Found Deceased CO - Shanann Watts (34), Celeste"Cece" (3) and Bella (4), Frederick, 13 Aug 2018 *Arrest* #32

[gitana1]

I may have misunderstood your post, did SW know for sure that CW has moved on? If so, how long did she know?

If I remember correctly, Colorado has 50;50 custody as a default, therefore it isn't a forgone conclusion that the alimony would be a big issue. I've seen nothing to date that implicates that it would be an issue, have you?

Nowhere in Colorado law does it state "50/50" is a default.

It is preferred by most judges but still needs to be fought for. As multiple Colorado family law attorney websites attest to. (They're in business for a reason).

It is doubtful that 50/50 would be granted to a man with his work hours, when his wife is available, of pre -k children and a coming breast-feeding infant.

A court is not going to give a newborn to a parent to put in daycare when another parent is available and isn't unfit.

The standard for custody decisions in Colorado is best interest of the child:

(1) Legislative declaration.  While co-parenting is not appropriate in all circumstances following dissolution of marriage or legal separation, the general assembly finds and declares that, in most circumstances, it is in the best interest of all parties to encourage frequent and continuing contact between each parent and the minor children of the marriage after the parents have separated or dissolved their marriage.

(1.5) Allocation of parental responsibilities.  The court shall determine the allocation of parental responsibilities, including parenting time and decision-making responsibilities, in accordance with the best interests of the child giving paramount consideration to the child's safety and the physical, mental, and emotional conditions and needs of the child as follows:

(a) Determination of parenting time.  The court, upon the motion of either party or upon its own motion, may make provisions for parenting time that the court finds are in the child's best interests unless the court finds, after a hearing, that parenting time by the party would endanger the child's physical health or significantly impair the child's emotional development.  In addition to a finding that parenting time would endanger the child's physical health or significantly impair the child's emotional development, in any order imposing or continuing a parenting time restriction, the court shall enumerate the specific factual findings supporting the restriction and may enumerate the conditions that the restricted party could fulfill in order to seek modification in the parenting plan.  When a claim of child abuse or neglect, domestic violence, or sexual assault where there is also a claim that the child was conceived as a result of the sexual assault has been made to the court, or the court has reason to believe that a party has committed child abuse or neglect, domestic violence, or sexual assault where there is also a claim that the child was conceived as a result of the sexual assault, prior to determining parenting time, the court shall follow the provisions of subsection (4) of this section.  In determining the best interests of the child for purposes of parenting time, the court shall consider all relevant factors, including:

(I) The wishes of the child's parents as to parenting time;

(II) The wishes of the child if he or she is sufficiently mature to express reasoned and independent preferences as to the parenting time schedule;

(III) The interaction and interrelationship of the child with his or her parents, his or her siblings, and any other person who may significantly affect the child's best interests;

(IV) The child's adjustment to his or her home, school, and community;

(V) The mental and physical health of all individuals involved, except that a disability alone shall not be a basis to deny or restrict parenting time;

(VI) The ability of the parties to encourage the sharing of love, affection, and contact between the child and the other party;  except that, if the court determines that a party is acting to protect the child from witnessing domestic violence or from being a victim of child abuse or neglect or domestic violence, the party's protective actions shall not be considered with respect to this factor;

(VII) Whether the past pattern of involvement of the parties with the child reflects a system of values, time commitment, and mutual support;

(VIII) The physical proximity of the parties to each other as this relates to the practical considerations of parenting time;

(IX) Repealed by Laws 2013, Ch. 218, § 2, eff. July 1, 2013.

(X) Repealed by Laws 2013, Ch. 218, § 2, eff. July 1, 2013.

(XI) The ability of each party to place the needs of the child ahead of his or her own needs.

Colorado Revised Statutes Title 14. Domestic Matters § 14-10-124 | FindLaw

 

[bonjoviblonde]

So SW was possibly ok with a separation, but then she found out about the actual affair and she went into a rage and murdered her children for revenge against CW because "I don't care if you leave me but how dare you leave me for another woman"?

 

[idfinch]

So SW was possibly ok with a separation, but then she found out about the actual affair and she went into a rage and murdered her children for revenge against CW because "I don't care if you leave me but how dare you leave me for another woman"?

Or, "I think you might be cheating and we are probably separating but if you are actually cheating, I'm going to go flip the lights on full blast and strangle my little girls instead of decking you where it hurts."

 

[Serena Angelique]

Yes. This refers to a different person with the same name.

All apologies. I wondered that after I found out he wasn’t a chemical engineer either. Thanks for clarifying.

 

[tmar]

Question for the attorneys (and anyone else who can comment): Does a defense team ever conduct their own independent autopsy with an independent Medical Examiner if they feel there was evidence that was not found by the ME or was somehow missed during the official autopsy?

There are two cases at present, Rebecca Zahau and Honey and Barry Sherman, where the evidence found in initial autopsy reports (Suicide) has been disputed, resulting in independent autopsy reports.
Evidence, in both initial reports was missed.
Both these second autopsies were initiated by the families of the victims, resulting in 'non suicide' results.

 

[human]

Since SW told several people that a separation was on the table, isn’t it just as likely that SW told C.W. she’d had enough of his lying cheating ways, she wanted him out, she never wanted to see him again, and she was going to fight him for full custody of the kids? Seems like CWs behavior up to that point was wanting his cake and eating it, too. If he was ready to throw their life together away why would he go to that birthday party? Once their mutual friends found out that he planned to abandon his 15 weeks pregnant wife, he would have been treated like a social pariah. I doubt he would have remained in their social circle. And their social circle was created by Shanann, through Le-Vel, not him, and notice, none of them are standing up for C.W.

I MO there was a remark, perhaps on her FB , that she was excited to see him and the girls

 

[Serena Angelique]

Or, "I think you might be cheating and we are probably separating but if you are actually cheating, I'm going to go flip the lights on full blast and strangle my little girls instead of decking you where it hurts."

Exactly. It isn’t rational in any way. There is nothing in her character that suggests she would do this under the circumstances. The timeline doesn’t fit (CW would also have been able to try to intervene and save one child). It belies logic and is based on his word. He has nothing to lose by lying even more now.

I honestly think trying to go over this is a waste of time. When all odds are in favor of the man charged with the crime being the killer, it’s futile to scrutinize the least possible case scenario because it’s a sensationalistic (albeit unlikely) alternative.

 

[violet101]

I MO there was a remark, perhaps on her FB , that she was excited to see him and the girls

Yep she posted multiple times she couldn’t wait to get home to Chris and the girls

 

[BabyButterfly]

I MO there was a remark, perhaps on her FB , that she was excited to see him and the girls

There was. It's one if the deleted posts.

 

[Nikynoo]

So SW was possibly ok with a separation, but then she found out about the actual affair and she went into a rage and murdered her children for revenge against CW because "I don't care if you leave me but how dare you leave me for another woman"?

Respectfully, I think we can agree that no-one knows what happened. My post merely stated my opinion, that one was different to another. Of course, you are entitled to disagree.

 

[MerryB]

So SW was possibly ok with a separation, but then she found out about the actual affair and she went into a rage and murdered her children for revenge against CW because "I don't care if you leave me but how dare you leave me for another woman"?

IMO they had discussed separation because of various issues they’d been having, but SW did not want to separate, and perhaps thought they could work on their issues and repair their relationship. I think she may have learned that either a) he was unwilling to try to work on the relationship and was definitively leaving and/or b) he was in love with someone else on the night of the murders.

 

[Allabouttrial]

Since SW told several people that a separation was on the table, isn’t it just as likely that SW told C.W. she’d had enough of his lying cheating ways, she wanted him out, she never wanted to see him again, and she was going to fight him for full custody of the kids? Seems like CWs behavior up to that point was wanting his cake and eating it, too. If he was ready to throw their life together away why would he go to that birthday party? Once their mutual friends found out that he planned to abandon his 15 weeks pregnant wife, he would have been treated like a social pariah. I doubt he would have remained in their social circle. And their social circle was created by Shanann, through Le-Vel, not him, and notice, none of them are standing up for C.W.

Maybe he'd had enough of thrivin' though, so not a big loss for him.

 

[human]

He went to the Birthday Party because it was pre-scheduled and they were friends with the Lindstrom Family. Their daughter was their babysitter (the party was for their son). He likely wanted to be seen and to show everyone that things were normal.

He had not had the kids for that long at that point. They hadn’t even been back a week from their North Carolina trip. It would have been the first weekend that he had been alone with them in several weeks.

I also have noticed that Family Annihilators often do something fun with their kids before they kill them-like take them to amusement parks, take them to have a fun meal or something that is enjoyable-he may have wanted to do the same-but that’s only speculation.

I simply cannot wrap my head around this. Even a fun time beforehand.

 

[Allabouttrial]

IMO they had discussed separation because of various issues they’d been having, but SW did not want to separate, and perhaps thought they could work on their issues and repair their relationship. I think she may have learned that either a) he was unwilling to try to work on the relationship and was definitively leaving and/or b) he was in love with someone else on the night of the murders.

Agree. I think reality may have hit her squarely in the face that night.

 

[Nikynoo]

Or, "I think you might be cheating and we are probably separating but if you are actually cheating, I'm going to go flip the lights on full blast and strangle my little girls instead of decking you where it hurts."

Possibly, or SW was leaving him and didn't like the thought that he had moved on already (a shift of power). There are lots of possibilities for both CW and SW to act negatively where there is a shift of power. IMO

 

[human]

No. To be honest I only met him a couple of times and he was very quiet both times.

Did you have any feelings about him at all or was he just so not memorable?

 

[Tippy Lynn]

He'd have three kids. How would he avoid paying for their care? The only way would be if he was taking primary custody. Would he want that if he was moving on?

Divorce hardly means freedom when you have 3 children.

If he was leaving her for another woman, I am sure she would be hurt. But it wasn't a big surprise. Why would she strangle her babies over something she already knew about for awhile already?

Why would she want revenge in that way? She loved those girls with all of her heart. It would never occur to her that she would kill those babies, IMO.

I have stayed away from posting such a thing, but here it goes....

Could SW have been so devastated about CW leaving her for another woman that she became unhinged early that morning? Perhaps she had a knee jerk reaction and decided to kill herself and to protect her daughters from the aftermath she.......(I can’t bring myself to say the rest, but I think you can figure it out).

I think it’s an unlikely scenario, but I think there’s a very tiny chance that it could have happened.
jmo

 

[Allabouttrial]

Exactly. It isn’t rational in any way. There is nothing in her character that suggests she would do this under the circumstances. The timeline doesn’t fit (CW would also have been able to try to intervene and save one child). It belies logic and is based on his word. He has nothing to lose by lying even more now.

I honestly think trying to go over this is a waste of time. When all odds are in favor of the man charged with the crime being the killer, it’s futile to scrutinize the least possible case scenario because it’s a sensationalistic (albeit unlikely) alternative.

For some yes, it may be futile, but I want to explore the chance he could be telling the truth.

 

[human]

There's no evidence he's been a compulsive liar. There's tons of evidence that he, like many murderers, lied after he killed his family because he was scared of getting caught.

I am wondering about his lies because they were so bad. As bad as a child with frosting on the face who denies eating the cake.

It is like Jodi Arias who lied all of the time. Her lies were ridiculous

 

[Jennifer17]

I have stayed away from posting such a thing, but here it goes....

Could SW have been so devastated about CW leaving her for another woman that she became unhinged early that morning? Perhaps she had a knee jerk reaction and decided to kill herself and to protect her daughters from the aftermath she.......(I can’t bring myself to say the rest, but I think you figure it out).

I think it’s an unlikely scenario, but I think there’s a very tiny chance that it could have happened.
jmo

Why have you hesitated to post it? That is exactly his latest story. How was she planning to kill herself?