WELD COUNTY – The unsealed arrest affidavit of Chris Watts is giving the public new information on the murders of Shanann Watts, her unborn baby, and her two little girls, 4-year-old Bella and 3-year-old Celeste.
On Monday, Watts was formally charged with three counts of First Degree Murder, two counts of Murder – Victim Under 12 by Person in Position of Trust, one count of Unlawful Termination of Pregnancy in the First Degree, and three counts of Tampering with a Deceased Human Body.
Before the arrest affidavit was released a press conference was held in Weld County. Shanann’s father, Frank Rzucek, gave a brief, but emotional statement about his slain daughter and granddaughters.
Rzucek said, “We would like to thank everyone in the Frederick Police Department and all the agencies involved for working so hard to find my daughter, granddaughters, and Niko.”
Niko is the name of the unborn boy Shannan had carried for 15 weeks before she was murdered.
Shannan, Bella, and Celeste were reported missing last Monday after a concerned friend of Shanann’s contacted police and Chris Watts.
Weld County District Attorney Michael Rourke said, “It’s been a long week for the Frederick Police Department, obviously for Shannan’s family. It’s been a long week.”
The district attorney’s office has been working over the last few days on the charges to file against Watts and getting the arrest affidavit unsealed, detailing how this horrible crime unfolded.
Rourke said, “We know that on the 13th Shannan had returned from her work trip and had been seen alive.”
According to the affidavit, Chris Watts initially told investigators he awoke early Monday morning and told Shanann he wanted to separate. It states Chris was “actively involved in an affair with a co-worker which he denied in previous interviews.”
During an interview later on Chris told investigators that after his conversation with Shanann he saw in a baby monitor ‘”Bella “sprawled” out on her bed and blue and Shanann actively strangling Celeste.”‘ Chris said he went into a rage and “strangled Shanann to death.” He then took all three bodies to an oil field work site, dumping the girls inside oil tanks and burying Shanann in a shallow grave nearby. With those kind of disturbing details and so much to deal with, the emotional struggle for Shanann’s loved ones is only just beginning.
Rzucek said, “Keep the prayers coming for our family.”
On Monday, Rourke was asked if the death penalty is being considered in this case. He said it’s too early in the investigation to answer that.
On Tuesday at 10 a.m. Watts will be advised of the charges against him and the possible penalties he could face. A preliminary hearing will follow in the weeks ahead. News 5 will continue to track this through the legal process.
The full document can be seen in the link below:
