Found Deceased CO - Shanann Watts (34), Celeste"Cece" (3) and Bella (4), Frederick, 13 Aug 2018 *Arrest* #22

[MsBetsy]

Prints would be expected on things he owned.

But not necessarily the tanks... unless he had to open the top as part of his job.

 

[Mo Thuairim]

Ok, then in addition to this: As stated on SW social media, she announces that CW wants another child or they are trying to get pregnant(link?) Even with her open-book policy on social media, this seems like a highly private/TMI piece of information for a woman to share publicly, especially when she would be considered a high risk pregnancy. And supposedly, she magically conceives days later? (One of our WS members did the math.) I’ve questioned SW finding out the gender pre-15 weeks which is usually too early for sonograms. (Do you know if she had an amniocentesis?) Is it possible she was already pregnant when she publicly announced they were “trying” again? If so, that leads to another can of worms.

I'm not aware of a SM announcement that they were trying for a baby (there may have been one but I just haven't seen it).
She announced the pregnancy on June 11 (link below).
Shanann Watts
The SM indication that they had been trying and that it may have been CW's idea came on Father's Day (June 17 in the US, I think; referred to in HuffPo article below).
Frederick, Colorado, Man Confesses To Killing Pregnant Wife, 2 Daughters: Reports | HuffPost

 

[MassGuy]

But not necessarily the tanks... unless he had to open the top as part of his job.

Exactly. The DA wants these prints for a reason, and we can only guess as to precisely why they will be relevant.

 

[cottonweaver]

Sorry you had to endure that, but he must be very charismatic. As SW would put it, "he had game."

That's the full Compendium Of Games.

 

[Thepoet]

And put them into different temperatures and environments so they don't have comprable degradation rates to determine time of death as a side-by-side comparison?

Now that's a very interesting point! Thanks.

 

[Bill Carson]

I have a question for any of the legal eagles. Does CW's confession cause a problem for his attorneys? I'm assuming, from all that I've read, that he wasn't represented when he made the confession. He only spoke with his Dad and his Dad is not an attorney. So, does the confession cause a problem and, if so, how much? Thanks.

Yes, his confession may provide enough evidence against him for the deaths of SW and the unborn infant that it makes it difficult for the defense to win much of a victory, even if the defense proves he is right about SW killing the kids. (Which is unlikely.)

So if his story changes or the strategy changes, they have to explain the change.

The defense also has to fight against the doubt that the confession sows into his defense. The state can use the confession as Exhibit 1, and can talk about it during opening statements. ("The evidence will show that CW CONFESSED to killing SW and dumping the bodies in oil. Dirty, slimy, smelly CRUDE OIL!")

Whereas, if he had not made any confession, then the State wouldn't be able to use his words from the confession against him.

The only good thing about the confession, ISTM, is that it paints another side of the story for people to consider, and if true, and if he was shown to be acting in reasonable defense of the children (which is nigh impossible taking the affidavit at face value), then it could be a successful defense.

Keep in mind that CW may have made a much longer confession, with many more details, either orally or in writing, and the affidavit only summarizes what CW said.

 

[sun16]

You, or I, or anyone here can publish a self written ebook on Amazon. In fact, just go to Amazon and search for how to publish a self written ebook on Amazon. lol. But it could be a worthwhile book for people to read about what's known so far in the case, people who don't have time to follow crime boards, for instance.

Buy it and see!

 

[cottonweaver]

I'm not aware of a SM announcement that they were trying for a baby (there may have been one but I just haven't seen it).
She announced the pregnancy on June 11 (link below).
Shanann Watts
The SM indication that they had been trying and that it may have been CW's idea came on Father's Day (June 17 in the US, I think; referred to in HuffPo article below).
Frederick, Colorado, Man Confesses To Killing Pregnant Wife, 2 Daughters: Reports | HuffPost

All I can find is the may 7th conversation, if you go there. It's not an announcement but a discussion

 

[Thepoet]

But not necessarily the tanks... unless he had to open the top as part of his job.

He already confessed he put the girls in the tanks. So his prints would be there unless he wore gloves. But, so what?

 

[NuttMegg]

And put them into different temperatures and environments so they don't have comprable degradation rates to determine time of death as a side-by-side comparison?

Is it known that the 2 tanks had different temps? I think it was posted here that they are "unheated", but they would have a heat all of their own, or the product would be very thick, I'd guess. Crude is pretty warmed up when being transported through pipelines, IIRC. Somewhere else it said they were under "ambient pressure". I don't know, I still wonder why he put them in different tanks, could be 1) setting off sensors with too much displacement of oil, ie rise in oil level, 2) knowing that after they slowly decompose (?) they will be less likely to clog filters in 2 different tanks. Has anyone heard whether or not he had any kind of line on them to possibly yank them out for reburial when things calmed down. ie tied to the stairs? (no I haven't heard that, just wondering)

 

[MassGuy]

Yes, his confession may provide enough evidence against him for the deaths of SW and the unborn infant that it makes it difficult for the defense to win much of a victory, even if the defense proves he is right about SW killing the kids. (Which is unlikely.)

So if his story changes or the strategy changes, they have to explain the change.

The defense also has to fight against the doubt that the confession sows into his defense. The state can use the confession as Exhibit 1, and can talk about it during opening statements. ("The evidence will show that CW CONFESSED to killing SW and dumping the bodies in oil. Dirty, slimy, smelly CRUDE OIL!")

Whereas, if he had not made any confession, then the State wouldn't be able to use his words from the confession against him.

The only good thing about the confession, ISTM, is that it paints another side of the story for people to consider, and if true, and if he was shown to be acting in reasonable defense of the children (which is nigh impossible taking the affidavit at face value), then it could be a successful defense.

Keep in mind that CW may have made a much longer confession, with many more details, either orally or in writing, and the affidavit only summarizes what CW said.

Your last point is key for me here. You could potentially have hours of lies captured on tape. We’d see him deny knowing where his family was, then ultimately pointing out exactly where he put them, after being confronted with the drone images of that bedsheet, and what appeared to be disturbed earth. A jury will likely not respond well to this.

 

[NuttMegg]

Buy it and see!

It's cheap and just over 100 pages, IIRC but I have plenty of stuff on my kindle to read. I can't believe the author knows more than the most knowledgeable people here.

 

[Allabouttrial]

And especially since he made that statement years earlier about his not believing having a child will strengthen a relationship! ( during presentation at community college)

That presentation has been misquoted. He was saying research suggests that a relationship can be held together by necessity, for e.g. if you already have children they can help repair a relationship. He did not disagree with that. What he did disagree with was an author he cited saying it's usually the more good looking partner who ends a relationship.

 

[Coolmomof4]

That's the full Compendium Of Games.

Um yes. He was a very charming charismatic person w/game. He was also a total fake.

 

[Thepoet]

Yes, his confession may provide enough evidence against him for the deaths of SW and the unborn infant that it makes it difficult for the defense to win much of a victory, even if the defense proves he is right about SW killing the kids. (Which is unlikely.)

So if his story changes or the strategy changes, they have to explain the change.

The defense also has to fight against the doubt that the confession sows into his defense. The state can use the confession as Exhibit 1, and can talk about it during opening statements. ("The evidence will show that CW CONFESSED to killing SW and dumping the bodies in oil. Dirty, slimy, smelly CRUDE OIL!")

Whereas, if he had not made any confession, then the State wouldn't be able to use his words from the confession against him.

The only good thing about the confession, ISTM, is that it paints another side of the story for people to consider, and if true, and if he was shown to be acting in reasonable defense of the children (which is nigh impossible taking the affidavit at face value), then it could be a successful defense.

Keep in mind that CW may have made a much longer confession, with many more details, either orally or in writing, and the affidavit only summarizes what CW said.

Excellent explanation. Thanks so much. It is as I hoped. I guess now we wait and see. Thanks again.

 

[dixiegirl1035]

Is it known that the 2 tanks had different temps? I think it was posted here that they are "unheated", but they would have a heat all of their own, or the product would be very thick, I'd guess. Crude is pretty warmed up when being transported through pipelines, IIRC. Somewhere else it said they were under "ambient pressure". I don't know, I still wonder why he put them in different tanks, could be 1) setting off sensors with too much displacement of oil, ie rise in oil level, 2) knowing that after they slowly decompose (?) they will be less likely to clog filters in 2 different tanks. Has anyone heard whether or not he had any kind of line on them to possibly yank them out for reburial when things calmed down. ie tied to the stairs? (no I haven't heard that, just wondering)

I was referring to the different environments of the oil versus being buried in the ground.

 

[MassGuy]

It's cheap and just over 100 pages, IIRC but I have plenty of stuff on my kindle to read. I can't believe the author knows more than the most knowledgeable people here.

I have Kindle Unlimited and it’s free, so I’ll check it out. I am very skeptical of it being a worthy read but I’ll check it out tonight and report back.

 

[Ilovemy3boys]

I too am in this boat. I need more information. I HATE labels because we are all different. The biggy for me is that if we are going to take someones liberty (or life) away from them, then we need to be absolutely certain. I just do not have enough information at the moment to condemn anyone. I am forever haunted by a UK case, Sally Clarke (RIP)- wrongful conviction - and it destroyed her and her families lives.

Imo only, I would think regardless he’s still going to do time in prison for murdering his wife and terminating the pregnancy in the process, his unborn child. No matter how anyone looks at it.

 

[NuttMegg]

I have Kindle Unlimited and it’s free, so I’ll check it out. I am very skeptical of it being a worthy read but I’ll check it out tonight.

Let us know if it says "who dun it".

 

[Allabouttrial]

I have Kindle Unlimited and it’s free, so I’ll check it out. I am very skeptical of it being a worthy read but I’ll check it out tonight.

Please let us know!