Fox Nation has released a new true crime special examining the 2018 murders of Shanann Watts and her two daughters, Bella and Celeste, in Colorado. The documentary details the case in which Chris Watts pleaded guilty to killing his pregnant wife and their young children. Watts was sentenced in November 2018 to life without parole after accepting a plea deal that avoided the death penalty, according to the Weld County District Attorney’s office.
Investigation and Arrest
Authorities launched the investigation in August 2018 after Chris Watts reported Shanann and the children missing. A neighbor’s home security footage showing Watts backing his truck into the driveway on the morning of the disappearance provided a crucial lead. The video showed neither Shanann nor the children leaving the home.
Investigators also analyzed Watts’ phone and GPS data. He failed a polygraph test on August 15, 2018, and subsequently confessed during an interview. Watts directed police to an oil and gas site near Roggen, Colorado, where Shanann’s body was discovered in a shallow grave and the children’s bodies were recovered from crude oil storage tanks.
Details of the Murders
Watts admitted to strangling Shanann in their home after telling her their marriage was over. He acknowledged an affair with a co-worker but said the woman did not ask him to harm his family. Following Shanann’s murder, Watts said their daughter Bella witnessed him moving Shanann’s body. Watts then claimed he smothered the daughters with a blanket at the oil site, placing their bodies in separate oil tanks.
The documentary includes descriptions of Watts’ interactions with his daughters during the events, including their last words. Watts’ confession and physical evidence formed the basis of his conviction and life sentence.
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