Found Deceased CO - Shanann Watts (34, dec.), Celeste"Cece" (3) and Bella (4), Frederick, 13 Aug 2018 *Arrest* #2

[WildcatRunner]

Is he not being charged for killing his unborn child as well?

Colorado does not have a law against killing an unborn child.

 

[cricket]

So sad. When a child dies, so many people are impacted For the rest of their lives. Grief is not something you get over, it's a sadness that you learn to integrate into your life, for the rest of your life.

Colorado303, it's too soon right now, but in a month or so, her parents and brother may want to check out The Compassionate Friends. It's a nationwide organization for parents siblings and grandparents who have lost a child (any age, any cause) . Over 600 chapters in the US. A friend told me about it when my youngest son died, and it has really helped me learn healthy ways to cope.

So sad.

 

[WildcatRunner]

I am not sure he will be charged for the death of the baby.

Colorado fetal homicide bill mired in familiar, complicated debate – The Denver Post

I don't expect he will. There's been ongoing debate here about it, and thus far a law has never passed to make killing an unborn child illegal.

 

[AllGrace]

I knew it from the first moment I learned of this story. Cannot remember what page I said it on the first thread. Kudos to the friend who was right on it so he couldn't hide evidence in time. And I want to look at him and laugh mockingly. "You thought you were so tough and killed them all, yet you caved within 48 hours and confessed". (Not sure if that makes sense...but it is so ironic to me).

 

[WildcatRunner]

I imagine he will.

Colorado does not have a law against killing an unborn child. It is only murder if proven the child took a breath outside the womb before death.

 

[Mercedes]

Also this:

Chris and Shanann Watts jointly filed for chapter 7 bankruptcy in June 2015 in Colorado federal court, court records show. Chris Watts was working at the time for an oil and gas company, Anadarko Petroleum Corp., but it is not clear if he is still employed there. The couple was about $448,000 in debt at the time. The bankruptcy case was closed in October 2015.

Online court records also show Chris and Shanann Watts were sued for financial reasons by their homeowners association, Wyndham Hill Master Association Inc., on July 12, 2018. Details about that case were not immediately available. They were due in court on August 24. An attorney was not listed in court records for the Watts.

Perhaps they weren’t paying the HOA fees.

 

[CTPDMom]

Is he not being charged for killing his unborn child as well?

I imagine he will.

He won't, he can't be charged as the law stands.

Unborn Victims of Violence Act of 2004

The Unborn Victims of Violence Act of 2004 (Public Law 108-212) is a United States law which recognizes an embryo or fetus in utero as a legal victim, if they are injured or killed during the commission of any of over 60 listed federal crimes of violence. The law defines "child in utero" as "a member of the species sapiens, at any stage of development, who is carried in the womb"

Unborn Victims of Violence Act - Wikipedia

This was not a federal crime, it was a state jurisdiction one. So this doesn't apply.

I am not sure he will be charged for the death of the baby.

Colorado fetal homicide bill mired in familiar, complicated debate – The Denver Post

Exactly. The law varies from state to state. CO currently has no law allowing them to charge him for murder of the fetus she was pregnant with.

 

[BUF]

Article with quite a bit of info, listing Shannan's maiden name, family info. (Sorry if not posting this correctly, I am still somewhat a newbie.)
Chris Watts: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know | Heavy.com

Thank you and you posted just fine!

 

[jkloc420]

Yes. But language that could be interpreted to mean something happened to him to cause him to not be able to control himself or that was out of his control, like he was pushed to do something, bothers me.

Because for too long people have blamed victims of domestic violence (I know you're not doing that BTW), for the violence perpetrated on them: "What did you do to cause him to hit you?" "Oh her nagging pushed him to smack her."

I'm just sensitive about the words used because I want it clear that he was in control and made the decision to do this. He had a choice.

Im not blaming her at all, the guy is obviously a whack a doo. I am just courious what was going on in his head to make him murder 3 people. I am just wondering if they were fighting by phone while she was on her business trip.

 

[jkloc420]

Yes. But language that could be interpreted to mean something happened to him to cause him to not be able to control himself or that was out of his control, like he was pushed to do something, bothers me.

Because for too long people have blamed victims of domestic violence (I know you're not doing that BTW), for the violence perpetrated on them: "What did you do to cause him to hit you?" "Oh her nagging pushed him to smack her."

I'm just sensitive about the words used because I want it clear that he was in control and made the decision to do this. He had a choice.

I will say this though about the husband based on a post a read in here. It seems he might of came from an atmosphere of domestic abuse from his mother. It dont excuse what he did, just an observation though.

 

[Poppyflower]

He won't, he can't be charged as the law stands.



This was not a federal crime, it was a state jurisdiction one. So this doesn't apply.



Exactly. The law varies from state to state. CO currently has no law allowing them to charge him for murder of the fetus she was pregnant with.

Yeah, Dynel Lane wasn't charged. Another horrible case out of Colorado - Judge sentences Dynel Lane to 100 years for attack – The Denver Post

 

[PommyMommy]

According to a recording on the jail's phone, Chris Watts has been charged with three counts of murder in the first degree and three counts of tampering with physical evidence.
Colorado missing woman and children: Husband charged with murder - CNN

 

[Madison418]

"Family annihilators were overwhelmingly not known to criminal justice or mental health services. For all intents and purposes these were loving husbands and good fathers, often holding down high profile jobs and seen publicly as being very, very successful. They were simply not on the radar."

"There are a variety of ways for men to be men, but what really is happening with family annihilation is that these are usually men who will reach a tipping point about various things within the particular category of family annihilator that we identify. To see it simply [as being] about women having a greater role [in modern society] might be trying to imply the woman is responsible, whereas in fact it's always about the man."
Study: family killers are usually men and fit one of four distinct profiles | WIRED UK

“For many family annihilators, the act of murder is a way of re-establishing control that he feels he has lost over the family,” said Jack Levin, professor of sociology and criminology at Northeastern University in Boston.
Experts have profile of fathers who kill family

This makes sense in terms of the psychology IMO. Thanks for this info. It's disgusting nonetheless, this case makes me sick to my stomach.

 

[Gardenista]

First, sending my sympathies to Shanann’s family. What a devastating loss. Jeez.

Secondly, I’m impressed that folks spotted his possibly-injured right arm. Once I read those comments, it’s impossible to ignore. He keeps that arm very close to his body and doesn’t move it. But he gesticulated with his “good arm”. Something experienced detectives and WSers would notice.

Third, I’d be curious to know what he was arrested for in NC. Anyone find out yet?

It says they were both arrested several times in NC

 

[GraceG]

What were they arrested for?

They both have lengthy arrest records but none are for violent offenses and all appear to be well in the past. This is not one I saw coming - figured she just took off due to marital issues. My heart goes out for those that loved her and her children.

 

[HayLouise]

Zora Stephenson‏Verified account @ZoraStephenson
Stood in Chris Watts house, interviewed him, as he talked about his missing pregnant wife and two girls. Now, sources confirm to @KDVR that same man you see talking about his family below, confessed to killing them. The absolute worst case scenario. RIP Shanann, Bella, &Cici

Zora Stephenson on Twitter

 

[Gardenista]

They both have lengthy arrest records but none are for violent offenses and all appear to be well in the past. This is not one I saw coming - figured she just took off due to marital issues. My heart goes out for those that loved her and her children.

Please post a link to their arrest records. TY

 

[Gardenista]

I will say this though about the husband based on a post a read in here. It seems he might of came from an atmosphere of domestic abuse from his mother. It dont excuse what he did, just an observation though.

Can you please link to that post please?

 

[PommyMommy]

CBS Denver will carry the 10:30 am press conference live on their website and FB page, per the video here:

Frederick Missing Mother Case: First Degree Murder Charges For Husband Chris Watts

CBS Denver

 

[Starkville]

They both have lengthy arrest records but none are for violent offenses and all appear to be well in the past.

Thanks. I’m still curious, though. Even non-violent offenses could be a clue as to motive or character. I can’t remember where, but someone said they were traffic-related, which wouldn’t mean all that much to me. But something like petty larceny or fraud would be something else...