When thirty-four-year-old Shanann Watts failed to return home from a doctor’s appointment on August 13, 2018, her husband, Chris, reported her missing to the Frederick, Colorado Police. When officers searched the home, they found Shanann’s car parked in the garage and her belongings—including her wallet, cell phone, and medication—were found in various spots around the house, but there was no sign of Shanann or the couple’s two children anywhere.
The next day, the FBI opened an investigation into the disappearance of Shanann and the kids and Chris took to local television ask anyone with information about their whereabouts to come forward. Just two days later, however, Chris failed a polygraph exam and eventually confessed to murdering his wife, but he denied killing their children.
What led the young, successful father and so-called “perfect” husband to commit one of the most unthinkable acts and how had everyone missed the signs of trouble in the weeks leading up to the murders?
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<a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/5219206-Christopher-Watts-REDACTED-FINAL/" rel="noopener noreferrer">Chris Watts Discovery Documents</a>
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h2MAGQ0meFs" rel="noopener noreferrer">Body Language Analysis Video</a>
<h1>References</h1>
Baker, KC. 2018. Pregnant Woman and Her 2 Little Girls Vanish and Could Be in Danger, Authorities Say. August 15. Accessed April 15, 2026. https://people.com/crime/colorado-pregnant-mom-daughters-vanish-medication-left/.
Glatt, John. 2020. The Perfect Father: The True Story of Chris Watts, His All-American Family, and a Shocking Murder. New York, NY: St. Martin's Press.
Helling, Steve. 2018. Pregnant Mom Vanishes, Husband Pleads for Help — Then 3 Bodies Turn Up: How Watts Family Murder Case Unfolded. September 18. Accessed April 15, 2026. https://people.com/crime/shanann-chris-watts-family-murder-timeline/.
McDonnell-Parry, Amelia. 2018. "Colorado man claims he killed pregnant wife after she strangled their daughters." Roling Stone, August 20.
Swanson, Sady, and Nick Coltrain. 2018. "Christopher Watts sentenced to 3 life terms for murdering pregnant wife, 2 daughters." Fort Collins Coloradoan, November 20: 1.
<a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/5219206-Christopher-Watts-REDACTED-FINAL/" rel="noopener noreferrer">Chris Watts Discovery Documents</a>
Cowritten by Alaina Urquhart, Ash Kelley & Dave White (Since 10/2022)Produced & Edited by Mikie Sirois (Since 2023)Research by Dave White (Since 10/2022), Alaina Urquhart & Ash KelleyListener Correspondence & Collaboration by Debra LallyListener Tale Video Edited by Aidan McElman (Since 6/2025) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See <a href="https://pcm.adswizz.com">pcm.adswizz.com</a> for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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