported missing. Nicoletti believes the questions about motive and possible mental illness will never be fully answered. As she said in the Denver Post interview, "We had just met. I cant stay in this house again with nobody here. Chris Watts killed his pregnant wife Shanann Watts because he wanted to pursue his fledgling romance with colleague Nichol Kessinger and also because he didn't The Reason True Crime Fans Are Obsessed With Chris Watts. Although it seemed as though Shanann had walked out with the children following an argument with her husband, not one friend or family member had been in contact with her since. He's not a monster.". According to texts, she felt like she barely knew who Chris was anymore. You spoil us with love an attention! She told a coworker she was headed to meet her estranged husband, Charles Warren, at a car dealership. The documentarys director, Jenny Popplewell, said in an interview with Netflix that she wanted people to watch the film to understand how the narratives of the case shifted. The location he was referring to turned out to be the place he had decided to dump the bodies of his family once he had murdered them. Distractify is a registered trademark.
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