Found Deceased CO - Shanann Watts (34), Celeste"Cece" (3) and Bella (4), Frederick, 13 Aug 2018 *Arrest* #35

[molly1255]

That's what I am wondering. Could he have made incriminating statements before a lawyer was present, especially after he mentioned he wanted to speak to a lawyer, and thats why LE could not include it in the adfidavit? Is it really true that all questioning comes to a halt once a lawyer is mentioned, like in the movies?

Good questions. Gitana1 did respond back on my question, and he could have asked to talk to an attorney. Apparently he didn't ask and he talked. And JMO, he lied some more.

My understanding is when he made his confession, I don't think he had been arrested yet. Wasn't the affidavit so LE could arrest him? IDK - I'm just going to continue living my life as a law-abiding citizen so I don't have to worry about things like this!

 

[Mo Thuairim]

Yes, and I don't think "LE sources" has to = LE officers. Could be anybody with ties to LE.

Yes, I think so, and it's also possible the LE sources were under the impression that he had confessed to all. It was early days and they might not have had all the info. It's unclear.

 

[Allabouttrial]

Fr

Annie

Well, we do know that he changed his story at least once, from them all being missing, to admitting he killed Shanann.
BTW, Frankie Rzucek, SW's brother posted immediately on being informed by LE that " he has admitted to murdering my entire family He killed my pregnant sister and my two nieces". To this date he has not altered that statement

To be fair that doesn't necessarily mean he heard it officially.

ETA: Deleted my edited response as I didn't read your post correctly.

 

[katydid23]

I think sensors go off when tanks are opened? Not sure on this.

But really, I completely thought he was a blockhead for hiding bodies in a place that would be like a bright red light bulb, "He did it". If the bodies had been randomly dumped in a pond, shallow grave, open water reservoir, weighed down, there is at least a reasonable doubt that they were killed by a stranger.

Better yet, he should have put them all in SW's car, and drove to a place, put the car in a ditch, ravine, water area, and left. He seems fit enough to get home, an hour run away. Come in the back yard and avoid all the pesky neighborhood cameras.

In Florida, recently, they found a submerged vehicle, no one was even sure how long it had been there.

I am not familiar with the area, but I am sure that a better hiding place than his own work, area of employment could have been easily found.

Yes, some sensors beep when a tank is opened. But that would not be suspicious, because CW was hired to do maintenance and check on the tanks and their levels, etc.

But they wouldn't expect that he was adding oil at that point unless they knew there was some source for this additional oil. And if it was coming from the other tank, then those sensors would show the level was receding.

I don't know how sensitive or sophisticated their alarmed sensors were however. My nephew said there are extrewmwly accurate, totally sensitive versions, and old school ones that only notice HUGE volume changes.

 

[gitana1]

I think @MsBetsy is referring to the two LE sources mentioned in this early article.
I just assumed they were misquoted or that the journo misinterpreted what the officers meant by 'confession' and assumed he'd confessed to all the murders. And ran with it...
Sources: Husband of pregnant Frederick woman arrested, confessed to killing her and 2 daughters

I share your assumption.

 

[PommyMommy]

Iirc?? The evidence number on the plastic bag was In the 40s? that means they have quite a bit more, at least in the 30s? And my guess is even more after they went back to the house?

I am sure I'm incorrect in the evidence number, but I'm sure somebody here knows the correct evidence number by recollection. I just know it was a large number as to the bag.

And I would assume therefore, those numbers are before they even went back and had a search warrant at the house?

The bag was #26
MOO

 

[Seattle1]

I’m not surprised - columbine reports were also withheld, I believe- due to the effect on the family. I don’t think there was any concern raised regarding the potential jurors...? So I’m still looking for a case like this one.

I’m also not sure why an autopsy report (that doesnt include a reference to the “who”) would be any more likely to corrupt potential jurors - as opposed to say, an evidence list or a search warrant or an eyewitness statement. Seems like the same standard should apply.

Respectfully, nondisclosure of the autopsy reports is not limited to impacting future jurors, but also to prevent tainting witnesses that have not yet been interviewed, and protecting the defendant's rights to a fair trial. In the Watts case, the defense may very well agree with the prosecution's motion to seal the reports from the public until trial. Only time will tell as both the prosecution and defense wait for the autopsy reports.

 

[MsBetsy]

What two LE officers?

The two LE that stated to the Denver7 news that he had confessed to killing all three. Wouldn't that cause problems later?

 

[Shekkiec]

Fr

Annie

Well, we do know that he changed his story at least once, from them all being missing, to admitting he killed Shanann.
BTW, Frankie Rzucek, SW's brother posted immediately on being informed by LE that " he has admitted to murdering my entire family He killed my pregnant sister and my two nieces". To this date he has not altered that statement

To be fair that doesn't necessarily mean he heard it officially.

ETA: Actually sorry that could be wrong, because the LE did charge CW with their murders, so they could have said that!

Posted?

 

[Shekkiec]

The two LE that stated to the Denver7 news that he had confessed to killing all three. Wouldn't that cause problems later?

Can you find the link please? I would like to see the article

 

[gitana1]

OK. Thank you for the kind correction.
In your opinion, could Jose Báez, for example, who is licensed to practice in FL, represent CW in CO? I believe that was the poster’s question.

Yes. Jose Baez represented Aaron Hernández in Boston even though he's not licensed in Massachusetts. There's a process in every state that allows that.

 

[MsBetsy]

@katydid23 has a good explanation for this, having to do with sensors alerting to a change in the level of the oil, I believe

Yes, I know, I have read a lot about the reasoning for the bodies being placed in separate tanks possibly being due to the distribution of oil. It makes sense. He would have known this as well.

 

[gitana1]

To be fair that doesn't necessarily mean he heard it officially.

ETA: Deleted my edited response as I didn't read your post correctly.

I don't think so. Those charges were after the subsequent "confession." And no other confession was mentioned in the probable cause statements. It would've been.

 

[molly1255]

I think LE would have absolutely looked there any way because of that pesky GPS...oh, and that sheet, blowing in the wind. Good thing he was sloppy.

Sloppy and stupid. JMO.

 

[Shekkiec]

Respectfully, nondisclosure of the autopsy reports is not limited to impacting future jurors, but also to prevent tainting witnesses that have not yet been interviewed, and protecting the defendant's rights to a fair trial. In the Watts case, the defense may very well agree with the prosecution's motion to seal the reports from the public until trial. Only time will tell as both the prosecution and defense wait for the autopsy reports.

Interesting can you cite a case for reference in Colorado or are you speaking as a specific where it was sealed to only not taint future jurors? * edited for clarity sorry

 

[ZsaZsa]

What I have learned from following trials to ask/say...

#1..am I being detained?

#2... am I free to go?

#3... I would like a lawyer.

I would never be arrested (promise!!) or anything like that, but is that correct lawyers?

Even better .... Ask me anything you wish, I have nothing to hide.

 

[gitana1]

The two LE that stated to the Denver7 news that he had confessed to killing all three. Wouldn't that cause problems later?

Not unless it was an official disclosure. It doesn't appear that it was and it may not have been actual officers leaking that info? It could've simply been incorrect and I believe it was incorrect.

 

[molly1255]

A knowledgeable poster elaborated on the sensors after communicating, IIRC, with family members in the industry. Poster even gave us a model/description of the sensors used, and emphasized that the levels were closely monitored. About a week ago.

I wonder if he did some rough calcuations (or maybe more than "rough" calculations) to account for the weight of each little girl, the volume of oil in each tank, factored in approximate evaporation (if any), etc. when devising his plan. JMO.

 

[Shekkiec]

Yes, I know, I have read a lot about the reasoning for the bodies being placed in separate tanks possibly being due to the distribution of oil. It makes sense. He would have known this as well.

So then in your opinion respectfully if he knew the oil tank site so well why place SW in a shallow grave? He would have understood that she would not fit bc of size of thief hatch or oil displacement . He also knowing this was not imo trying to hide odor since this fear would seem redundant leaving SW out of tank.

 

[Best of What's Around]

Even better .... Ask me anything you wish, I have nothing to hide.

haha, that gave me a good chuckle! It would be expected from an innocent person....clearly CW thought he could follow such a path and lie his way through it.