The disturbing case of Chris Watts shocked the nation, not just for the gruesome murders of his pregnant wife Shanann and their two young daughters, Bella and Celeste, but for the chilling lack of clear motive. In a newly released prison interview, Watts finally confessed to the horrific details of the murders, offering a glimpse into the events of that fateful day but still leaving the core question unanswered: why did Chris Watts murder his family? This report delves into the confession and the known facts to explore the possible answers behind this tragic crime.
Watts’ confession on February 18th at a Wisconsin prison, detailed in a Colorado Bureau of Investigation report, marked the first time he publicly admitted to killing his daughters. He recounted the events of August 13th, revealing a calculated and brutal series of actions. According to his confession, the morning began with a conversation with Shanann about their marriage. He claimed he told her he didn’t love her and that their marriage was over, after she confronted him about suspicions of an affair – which he initially denied.
Alt text: Undated family photo of Shanann Watts smiling with her daughters Bella and Celeste, used as evidence in the Christopher Watts sentencing trial.
The situation escalated when Shanann reportedly told Watts he would never see his children again. Watts then admitted to strangling Shanann in their bed. The horror continued as their four-year-old daughter, Bella, entered the room, asking what was wrong with her mother. Watts callously wrapped Shanann’s body in a sheet and dragged her downstairs to his truck, placing her on the floorboard. Bella, witnessing the scene, began to cry, and her younger sister, Celeste, 3, also woke up.
Watts then drove his daughters, still alive, to a remote oil site in Weld County with Shanann’s body in the truck. He confessed to contemplating killing himself and his daughters during the drive. Upon arrival, he first removed Shanann’s body. In a truly heart-wrenching detail, Watts then smothered three-year-old Celeste in the backseat of the truck, and callously disposed of her body in an oil tank while Bella watched. Bella, witnessing her sister’s fate, chillingly asked, “Is the same thing gonna happen to me as Cece?” Watts then proceeded to smother Bella with a blanket, even as she fought back, before placing her body in a separate oil tank and burying Shanann nearby.
Watts claimed during the interview that he was not in control of his actions, stating, “something else” felt like it was controlling him. He described his state of mind as “the epitome of being angry, the epitome of showing rage, the epitome of losing your mind.” This confession starkly contrasts with his initial public pleas for his family’s safe return just months prior.
From Pleading Husband to Confessed Killer
In the days following Shanann and the children’s disappearance on August 13th, Watts presented a facade of a concerned and bewildered husband. He even appeared on local television, appealing for their return. However, this facade quickly crumbled as inconsistencies emerged, and Watts eventually confessed to his father that he had killed Shanann. In this initial confession to his father, Watts offered a fabricated story, claiming Shanann had killed the children after he announced he wanted a separation, and he killed Shanann in a fit of rage.
Alt text: Christopher Watts making a televised plea for the safe return of his pregnant wife Shanann and their two daughters shortly before his arrest.
However, the February 18th confession completely recanted this version of events, admitting that he had lied and that Shanann had no part in the children’s deaths. Watts stated that the idea of blaming Shanann only arose after law enforcement suggested it during an earlier interview.
Reactions and the Unfathomable Motive
Following Watts’ sentencing to multiple life sentences in November for the murders, Weld County District Attorney Michael Rourke expressed the lingering question of motive. Even Watts’ father, Ronnie Watts, voiced his incomprehension, pleading with his son to provide answers. Rourke, after being briefed on the details of the February confession, described himself as “absolutely sickened” and “horrified,” emphasizing the unimaginable cruelty of Watts’ actions, particularly towards his young daughters. Rourke poignantly questioned, “What boggles my mind and baffles me is why did he have to kill those little girls?”
Shanann’s parents, despite the unimaginable loss, expressed a degree of forgiveness. Detective Dave Baumhover relayed in the interview that they stated they still loved Watts as their son-in-law of eight years, demonstrating an extraordinary capacity for compassion in the face of such tragedy.
Affairs and a Desire for a “Fresh Start”
While Watts initially denied any affairs, he eventually admitted to a romantic relationship with a former co-worker, Nichol Kessinger. He claimed that this relationship began before he and Shanann had even discussed separation, and that he had lied to Kessinger about the state of his marriage, telling her he was already pursuing a separation. Watts mentioned Kessinger’s frustration at being “second fiddle” to Shanann, but maintained that she never asked him to harm his family.
Alt text: Image of Nichol Kessinger, Christopher Watts’ former coworker with whom he had an affair, which emerged as a detail in the murder investigation.
While the affair itself doesn’t fully explain the extreme violence, it points to a potential desire on Watts’ part for a drastic change in his life, a “fresh start” free from his existing family responsibilities. This desire, coupled with his apparent inability to face the consequences of his actions and the confrontation with Shanann, may have contributed to the horrific escalation of events.
Lingering Questions and the Search for Meaning
Despite the confession and the detailed account of the murders, the question “why did Chris Watts murder his family?” remains largely unanswered. Watts’ own explanations of feeling controlled by “something else” and experiencing extreme rage offer little in the way of a rational motive. The affair provides context for potential marital discord and a desire for a different life, but it fails to fully explain the calculated and brutal extermination of his entire family, especially the innocent young daughters.
The Chris Watts case remains a chilling example of domestic violence and filicide, leaving behind a legacy of unanswered questions and profound sorrow. While the confession provides gruesome details, the true motive behind this horrific act may forever remain shrouded in the darkness of Watts’ mind, a terrifying testament to the capacity for unimaginable violence within seemingly ordinary individuals.
Originally Published: The Denver Post
