The harrowing story of Chris Watts, the man convicted of murdering his pregnant wife Shanann and their two young daughters, Bella and Celeste, has left a chilling mark on the annals of true crime.
Watts, now 38 years old and serving five life sentences, has confessed to the heinous acts that shattered the lives of his family and shocked the world. In a shocking turn of events, Watts has corresponded with author Cheryln Cadle, sharing gruesome details of the fateful night when he took their lives.
The tragedy began with Watts initially appearing on television, imploring the public to help locate his missing wife and children. Little did the world know that behind this façade lay a cold-blooded killer. To avoid the looming possibility of a death penalty conviction, Watts ultimately struck a plea deal.
Despite his chilling confessions, Watts has found himself a group of penpals, primarily women, some of whom still believe in his innocence. Author Cheryln Cadle delved into the disturbing world of Chris Watts’ psyche when she engaged in extensive correspondence with him. Watts, now incarcerated at the Dodge Correctional Institution in Wisconsin, disclosed haunting details of his descent into darkness.
Watts revealed that he had contemplated murdering his wife Shanann for weeks leading up to the horrifying incident. A contributing factor to his disturbing motive was an extramarital affair he had been engaged in. In a chilling revelation, he admitted to secretly administering OxyContin to Shanann in a misguided attempt to terminate her pregnancy.
Cheryln Cadle, in her book titled “The Murders of Chris Watts,” released in 2020, included excerpts from Watts’ letters that recounted his failed initial attempt to end the lives of his daughters. He described the gruesome scene of trying to smother his daughters, recounting the horror of seeing his wife’s eyes “filled with blood” and her face turning “all black with streaks of mascara.”
In a letter to Cadle, Watts recounted the horrifying sequence of events: “August 13, morning of, I went to the girls’ room first, before Shanann and I had our argument. I went to Bella’s room, then Cece’s room and used a pillow from their bed [to kill them]. That’s why the cause of death was smothering. After I left Cece’s room, then I climbed back in bed with Shanann, and our argument ensued.”
Watts’ initial attempt to smother his daughters tragically failed, and Bella and Celeste awoke. He went on to describe the horrific aftermath, saying, “After Shannan had passed, Bella and Cece woke back up. I’m not sure how they woke back up, but they did. Bella’s eyes were bruised, and both girls looked like they had been through trauma.”
The chilling accounts of that night don’t end there. Watts went on to detail how he disposed of the bodies, burying Shanann in a shallow grave near an oil-storage facility and callously dumping his children’s lifeless forms into crude oil tanks.
Cheryln Cadle, after extensive letter exchanges with Watts, embarked on a surreal journey to visit him behind bars. She revealed the disturbing transformation she witnessed in Watts, noting how his eyes would turn “black” when discussing the gruesome murders. She described his demeanor as shockingly nonchalant, as though he were discussing the most mundane topics while recounting the darkest of deeds.
The tragedy of Chris Watts’ crimes serves as a haunting reminder of the depths of human depravity, leaving scars that may never fully heal for those who have been touched by this horrifying case.
