Found Deceased CO - Shanann Watts (34), Celeste"Cece" (3) and Bella (4), Frederick, 13 Aug 2018 *Arrest* #44

[gitana1]

Agreed. IMO there is zero chance this is happening Tuesday or any day really.
In relation, do you know if a plea bargain would prevent evidence like the autopsy from being released? I didn't think this was the case.

Of course not!

All this discussion about CORA and the absurdity of the request to keep it sealed, how the law won't allow that, and now we are to believe that the state is going to totally capitulate because they don't want the results to get out?

That makes no sense. The report would be immediately released. There would be no grounds to seal it.

 

[gitana1]

How would a plea deal prevent the release of the autopsy report and any “disparaging” info about SW getting out? This sounds too rich even for a Lifetime movie IMO.

It wouldn't. I believe there are prurient rumors out there about her character that people have latched onto (and apparently think will be revealed via the autopsy) because some close to CW have been very effective in painting her as a villain. But it's really at the point when it is beyond the bounds of reason, IMO.

 

[Thepoet]

I've seen mention of garbage bags in several posts. Did he use them or are people merely presupposing he did?

LE found a non-porous bag with a foot print on it, at the oil site. It's assumed it was a bare foot print because shortly thereafter, the prosecution filed a motion for his foot print, measurements, etc.

 

[Thepoet]

Agreed. IMO there is zero chance this is happening Tuesday or any day really.
In relation, do you know if a plea bargain would prevent evidence like the autopsy from being released? I didn't think this was


Deleted by me, duplicated other post. Sorry!

Deleted by me, duplicated other post. Sorry!

 

[Tortoise]

LE found a non-porous bag with a foot print on it, at the oil site. It's assumed it was a bare foot print because shortly thereafter, the prosecution filed a motion for his foot print, measurements, etc.

Interesting. Thank you. Also weird, thinking he may have somehow gotten a bare footprint on it. Perhaps he took his shoes off so as to avoid getting soil (from digging) in the treads that could be traced to the location? Very careful if so...

 

[Thepoet]

It wouldn't. I believe there are prurient rumors out there about her character that people have latched onto (and apparently think will be revealed via the autopsy) because some close to CW have been very effective in painting her as a villain. But it's really at the point when it is beyond the bounds of reason, IMO.

I must have been writing my response while you were posting yours sorry.

 

[Tortoise]

Interesting. Thank you. Also weird, thinking he may have somehow gotten a bare footprint on it. Perhaps he took his shoes off so as to avoid getting soil (from digging) in the treads that could be traced to the location? Very careful if so...

But not so careful as to have thought about burying the bag or the sheet.

 

[gitana1]

But not so careful as to have thought about burying the bag or the sheet.

Maybe he just ran out of time.

 

[MerryB]

Hi Bee, thanks for your response, here's MO.....
I can't see how Prosecution blocking release of the autopsy implies the results are unfavourable for the Prosecution? The results will be out in trial regardless. IMO. Are you actually saying that because the autopsy results favour the defense, Prosecution don't want them released? Really? As I see it, it's avoiding publising critical and sensitive information in a very high profile case. JMO

A plea of guilty to killing SW, to which he's already confessed isn't any kind of win to the DA IMO. That would mean that SW might be held accountable for the deaths of her daughters. I can't see the DA looking the family in the eye with that result, let alone celebrate it as any kind of "win".

I might be wrong, but the Judge suggested a date of October for the next hearing, when Defense said this may be too soon, the Judge wasn't available for another 4 or so weeks. Might it be that an opportunity became available and both parties were happy to proceed asap? But you may well be correct, something may well be up, we are about to find out.

All MOO

Yes, you could very well be right as well, Mark. It does seem like something is going on, and it’s interesting to consider all the possibilities. It also could be nothing, just a schedule change as you suggested. Luckily we will soon find out!

 

[Tortoise]

Excuse my ignorance...if the autopsies are sealed does that mean the defence didn't get to see them yet?

 

[Mark Morris]

Defense has seen them

 

[MassGuy]

Death kills humans, what happens afterward is a different issue. A dead body concealed is a dead body concealed no matter where it might be hidden afterwards. I'm not on some kind of religious high-horse about "desecration" because the bodies were already dead and the charges against CW reflect that fact.

I seriously doubt a jury will conclude guilt on first degree murder based only on the fact he concealed the bodies. The prosecutor must prove the charge of murder and concealment of the bodies is secondary and a lessor offense. JMO

To treat the bodies of your loved ones as if they are garbage, is not normal behavior. It is the opposite of a loving act.

I find the idea that one has to be on “a religious high horse” to find body desecration appalling, quite frankly appalling in and of itself.

This has nothing to do with religion, and everything to to with being human.

I don’t understand how people are able to excuse it, even if they don’t have a visceral reaction to it.

What he did with the bodies is evidence of “consciousness of guilt,” something entirely relevant to the murder charges.

Good luck to the defense, who will seek to downplay these actions.

 

[MerryB]

How would a plea deal prevent the release of the autopsy report and any “disparaging” info about SW getting out? This sounds too rich even for a Lifetime movie IMO.

My understanding is that the autopsy would ultimately come out, but if there is not a trial I would think much less would be known about medical records, witness testimony to past behavior, texts & computer searches, etc.

 

[Thepoet]

Excuse my ignorance...if the autopsies are sealed does that mean the defence didn't get to see them yet?

The autopsy results have been turned over to the defense.

 

[NuttMegg]

My understanding is that the autopsy would ultimately come out, but if there is not a trial I would think much less would be known about medical records, witness testimony to past behavior, texts & computer searches, etc.

Probably we would miss seeing the texts between CW and all the APs. Like whether or not there was an ultimatum or breakup on the murder weekend.

 

[gitana1]

Hi All—I haven’t been on in a while due to the fact that there hasn’t been anything new in this case, but peeked in with the news of the status hearing being moved up to Tuesday.

While I have very little legal literacy, this development seems important to me. When reading about a status conference in a criminal court case, it says: “A status hearing in a criminal case is a pre-trial conference made in an effort to resolve the case without it having to go to trial. It generally takes place with the judge, the prosecution, the defendant and the defendant's lawyer in attendance.”

I’ve included my reference below.

IF that’s the case here, IMO, there is absolutely *no way* the DA would agree to resolve this case (AKA make a plea deal) at this point in time if CW was guilty of murdering his children.

IF this is a plea, I think it has to mean that the autopsy (which prosecution wants sealed) and most likely the investigation (texts, interviews, forensics) contain damaging information that the DA & SW’s family don’t want out, and CW’s version of events is in fact what happened. I can’t see any other reason they’d offer a plea deal at this point, if that’s what this is.

MOO

What Is a Status Hearing in a Criminal Case?

What that link refers to would actually just be called, from what I've seen, a pretrial conference in CO. Not a status conference.

It appears there is a difference. In CO pretrial conferences appear to occur after the arraignment.

This matter is set for 30 minutes per the docket. It appears to be nothing more than a status hearing at which they schedule arraignment and determine whether the defendant wants a preliminary hearing and if so, when to set that.

But @Amandaaa, who worked as a CO D.A., should be able to quickly let us know definitively what status conferences are for in the state of CO prior to arraignment.

 

[Best of What's Around]

My understanding is that the autopsy would ultimately come out, but if there is not a trial I would think much less would be known about medical records, witness testimony to past behavior, texts & computer searches, etc.

In this scenario, is there a special ops CIA type conspiracy on the part of the DA on behalf of SW to force CW, his family, and supporters into remaining quiet about exculpatory evidence should there be this plea deal? Is that how it stays quiet?

 

[kkdj]

But not so careful as to have thought about burying the bag or the sheet.

Do we have verification it was his footprint on the bag?

 

[Tortoise]

Do we have verification it was his footprint on the bag?

I wouldn't have thought so. The State's been pretty good about protecting the integrity of their case I believe.

 

[gitana1]

My understanding is that the autopsy would ultimately come out, but if there is not a trial I would think much less would be known about medical records, witness testimony to past behavior, texts & computer searches, etc.

But your post mentioned them entering into a deal which would be the equivalent of the state throwing in the towel, because of not wanting the autopsy to get out.

As an aside, it's interesting that we have had these conversations about how whatever is in the autopsy report, while "good" for the defense, is probably not exculpatory or enough to lead to a request for bond, but suddenly it's all enough for the state to give in and agree to a plea that allows him to get off for the murders of his daughters!

That hasn't been stated but that's what I'm getting from "insinuations."