Found Deceased CO - Shanann Watts (34), Celeste"Cece" (3) and Bella (4), Frederick, 13 Aug 2018 *Arrest* #33

[Misy]

May 10 Shanann Watts
"7:30 am and I’m showered, dressed, kids off to school, laundry started and dishes cleaned. Now to clean out the kids closets and take out winter clothes and fill them with summer. I already started packing for our 6 week trip to NC."

Shaman often refers to taking the kids to school. We know that Bella was actually supposed to start kindergarten a week or so from that fateful Sunday/Monday... and with Cece one year younger... what kind of school. With shanann as a SAHM were the kids in daycare anyway?

 

[PrimeSuspect]

Well, maybe he'll have to mop floors and clean pottys in the chokey, LOL!!!!

Haha, I forgot his jailhouse chores!!

 

[Johnny1181]

I think we can assume SW knew sometime before he deleted his FB account. Two weeks? Three maybe? She apparently kept posting before he deleted it. So it must have been while she was in NC? Before he came and spent the last week with them? I'm not sure of the time frame.

Who knows the reason he gave Shanann for deleting his FB.

And if it was a good enough reason for her to believe.

After all, CW was an adulterous liar who stood on his family's porch preening in his shirt with a smile... knowing that he'd dumped CeCe and Bella in separate oil tanks and piled dirt over Shanann and Nico.

Maybe she believed him. I believe Shanann. imo

 

[MsBetsy]

It was so hard to write this so you could understand. I used their words, let me try to paraphrase. There are different ways to drain the tanks. In order to protect the evidence from harm, they said they probably brought in a pumping truck, and completely removed all the oil out of of the tank into the truck. That would take 8 hours. Of course, C.W. didn’t have a truck to drain the oil into, so in order to drain the oil, he could use the pump between the 2 tanks and empty one into the other. Then he would have to unscrew the 64 bolts on the rectangular Manway, then place the child in tank. Then he’d have to screw the 64 bolts back on again. This would take well over an hour to accomplish. Because the girls were in 2 separate tanks, CW would have had to do it twice. Now we’re talking over 2 hours. For that reason, the expert believes C.W. didn’t have enough time to do that, so he had to have used the 8” holes at the tops of the tanks, and in order to fit the girls in such a small opening, he would have had to contort their bodies, @MassGuy @Tigerlily75

I don't see how their shoulders could have fit through, even being contorted.

 

[Quinquin]

AB 9/27/18
1. Revolting new details. Bodies were not discovered or recovered easily. Took close to 8 hours to get children out of oil tanks. Had to drain up to 700 barrels of oil. Guests, Professor Wesley Williams and Joe Scott Morgan, explain how children were put in and removed from tanks. Took a great deal of effort and technical knowledge to do this. Can’t see how C.W. pulled it off without thinking about it ahead of time. Because LE was trying to preserve forensic evidence they probably brought in a vacuum truck, works like a wet dry shop vac. Insert hose and drain. Have to empty oil before entering and opening hatch on side. Standard API12F tank design. There are Thief Hatches on tops of tanks, 8” in diameter, (very small) you can open and close them. Bottom of tank square opening is called Clean Out Manway, 2’ by 3’ rectangular port. Takes 64 bolts to open, but tank must be empty to open, or you leak oil all over the place. Thief hatches (8” wide) are designed to take a measurement of tank level. Children were found in tanks that were nearly full. At best that tanks were producing about 200 barrels per month. CW probably shifted oil from one tank to another in order to get girls in them. Requires knowledge and time to do it. If tanks were nearly full, estimating 500 gallons, it would take 3 months at 200 gallons per month to completely fill them up. Bodies wouldn’t have been discovered for at least 3 months. There is a pump that goes between the two tanks, CW could pump 1 tank into the other tank, and open the Clean Out Manway. No way could children fit in the Thief Hatch. CW left house at 5:30, it would take an hour each to empty each tank. (Using the pump between, not the vacuum truck.) Removing 128 bolts takes a lot of time. Because CW didn’t have enough time to do all this work, CW would have had to shoved them through the 8” Thief Hatches. Bodies had to have been manipulated (twisted and contorted) postmortem, in order to fit them through the 8” Thief Hatches. Rather gruesome task. When Jessica McClure fell into an oil well in 1987, that well was 8” wide, but Jessica McClure was 18 months old.
2. Guest, Police Officer, Sean Sticks Larkin explains that this situation is far from normal. Officers most important job is to contain the scene and to recover the evidence. If there’s no danger of evidence being contaminated, they call professionals for advice.
3. Guest, Wesley Williams, explains oil is fluid, flows quickly. Oil is not very difficult to remove from skin.
4. Yesterday, both SW’s mother and father were at SW’s house removing the belongings. SW’s brother and SW’s friend, Lauren Arnold, was there, too. This move was about removing memories. Children’s clothes and toys will be donated to local churches. Family heirloom pieces from SW’s side of family will be kept by family.
5. Social media has been ruthless and cruel to family and family is aware. Statement from family spokesperson. (See photo)
6. Guest Steve Helling from People Magazine agreed that people have been awful on Facebook.
7. Family stayed in a hotel, and besides removing articles from SW’s home, they attended a private memorial for SW at the Carbon Valley Rec Center. Watts family originally had family passes to rec center but they expired in March. SW’s mom, Sandy also visited with the District Attorney today. Family is part of the investigation.
8. New documents today. CW must turn over DNA and prints to DA.
9. Other evidence found at site according to Helling. Bag was marked Evidence #26, that means 25 pieces of evidence came before it. Most we don’t know about.
10. Autopsies will remain private for now. When they are completed they will be handed over to Defense, and Court will make decision to make them public.
11. Guest, Defense Attorney, David Beller, explained Defense Attorneys are doing own investigation with information that is available to them now.
12. SW’s Mom’s meetings with Prosecutor is fulfilling Colorado State Law. Prosecutors must keep family up to date on all aspects of case, every step. In the end, Prosecutors will likely ask SW’s family what they want to see happen. Do they want a trial, do they not want a trial?
Viewer Question
1. Will attorneys ever offer a plea deal where C.W. will be required to tell full, honest truth of his motive and exactly what really happened, and in return they would take the death penalty off the table? It happens. Plea discussions happen all the time. Conversations start early. Yes, they could make such a bargain, but it doesn’t happen often. Since Defense doesn’t have any discovery, they don’t know what they’re up against, so they’re not talking plea, yet.
2. When do you believe we will see autopsy results, forensics, and an actual trial on Chris Watts? Beller said, It’s going to be a long time, at least a year. AB agreed, and added if it’s going to be a Death Penalty case, 3 years. Elizabeth Smart case took 10 years to bring justice.
3. Do you think the family has come back to be told some things in person before autopsy is made public? The DA may want to spare family shocking details before public? Prosecutors do work with family, they do tell them things before public. Guest, Sea Sticks Larkin explained, DA offices have Victim Witness Centers. Advocates deal directly with family. A case of the magnitude will offer family support, so family is not blindsided in public. Sometimes these situations are hard on LE, there are counselors to help LE, as well.

This recap is brilliant. Thank you. I understand the reasoning behind the thinking that he must have used the 8" hole to place the babies in, as opposed to the "manway" at the bottom, due to time restriction. Is there any plausible reason that the neighbors security camera that placed CW backed into his garage then leaving for work at around 5 am, was actually not able to see him coming home and then backing into garage? If he parked on the street would the camera catch his coming and goings or did the neighbors camera only have a garage view to CW and SW's house? There was some mention of a cadaver dog "hit" on one of front porch patio cushions. Maybe he came BACK home to continue either gathering equipment or God know what. My point being that this scenario would give him more time for all of the heaving lifting he was apparently doing that night/morning. Was there a street view to show he that he was indeed home and not returning home? I ask because of the fact that the girls where in 2 separate tanks and that , if he didn't contort them in the 8" hole, he would have had to have lots of time to remove screws and drain the each of the tanks. Maybe he had more time than we think?

 

[pocketaccent]

AB didn’t know the exact numbers. Their source told them the tanks were “nearly full”. A full tank is 600-700 barrels of oil. They estimated nearly full was 500 barrels, but they didn’t know for sure. I questioned if they knew for sure that the tanks held equal amounts of oil, but they didn’t say. But anyway, it would have taken too long for C.W. to be able to do all that emptying and bolt removal and replacement, plus dig a grave and bury Shanann, and make it to work on time. He had to have used the top openings.

Now I know why the killer shook his head side to side when the judge read him the tampering charge.

 

[Johnny1181]

Shaman often refers to taking the kids to school. We know that Bella was actually supposed to start kindergarten a week or so from that fateful Sunday/Monday... and with Cece one year younger... what kind of school. With shanann as a SAHM were the kids in daycare anyway?

We know that Bella was supposed to start kindergarten the following week because CW said in his porch interview that his child, who he did not call 911 to save, was "supposed" to start kindergarten the following week. Using past tense with no emotion imo about his baby before she was found dumped by him in a tank of oil.

 

[Jennifer17]

I don't see how their shoulders could have fit through, even being contorted.

If the head got through, the shoulders could in one higher, one lower as most babies are usually born.
Toddlers bones are soft and pliable. Not as much as babies but soft enough, I would think.

 

[PrimeSuspect]

It's just that a lot have stated that if the LE thought that SW had killed the girls then the charges would have been amended by now, so would that be any different for the "tampering with a human body" charge?

(1) A person commits tampering with a deceased human body if, believing that an official proceeding is pending, in progress, or about to be instituted and acting without legal right or authority, the person willfully destroys, mutilates, conceals, removes, or alters a human body, part of a human body, or human remains with intent to impair its or their appearance or availability in the official proceedings.

(2) Tampering with a deceased human body is a class 3 felony.


2016 Colorado Revised Statutes :: Title 18 - :: Criminal Code :: Article 8 - :: Offenses - Governmental Operations :: Part 6 - :: Offenses Relating to Judicial and Other Proceedings :: § 18-8-610.5. Tampering with a deceased human body

This pretty much covers it!

 

[Layla123]

I don't see how their shoulders could have fit through, even being contorted.

At an angle, smashed, shoved, forced, bone breaking. AB kept using the word, “gruesome.”

 

[PrimeSuspect]

Count 7,8,9 Tampering with a deceased human body:

"On or about August 13, 2018, Christopher Lee Watts, believing that an official proceeding was pending, in progress, or about to be instituted, and acting without legal right or authority, unlawfully and feloniously willfully destroyed, mutilated, concealed, removed, or altered a human body, part of a human body, or human remains with intent to impair its or their appearance or availability in the official proceedings; in violation of section 18-8-610.5, C.R.S."
https://www.courts.state.co.us/userfiles/file/Court_Probation/19th_Judicial_District/caseofinterest/2018CR2003/001/COMPLAINT AND INFORMATION.pdf

Awww jinx pocket

 

[Elizabeth Lavenza]

Welcome to Websleuths, @Elizabeth Lavenza !
Glad to have you with us.​

Thanks!

 

[Tigerlily75]

Shaman often refers to taking the kids to school. We know that Bella was actually supposed to start kindergarten a week or so from that fateful Sunday/Monday... and with Cece one year younger... what kind of school. With shanann as a SAHM were the kids in daycare anyway?

Yes, from one video I watched she said something along the lines of enjoying a few hours break the next day while the kids were at “school” which I’d take as meaning daycare/preschool of some description. I believe the name of it was Primrose something, and that’s where Bella was going .. I’m just going by memory here though

 

[PommyMommy]

Shaman often refers to taking the kids to school. We know that Bella was actually supposed to start kindergarten a week or so from that fateful Sunday/Monday... and with Cece one year younger... what kind of school. With shanann as a SAHM were the kids in daycare anyway?

March 31, 2017
"My daughter is 2days a week in the Preschool class and has only been 6 times so far and what she has learned so far is incredible! Truly amazing school
And wonderful teachers."
Shanann Watts

There may be more recent information there if you're up for doing some digging.

MOO

 

[MassGuy]

If the head got through, the shoulders could in one higher, one lower as most babies are usually born.
Toddlers bones are soft and pliable. Not as much as babies but soft enough, I would think.

I have a 4 year old niece. I’ll figure out a way to check the viability of this tomorrow.

 

[Hazelnutty]

Do you have evidence for me to assume as fact this was the case? Because imo.... it looks otherwise.

Housecleaning, although she had to prepare weeks of meals prior to going to NC, (per video)... coming home from NC cleaning, laundry (per video)

Why is it so hard to believe her? And the her truth?

I really want to know.

jmo

Me, too!

 

[MsBetsy]

No

At an angle, smashed, shoved, forced, bone breaking. AB kept using the word, “gruesome.”

No wonder the autopsy report is taking so long.

 

[gitana1]

I believe the love in Shanann's SM posts.

I believe CW lied in his porch videos.

After he dumped CeCe and Bella, who were sisters, in separate tanks of oil and shoveled dirt over his wife Shanann and unborn son Nico. After strangling her to death.

Per the affadavit.

jmo

 

[Jennifer17]

I have a 4 year old niece. I’ll figure out a way to check the viability of this tomorrow.

Lol. She might not be agreeable to that.

 

[SaguaroSpirit]

At an angle, smashed, shoved, forced, bone breaking. AB kept using the word, “gruesome.”

I guess we'll hear all about it at the trial. In detail.