Chris Watts: Colorado man sentenced to life for murdering his pregnant wife and two daughters
Watts killed his family so he could pursue a romantic affair
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.A Colorado man was sentenced to life without parole for strangling his pregnant wife, smothering their two young daughters and dumping their bodies in an oil field so he could pursue a romantic affair.
Christopher Watts, 33, was spared the death penalty at the urging of family members of his wife Shanann, 34, who was 15 weeks pregnant, and their daughters Celeste, three, and Bella, four.
“This is perhaps the most inhumane and vicious crime I have handled,” Judge Marcelo Kopcow, who has served 17 years on the bench, said in the packed and windowless courtroom in Weld County District Court.
The girls’ maternal grandparents, who had urged the prosecution not to seek the death penalty in a deal in which Mr Watts pleaded guilty in November to the murders, spoke in court before the sentence was handed down.
“This is a heartless monster,” said Frank Rzucek, Shanann’s father, sobbing as he stood at a podium just feet away from a seated Watts, who wore an orange prison uniform, his hands cuffed in front of him. “I trusted you to take care of them, not kill them. Then you take them out like trash. You monster.”
An equally emotional statement was made in court by the girls’ paternal grandparents, the parents of the admitted killer.
“I hate what has happened,” said a sobbing Cindy Watts, gripping the podium as her son kept his head down throughout the 45-minute proceeding. “But we will remain faithful as your family. We love you and we forgive you, son.”
Mr Watts, stoic except for a brief moment when he wiped an apparently tear-streaked cheek on his shoulder, apologised for the crime through his court-appointed lawyer Kathryn Herold. But he declined to speak.
“Mr Watts asked us to share this... He is sincerely sorry for all of this,” Ms Herold told the judge.
After Shanann Watts and the two girls were reported missing in August from the family’s home in Frederick, about 30 miles (48km) north of Denver, Mr Watts went on multiple Denver television stations pleading for their safe return.
The following day, 15 August, he was arrested for their murders.
Mr Watts told detectives he was having an affair.
He murdered his victims at home, drove their bodies to an oil field, buried his wife in a shallow grave and dumped the girls in separate oil tanks.
Reuters
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments