CO - Shanann Watts (34), Celeste"Cece" (3) and Bella (4), Frederick, 13 Aug 2018 *Arrest* #18

[MassGuy]

I wonder if SW had an "informal pact" with NU that if anything happens to me or I can't be reached type of scenario ..................................................to do a wellness check on me and the girls? Same could be said SW could also have had an informal pact with her mom.

That certainly wouldn’t have been the first time something like that has happened in a murder case. “If anything happens to me, tell the police my husband did it.”

 

[mickey2942]

Jury selection will be very interesting in this case. If the defense decides to make Shanann the "bad one", finding a divorced man, who detested his ex wife, could very well have "counter-transference" issues. Identifying with CW, and focusing the blame on SW.

A man who had an acrimonious divorce, a horrible marriage, who had cheated on his wife, would be a perfect juror for CW. He would be quite sympathetic, to the point of negating the disposal of bodies.

Maybe single women would find CW attractive, and feel badly for him, married to a "boderline shrew". Might be able to charm one or two.

Married women, bad choice, especially ones with children. Unless they were really able to convince them of the "story" they have laid out, that CW is a hero, who was trying to save his kids from his "crazy wife".

I don't believe his story. But hey, I thought OJ and Casey Anthony were guilty beyond any doubt...

 

[RavenCC2020]

*snipped*

The girls had separate bedrooms, so if CW saw Bella sprawled out on her bed, he would have then had to take the time to toggle the monitor to Cece's room to observe Shanann strangling her. Now, if you see your child sprawled out and blue, are you going to think to yourself, "Hmmm, wonder what's going on in the other room, let me toggle over there..." or are you going to rush in there immediately?

Excellant point PommyMommy!

 

[MJPeony]

The only thing I can think of for his sudden rage, was that Shanann was shocked to find out he had an affair with a male. I think she sat down at their computer to unwind after her trip and found something on there showing his affair or picked up his phone and saw messages and went balistic which caused him humliation and rage. There really is no other reason. MOO

I don't think it was a sudden rage. I think it was festering for a long time. Just IMO.

 

[MJPeony]

Oh I don't know, putting them in oil, I don't think they would have ever been found had he got SW in an oil tank. So I believe he put some thought into it. Things just didn't go according to his plan.

Yes. This.

ETA: The oil tanks are so bizarre to me that I have a really hard believing he hadn't thought about this location before. I can't see him going into a rage and then quickly deciding in a couple hours time to drive out there and use the oil tanks. I think it was unique enough that it had more forethought.

 

[MerryB]

I lived through the OJ stuff ---my sister knew someone who saw OJ in the bushes spying on Nicole in her condo. I have friends who live nearby.

If you have seen the crime scene photos of the butchered bodies of Nicole and Ron, you know that it was rage coupled w/ the crystal meth that OJ bought earlier.

NO. I am not going to provide a link, WS sleuths.
Google: Crystal Meth--OJ Simpson--- Jack-in-the Box on Santa Monica Blvd, Brentwood (maybe West LA) and Kato Kaelin.

It is entirely possible that CW was under the influence of alcohol or drugs when he strangled his little girls and his pregnant wife.

I believe it was a Burger King, but you’re right. I read Dominick Dunne’s book years ago & believe meth fueled his rage & ability that fateful night.

This is a valid possibility. Perhaps C.W. was trying to work up the nerve to confront his wife and ask for a separation, and used drugs to give him the courage he lacked.

 

[BingoBongo]

You'll probably have at least 4 or 5 syndromes like the rest of us. Just don't kill anybody. I don't want to have to defend BingoBongo on crime forums.

Moi? Not even a fly, spiders however... ;-)

 

[RavenCC2020]

I am sure that the computer forensics are going to show some interesting searches and websites visited by CW in the days leading up to the murders. Hopefully these will be allowed into evidence and will be presented at trial. **IN MY OPINION ONLY**: I wonder if he was looking at violent and decided to try it out on the woman who claims she was choked during intercourse? IF of course she is telling the truth.

Funny you mention this. The other day I was watching one of Ted Bundy's interviews, it may have been his last one. Since he didn't speak in the first person when talking about his crimes / possible crimes, one thing he said I found quite revealing. To summarize he said that if you are looking for a serial killer (shard traits) they need to look for one who is obsessed with violent . He futher states that if law inforcement wanted to round up a bunch then get their hands on THE most outrageous and violent pornagraphy and air it somewhere suggesting the serial killers would come out of hiding like rats on cheese. I know people have attempted to link with violent death for some time but having an actual serial killer state this long before it was considered to be fact for some, tells me there is something to it.

 

[Seattle1]

Yes but they have an on-going policy it appears.

Policy to "not comment" about ongoing cases sends the same message. I just think they used "barred from commenting" as a hefty warning to prosecutor for whatever's going on behind closed doors or last motion (i.e., courts and judges "bar" an action).

 

[pocketaccent]

Yes. This.

ETA: The oil tanks are so bizarre to me that I have a really hard believing he hadn't thought about this location before. I can't see him going into a rage and then quickly deciding in a couple hours time to drive out there and use the oil tanks. I think it was unique enough that it had more forethought.

Like..this tank is for Bella, and that one is for Celeste? That is absolutely horrifying if he actually forethought that.

 

[PommyMommy]

Policy to "not comment" about ongoing cases sends the same message. I just think they used "barred from commenting" as a hefty warning to prosecutor for whatever's going on behind closed doors or last motion (i.e., courts and judges "bar" an action).

I think "barred" is the media's word though, if I'm reading that right. When you follow the link within the article, the actual media request doesn't use that word. It says, "...do not comment, publicly or off the record, on the pending criminal case." PEOPLE may be guilty of a wee bit of sensationalism with this one.

Media requests regarding Christopher Watts | Office of the Colorado State Public Defender

 

[Seattle1]

I wonder if SW had an "informal pact" with NU that if anything happens to me or I can't be reached type of scenario ..................................................to do a wellness check on me and the girls? Same could be said SW could also have had an informal pact with her mom.

I don't think it would have been necessary -- the NC family was in constant contact every day based on their SM, in addition to her Thrive people. I don't believe SW feared CW whatsoever, and CW carried this off because he caught them all by surprise. No way would SW have left the girls alone with CW if any chance of danger. MOO

 

[MassGuy]

Yes. This.

ETA: The oil tanks are so bizarre to me that I have a really hard believing he hadn't thought about this location before. I can't see him going into a rage and then quickly deciding in a couple hours time to drive out there and use the oil tanks. I think it was unique enough that it had more forethought.

Think about it. This is where he works. He’s familiar with these tanks, and time is not on his side. He needs to get rid of the bodies, and get to work on time. He simply can’t think of a better place to put them, where he doesn’t risk their immediate discovery. He went to a place he knew. I’m not baffled by the decision making, just appalled at the act.

 

[Seattle1]

@gitana1 said: ↑
Yes but they have an on-going policy it appears.

I think "barred" is the media's word though, if I'm reading that right. When you follow the link within the article, the actual media request doesn't use that word. It says, "...do not comment, publicly or off the record, on the pending criminal case." PEOPLE may be guilty of a wee bit of sensationalism with this one.

Media requests regarding Christopher Watts | Office of the Colorado State Public Defender

Awe... that's exactly what I was saying! So Media misquoted public defenders office! Good find @PommyMommy

 

[Lucyray]

That certainly wouldn’t have been the first time something like that has happened in a murder case. “If anything happens to me, tell the police my husband did it.”

I have seen this type of response a few times, and I am truly mystified. I'm not being snarky or snippy..seriously, someone explain to me this: if a wife (or girlfriend) truly believes something 'bad' could happen to her, enough to say, 'tell the police my husband (or boyfriend) did it', why would they EVER set foot into the house? I mean this, seriously. If Shanann had a pact like this, I would imagine there is some written note somewhere advising her family or personal representative of her fears for her life. If she had this pact with NH, she would have had to provide a good reason to her. I agree that NH had some strong sense of misconduct for some reason. I'm just not sure why? Her hinky meter was on target. No matter, that is not my question. I'm seriously so mixed up by this case. So much does NOT make sense to me. Does a couple who are separating have to fear one will harm the other? (What did he ever do or threaten to do that would make her have that pact with a good friend?). I guess I'm repeating myself.. I'm sorry. I've read enough now in the last couple weeks, that I'm at least not afraid of every stranger I see now. Whew!

 

[RickshawFan]

The only thing I can think of for his sudden rage, was that Shanann was shocked to find out he had an affair with a male. I think she sat down at their computer to unwind after her trip and found something on there showing his affair or picked up his phone and saw messages and went balistic which caused him humliation and rage. There really is no other reason. MOO

The reaction from SW more likely to be the OPPOSITE. Here's what often happens.... A woman suspects her husband of an affair. She thinks it must be her fault: her husband's new girlfriend is more attractive, more fun, more attentive, yadda yadda yadda... She blames herself. She has a confrontation with her philandering husband and discovers he is having affairs with men. Ahaha! No reason to blame herself any more. It's not about her. He likes men, not women, and therein lies his problem. Huge relief.
Moral: It's much easier psychologically to tolerate a husband's newly revealed homosexuality than to be the cause of his need to go find another woman.

Now, some women will almost certainly find the same sex orientation abominable (understand I'm not putting myself in this category), but that's in a whole different space than the torture of self-blame .

 

[MyBelle]

Depends on who you’re trying to convince. I thought this trial was cut and dried despite his ridiculous story. It only takes 1 unfortunately.

Yes but in the case you linked, 11 of the jurors were for acquittal. This case has plenty of evidence, imo.

 

[MJPeony]

Like..this tank is for Bella, and that one is for Celeste? That is absolutely horrifying if he actually forethought that.

I don't think he necessarily pre-thought he'd put them into separate ones, I just think he'd thought about the tanks as a possible way to hide his family. I have absolutely no idea why he chose to separate them. It's awful. Putting them into the same tank is awful too. The whole thing is disgusting.

Either way- pre-planned or not- I'm not sure what went through his mind to separate them.

 

[Colorado303]

I'm jumping ahead several pages here, so forgive me if I'm off topic when/where this lands.

Regarding Chris deactivating his Facebook page a week before the murders - this would have been when he was in NC or shortly before going there. I'm thinking that he'd been telling his mistress that he and Shanann were separated for the 5 weeks she was gone, and he did not want her to see that he was going to spend a week with her and the kids in NC - or, even if he told her he was going there, he didn't want her seeing tagged photos of them together and such.

Also, Shanann definitely wouldn't get a notification that he deactivated his account unless she had an app that would notify her of anyone on her friends list unfriending, deactivating or blocking her. I have such an app, but most people I talk to about it never knew it was something available.

It would be easy enough for her to realize it was gone when she tried to tag him and his name wouldn't appear, but Facebook itself doesn't give out notifications of these events.

Also, I do believe Shanann was running Chris Thrive account, a way to kind of double down with her work and branch out. The IG posts of his that we've seen do NOT sound like posts most guys make. I've known TONS of people who sell some type of MLM, but none of these have EVER been men. I know it's not unheard of, I just don't think it was likely he was actively doing it although he had a sales account in his name. Kind of like when there is a contest or raffle I want to win but I'm only allowed one entry, I'll also do an entry in my SO's name to double my chances. He worked a full time job outside of the home and did lots of running and other activities, I just don't see him having the time to devote to it in order to be successful, or even wanting to for that matter.

This post turned out a LOT longer than I intended, so I apologize again if it lands strangely in relation to the discussion at hand.

Yes! Hadn’t thought of it before but makes all the sense in the world he would deactivate his FB page so AP couldn’t see he was spending the week with his family. I can’t imagine what it’s like to be HER right now. Or her husband.

 

[MJPeony]

Think about it. This is where he works. He’s familiar with these tanks, and time is not on his side. He needs to get rid of the bodies, and get to work on time. He simply can’t think of a better place to put them, where he doesn’t risk their immediate discovery. He went to a place he knew. I’m not baffled by the decision making, just appalled at the act.

I agree- the place he works makes sense (well, as much as any of this "makes sense"). And definitely agree his need to get to work and show some sort of normalcy was top of his mind. And the tanks do offer a place well-concealed. Which is why I think he'd thought about it before.

I don't know- it just seems so random to come up with the tanks. Why not somewhere else near his work or buried like SW. There's also the element of access, which I'm not sure had ever been figured out- did he have a quick way to access it (both through the gate and actually INTO the tank openings) without having thought ahead?

Appalled at the act. Indeed.