CO - Shanann Watts (34), Celeste"Cece" (3) and Bella (4), Frederick, 13 Aug 2018 *Arrest* #17

[Gardenista]

My countdown timer says October 23. (63 days from arraignment.) 48 days from now.

According to the atty who used to work for Weld Cnty DA, he has not been arraigned yet. All we've had is a formal reading of charges.

 

[JDough]

I think it is important information to know that SW already knew about the AP.

If the defense could have shown that she knew nothing about it at all, and then she was suddenly hit with info that he wanted to separate, and he had other relationships he was going to pursue, then it COULD possibly create 'reasonable doubt' , that she might have snapped and overreacted out of shock.

But if the state can show that she already knew about his affairs and she was already contemplating separation---then there is no way they jury will accept the ridiculous story that she ran up to the babies beds and brutally strangled them, just because he said he wanted to separate. NO WAY!

I am very hopeful that phone records will reveal if SW was aware prior to the murders.

 

[cottonweaver]

Ah, thank you. I wonder what the phony pic/profile looked like?

Chris Hemsworth

 

[Layla123]

New to me from AB today:
1. There is a camera on top of the oil tanks where the girls were dumped. The location was monitored by camera 24/7. CW probably knew, and it’s possible that he covered the cameras, and that alone would be interesting.
2. Disposing of the bodies as he did counters any temporary insanity defense.
3. We don’t know if SW was buried with wedding rings, but would be very interesting if they weren’t on her finger.
4. DA has not been informed, as of today, what the COD is.
5. At least 98% of the info on CW’s phone will be retrievable through various methods.
6. More than 400 purple ribbons in honor of SW, BW, and C.W. have been lovingly placed around the town Frederick by volunteers.
7. Co-worker AP is not suspected of any wrongdoing.
8. If the death penalty is on the table, jurors must be screened to find out if they were able to impose the DP, but studies have shown that jurors who are able to are more prosecution leaning and more likely to render a guilty verdict.
9. If SW didn’t leave a will, in CO state law says CW would inherit entire estate. After conviction, that would change.

 

[Gardenista]

Here's a SS of where AB says there is a camera on the oil tanks

 

[nwmouse]

Oops wrong place.

 

[nwmouse]

New to me from AB today:
1. There is a camera on top of the oil tanks where the girls were dumped. The location was monitored by camera 24/7. CW probably knew, and it’s possible that he covered the cameras, and that alone would be interesting.
2. Disposing of the bodies as he did counters any temporary insanity defense.
3. We don’t know if SW was buried with wedding rings, but would be very interesting if they weren’t on her finger.
4. DA has not been informed, as of today, what the COD is.
5. At least 98% of the info on CW’s phone will be retrievable through various methods.
6. More than 400 purple ribbons in honor of SW, BW, and C.W. have been lovingly placed around the town Frederick by volunteers.
7. Co-worker AP is not suspected of any wrongdoing.
8. If the death penalty is on the table, jurors must be screened to find out if they were able to impose the DP, but studies have shown that jurors who are able to are more prosecution leaning and more likely to render a guilty verdict.
9. If SW didn’t leave a will, in CO state law says CW would inherit entire estate. After conviction, that would change.

Thanks so much for posting this info!

 

[Inthedetails]

It's almost surprising to me that they would need to file for BK with combined income of $140,000. That's a lot of income, even with a $3,000/mo mortgage. I would have thought they could have restructured some of the debt without having to file BK and it would have been better for their credit.

I agree. It is a lot of income - they could have lived on it quite nicely. To me, it shows unwise financial decisions were the problem, not a lack of money. jmo

 

[PommyMommy]

According to the atty who used to work for Weld Cnty DA, he has not been arraigned yet. All we've had is a formal reading of charges.

Hmmm. I thought the court appearance where we watched Shanann's father sob his poor heart out was the arraignment, and the next court date is a status conference. Color me confused.

 

[pocketaccent]

I agree. It is a lot of income - they could have lived on it quite nicely. To me, it shows unwise financial decisions were the problem, not a lack of money. jmo

This article shows their combined income as of June 2015:

In June, 2015, the couple filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy protection, saying their year-to-date income in 2015 was $40,491. The filing listed debts more than $400,000 including a mortgage of $378,000. Other debts totaling more than $70,000 included miscellaneous credit card charges in 2015 totaling more than $44,569, and 2015 purchases from Nordstrom for a credit card balance of $3,038, and Macy's for a credit card balance of $1,301. The couple also declared student loan debts of $11,000 and had medical bills for around $2,500.

Frederick Couple Faced Economic Pressure, Had Filed Bankruptcy

 

[MerryB]

That's also how I understood it to be but have since learned that some of the "Internet" University's and Colleges somehow met loophole (accreditation??). I believe these are some of the same school programs in class action lawsuits. I'm not saying SW/CW education in this category. MOO

No, I believe this debt is SW’s attendance at Queen’s University in Charlotte. She began pursuing a degree in nursing but did not finish. This student loan would not be dismissed in a Chapter 7 bankruptcy,

 

[Gardenista]

Hmmm. I thought the court appearance where we watched Shanann's father's sob his poor heart out was the arraignment, and the next court date is a status conference. Color me confused.

I went back to AB to listen and make sure. I typed it out just like she said it. It's seems like she would know but then I just googled CW arraignment and it does say that's what he just had, so IHNI lol.

 

[JDough]

BBM

I am very interested in the possibility of sudden onset hypersexuality as being an indication of an underlying brain condition.

I go back and forth about the potential for a brain/mental disorder. (Not that murdering your entire family should be considered normal).

Right now I am leaning towards something entirely different. It's called selfishness. CW went through a total physical transformation over a two year period. IMO, I believe he began to receive attention that he may never had received previously. This, indeed, could cause hyper-sexuality. And selfishness.

 

[Bill Carson]

8. If the death penalty is on the table, jurors must be screened to find out if they were able to impose the DP, but studies have shown that jurors who are able to are more prosecution leaning and more likely to render a guilty verdict.

SBM, BBM

We needed a study to tell us that?

 

[Layla123]

These are the charts AB used to illustrate the family finances.

 

[Bill Carson]

Hmmm. I thought the court appearance where we watched Shanann's father's sob his poor heart out was the arraignment, and the next court date is a status conference. Color me confused.

I don't practice criminal law, so I don't know. I did practice a little criminal defense in another state, but Colorado does things so differently that it seems really strange to me.

ETA: In Texas, the State would have so long after an arrest to indict the suspect. Then then first appearance after indictment would be the arraignment, and the defendant would enter a plea (almost always Not Guilty).

 

[Seattle1]

New to me from AB today:
[ RSBM ]
9. If SW didn’t leave a will, in CO state law says CW would inherit entire estate. After conviction, that would change. [BBM]

As conviction can take some time, also why Laci P Mum, acting as executor of her estate, immediately filed two separate lawsuits against SP upon his arrest: for wrongful death action, and survivor action. Also filed civil action to prevent SP from receiving money for selling his story PRIOR to his conviction.

 

[rogue ant]

IMO the kids were already deceased when she came home. Again, as several have mentioned, there is often some truth strung into the lies someone tells. So seeing Bella blue on the monitor and SW in there probably has some truth.

Has it been established that skin tones could be distinguished on the baby monitor?

 

[Bill Carson]

Has it been established that skin tones could be distinguished on the baby monitor?

It hasn't been established, but it hasn't been ruled out, either. The baby monitors they sell today are in color, but the screen looks gray in low lighting conditions. But it might have been an older B&W monitor. (This makes me feel old, as my baby monitors were audio only.)

 

[Inthedetails]

New to me from AB today:
1. There is a camera on top of the oil tanks where the girls were dumped. The location was monitored by camera 24/7. CW probably knew, and it’s possible that he covered the cameras, and that alone would be interesting.
2. Disposing of the bodies as he did counters any temporary insanity defense.
3. We don’t know if SW was buried with wedding rings, but would be very interesting if they weren’t on her finger.
4. DA has not been informed, as of today, what the COD is.
5. At least 98% of the info on CW’s phone will be retrievable through various methods.
6. More than 400 purple ribbons in honor of SW, BW, and C.W. have been lovingly placed around the town Frederick by volunteers.
7. Co-worker AP is not suspected of any wrongdoing.
8. If the death penalty is on the table, jurors must be screened to find out if they were able to impose the DP, but studies have shown that jurors who are able to are more prosecution leaning and more likely to render a guilty verdict.
9. If SW didn’t leave a will, in CO state law says CW would inherit entire estate. After conviction, that would change.

Great, easy-to-read recap. Thanks!