Found Deceased CO - Shanann Watts (34), Celeste"Cece" (3) and Bella (4), Frederick, 13 Aug 2018 *CW GUILTY* #46

[idfinch]

I woke up still upset and angry.

Angry and sad that Shanann's brother, rather than being able to be relieved and find a fraction of comfort in the fact that CW will never walk free again and they were spared a trial, left that courthouse with so much bitterness that his first message was to lash out at those who continually revictimized Shanann and her children in the ugliest ways. To ask the doubters and attackers to leave their family alone once again.

What they're going through is enough of a nightmare just losing Shanann, Bella, Cece and Nico. Especially at the hands of a man they all trusted, including her family. I'm still just so bothered by the way her character was needlessly and viciously destroyed and assassinated.

I hope like heck that a lot of info comes out after the 19th that makes the entire crime very clear, and CW's status as a FA solidified without room for doubt. To the sane and rational, anyway. I'd like to see some public apologies and backtracking. I'm not holding my breath.

 

[Madison418]

If there were any life insurance policies I hope her family will be able to collect on them. I believe they’ll be able to sell the house and collect any gains. Not that any of it matters to them

Now that’s he’s plead guilty to all charges will her family still be able to file a wrongful death against him?

I would think they can, but what difference would it make? He has no assets and is already paying restitution for the funerals/burials.

I was wondering about selling the house. Like will anyone actually buy it? I know I wouldn't want to live there and I suspect many people would feel the same way. I hope maybe someone buys it and guts it and remodels it so it's totally different and the family gets any proceeds from the sale. But I also think it may go to the bank...

 

[gitana1]

I'm so glad that CW pled guilty to all charges. This must be a huge relief for both families.

I really look forward to hearing from the DA after sentencing (my new legal crush), in order that we learn more and that we can somehow learn to spot how to prevent this awfulness happening again. I think a great job undertaken by both legal teams working together for the benefit of the victims families.

Great respect to @Amandaaa for keeping a cool head under pressure and also to @MerryB and @Tippy Lynn for considering all possibilities - sometimes it good to think outside the box!

Greatest respect, for Shan'anns parents. I hope that their lives, whilst forever changed, contains lots of happiness.

Thinking of the Watts family too; whilst their son may still be alive, he is not the son they knew and loved and they have paid an awful price too.

Hopefully, this thread can now move forward on a more compassionate and harmonious footing.

The thing is, the profile of family annihilators is well known. And was discussed extensively on here with repeated comparisons of various cases.

None of that matters though if people steadfastly discount those clear signs because they are intent on thinking creatively.

 

[sun16]

I know reality and evidence played it’s part, but since he abandoned his lies and folded this easily after only 3 months, I don’t see him making it inside after a year or two (if even that long). Maybe he’ll become institutionalized and function, but he seems too weak to me in many ways to survive that. No way IMO we’re going to have to worry about funding his existence for 30-50 years.

 

[BabyButterfly]

You may be right about the SW/CW dynamics, but if so they hid it well. Nobody knew. Including NAU. She didn't call the police just because SW's husband said she was out She started out concerned about SW's health when she missed a meeting and didn't answer her phone. She went by the house to check on her but though she had a key NAU couldn't get in because both doors were locked from the inside. The only other way out of the house was through the garage, but SW's car was still there with the kids car seats in place. So she called CW who told her he thought SW was at a play date somewhere, but didn't remember w/who.

SW continued to miss other morning appointents, so NAU went back to the house where all physical indications still suggesting SW never left the house. NAU called Chris again and asked him to come home to check on SW and the girls. This time he told he was too busy to come home but not to worry because he and SW had separated and she probably just left or something. When the next door neighbor told NAU her security camera showed CW backing his truck into the garage around 5:00 a.m, driving away about 15 minutes later and no sign of Shanann NAU called CW a third time, When he still didn't want to come home, THEN she called the police.

One of the most disturbing things about the murders is nobody saw it coming. Shanann shared a lot with her friends but not once did she express concern for her own safety or that of the girls. Some people who knew the couple thought CW was quiet and maybe shy, but nobody thought he was dangerous or even had a temper. Maybe they had garden-variety marriage issues but nothing unusual or alarming. If there were red flags, everyone missed them.

Thank you! For everything.

I agree, no red flags, ever. No speak of feeling like she was in danger.

Yay, I was finally able to make a post without bursting into tears.

 

[idfinch]

I would think they can, but what difference would it make? He has no assets and is already paying restitution for the funerals/burials.

I was wondering about selling the house. Like will anyone actually buy it? I know I wouldn't want to live there and I suspect many people would feel the same way. I hope maybe someone buys it and guts it and remodels it so it's totally different and the family gets any proceeds from the sale. But I also think it may go to the bank...

I would think Shanann's family would have the rights to sell the house and settle their debts and estate. I don't know if CW's family would have any rights or claim, or if they'd bother?

I don't think they'll have too much of an issue selling the house. Most people would be repulsed by living there, but some would just see it as an investment and gut it. Sadly there are some who would want it just for the sick notoriety of it.

 

[NuttMegg]

Trying to understand a little more of the legal aspects....apparently he can do the plea bargain, basically confessing to a crime, but there is no particular requirement that the murderer has to give out more details on the how and why?
That the DA, and family would be happy just to have justice move along but not necessarily receive any more details than are available in the autopsy, possibly the transcripts of his interrogations, witness accounts, etc.
Apparently he really doesn't have to say anything at all aside from confessing?
Am I reading this right?

 

[NuttMegg]

I would think they can, but what difference would it make? He has no assets and is already paying restitution for the funerals/burials.

I was wondering about selling the house. Like will anyone actually buy it? I know I wouldn't want to live there and I suspect many people would feel the same way. I hope maybe someone buys it and guts it and remodels it so it's totally different and the family gets any proceeds from the sale. But I also think it may go to the bank...

Earlier on the threads, weeks ago, ppl were saying that the house has appreciated so much that the sale of it would yield 100k profit. Sorry I don't have a link, it was a discussion between real estate savvy posters regarding that particular house. IMO IIRC IIRC IIRC

 

[gitana1]

Had there been any evidence of sexual abuse that DA wouldn’t have let CW slide. He would have charged him. But CW plead guilty to 3 deliberate murders, but we’ve seen no evidence of premeditation. There has to be something we don’t know about. The autopsy reports? Text messages? Internet searches?

You can't kill three people at once via strangulation. So at least two murders were premeditated.

But yeah, I agree there's more that shows he wanted out. And badly.

 

[BabyButterfly]

That couple of hours on this thread yesterday was mesmerizing, my heart was in my mouth so to speak.. So glad that he confessed that Shan'nan did not kill them. .

It really was mesmerizing, wasn't it? I could barely read through tears, but could not stop! I was reading the news from here, to another friend of Shananns who was at work and couldn't watch news.

 

[ReckoningDay]

The thing is, the profile of family annihilators is well known. And was discussed extensively on here with repeated comparisons of various cases.

None of that matters though if people steadfastly discount those clear signs because they are intent on thinking creatively.

Yes, the creative thinking! Arrgghh! I posted on that many threads ago, and can't find it now, but it was along the lines of "Some people watch too much CSI or read too many Agatha Christie novels or something!" Some always want to turn it into a complicated case with twists and surprise endings. But most times, when the facts are laid out and you find out the suspect is a conniving liar, it is actually pretty clear cut after that! I just always fear the killer will "luck out" and get a Casey Anthony jury!

 

[Zella]

I know reality and evidence played it’s part, but since he abandoned his lies and folded this easily after only 3 months, I don’t see him making it inside after a year or two (if even that long). Maybe he’ll become institutionalized and function, but he seems too weak to me in many ways to survive that. No way IMO we’re going to have to worry about funding his existence for 30-50 years.

This was my first thought as well. It would not surprise me if he attempts or commits suicide.

I found it interesting in the article that it claimed he decided to take the plea after he realized his life was over. As in, he apparently harbored the belief he had a legitimate chance at trial, and it was only when his lawyers thoroughly disabused him of the notion that he realized the best he was getting is life in prison. I think if that's his train of thought, he is probably not going to try to make the best of his situation in prison and instead will actively seek his only other way out.

Is he still on suicide watch, I presume?

 

[NuttMegg]

It really was mesmerizing, wasn't it? I could barely read through tears, but could not stop! I was reading the news from here, to another friend of Shananns who was at work and couldn't watch news.

That must have been so stressful for you, but in a relatively satisfying way.

 

[Madison418]

Earlier on the threads, weeks ago, ppl were saying that the house has appreciated so much that the sale of it would yield 100k profit. Sorry I don't have a link, it was a discussion between real estate savvy posters regarding that particular house. IMO IIRC IIRC IIRC

Wow, that's considerable and surprising

 

[Zella]

I wasn't able to watch the press conference yesterday. Am I correct in understanding that they are still not clear on who was killed first?

 

[NuttMegg]

Wow, that's considerable and surprising

Take it with a grain of "IIRC" please. Maybe one of those posters will weigh in.

 

[JDough]

Yep. Think of even just the little things we do on a daily basis that we take for granted. Watching Netflix, ordering a pizza, deciding to make pancakes at 3am. Going for a walk. Deciding to go see a movie. Hanging out with friends. Watch a sunset. Visit the ocean.

He can do none of these things. None.

For the rest of his natural life. He sleeps on an uncomfortable mattress, eats only what is given to him at certain times of the day. He gets no real choices in anything.

That’s somewhat satisfying.

It's ironic, isn't it?

All of the negative comments about how Shanann "dictated" everything in his daily life.......

Apparently, that's what he feels he needs- someone to tell him what to do, how to do it, when to do it....... only now it will be jail guards, and not a beautiful, loving wife.

He won't ever have to mow the lawn, take out the trash, open the mail, eat meals that his wife lovingly prepared for him, grill steaks, participate in family games, play Santa Claus, attend Metallica concerts, or go on cushy Thrive trips ever again.

He has chosen, by his own actions, to continue the lifestyle so many have claimed he hated. I wonder if he hates what he had now?

 

[Madison418]

Take it with a grain of "IIRC" please. Maybe one of those posters will weigh in.

Lol, I did with the 3 "IIRC"s

 

[ReckoningDay]

It's ironic, isn't it?

All of the negative comments about how Shanann "dictated" everything in his daily life.......

Apparently, that's what he feels he needs- someone to tell him what to do, how to do it, when to do it....... only now it will be jail guards, and not a beautiful, loving wife.

He won't ever have to mow the lawn, take out the trash, open the mail, eat meals that his wife lovingly prepared for him, grill steaks, participate in family games, play Santa Claus, attend Metallica concerts, or go on cushy Thrive trips ever again.

He has chosen, by his own actions, to continue the lifestyle so many have claimed he hated. I wonder if he hates what he had now?

Oh so true!

 

[gitana1]

A source close to CW said he didn’t want to plead guilty to murdering his wife and daughters but his lawyers helped him realize that given the extensive evidence against him and his own damning behavior during the investigation, he had little choice. He said, “Their evidence against him was overwhelming. There was physical evidence and his own words that would convict him. His story didn’t work. He got angry. He didn’t want to plead guilty. But he really had no choice, considering the evidence. It took a little bit of time for him to come around, but he did.”

The defence team approached the DA several weeks ago about a possible plea — not the other way around. Four days ago the decision was made to remove the death penalty from the table if he agreed to plead guilty. The source said, “There was some yelling, and some crying but eventually he acknowledged that his life was over after he killed Shan’ann”. It wasn’t even clear until this week if he would change his mind.

How Chris Watts Decided to Plead to Killing Family: 'Eventually He Acknowledged His Life Was Over'

Remorse? Absolutely not. He was yelling and crying for himself. He knew the evidence was overwhelming and he probably was in a rage when he knew he had no choice unless he wanted to gamble on the death penalty. His lawyers must have been very persuasive.

Was he thinking of his family? Absolutely not. If he didn't think of his immediate family as he squeezed the last remaining breath from their bodies, why would he think of his parents etc. Nope, this was all about him.

Yes. And let's be clear. Innocent fathers don't ever, ever, ever plead guilty to the first degree, premeditated murders of their children for ANY reason.

And the death penalty was likely little motivation for CW here. It's meaningless in CO for the most part.

He knew he was guilty. He knew the evidence was clear. He knew he would have to sit there and watch his family, friends, the entire nation and beyond, listen to the lurid details of what he did as why. But by bit by bit. In dramatic testimony. In texts he wrote and internet searches he made. Etc.

He conceded because he is guilty and knew how awful the process of going through trial to get a verdict, would be, for HIM.