Accused killer Chris Watts reportedly admitted he murdered his wife, but claims it happened after he found her strangling their two young daughters. Yet, a police source says there’s no evidence to suggest that the slain mother hurt her kids.
People reports that an source with a connection to the investigation indicated that while there is zero evidence that links Shan’ann to the murders of her daughters, Bella, 4; and Celeste, 3, there is evidence tied to her husband’s involvement. Watts, 33, claimed that his wife strangled their children on August 13 in their Frederick, Colorado, home after he asked her for a separation.
“There is absolutely no evidence that she killed her children,” the source told People. “None at all. And there is physical evidence to tie him to their murders. Strangulation is a very personal way to kill someone, with a lot of physical contact. Just based on the preliminary evidence, everything is consistent with him killing them all.”
Although authorities haven’t released the cause of death or motive, Watts is facing murder charges for all three victims.
“We’ve just begun our investigation in many ways,” the source continued, “but we have a lot of evidence that points straight to Chris.”
As CrimeOnline previously reported, Watts, reported to have been having an affair with a co-worker at Anadarko Petroleum Corp., gave numerous interviews to local television stations after he reported his wife missing. In each interview, he gave no indication that knew where to find Shan’ann, ho was 15-weeks pregnant, or the two little girls. He pleaded on camera, hoping for their safe return.
“When I came home and then walked in the house, nothing. Vanished. Nothing was here. My kids are my life. I mean, those smiles light up my life,” Watts told ABC Denver.
Days later, after asking to speak with his father, Watts reportedly confessed to killing his wife. Authorities found her body buried and the children’s bodies hidden in oil drums at Watts’ former place of employment.
Although the motive remains unclear, the Watts family filed jointly for a Chapter 7 bankruptcy in June 2015. According to Colorado federal court documents, the couple accumulated around $448,000 in debt. On July 12, 2018, the Wyndham Hill Master Association Inc., a homeowner’s association (HOA) sued the Watts for $1,533. They were scheduled to appear in court on August 24.
Watts remains behind bars at the Weld County Jail without bail. He’s facing numerous charges including first-degree murder, murder of a child under 12 (two counts), unlawful termination of a pregnancy (one count), and tampering with a deceased human body (three counts).
[Feature Photo: Watts Family/Handout]
