Photo courtesy of Weld County Sheriff’s Dept.
Chris Watts seemed like a normal family man living the American dream. But in August 2018, that dream turned into a nightmare no one saw coming. His story is one of lies, betrayal, and unthinkable violence. And even today, years later, people still can’t stop talking about the man who destroyed his own family.
Life Before the Murders
Chris and Shanann Watts lived in Frederick, Colorado, with their two little girls—Bella and Celeste. At the time, Shanann was also pregnant with their third child, a boy they planned to name Nico. From the outside looking in, they had it all. A nice house in a quiet neighborhood, a cute dog, and lots of family pictures on Facebook.
Shanann was outgoing and active on social media. She shared updates on her health journey, her kids, and her love for Chris. She worked from home and seemed happy, or at least determined to be.
Chris, on the other hand, was quiet and kept to himself. He worked as an operator for an oil company. People described him as shy, polite, and helpful—but maybe a little dull. No one thought he was capable of violence. Not even close.
But behind the scenes, things were falling apart.
Cracks Begin to Show
Shanann had recently returned from a business trip in Arizona. She’d been feeling off about her marriage for a while. Chris had grown distant. He stopped being affectionate and started losing weight and working out constantly.
What Shanann didn’t know was that Chris was having an affair with a co-worker named Nichol Kessinger. She thought she’d met a single man, and Chris let her believe it. He told her he was separated. That was a lie.
While Shanann was home caring for their daughters and preparing for their baby boy, Chris was texting and meeting up with his girlfriend. And with every lie he told, the situation got darker.
The Night Everything Changed
On August 13, 2018, Shanann returned home from her work trip around 2 a.m. Her friend Nickole had dropped her off and expected to hear from her later that morning. But Shanann missed a doctor’s appointment and wasn’t answering calls or texts.
Nickole grew worried and called the police for a wellness check. Officers arrived at the Watts home later that day. Chris acted confused and concerned. He let the cops search the house. Shanann’s purse and phone were still inside. The kids’ blankets were missing. Nothing made sense.
In a matter of hours, the story took off. News cameras showed up. Chris gave an interview pleading for his family’s return. He acted calm, too calm. People noticed. And when he failed a polygraph test, everything started to crumble.
The Truth Comes Out
Chris finally confessed, but only after a long interrogation. At first, he claimed Shanann killed the girls and he killed her in a fit of rage. That wasn’t true either.
Eventually, the full story came out. Chris strangled Shanann in their bedroom. Then, he drove with her body and the girls—still alive—to an oil site owned by his company.
There, he smothered his daughters and stuffed their tiny bodies into oil tanks. He buried Shanann in a shallow grave nearby. It was shocking. Horrifying. No one could wrap their head around it.
Why Did He Do It?
The big question was why. What would make a man kill his pregnant wife and children?
Chris later admitted that he wanted to start over. He didn’t want to be a father anymore. He wanted to be with Nichol, the woman he was cheating with. He thought killing his family was the only way out.
It sounds ridiculous—and it is—but that’s what he said. He didn’t want to deal with a messy divorce or child support. So instead of leaving, he erased everything.
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The Aftermath
The case exploded. True crime fans followed every detail. People were glued to the trial coverage, interviews, and documentaries. Chris Watts became a household name—for all the wrong reasons.
In November 2018, he took a plea deal to avoid the death penalty. He was sentenced to five life terms without the possibility of parole. He’ll never get out.
Chris is currently locked up at Dodge Correctional Institution in Wisconsin. He was moved out of Colorado for safety reasons. Other inmates didn’t take kindly to what he did.
Life in Prison
In prison, Chris has become more religious. He reads the Bible daily and says he’s found peace. Some say he’s still manipulating people—just doing it behind bars now.
He gets letters from women who are oddly obsessed with him. Some want to marry him. Others say they believe he’s innocent. It’s a strange phenomenon that happens in high-profile murder cases.
Chris spends his days in protective custody. He’s not in general population. He eats alone, showers alone, and spends most of his time in his cell.
He’s written letters to friends and family saying he regrets what he did. He claims to miss his kids and Shanann. But not everyone believes him. After all, he lied so easily and so often. Why trust him now?
What We’ve Learned
The Chris Watts case shook people to the core. It was a reminder that evil can hide behind a smile. That a family photo doesn’t tell the full story.
Shanann, Bella, Celeste, and baby Nico were real people. They had lives, dreams, and a future that was stolen from them. No explanation will ever make sense of what happened.
People still visit their graves and leave stuffed animals and flowers. They still cry for those girls and their mama. And they still wonder how a man like Chris could do something so heartless.
Final Thoughts
Chris Watts will spend the rest of his life behind bars. And that’s where he belongs. He took the lives of the people who trusted him most. His name will forever be linked to one of the most disturbing family murders in recent history.
This case sticks with you. Maybe it’s because it hit so close to home. A seemingly normal guy with a dark secret. A happy family that wasn’t so happy behind closed doors.
We may never fully understand why Chris did what he did. But we remember the victims. We say their names. And we keep telling their story.
Lisa Crow contributed to this article. She is a true crime junkie and lifestyle blogger based in Waco, Texas. Lisa is the Head of Content at Gigi’s Ramblings and Southern Bred True Crime Junkie. She spends her free time traveling when she can and making memories with her large family which consists of six children and fifteen grandchildren.
