Found Deceased CO - Shanann Watts (34), Celeste"Cece" (3) and Bella (4), Frederick, 13 Aug 2018 *Arrest* #36

[MsBetsy]

I love this! I am not sure why the focus is on financials. It in no way, excuses this man for what he did.

It's certainly not an excuse but in most cases of family annihilators it is a common factor. Jmo

 

[MassGuy]

JMO
I agree with most of your post but i thought he only killed 3 people and maybe a 4th if the unborn child is part of the charges. Can you help me understand how there are 5 first degree murder charges?

I should probably try to look up his charges but if you know it could help me understand. Thanks in advance.

Two extra counts of first degree murder (one for each child), because the suspect was “in a position of trust” and the kids were under 12.

 

[MassGuy]

It's certainly not an excuse but in most cases of family annihilators it is a common factor. Jmo

Yup. This guy ticks all of the boxes in regards to the ol’ “family anihilator checklist.” Finances are right up there at the top.

 

[Hatfield]

Two extra counts of first degree murder (one for each child), because the suspect was “in a position of trust” and the kids were under 12.

Thank you. This is interesting to me and I had no idea. You are right and I found an article that mentions the extra two charges.

"In addition to three counts of first-degree murder with deliberation, Chris is charged with two counts of first-degree murder of a child under the age of 12 by someone who is in a “position of trust” over them, Weld County District Attorney Michael Rourke said at a news conference Monday."

Chris Watts Allegedly Changed Story Several Times Before Being Charged with Murder of Wife, Daughters

 

[Shekkiec]

CW is facing five First Degree Murder charges. . . .FIVE! This is based on the investigation and evidence. It is NOT based on a past bankruptcy or financial troubles. Many people turn to bankruptcy for help. Most people experience financial problems at some stage of their lives. This is not uncommon. There is no way to know the true financial picture of SW and CW, but it probably will come out. And there is no way of knowing who was to blame, if there was blame. What we do know, by CWs own admission; he lied, he cheated, he obstructed justice, and he killed. He HAS admitted these things and there is no justification.

Imo the interest based on financial is to see what stress inducers or perhaps other events that were going on in the house could have added to perhaps motive or reasoning not justification. It is the same as exploring health care cost or possible alimony which we have discussed moo. Unfortunately money problems are common today for a lot of people but they also can attribute to murder.

 

[MsBetsy]

i agree, he could of/ should have just walked away, IMO I don’t think he had any major mental health issues, he did not appear psychotic in his interviews. I believe he may have some kind of personality disorder though, aswell as being a sociopath/psychopath. I hope they don’t try and use mental health as a defence tactic. JMO.

I dont think they can, a personality disorder does not mean the person was insane at the time if the murder. We already know he did not display any symptoms of dissociative behavior or psychosis. Imo

 

[MsBetsy]

Yes the one they went through.

I didn't even know there was another one. Had one of them filed in the past? That could explain some things.

 

[Thepoet]

We know that no one saw Cece and Bella after the birthday party.

We don't know if SW talked to her children while waiting for her flight.

We know that CW grilled Sunday and appeared to be alone.

We know that SW's shoes, purse, and suitcase were by the front door. In my experience most women do take off their shoes as soon as they can, but SW was very orderly and I believe she would have taken the suitcase upstairs and taken her shoes off in the closet, UNLESS she was going straight to check on the girls! In that case she would have immediately set the suitcase down and taken off her shoes (to be quiet) and gone straight up stairs. That conflicts with CW's version. What would she have found? Were the girls dead? No girls there? Is that when she was attacked?

CW changed the time of the "heated discussion" to 4:00, but we know he's a liar and has lied about everything. Did he lie about the time to make it look like SW was still alive at 4:00, even though he had already killed her?

IMHO the nightmare began before SW arrived home and reached a climax soon after she walked in the door. I base that on everything I have seen and read and how logic dictates the pieces should fit together!

I would appreciate any opinions, facts, or other scenarios.

 

[Mellowmelly]

I dont think they can, a personality disorder does not mean the person was insane at the time if the murder. We already know he did not display any symptoms of dissociative behavior or psychosis. Imo

I agree, even if a personality disorder made him more inclined to murder his family, he still would have known it was wrong and would have been able to stop himself, unlike someone who is psychotic.

 

[BabyButterfly]

I didn't even know there was another one. Had one of them filed in the past? That could explain some things.

There was just the one. Others are speculating about them filing again, which they wouldn't be allowed to do after only 3 years.

 

[PommyMommy]

JMO
I agree with most of your post but i thought he only killed 3 people and maybe a 4th if the unborn child is part of the charges. Can you help me understand how there are 5 first degree murder charges?

I should probably try to look up his charges but if you know it could help me understand. Thanks in advance.

Hi Hatfield. I know MassGuy has already answered your question, but thought I'd pass along this handy link where you can find all of the court documents including the arrest affidavit, complaint and all of the motions filed so far: Colorado Judicial Branch

I would think she could find a replacement. Jmo

I agree, she would find one easily.

Happy Birthday, @MsBetsy!

 

[Thepoet]

Imo the interest based on financial is to see what stress inducers or perhaps other events that were going on in the house could have added to perhaps motive or reasoning not justification. It is the same as exploring health care cost or possible alimony which we have discussed moo. Unfortunately money problems are common today for a lot of people but they also can attribute to murder.

Money problems don't normally lead to murder and since CW has already admitted to killing (2people) as well as to lying, cheating, and obstructing justice, I would think any logical investigation into motive and stress-inducers, would be into him and his actions/behavior. I would be interested in his financial life BEFORE he met SW. We know SW did well and was a homeowner BEFORE she met CW. The onus seems to be on CW.

 

[Mellowmelly]

We know that no one saw Cece and Bella after the birthday party.

We don't know if SW talked to her children while waiting for her flight.

We know that CW grilled Sunday and appeared to be alone.

We know that SW's shoes, purse, and suitcase were by the front door. In my experience most women do take off their shoes as soon as they can, but SW was very orderly and I believe she would have taken the suitcase upstairs and taken her shoes off in the closet, UNLESS she was going straight to check on the girls! In that case she would have immediately set the suitcase down and taken off her shoes (to be quiet) and gone straight up stairs. That conflicts with CW's version. What would she have found? Were the girls dead? No girls there? Is that when she was attacked?

CW changed the time of the "heated discussion" to 4:00, but we know he's a liar and has lied about everything. Did he lie about the time to make it look like SW was still alive at 4:00, even though he had already killed her?

IMHO the nightmare began before SW arrived home and reached a climax soon after she walked in the door. I base that on everything I have seen and read and how logic dictates the pieces should fit together!

I would appreciate any opinions, facts, or other scenarios.

I think sadly he killed his babies and removed them from the house before she returned and he ambushed her as soon or not long after she came home. If the babies were still alive and he killed SW first, I presume there may have been a struggle which could have awoken Bella and Cece. I don’t think they would have been quiet on witnessing their mother being attacked. I think there would have been lots of screaming and crying, which the neighbors could have heard. JMO and speculation.

 

[Best of What's Around]

We know that no one saw Cece and Bella after the birthday party.

We don't know if SW talked to her children while waiting for her flight.

We know that CW grilled Sunday and appeared to be alone.

We know that SW's shoes, purse, and suitcase were by the front door. In my experience most women do take off their shoes as soon as they can, but SW was very orderly and I believe she would have taken the suitcase upstairs and taken her shoes off in the closet, UNLESS she was going straight to check on the girls! In that case she would have immediately set the suitcase down and taken off her shoes (to be quiet) and gone straight up stairs. That conflicts with CW's version. What would she have found? Were the girls dead? No girls there? Is that when she was attacked?

CW changed the time of the "heated discussion" to 4:00, but we know he's a liar and has lied about everything. Did he lie about the time to make it look like SW was still alive at 4:00, even though he had already killed her?

IMHO the nightmare began before SW arrived home and reached a climax soon after she walked in the door. I base that on everything I have seen and read and how logic dictates the pieces should fit together!

I would appreciate any opinions, facts, or other scenarios.

Great summary! It is a difficult to call for me to make regarding whether the children were murdered before she came home. Logic dictates that if CW had pre-planned this, he would have considered the inherent riskiness that her flight could be rerouted, canceled, or she could have brought her friend in the house. That said, we know CW has defied logic on other issues, such as lying to police about a work affair that I assume would be easily found out by interviewing coworkers. I am inclined to believe if there was a rage moment with one or both of the children, this scenario makes more sense to me. I do not believe the heated discussion at 4 pm, since he changed it from 5. He has an interest in making his attempt to cover up the whole mess and the disgusting decision to dump the children in oil tanks look like an irrational, quick decision, IMO. That also fits with his likely excuse for not calling 911. I hope he murdered her in her sleep, followed by the children in their sleep, but he also could have ambushed her. Either way, I do not think he got any sleep that night. Does checking your phone for the time (which I imagine he was likely do to often if there were not clocks all over the house) log with the phone company or in the phone? Meaning - bringing the phone from sleep to wake? Would be interested to see if that was done repeatedly throughout those last few hours, IMO.

 

[MassGuy]

Experts have profile of fathers who kill family

This may have been posted, but it’s short and sweet.

Some things of note:
1. Typically triggered by a loss of some kind.
2. No prior instances of domestic violence is common.
3. Revenge seems to be a motive in many cases. These guys want to kill everything associated with their partner, everything that she loved (kids).
4. Usually comes out of nowhere.
5. Done to reestablish control.
6. Depressed or frustrated for a period of time.
7. Motives are complex

 

[rainynights]

We know that no one saw Cece and Bella after the birthday party.

We don't know if SW talked to her children while waiting for her flight.

We know that CW grilled Sunday and appeared to be alone.

We know that SW's shoes, purse, and suitcase were by the front door. In my experience most women do take off their shoes as soon as they can, but SW was very orderly and I believe she would have taken the suitcase upstairs and taken her shoes off in the closet, UNLESS she was going straight to check on the girls! In that case she would have immediately set the suitcase down and taken off her shoes (to be quiet) and gone straight up stairs. That conflicts with CW's version. What would she have found? Were the girls dead? No girls there? Is that when she was attacked?

CW changed the time of the "heated discussion" to 4:00, but we know he's a liar and has lied about everything. Did he lie about the time to make it look like SW was still alive at 4:00, even though he had already killed her?

IMHO the nightmare began before SW arrived home and reached a climax soon after she walked in the door. I base that on everything I have seen and read and how logic dictates the pieces should fit together!

I would appreciate any opinions, facts, or other scenarios.

IMO, CW would’ve thought that an “I was asleep all night” alibi would have been easy enough to avoid suspicion.

When he did see her, apparently it was at 2am, and was “real quick,” per one of his interviews.

So imagine CW in bed from around 2am-5am 2am-4am

Why would CW have pushed the conversation as far out as he could, but not as far as the time in which his truck backed into the garage? And why not say they had an emotional conversation way earlier, when she arrived at 2am?

IMO, seems he might have been trying to divert LE attention away from something that may have occurred between 2am - 4am. Jmo

 

[JDough]

He qualified for vip status on car according to her and perhaps some trips as well. With that status ranking I would think recruits and sales are considered for eligibility moo

This may be true. I cannot find any MSM articles, or information from the company verifying. (Trying to error on the side of caution regarding FB posts, per Tricia's new rule #8). Regardless, any sales from CW recruits would have increased their income.

 

[Best of What's Around]

IMO, CW would’ve thought that an “I was asleep all night” alibi would have been easy enough to avoid suspicion.

When he did see her, apparently it was at 2am, and was “real quick,” per one of his interviews.

So imagine CW in bed from around 2am-5am 2am-4am

Why would CW have pushed the conversation as far out as he could, but not as far as the time in which his truck backed into the garage? And why not say they had an emotional conversation way earlier, when she arrived at 2am?

IMO, seems he might have been trying to divert LE attention away from something that may have occurred between 2am - 4am. Jmo

Could be a myriad of reasons, but my best guess is that he wants to minimize his responsibility for the felonies he is admitting to - rage killing and transporting/dumping of bodies by saying he made a quick, self preservation/panic fueled decision to do these terrible things - not one he took hours to think about. Also gives a little bit of backstory to why he would not have called 911. I imagine an "It all happened so fast" - "Made a terrible decision in a split second" versus, "well, I spent a couple hours to think about it, and came up with committing more felonies" line. He wants to appear as sympathetic and relatable to the jury and public as possible, IMO. But he still fails spectacularly, IMO.

 

[MassGuy]

I think sadly he killed his babies and removed them from the house before she returned and he ambushed her as soon or not long after she came home. If the babies were still alive and he killed SW first, I presume there may have been a struggle which could have awoken Bella and Cece. I don’t think they would have been quiet on witnessing their mother being attacked. I think there would have been lots of screaming and crying, which the neighbors could have heard. JMO and speculation.

The kids very well may have been killed first, but the lack of screaming probably doesn’t provide evidence of this, one way or another.

The kids may not have heard anything. They may have and not screamed. They could have screamed and no one heard them (kids don’t scream as loud as adults). Some people freeze under stress and terror, the kids may have as well.

 

[Backstroke10]

Imo the interest based on financial is to see what stress inducers or perhaps other events that were going on in the house could have added to perhaps motive or reasoning not justification. It is the same as exploring health care cost or possible alimony which we have discussed moo. Unfortunately money problems are common today for a lot of people but they also can attribute to murder.

I agree Shekkiec. IMO A lot of theories, guesses, ideas, have been posted as to what would lead a seemingly normal man to commit these crimes. Some of the theories are very unpopular and some have been dissected and discussed again and again. I posted my theory as to what happened on a previous thread (CW being gay and not wanting his secret revealed) and while it definitely does not fit with the majority, I felt very safe posting it on here. I think we are all asking questions, throwing ideas out, even if they don't seem to be relevant, because this is a safe place to do so and our family/friends are probably sick of talking about this case. I know mine are.