The parents of convicted murderer Chris Watts have broken an eight-year silence to reveal a letter their son wrote to his slain wife, Shanann Watts, and their two young daughters, Bella and Celeste. Dated January 10, 2020, the letter was intended for the graves of his victims. It offers a disturbing glimpse into the mind of a man serving multiple life sentences for the August 2018 family annihilations.
According to reports shared by Cindy Watts and Ronnie Watts, Chris Watts-who was 41 years old when the letter was written-addressed his wife on what would have been her 36th birthday. In the correspondence, Watts expressed regret over the killings and claimed that his wife and young daughters deserved to live out their lives.
Inside the Revealed Birthday Letter to Shanann Watts
The newly surfaced letter features chilling rationalizations from the Colorado killer, who attempted to distance himself from the horrific acts he committed in August 2018. Writing from prison, Watts claimed that the person who committed the murders was entirely separate from who he truly was.
“Hey boo! Happy Birthday! Thirty-six years young today. This is the first time of year when I could always say you’re ‘two’ years older than me. You didn’t like that too much, but I liked messing with you,” Watts wrote in the letter shared with media outlets.
He continued: “There’s so much I wish I could say to you and make up for what I did to our family. No one needed to go through this. You and our babies had a long life ahead of them and deserved to see that life. I promise the man you married isn’t the man who turned his back on his family. That man was an aberration brought on by an evil outside source. You know the husband and dad I am and would testify to that today.”
Throughout the letter, Watts also claimed to experience spiritual visions. He wrote that he imagined his family looking down from heaven with radiant smiles.
“I look outside my window and wonder what we would be doing and then I get this overwhelming feeling you’re looking at me with our babies saying, ‘We love you!’” he wrote, adding that he had dedicated the rest of his life to showing God’s love.
The 2018 Family Murders and Legal Aftermath
In the early hours of August 13, 2018, Chris Watts strangled his 34-year-old wife, Shanann, who was 15 weeks pregnant with their unborn son, Nico. He then drove their daughters-four-year-old Bella and three-year-old Celeste-to an oil field where he worked in Frederick, Colorado. He smothered them and dumped their bodies into oil storage tanks.
After initially spinning elaborate lies to police and media outlets about his family mysteriously disappearing, Watts failed a polygraph test and confessed to the murders. To avoid a lengthy trial and spare his family from seeing unredacted discovery evidence-which included graphic crime scene photos and text messages-Watts pleaded guilty on November 6, 2018.
A judge subsequently sentenced him to five consecutive life sentences without the possibility of parole. This marked one of the most harrowing criminal cases in modern American history.
The Ongoing Divide Between the Watts and Rzucek Families
The revelation of the 2020 letter underscores the deep and permanent fracture between Chris Watts’ parents and Shanann’s family, the Rzuceks. Ronnie and Cindy Watts have continued to grapple with their son’s actions. Cindy staunchly defends his core character, while Ronnie has obsessively combed through thousands of pages of court documents seeking alternative theories regarding the murders.
Meanwhile, the gravesite of Shanann, Bella, and Celeste at Bethesda Cemetery in Aberdeen, North Carolina, remains a point of intense tension and grief. Family members and authorities have monitored the site due to ongoing security concerns, harassment, and unauthorized recordings by internet sleuths.
While Chris Watts attempts to redefine his identity behind bars through religious claims and prison pen pals, the families of his victims continue to live in the devastating shadow of the 2018 tragedy.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Chris Watts Case
When was Chris Watts’ letter written?
The letter was dated January 10, 2020, and was written by Chris Watts from prison to mark what would have been his wife Shanann’s 36th birthday.
Who revealed the letter to the public?
Chris Watts’ parents, Cindy and Ronnie Watts, shared the letter while speaking extensively about the family tragedy and their ongoing emotional turmoil.
What happened to Chris Watts after the murders?
After pleading guilty to multiple counts of first-degree murder in November 2018, Chris Watts was sentenced to five consecutive life sentences without the possibility of parole.
Where are Shanann Watts and her children buried?
Shanann, Bella, and Celeste are laid to rest at the historic Bethesda Cemetery in Aberdeen, North Carolina.
What was Chris Watts’ motive for the murders?
Investigators and later confessions revealed that Watts was having an extramarital affair with a coworker, Nichol Kessinger, and desired to start a completely new life.
