He played the worried father on camera, begging for his family's safe return. He already knew where they were.
Chris Watts murdered his pregnant wife, Shanann, and their two young daughters, Bella and Celeste, at their home in Frederick, Colorado, in August 2018. The case became one of the most widely followed true-crime stories in recent years, notably through the 2020 Netflix documentary "American Murder: The Family Next Door."
A Family Reported Missing
On August 13, 2018, Shanann returned home from a business trip. When a friend, Nickole Atkinson, couldn't reach her later that day and Shanann missed a scheduled appointment, Atkinson grew concerned and contacted both Chris and the police. Officers found no immediate signs of foul play at the home that afternoon, though Shanann's car and personal belongings were still there. By the next day, Shanann and the girls were officially classified as missing, and Colorado authorities issued endangered missing person alerts.
A Public Appeal, and a Private Truth
Chris appeared on camera pleading for his family's safe return, giving no indication of what had actually happened. Two days later, he confessed to killing Shanann, initially claiming he'd done it in a rage after discovering she had already killed their daughters. Investigators didn't believe this account. The next day, the girls' bodies were found in oil tanks at the worksite where Chris was employed, and Shanann's body was discovered nearby in a shallow grave.
The Full Confession
After failing a polygraph test, Chris gave a fuller account to investigators, later made public in 2019: he told Shanann he no longer loved her and wanted a separation; when she threatened to leave and take the children, he strangled her. He then drove her body to his job site with his daughters still alive in the vehicle before smothering each of them separately. Investigators determined the underlying motive was an affair with a coworker, Nichol Kessinger, whom he had hoped to build a new life with.
Guilty Plea and Sentencing
In November 2018, facing overwhelming physical evidence, Chris pleaded guilty to all charges, including three counts of first-degree murder, in exchange for prosecutors agreeing not to seek the death penalty — a decision made with the approval of Shanann's family. He was sentenced to five consecutive life terms without the possibility of parole.
Where Chris Watts Is Now
For his own safety, Watts was transferred out of Colorado in December 2018 to the Dodge Correctional Institution, a maximum-security facility in Waupun, Wisconsin, where he remains incarcerated. He has continued corresponding with people outside prison over the years, including letters in which he's described finding religious faith and claimed to feel forgiven for the murders — statements that have drawn public criticism given the nature of his crimes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Chris Watts still in prison?
Yes. He's serving five consecutive life sentences without parole at a maximum-security prison in Wisconsin.
Why did Chris Watts kill his family?
Investigators determined his motive was to be with a coworker he was having an affair with, after his wife refused to agree to a separation.
Was Chris Watts ever eligible for the death penalty?
Prosecutors agreed not to seek it in exchange for his guilty plea, with the approval of Shanann Watts's family.