Found Deceased CO - Shanann Watts (34), Celeste"Cece" (3) and Bella (4), Frederick, 13 Aug 2018 *Arrest* #27

[Shekkiec]

Neighbors said he showed no remorse, did not shed one tear and did not want to discuss neighbor's ideas as to where she might be, etc.. and stayed on his phone most of the time.

Ok first I assume he would been in shock . He did admit to killing his wife and disposing of the bodies . He kept saying words about how “unreal” this seemed. The phone had to be blowing up with family , friends , relatives etc contacting him. Secondly The Thayers also were shocked during their interview and nervously had a couple laughing moments . IMO the surreal knowing of where they were and killing his wife would be enough for that reaction . And doesn’t imply he necessarily killed the children . Just my opinion

 

[KathrynL]

Watts “cannot make out the government’s need for buccal swabs, finger and palm prints, nor digital photographs.”

Really? Doesn't take a rocket scientist to understand why they would be requesting that. Weren't people suggesting he was intelligent? Surely they can find someone to 'splain that to him?

IMO, his attorneys probably advised this course of action. Since this is potentially a death penalty case, they are going to fight just about everything.

OT, thank you for your many contributions on the media thread, so helpful!

 

[PommyMommy]

Ok first I assume he would been in shock . He did admit to killing his wife and disposing of the bodies . He kept saying words about how “unreal” this seemed. The phone had to be blowing up with family , friends , relatives etc contacting him. Secondly The Thayers also were shocked during their interview and nervously had a couple laughing moments . IMO the surreal knowing of where they were and killing his wife would be enough for that reaction . And doesn’t imply he necessarily killed the children . Just my opinion

The Thayers didn't know they were all dead. He did. He smiled and laughed as he looked the world in the eye and calmly lied and lied and lied. Didn't look at all like shock. Knowing where his precious family lay, he showed not a single sign of grief or despair. Didn't shed a single tear. He continued to lie to police during questioning until he was presented with clear, undeniable evidence. And after being backed into a corner and admitting to strangling the life out of his wife and unborn son, he still won't them let rest in peace. After all those lies, he wants us all to believe that none of this was his fault. Pfft... MOO

 

[dixiegirl1035]

Chris Watts case: Prosecutors ask judge to block release of autopsies until trial
9-18-18

[snip]
Prosecutors have to file the motion to stop the coroner’s reports from being released publicly because they are subject to Colorado’s Open Records Act. However, state statute allows for a judge to block the disclosure of such reports in cases the judge determines could cause “substantial injury to the public interest,” according to the recent filing.

There were several other motions and rulings made Monday in the case as well. Weld County District Court Judge denied Watts’ defense attorneys’ motion to investigate whether police or prosecutors leaked information about the case to the media.

His attorneys also filed a response to a request from prosecutors to obtain DNA evidence, buccal swabs and finger and palm prints in which they said that Watts “cannot make out the government’s need for buccal swabs, finger and palm prints, nor digital photographs.”

“Because of that,” his attorneys wrote, “Mr. Watts must conclude that the required seizure of Mr. Watts and the subsequent search of his person are unconstitutional …” BBM
Chris Watts case: Prosecutors ask judge to block release of autopsies until trial

Yes, both filed on the same day. It looks like the defense is saying hey prosecution what is your reason.

And the prosecution is saying oh my gosh I don't want to release the autopsy reports, just as you don't but you are pushing my hand and making me now. See how good I was that I was trying to keep it under seal but you are forcing my hand. Because I have to because you said you wanted the reason why I'm asking you for the hand prints. So now I'm going to be forced to release the cause of death.

Coincidence, or strategy?

 

[pocketaccent]

delete

 

[Marli61]

I really like the show Bull. I know it is fiction,but it does give you an idea on how jurors are chosen. When I was in a jury pool,we had to answer two pages of detailed questions before they interviewed us. Yesterday, as I read and lurked on this thread,it hit me that the defense needs to find people that don't object to where a body is put after it is dead. I cannot get past the fact that those two little girls were placed in oil tanks. The same way that I could not fathom that poor Lucas was "supposedly" found dead in his bed,yet his body was dumped in a culvert.I remember seeing his mother collapse as the van with his remains stopped by her. I don't care what the lawyers would instruct me to do..I cannot get past the fact that these girls were dumped like that and their father then begged for them to come home. MOO MOO

The defense needs to find ppl like that yes.. but doesn't the defense & the prosecution have to agree on jurors? It seemed like a "ok you can have this one if we get that one" type thing for the trial I was called for. Maybe @gitana1 or @Mrspratcher could help answer that.

 

[NuttMegg]

I thought the same thing Pommy... but I bet it's coming from his lawyers. IMO a guy that left a bed sheet matching those at his house at a crime scene he wished to conceal surely wouldn't come up with this on his own.

I doubt he's making any decisions at all. Probably the family is. Too bad someone similar to Mark Hacking's brothers, ie with moral courage, doesn't emerge from that family. IMO ETA Hacking eligible for first parole hearing in August 2034.

 

[MKZoo]

IMO, his attorneys probably advised this course of action. Since this is potentially a death penalty case, they are going to fight just about everything.

OT, thank you for your many contributions on the media thread, so helpful!

I don’t actually mind if they fight everything. They are required to mount a vigorous defense and CW is owed that much by our judicial system. I think of it this way, the harder they fight for him at every turn, the fewer grounds he may some day have for an appeal based on ineffective counsel.

 

[BeanieBod]

I get what you are saying. If she confided to both NUA and people in NC that a separation was immenint then it stands to reason that she was already expecting it. Therefore, the idea that he confronted her with it when she got home from AZ and she "snapped" doesn't hold a lot of water.

IMO, he apparently had no idea that she had confided in her friend in CO and in NC about the separation. That was the only thing he could come up with.

 

[Shekkiec]

Watts “cannot make out the government’s need for buccal swabs, finger and palm prints, nor digital photographs.”

Really? Doesn't take a rocket scientist to understand why they would be requesting that. Weren't people suggesting he was intelligent? Surely they can find someone to 'splain that to him?

The attorneys filed this motion if I’m correct and as it was explained further they are requesting a probable cause for this . It seems physical evidence had already been supplied by him and I think this motion by his attorneys referring by his name does not imply he is not intelligent , it implies the defense is doing their job .

 

[NuttMegg]

The Thayers didn't know they were all dead. He did. He smiled and laughed as he looked the world in the eye and calmly lied and lied and lied. Didn't look at all like shock. Knowing where his precious family lay, he showed not a single sign of grief or despair. Didn't shed a single tear. He continued to lie to police during questioning until he was presented with clear, undeniable evidence. And after being backed into a corner and admitting to strangling the life out of his wife and unborn son, he still won't them let rest in peace. After all those lies, he wants us all to believe that none of this was his fault. Pfft... MOO

I'd like to see a transcript of those discussions.

 

[SaguaroSpirit]

Neighbors said he showed no remorse, did not shed one tear and did not want to discuss neighbor's ideas as to where she might be, etc.. and stayed on his phone most of the time.

Can you even imagine how they felt? What was going through their minds, witnessing that behavior? I'll bet my old man's old people flip phone they'll be speaking in court.

 

[flourish]

Oops error

 

[FlossyMay]

IMO, he apparently had no idea that she had confided in her friend in CO and in NC about the separation. That was the only thing he could come up with.

SW told her friend that CW wanted a separation? What friend?

 

[Mrspratcher]

If you just came out of bankruptcy court and you are headed back to court a few years later for financial reasons on a debt that is less than $100 a month, you have financial problems. Bankruptcy has different levels. They still had to pay for their home. Bankruptcy does not change spending habits <and when your bankruptcy includes nothing but student loans and a bunch of retail debt, then you probably have issues managing money.> Student loans can not be dismissed in a bankruptcy. Also his mention to the Thayers about immediately putting his house up for sale is extremely odd unless he knows that he has to do it to save the equity. But for me...and modsnip if needed...the fact you are returning to court that quickly after a bankruptcy for HOA or any other issue tells me you are still financially stressed.

I’m not particularly concerned about the HOA suit. They could very well have been disputing the charges for reasons other than their ability to pay. I’m surprised the HOA filed suit over $1k. The cost of defending the suit alone would be well over the amount due. Most HOA’s would setup a payment plan before filing suit. There may be more to this that we just don’t know.

 

[Marli61]

Can you even imagine how they felt? What was going through their minds, witnessing that behavior? I'll bet my old man's old people flip phone they'll be speaking in court.

The Thayers felt so bad. IIRC Mr. Thayer broke down at one point in the interview to say (paraphrased) "we just didn't know ".

 

[katydid23]

How did he act weird at the neighbor's house after the murders? Was he too calm, talking nonsense? What alerted the neighbors??

One thing they noted was that he wan't interested in talking about their ideas of where the missing family might be. Nor did he want to discuss how to find them or how to spread the word. They thought it was very odd that they were focused upon trying to find their friends, and he seemed uninterested.

 

[whisperOFwings]

Can you even imagine how they felt? What was going through their minds, witnessing that behavior? I'll bet my old man's old people flip phone they'll be speaking in court.

BBM
(((Giggle))) lolol

 

[BabyButterfly]

“Because of that,” his attorneys wrote, “Mr. Watts must conclude that the required seizure of Mr. Watts and the subsequent search of his person are unconstitutional...

Can someone explain this?

Couldn't find post to hop off of ....ebm

 

[NuttMegg]

The Thayers felt so bad. IIRC Mr. Thayer broke down at one point in the interview to say (paraphrased) "we just didn't know ".

One word = "betrayed"