Found Deceased CO - Shanann Watts (34), Celeste"Cece" (3) and Bella (4), Frederick, 13 Aug 2018 *Arrest* #43

[WildWest]

Thanks, but this is for the Watts case, the case for the sealing of the autopsies is, I believe, in another court?

Maybe this?

Weld County Coroner files petition to seal autopsy reports in Christopher Watts case

 

[nwmouse]

Here's what happened yesterday - re his house. I couldn't post it yesterday, as the thread was closed. New "stuff" in red.

Friday, October 26th:
*Return Date on Summons Hearing (House) (@ 8:30am MT) - CO – Shanann Watts (34) (was 15 wks pregnant), Celeste “CeCe” (3) & Bella (4) (Aug. 13, 2018, Frederick; Shanann found 8/16/18 in open field, 2 girls found 8/17/18 in a crude oil tank) – *Christopher Lee Watts (33) arrested (8/15/18) & charged (8/20/18) on 3 counts of 1st degree murder, 2 counts of 1st degree murder of under age of 12 yrs old, 1 count of unlawfully terminating a pregnancy & 3 counts of tampering with evidence. Held without bond.
Confessed to killing, but now blaming Shanann for killing 2 girls.
8/21/18 Update: Waives his right to Prelim hearing within 35 days, defense wants to postpone next hearing for 60 days, did not enter any plea. Next Status hearing on 11/19.
9/21/18 Update: Watts' defense attorneys filed a motion on Friday (9/21) saying they could not respond to the prosecution's request because they did not yet have the reports. The motion argued the prosecution has not met its "constitutional obligations" to turn over evidence to the defense, and thus was in violation of due process of law and was undermining the fairness of the proceedings. Watts' attorneys also filed a motion requesting a protective order that would allow them to withhold information about confidential jail visits. While Kopcow denied the request, he provided an alternative for the defense. Judge Kopcow handling the Watts case has ordered the prosecution to hand deliver the autopsy reports to Watts' defense attorneys by Tuesday (9/25) after they accused the prosecution of withholding evidence. Judge Kopcow also denied the defense's motion for a protective order that would prohibit the Weld County Sheriff's Office from disclosing information about confidential jail visits.
9/25/18 Update: The autopsy reports for Shanann Watts and her children are not yet available, which is why the prosecution has not provided them to Christopher Watts’ defense attorneys, according to a motion filed Tuesday by Weld County District Attorney Michael Rourke.
10/12/18 Update: DA filed motion to seal autopsy report, Judge denies motion.
10/15/18 Update: The Weld County Coroner Carl Blesch filed a petition Monday requesting the court keep the autopsy reports sealed at this time.
10/19/18 Update: The defense attorneys are asking for a hearing on the coroner's petition to seal the autopsy reports, arguing against the coroner's request for a closed hearing on the issue. In a motion filed to the criminal case against Watts Friday (10/19/18), the defense argues a hearing is necessary to determine the merit of the arguments for sealing the autopsies. According to that motion, the defense also filed a motion to intervene in the coroner's petition, which is a civil case, Friday. The defense said it filed the motion in the criminal case "out of an abundance of caution."
10/23/18 Update: Weld District Attorney Michael Rourke filed a motion Tuesday (10/23) in Weld District Court asking to be represented at a hearing on whether the autopsy reports in the Watts homicide case should be sealed. The Tribune & other media partners across Colorado have filed a motion contesting the potential seal of the autopsy reports. In the motion to intervene, Rourke argues releasing the autopsy reports could jeopardize the investigation and prosecution of Watts. A hearing on the potential sealing of the autopsy reports has not been set.

Thank you SO MUCH for this update!

 

[Gardener1850]

According to the article, it could also be health records of the victims.

I finally remembered what I wanted to ask about this motion to hide the health records. Jumping off your post because you reminded me Doghairrules (thank you) but this is a question for anyone who wants to discuss-- Throughout these threads a few have implied that the defense will bring up Shanann and the girls' health issues (Lupus, nut allergies and asthma) as if those health issues are somehow evidence she could have flipped out and harmed her daughters. I don't believe there is anything in their medical records that will show that possibility. However, I'm curious how the defense could be looking to use this sealing of Shanann's medical records-- will they try to make claims about what is in the sealed records? On the flip side, could there be something in Shanann's medical records that would harm the defense (evidence of an STD or evidence SW was abused?)
Sorry if it's dumb question, but I have not followed too many court cases closely, so I don't know how this usually works if they seal the medical records of a victim. Do we think Shanann's medical records are more likely to help or hurt CW's case? Okay, discuss.

 

[Tippy Lynn]

WHY SO SECRETIVE?
Chris Watts Is Denied Motion To Keep Prison Visitors Log Private

Chris Watts Is Denied Motion To Keep Prison Visitors Log Private

Why so secretive? To protect his visitors identity/privacy.
jmo

 

[DexterMorgan]

Why so secretive? To protect his visitors identity/privacy.
jmo

Tippy. Radar online had that as the top page title. I just copied and paste.

 

[Tippy Lynn]

Tippy. Radar online had that as the top page title. I just copied and paste.

I know My post was mocking the title of the article.

 

[DexterMorgan]

I know My post was mocking the title of the article.

Duly noted. They can be salacious some times. But only his support system should be visiting him. So who (out of his immediate circle) is sneaking themselves over there?

 

[Mrspratcher]

Respectfully, the original motion by the prosecutor WAS extremely unusual - the party making it, the rationale proffered and the venue in which it was made. And that’s why the judge ruled as he did.

The current motion is not strange at all.

And you say this because of your time working at a CO DA’s office? While you were working at the CO DA’s office did the coroner file a lot of these petitions?

Why do you think the prosecution filed the original motion?

I’m very interested in what you have to say, as you have experience with CO criminal laws and procedure.

 

[Tippy Lynn]

Duly noted. They can be salacious some times. But only his support system should be visiting him. So who (out of his immediate circle) is sneaking themselves over there?

It's hard to say?

 

[MyBelle]

I finally remembered what I wanted to ask about this motion to hide the health records. Jumping off your post because you reminded me Doghairrules (thank you) but this is a question for anyone who wants to discuss-- Throughout these threads a few have implied that the defense will bring up Shanann and the girls' health issues (Lupus, nut allergies and asthma) as if those health issues are somehow evidence she could have flipped out and harmed her daughters. I don't believe there is anything in their medical records that will show that possibility. However, I'm curious how the defense could be looking to use this sealing of Shanann's medical records-- will they try to make claims about what is in the sealed records? On the flip side, could there be something in Shanann's medical records that would harm the defense (evidence of an STD or evidence SW was abused?)
Sorry if it's dumb question, but I have not followed too many court cases closely, so I don't know how this usually works if they seal the medical records of a victim. Do we think Shanann's medical records are more likely to help or hurt CW's case? Okay, discuss.

I think the request is the defense trying to protect CW's rights of due process from now until trial and don't want public discussion before then and don't want information leaked. JMO

 

[Amandaaa]

And you say this because of your time working at a CO DA’s office? While you were working at the CO DA’s office did the coroner file a lot of these petitions?

Why do you think the prosecution filed the original motion?

I’m very interested in what you have to say, as you have experience with CO criminal laws and procedure.

No, the coroner did not file a lot of petitions to seal reports when I was there. In fact, none at all (that I’m aware of). And in all my decades of practice, I have *never* seen a prosecutor file a motion like this.

In the context of CORA (in the general sense) it isn’t strange to have a petition by the custodian - that follows the regular statutory procedure. That’s why I said the current one isn’t odd. I wouldn’t be surprised by it - even if I disagreed with it.

I have no way of knowing why the DA filed the motion, and I am as interested in finding out as everyone else. If I had to guess, though, I would say that there was something in the reports they didn’t expect. They filed before they had the final report - that, in and of itself, is strange - since CORA doesn’t even apply at that stage. And, from my experience (in Colorado and other states) they would have had most of the preliminary results by then.

ETA: I also find their rationale strange. Of course, we don’t know the contents of those reports so it’s impossible to know for sure.

 

[Tippy Lynn]

No, the coroner did not file a lot of petitions to seal reports when I was there. In fact, none at all.

In the context of CORA (in the general sense) it isn’t strange to have a petition by the custodian - that follows the regular statutory procedure. That’s why I said the current one isn’t odd. I wouldn’t be surprised by it - even if I disagreed with it.

I have no way of knowing why the DA filed the motion, and I am as interested in finding out as everyone else. If I had to guess, though, I would say that there was something in the reports they didn’t expect. They filed before they had the final report - that, in and of itself, is strange - since CORA doesn’t even apply at that stage. And, from my experience (in Colorado and other states) they would have had most of the preliminary results by then.

ETA: I also find their rationale strange. Of course, we don’t know the contents of those reports so it’s impossible to know for sure.

I'm with you....I think the reason why the DA filed the motion is because there's something unexpected in them. IMO they'll be unsealed.
jmo

 

[Best of What's Around]

I think the request is the defense trying to protect CW's rights of due process from now until trial and don't want public discussion before then and don't want information leaked. JMO

Too bad we can’t do the same for SW and the girls’ autopsy reports to similarly protect their rights until the trial.

 

[Best of What's Around]

I'm with you....I think the reason why the DA filed the motion is because there's something unexpected in them. IMO they'll be unsealed.
jmo

I imagine if it was anything truly exculpatory for the defense, they would have been shouting from the rooftops to have them released ASAP.

 

[Amandaaa]

Duly noted. They can be salacious some times. But only his support system should be visiting him. So who (out of his immediate circle) is sneaking themselves over there?

My guess on this is that it’s someone related to the defense and the revelation of the name/identity alone would actually end up revealing much more.

 

[Tippy Lynn]

I imagine if it was anything truly exculpatory for the defense, they would have been shouting from the rooftops to have them released ASAP.

The prosecution filed the first motion to have them sealed and the defense and media is asking for them to be released.
jmo

 

[Johnny1181]

I imagine if it was anything truly exculpatory for the defense, they would have been shouting from the rooftops to have them released ASAP.

I wholeheartedly agree with you. I don't think there is anything in those reports that will help the defense. I can see how the details, which will be shocking to see in black and white even having a theory of what happened in advance, could potentially taint a jury pool against the defendant. jmo

 

[Amandaaa]

I finally remembered what I wanted to ask about this motion to hide the health records. Jumping off your post because you reminded me Doghairrules (thank you) but this is a question for anyone who wants to discuss-- Throughout these threads a few have implied that the defense will bring up Shanann and the girls' health issues (Lupus, nut allergies and asthma) as if those health issues are somehow evidence she could have flipped out and harmed her daughters. I don't believe there is anything in their medical records that will show that possibility. However, I'm curious how the defense could be looking to use this sealing of Shanann's medical records-- will they try to make claims about what is in the sealed records? On the flip side, could there be something in Shanann's medical records that would harm the defense (evidence of an STD or evidence SW was abused?)
Sorry if it's dumb question, but I have not followed too many court cases closely, so I don't know how this usually works if they seal the medical records of a victim. Do we think Shanann's medical records are more likely to help or hurt CW's case? Okay, discuss.

It’s not really the sealing of the health records - those would be protected from disclosure anyway.

The defense requested to file a pleading under seal - so the contents of that particular document would not be readily known - and their rationale was that the pleading would contain protected health information. If the pleading wasn’t sealed, the protected health records would be disclosed in violation of the law.


The information could be relating to any one (or more) of the four of them. At this time, we don’t know which records they are referring to, what those records would show, or how (or for what reason) they would be referenced in the pleading.

 

[Johnny1181]

The prosecution filed the first motion to have them sealed and the defense and media is asking for them to be released.
jmo

I don't see that in the initial filing from the defense stating their position on this to the court. In fact they state basically it doesn't matter because the chance of the defendant receiving a fair trial is so substantially damaged releasing or not releasing the results won't impact anything.

To me this is not the defense being eager for them to be released. Seems more like a strategy for appeals or change of venue.

All jmo.

Edited to include document link
https://www.courts.state.co.us/userfiles/file/Court_Probation/19th_Judicial_District/caseofinterest/2018CR2003/D 039 Notice(1).pdf

 

[MyBelle]

I imagine if it was anything truly exculpatory for the defense, they would have been shouting from the rooftops to have them released ASAP.

The defense doesn't control the release of the autopsy reports. They are supposed to be public records and if the Judge does release them, the media will have their experts do the analyzing. The defense has its hands full focusing on their job and they seem to be doing a stellar job. JMO