On the day he killed his pregnant wife and two daughters,Chris Wattsspoke to his mistress on FaceTime — and according to what the woman told investigators, Watts was quiet during the call but was “fixated” on her and “star[ed] at her.”
In the weeks leading up to the early-morning Aug. 13 murders, Watts was having an affair with with coworker Nichol Kessinger — even as Shanann was desperately trying to salvage their crumbling relationship. Prosecutors cited Watts’ desire for a“fresh start”with Kessinger as his motive for the killings.
Kessinger told investigators that during the FaceTime call after the killings, she noticed a peculiar detail: Watts was lying in bed on a mattress that did not have any sheets on it.
Chris Watts, at left, with Nicole Kessinger.Weld County District Attorney’s Office
• Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage?Click hereto get breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases in the True Crime Newsletter.
After his family went missing, Watts appeared on television and made a stilted public plea for the trio’s safe return. According to Kessinger, Watts was quiet during the video call and didn’t say much. He told Kessinger he had been “cleaning his home and trying to keep busy to keep his mind off of things.”
Nichol Kessinger (left) and Chris Watts.Weld County District Attorney’s Office
Wife Tried to Save Marriage While Watts Lived ‘Bachelor Life’
Shanann spent much of the summer before the killings in North Carolina with her parents and the couple’s children while Watts stayed home in Colorado and conducted his affair with Kessinger.
Shanann repeatedlyconfronted Watts about her suspicionshe was having an affair and sent pleading texts lamenting how distant he’d become.
“l realized during this trip what’s missing in our relationship! lt’s only one way emotions and feelings. I can’t come back like this. I need you to meet me halfway. You don’t consider others at all, nor think about others feelings,” she wrote in one text.
Another text read, “l try to give you space, but while you are working and living the bachelor life l’m carrying our 3rd and fighting with our two kids daily and trying to work and make money.”
Watts received a life sentence without the possibility of parole. In pleading guilty, he avoided the death penalty.
source: people.com