The Watts Family Homicides

Background -

Chris and Shan'ann Watts were natives of Spring Lake and Aberdeen, North Carolina, they were married for six years and had two daughters together, Bella Marie Watts and Celeste Cathryn Watts. The family lived in a five-bedroom home in Fredrick, Colorado, purchased in 2013; the couple declared bankruptcy in 2015. Chris was employed by Anadarko Petroleum, while Shan'ann was an independent representative for the multi-level marketing company "Level", selling a product called "Thrive". At the time of her death, she was 15-weeks pregnant with a son, who they planned to name Niko Lee Watts.

Disappearance -

Shan'ann returned home from a business trip to Arizona, at about 1:48am on August 13, 2018, having received a ride from a friend and colleague Nickole Atkinson. Chris was home with the children.

Later that day, Shan'ann and the two children were reported missing by Atkinson, who had become worried when Shan'ann missed a scheduled OB-GYN appointment and failed to return phone calls and text messages. After Shan'ann missed a business meeting, Atkinson went to the Watts' home at approximately 12:10pm. When the doorbell went unanswered, Atkinson notified Chris, and called the Fredrick Police Department. Officers arrived to the home to do a welfare check at about 1:40pm. Chris, who had been at work, talked with the officers and discussed ways to locate his missing family. During the welfare check, Chris had also given the police permission to search the home, which was empty. Police discovered Shan'ann's purse, phone, wedding ring and keys inside; her car and the children's car seats were also at the home.

The FBI and the Colorado Bureau of Investigation joined the investigation the next day, August 14. Chris gave an interview to Denver station KMGH-TV outside him home, pleading for his family's return. Investigators with cadaver and search dogs can be seen on the property during the interview.

Arrest and Charges -

Chris Watts was arrested late on August 15, 2018. According to the arrest affidavit, Chris failed a polygraph test and subsequently confessed to murdering Shan'ann. Chris asked to speak the his father prior to his confession. According to the affidavit, Chris was having an affair and claimed to have asked his wife for a separation. During the investigation, Chris claimed that Shan'ann had strangled Bella and Celeste in response to his request, and in a fit of rage, he strangled her and then transported the three bodies to a remote oil-storage site where he worked.

The bodies of Shan'ann, Bella and Celeste were found by authorities on August 16, 2018, the day after Chris had been arrested. Bella and Celeste's remains were found hidden in two oil tanks. Shan'ann had been buried in a shallow grave nearby.

On August 21, Chris Watts was charged with five counts of first-degree murder, including an additional count per child cited as "death of a child who had not yet attained 12 year of age and the defendant had been in a position of trust"; unlawful termination of a pregnancy, and three counts of tampering with a deceased human body.

In an interview with Dr.Phil, Watts' lawyer claimed that Chris had since confessed to killing Shan'ann after an argument regarding separation. During this murder, Bella walked in. Chris then told Bella that her mother was sick and that they needed to take her to the hospital. He then loaded Shan'ann's body into the bed of his truck, and the girls, without their carseats, into the backseat. Once at the oil field, 45-minutes from the family home, he smothered both children, reportedly with their favorite blankets.

Plea Deal and Sentencing -

Chris Watts pleaded guilty on November 6, 2018. The death penalty was not put forward by the district attorney on the request of Shan'ann's family, who didn't want any further deaths. They were supportive of the decision to accept the plea deal.

On November 19, 2018, Chris Watts was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

On December 3, 2018, Chris was moved to a different prison due to security concerns.

On December 5, 2018, Chris arrived at the Dodge Correctional Institution, a maximum-security prison, in Waupun, Wisconsin, to server the rest of his life sentence.

Aftermath -

The funerals for Shan'ann, Bella, Celeste and Niko were held in Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Pinehurst, North Carolina.

Shan'ann, Bella, Celeste and Niko share a plot and head stone at Bethesda Cemetery in Aberdeen, North Carolina.

Many of the stuffed animals left at the memorial outside of the family home were repurposed by the local fire and police departments for young children in crisis situations.

Autopsy Reports -

https://crimerocket.com/2018/11/19/shanann-bella-and-celeste-watts-25-page-autopsy-report/

Photos -