Christopher Lee Watts, known as Chris Watts, is an American man convicted of murdering his pregnant wife Shanann Watts and their two young daughters, Bella and Celeste, in Frederick, Colorado, in August 2018.
He pleaded guilty to multiple counts of first-degree murder and related charges and is serving multiple consecutive life sentences without the possibility of parole.
| Christopher Watts | |
|---|---|
| Wiki Facts & About Data | |
| Real Name: | Christopher Lee Watts |
| Stage Name: | Christopher Watts |
| Born: | 16 May 1985 (age 41 years old) |
| Place of Birth: | Spring Lake, North Carolina, United States |
| Nationality: | American |
| Ethnicity: | White |
| Height: | 1.80 m |
| Religion: | Christianity |
| Parents: | Cindy Watts, Ronnie Watts |
| Siblings: | Jamie Watts |
| Spouse: | Shanann Watts (m. 2012–2018) |
| Relationship: | Widowed |
| Children: | Bella Watts, Celeste Watts |
| Occupation: | Former oil field operator (Anadarko Petroleum); convicted murderer |
| Net Worth: | $0 |
Early Life and Education
Chris Watts was born on 16 May 1985 in Spring Lake, North Carolina, to parents Cindy Watts and Ronnie Watts. He grew up with an older sister, Jamie.
He attended Pine Forest High School in North Carolina, graduating in 2003, and later studied at the NASCAR Technical Institute in Mooresville, North Carolina, completing the program with honors around 2006. He is of White American origin, and his religion is Christianity.
Career
Chris Watts worked in the automotive and technical fields after technical school before taking a position as an operator and oil field coordinator with Anadarko Petroleum in Colorado.
The family relocated from North Carolina to Frederick, Colorado, where he held steady employment in the energy sector while his wife worked in multi-level marketing. The household faced financial strain, including a bankruptcy filing in 2015.
His professional life ended in 2018 following his arrest and termination from Anadarko. On 13 August 2018 he killed his pregnant wife Shanann and their daughters Bella (age 4) and Celeste (age 3).
He initially denied involvement, then confessed, pleaded guilty in November 2018 to multiple counts of first-degree murder, unlawful termination of a pregnancy, and related charges, and received five consecutive life sentences without parole. He remains incarcerated, having been transferred to a facility in Wisconsin for safety reasons, and has publicly claimed a religious conversion while in prison.
Personal Life
Chris Watts, 41 years old and approximately 1.80 m tall, married Shanann Cathryn Rzucek on 3 November 2012. The couple had two daughters, Bella Marie Watts (born 2013) and Celeste Cathryn Watts (born 2015), and were expecting a son they planned to name Nico at the time of the murders.
Watts maintained an outwardly ordinary family life in Frederick, Colorado, while engaging in an extramarital affair. He is the only surviving member of his immediate household after the 2018 killings and continues to serve his sentences with no possibility of release.
Net Worth
Chris Watts has an estimated net worth of $0. Prior to his crimes the family carried significant debt and had filed for bankruptcy; any remaining assets were liquidated or lost following his conviction and incarceration, leaving no meaningful personal wealth.