A Colorado man has confessed to killing his pregnant wife and two young daughters who were reported missing on August 13, Denver7 reports. Shanann Watts, 34, disappeared with her 3- and 4-year-old daughters, Bella and Celeste, from their home in Frederick, Colorado, on Monday, and they had been considered “endangered.” The case gained nationwide attention and Watts’ husband appeared on TV pleading for help finding his wife and kids. But just hours after police held a press conference asking for the public’s help in finding the missing woman and her daughters, Chris Watts, 33, confessed to killing them, Denver7 reports. Frederick Police later confirmed in a press release that Watts was arrested. He is being held without bail on three counts of first-degree murder and a charge of tampering with evidence. The FBI and the Colorado Bureau of Investigation were also involved in the investigation. According to Denver7, investigators believe they know where the bodies of Watts’ daughters are. Shanann’s body was recovered Thursday, police said. Chris and Shanann Watts had gone through financial issues in recent years, court records show. A motive for the killings of Shanann and her daughters has not been released, and police have also not revealed the cause and manner of their deaths Shanann Watts, who was 15-weeks pregnant, had last been seen by a friend who dropped her off about 1:45 a.m. on Monday after they returned to Colorado from a work trip to Arizona. When Shanann did not respond to text messages and calls and did not answer her door Monday morning, despite her car being in the driveway, her friend reported her missing, police said. Chris Watts told Denver7 he saw his wife and children sleeping in bed when he left for work about 5:15 a.m. and then returned home that afternoon to find them gone. At a press conference Wednesday afternoon, Frederick Police said they were investigating all possibilities, but said they did not believe the public was at risk. “There’s a lot at stake here and we are exploring all avenues to make sure nothing is ruled out,” Frederick Police Sergeant Ian Albert said at the press conference prior to Chris Watts’ confession. “I want to assure them we are working around the clock in this case. We will not rest until we have the answers we are looking for.” Here’s what you need to know about Chris Watts: 1. Watts Gave Multiple Interviews to Local & National News Outlets & Said He Had an ‘Emotional Conversation’ With Shanann Before She Disappeared Sources: Husband of pregnant Frederick woman detained, has confessed to killing her and 2 daughtersDenver7’s Jace Larson has been told by two law enforcement officials that the husband of the missing Frederick family has confessed to killing them and officials believe they know where the bodies are. 2018-08-16T04:41:16.000Z Chris Watts gave interviews to local and national news stations about his wife’s disappearance on Tuesday and Wednesday, asking for his wife to return home with their daughters and saying that if anyone had taken or harmed them, they should come forward. Watts told the “Today” show that he had an “emotional conversation,” with his wife after she returned home from her work trip Monday morning. He did not provide any other details about the conversation, but said it was not a fight. You can watch Watts’ interview with the local news station Denver7 here: RAW: Chris Watts, husband of missing Frederick woman, interviewed by Denver7's Tomas HoppoughChris Watts, 33, spoke to Denver7's Tomas Hoppough on Tuesday about the disappearance of his pregnant wife and their two daughters a day earlier. On Wednesday, police say he confessed to killing all three of them. 2018-08-16T05:56:18.000Z Watts told the “Today” show, “I don’t feel like this is even real right now. It’s like a nightmare I can’t wake up from. Knowing they could be in trouble, it’s earth-shattering.” He told KMGH-TV, “When I came home and then walked in the house, nothing. Vanished. Nothing was here. My kids are my life. I mean, those smiles light up my life.” Chris Watts told Fox News, “It’s not something I could ever, ever fathom would happen in my lifetime, and I have no inclination of where she is. She said she was going to a friend’s house with the kids and that’s the last thing I heard, and that was it. It was very vague.” Prior to his confession, Chris Watts told 9News the situation has been traumatizing. “I’m just hoping right now that she’s somewhere safe…” he told the news station. “Like, this house is not the same. Last night was traumatic. Last night was – I can’t really stay in this house again with nobody here.” Chris Watts, now accused of killing his wife and children, used these words to describe his daughters on Tuesday (day before his arrest). #9news pic.twitter.com/b0pUHOobOZ — Chris Vanderveen (@chrisvanderveen) August 16, 2018 He spoke glowingly about his daughters, telling the news station, “Celeste. She’s just a bottle of energy. She’s – I call her rampage because she’s got two speeds: go or she’s sleeping. Bella. She’s the more calm, cautious, mothering type and she’s more like me – she’s more calm.” 2. Shanann’s Body Was Found Buried in an Oil Field Where Her Husband Works, but Police Haven’t Released Details About How & When She & Her Daughters Were Killed #Breaking: I've just been told by by two law enforcement officials with knowledge of the investigation that the husband of the missing Frederick family has confessed to killing them and officials believe they know where the bodies are. pic.twitter.com/XRAkAbs75W — Jace Larson Denver7 (@jacelarson) August 16, 2018 Christopher Lee Watts is in custody at the Weld County Jail, where he is being held without bail, the Frederick Police Department said in a press release. Watts appeared in court for the first time Thursday afternoon. You can watch video of his court appearance here. This is Christopher Watts entering the courtroom in Greeley, CO for his first appearance after being arrested in connection with the death of his wife and two children. @coloradoan pic.twitter.com/rngCSwYqGK — Austin Humphreys (@AustinHumphreys) August 16, 2018 Police have not released any information about when or how Shanann Watts and her daughters were killed. According to CBS Denver, Watts agreed to bring police to his wife and daughters’ bodies so that they can be recovered. In court, prosecutors said Shanann Watts and her daughters were killed in their home. According to the Colorado Bureau of Investigation, Shanann Watts’ body was recovered at the Anadarko Petroleum company oil field property where her husband previously worked. Police said they believe they know where the bodies of the children are, but the process of recovering the bodies is still underway. The criminal case has been sealed by a judge at the request of the district attorney’s office, and formal charges will be filed by Monday. Affidavits and other court documents could be released at this time. Police released few details about the case during a press conference Thursday morning, citing the ongoing investigation. They said investigators were still interviewing people, but there is no threat to the public. Colorado Police Give Update After Husband Arrested For Family's Murder | NBC NewsA Colorado man was arrested in connection with a missing persons case involving his pregnant wife and their two daughters. Frederick police department hosts a news conference to provide an update on the case. » Subscribe to NBC News: nbcnews.to/SubscribeToNBC » Watch more NBC video: bit.ly/MoreNBCNews NBC News is a leading source of global news… 2018-08-16T16:47:02.000Z Chris Watts said when he left for work about 5:15 a.m., Shanann Watts was home and he saw his daughters sleeping on their baby monitor, NBC News reports. While he was at work, Watts claimed, “I texted her a few times, called her, but I didn’t get a response,” Chris Watts told the news network. “That was a little off.” He said he checked his doorbell camera and saw that a friend had come to the home about noon and no one answered, which concerned him. It is not clear if any of those things actually happened. Watts also claimed he went back to his house and found Shanann’s car in the driveway, but she was not in the home. His daughters, Bella and Celeste were also not there and the home appeared to be locked, he said. A friend told NBC News that Shanann’s keys, purse and phone were at the house, along with the kids’ car seats and their medication. At 1:40 p.m., Shanann was reported missing by her friend. Police said her husband did not report her missing. Nickole Utoft, Shanann Watts’ close friend who had dropped her off at her home early Monday morning, told Fox 31 News, “I called her and texted her several times,” on Monday. “I knew she had a doctor’s appointment that morning because she’s pregnant. She didn’t show up for it … and I was even more concerned.” She said they also had plans to meet up later in the day, but Shanann never showed up to meet her. “I don’t know where she’s at. This is completely unlike her,” Utoft told the news station, prior to the reports that Chris Watts had confessed to killing his family. Frederick Police Sergeant Ian Albert said at a press conference they received the missing persons call just before 2 p.m. Monday on August 13. Investigators canvassed the neighborhood and began interviewing neighbors in an effort to locate her, while also contacting the CBI and FBI. On Tuesday, a “missing and endangered” alert was issued and police began to hand out flyers. Chris Watts was arrested about 11:30 p.m. Wednesday. Police were at the Watts’ home in Frederick Wednesday night removing evidence: Breaking: more police just showed up with evidence bags and three just went into the home. Jace Larson has confirmed that Chris Watts has been detained, confessed and said where the bodies of his wife and two children are. pic.twitter.com/MH9n3UVvSs — Jaclyn Allen (@jaclynreporting) August 16, 2018 Breaking: tow truck just showed up at #ShanannWatts home. @jacelarson has confirmed that Chris Watts has been detained, confessed and said where the bodies of his wife and two children are. pic.twitter.com/ARg5XWiUU4 — Jaclyn Allen (@jaclynreporting) August 16, 2018 Right now – truck with evidence markers being towed outside of missing mom’s home in @TownofFrederick pic.twitter.com/1FQK7ikCyS — Matt Mauro (@mattmauronews) August 16, 2018 Frederick Police just brought out 2 large garbage bags from the home of Chris Watts and then loaded them into their cars. Then they locked the front door of the house and they all left. pic.twitter.com/wEHGbvSxz5 — James Dougherty (@DoughertyKMGH) August 16, 2018 Public records show that Watts does not have any previous criminal record except for traffic offenses. Shanann Watts’ brother, Frankie Rzucek, wrote on Facebook on Wednesday, “That piece of sh*t may he rot in hell. He killed (my) pregnant sister and my two nieces. Her husband Chris watts admitted to murdering my family. … We just found out she was pregnant with a baby boy and his name was going to be Nico.” He added, “I just want to know why. My precious family. Bella, Celeste and her just found out unborn son Niko. I just want 30 seconds alone with that heartless psychopath. May Satan have mercy on his soul. The cops drug their feet. He was the only one with them and backed his truck into the garage. Doesn’t take a genius to know who was suspect. My blood is boiling and the pain and anger and sadness I have in my heart. Nothing absolutely nothing would get in my way of taking away his life like he did mine and my ENTIRE FAMILY.” 3. Watts, Who Worked for an Oil & Gas Company, & His Wife Filed for Bankruptcy in 2015 & Were Recently Sued by Their Homeowners’ Association Chris and Shanann Watts jointly filed for chapter 7 bankruptcy in June 2015 in Colorado federal court, court records obtained by show. Chris Watts was working at the time for an oil and gas company, Anadarko Petroleum Corp. The couple was about $448,000 in debt at the time. The bankruptcy case was closed in October 2015.<doc-sep>The Denver Channel was reporting that two law enforcement officials said Christopher Watts, 34, had confessed to killing Shanann Watts and their two daughters, and that officials believe they know where the bodies are. #Breaking: I've just been told by by two law enforcement officials with knowledge of the investigation that the husband of the missing Frederick family has confessed to killing them and officials believe they know where the bodies are. pic.twitter.com/XRAkAbs75W — Jace Larson Denver7 (@jacelarson) August 16, 2018 The police said on Twitter early Thursday that Chris Watts will be held at the Weld County Jail. He has not yet been charged. It wasn't immediately known if he had a lawyer. #ShanannWattsInvestigation Update 2 of 3: Chris Watts, the husband of Shanann, has been placed into custody and is awaiting charges at this time. He will be held at the Weld County Jail. — Town of Frederick (@TownofFrederick) August 16, 2018 Police have not released any information about when, where or how Shanann Watts and her daughters were killed. Shanann and her children were reported missing on Monday after a family friend noticed she hadn't heard from her, according to police in Frederick, about 35 miles north of Denver. Chris Watts spoke previously with The Denver Channel and pleaded for his family's safe return. In that interview, he said his wife’s purse, keys and phone were all left at home before she went missing. “When I came home and then walked in the house, nothing. Vanished. Nothing was here. My kids are my life. I mean, those smiles light up my life,” he said in the interview, prior to his arrest. Chris Watts gave interviews to local and national news stations about his wife’s disappearance on Tuesday and Wednesday, asking for his wife to return home with their daughters and saying that if anyone had taken or harmed them, they should come forward. The FBI and Colorado Bureau of Investigation are also investigating. Shanann Watts was 15 weeks pregnant and was scheduled to find out the gender of her and her husband's third child in a couple of weeks. She was from Moore County, just outside Fayetteville, and attended Pinecrest High School in Southern Pines. Her family still lives in North Carolina. Chris Lee Watts was born and raised in North Carolina, according to public records. He lived there when he met his wife and they moved to Colorado in 2013. Shannan Watts and her 2 children have been missing since Monday morning in Frederick, CO. Watts is from Moore County. She’s also 15 weeks pregnant. Family and friends are frantically searching for her. pic.twitter.com/DPJNh9PhBi — DeJuan Hoggard (@DeJuanABC11) August 15, 2018 According to sources, Shanann Watts returned home early Monday morning from a work trip in Arizona. Her husband told police he came home and his wife and their two children were gone. "Shanann has a schedule and she goes by that schedule and she does not deviate," high school friend Lauren Arnold told WTVD. Arnold said she moved to Colorado around the same time as Watts. "The girls are on a schedule," she said. "She has things that she does every day. A dead cell phone is not an option for her. She always has her communication with her." Frederick Police just brought out 2 large garbage bags from the home of Chris Watts and then loaded them into their cars. Then they locked the front door of the house and they all left. pic.twitter.com/wEHGbvSxz5 — James Dougherty (@DoughertyKMGH) August 16, 2018 Chris Watts told ABC affiliate KMGH in Denver that he and Shanann had an "emotional conversation" prior to her disappearance and would not elaborate further. "There's so many questions that have not been answered. So many what-ifs and things like that. It's really frustrating," Arnold added. A news conference to provide more information is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. local time The Associated Press contributed to this report,<doc-sep>
A Colorado man is charged with the murder of his pregnant wife and two daughters, just one day after he gave a seemingly unemotional TV interview pleading for help in finding his missing family. Police in Frederick arrested Chris Lee Watts, 33, late Wednesday night on three counts of first-degree murder in connection to the disappearances of his wife, 34-year-old Shanann Cathry Watts, and the couple’s daughters: Celeste, 3, and Bella, 4. Watts also faces three counts of tampering with evidence. Shannan and her daughters were reported missing Monday in a case that had help from the FBI and captured national attention. According to Denver7 News, Watts allegedly confessed to killing Shannan, who was 15 weeks pregnant, and two little girls—and police officials believe they know where to find their bodies. Frederick police held a press conference Thursday morning but provided few details on the case, citing the pending investigation. “At this point we have been able to recover a body that we are quite certain is Shannan Watts’ body,” said John Camper, director of the Colorado Bureau of Investigation. “We have strong reason to believe that we know where the bodies of the children are and recovery efforts are in process on that.” Camper confirmed to reporters that Shannan’s body was found on an Anadarko oil company property where Watts worked. Meanwhile, Weld County district attorney Michael Rourke said that he expects a sealed arrest affidavit for Watts to become public record next week. A law enforcement source told The Daily Beast that the suspect picked up his father from the airport Wednesday morning and family members convinced him to turn himself in. The FBI was suspicious of Watts from the beginning, according to the law enforcement source, because the suspect was “cavalier” in interviews. Watts’ interview with Denver7 raised red flags for police, according to the TV station. The suspect told reporters that Shannan, a promoter for the Le-Vel dietary supplement company, had returned from a work trip in Arizona late Sunday. Her flight was delayed, the husband said, and she got home around 2 a.m. He said that Shannon was home when he left for work around 5:15 or 5:30 a.m., and that her purse, keys, and phone were at their residence. Shannan was reported missing on Monday, Watts added, after her friend Nicole came to their house around 12:10 p.m. looking for her. Nicole had been texting and calling Shannan but received no replies, Watts said. Watts said it was concerning that his wife didn’t get back to her “people” but that he figured she was busy when she didn’t answer his messages. “Nicole called me when she was at the door and that’s when I came home and walked in the house,” said Watts, who stood calmly on his porch wearing a North Carolina Tar Heels shirt. “Nothing was here. She wasn’t here. The kids weren’t here.” “When her friend showed up, that’s when it registered, like all right, that isn’t right.” Watts came close to shedding crocodile tears when speaking about his missing kids. “It was tearing me apart last night,” he continued. “I want everybody to just come home. Wherever they’re at, just come home. That’s what I want.” When a reporter asked if the couple had an argument, Watts replied, “It wasn’t like an argument. We had an emotional conversation. I’ll leave it at that.” Moments later, Watts turned to the camera with a message to his family: “Shannan, Bella, Celeste, if you’re out there just, just come back,” Watts said. “If somebody has her, just please bring her back. I need to see everybody. I need to see everybody again. This house is not complete without anybody here.” The couple filed for bankruptcy in 2015, two years after moving into their home in Frederick, about 30 miles north of Denver, the Denver Post reported. Shannan and Watts were natives of North Carolina. Court records reviewed by The Daily Beast show the couple was $448,820 in debt. Their house was valued at $400,000, the bankruptcy petition shows. In the filing, Watts listed his employer as Anadarko Petroleum Corp., and Shannan listed hers as Children’s Hospital Colorado of Aurora. Watts drove a work truck that he told friends had GPS on it, the law-enforcement source said. Frankie Rzucek, Shannan’s brother, took to Facebook to grieve for her. “I just want to know why.