Watts family homicides

Shanann Watts and her two young children were killed on the night of August 12–13, 2018, allegedly in their home in Frederick, Colorado. Chris Watts, Shanann's husband and the father of the children, was charged in the killings.

Background

Shanann and Chris Watts were an American married couple in their thirties. They had been married for six years and had two daughters, ages three and four. The family lived in a five-bedroom home in Frederick, Colorado, which Shanann and Chris Watts had purchased in 2013. The couple had previously declared bankruptcy in 2015. The husband was employed by Anadarko Petroleum an oil-and-gas company, while Shanann was an independent representative for the multi-level marketing company Le-vel. She was 15 weeks pregnant at the time of her death.[1] [2]

Disappearance

Shanann Watts just returned home from a business-related trip, arriving at around 2 in the morning on August 13, 2018, while the husband was staying home with the children. Shanann and the two children were reported missing later that day by Shanann's friend and colleague, Nickole Utoft. Nikole had dropped Shanann off the night before from the airport and became concerned that she had missed her doctor's appointment, due to her pregnancy, scheduled for August 13th at 10 a.m. and was not returning text messages. At approximately 12:10pm Nickole went to the Watt's home after Shanann had also missed a business meeting.[3][4]

Once at the home, Nickole's knocks on the door and doorbell rings went unanswered. She immediately notified the husband and the Frederick Police Department who arrived, to conduct a welfare check around 1:40 p.m.[5] Chris Watts gave the police permission to search the house, which was empty. The police discovered Shanann's purse, phone, and keys inside; Shanann's car and the children's car seats were also at the house.[6]

The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Colorado Bureau of Investigation joined the case the next day, on August 14. On the same day, Chris Watts gave an interview to a local TV station outside his house pleading for his family's return. Investigators with cadaver dogs could be seen on the property during the interview.[7][8]

Arrest and charges

Chris Watts was arrested late on August 15, 2018. According to the arrest affidavit, he confessed to strangling his wife and to disposing of the three bodies. They were located by the authorities on the property of Watt's former employer. (He had been fired from his job on August 15.) The children's bodies were found in an oil tank, while Shanann was buried in a shallow grave nearby. According to the affidavit, Chris Watts was having an affair and he claimed to have had asked for a separation from his wife. On August 21, he was charged with multiple counts of first-degree murder, as well as an unlawful termination of pregnancy and three counts of tampering with a deceased human body. Chris Watts was denied bond; his next court appearance was scheduled for November 2018.[9]

The case has been connected in the media to the crime of "family annihilation". According to research, people responsible for killing their families tend to be white males in their 30s. Most of these crimes occur in August, before school starts, which may delay detection and investigation.[10]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Sady Swanson (23 August 2018). "Christopher Watts and Shanann Watts: Their friends saw a 'perfect' family. What happened?". Coloradoan. USA Today Network. Retrieved 25 September 2018.
  2. ↑ Kathleen Foody; Jonathan Drew (17 August 2018). "Colorado man arrested as hunt for family leads to body of pregnant wife, possible remains of young daughters". National Post. FREDERICK, Colo.: Postmedia Network Inc. Retrieved 25 September 2018.
  3. ↑ Annelene Oberholzer (17 August 2018). "Man arrested for killing his pregnant wife and daughters, days after pleading for their return". News24. Retrieved 25 September 2018.
  4. ↑ Amelia McDonell-Parry (21 August 2018). "Colorado Man Claims He Killed Pregnant Wife After She Strangled Their Daughters". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 25 September 2018.
  5. ↑ "Chris Watts case: Everything to know so far about the alleged murders of his wife, daughters". Meredith Digital Staff. FREDERICK, Co: WGCL-TV | CBS 46. 17 August 2018. Retrieved 25 September 2018.
  6. ↑ Sady Swanson (21 August 2018). "Timeline: Key dates in investigation of deaths of Shanann Watts, 2 daughters in Colorado". Coloradoan. USA Today Network. Retrieved 25 September 2018.
  7. ↑ Rob Low (17 August 2018). "The scent of death: Police dogs and the Chris Watts investigation". FOX31 Denver. FREDERICK, Colo.: FOX31 Denver KDVR-TV.
  8. ↑ Blair Miller (21 August 2018). "Chris Watts murder case: Everything we know so far about the deaths of his wife, daughters". 7NEWS. FREDERICK, Colo.: Scripps TV Station Group.
  9. ↑ Madison Park (20 August 2018). "Chris Watts case: What we learned from unsealed affidavit". CNN. Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. Cable News Network.
  10. ↑ Emily Shapiro (21 August 2018). "When people kill close relatives: Explaining 'family annihilators'". ABC News. ABC News Internet Ventures.
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