Years after his shocking crimes, new details have emerged about how Chris Watts brutally murdered his pregnant wife, Shanann Watts, and their two young daughters, Bella and Celeste. While Watts initially tried to blame Shanann for the deaths of their children, he later confessed to being solely responsible. Now, in a newly released confession, Watts has provided an even more disturbing account of what happened on that tragic August morning in 2018.
The Cold-Blooded Murders
According to Watts’ latest confession, the murders were not spontaneous but premeditated. He had been having an affair with Nichol Kessinger, a coworker, and wanted to start a new life with her. In his new statement, Watts admits that the thought of murdering his family had been on his mind for some time before he acted on it.
On August 13, 2018, in the early morning hours, Shanann returned home from a business trip. Watts later admitted that he had been lying in bed, waiting for her, already knowing what he was about to do. When she confronted him about his affair and the future of their marriage, Watts snapped. He strangled Shanann to death in their bedroom, all while their daughters were asleep down the hall.
After killing his wife, Watts claimed Bella, 4, and Celeste, 3, woke up and saw him wrapping Shanann’s body in a sheet. Bella, the older of the two, asked in a soft voice, “What’s wrong with Mommy?” Watts ignored the question and coldly proceeded with his gruesome plan.
A Father’s Ultimate Betrayal
Watts then put Shanann’s body in the back of his truck and forced his two daughters inside as well. He drove them for nearly an hour to an oil site owned by his employer. During the ride, Bella and Celeste, still confused and frightened, held each other. Watts later admitted that Bella repeatedly asked, “Daddy, please don’t do this,” a heartbreaking plea that haunts investigators and the public to this day.
At the oil site, Watts first smothered Celeste with a blanket while Bella watched in horror. He then turned to Bella, who put up a struggle, fighting for her life. In his latest confession, Watts acknowledged hearing Bella’s last words—”Daddy, no!”—before he suffocated her as well.
After committing these unspeakable crimes, Watts dumped Celeste and Bella’s bodies into separate oil tanks and buried Shanann in a shallow grave nearby. He then went home, pretending nothing had happened.
A Remorseless Killer?
Watts’ latest confession provides a chilling look into his state of mind. He now claims he regrets his actions and that he has found religion in prison, but many believe his remorse is hollow. Even after multiple confessions, his evolving stories leave many questioning whether he has ever truly told the full truth.
Today, Watts is serving multiple life sentences without the possibility of parole. While he may seek redemption, the horrific nature of his crimes ensures that he will never be forgotten—or forgiven.
