Cindy Watts spoke next. She spoke about how the families were irreparably broken and how she would never understand what happened. She did not say much beyond that. She instead, decided to address Chris, who sat behind her, head down and still quivering, his leg and foot shaking uncontrollably. Cindy spoke through tears and a trembling voice:
To my son Christopher: I have known you since the day you were born into this world. I have watched you grow from a quiet, sweet, and curious child, who Bella reminded me so much of, to a man who worked hard in sports and later mechanics to achieve your goals. You were a good friend, brother, father, and son. We have loved you from the beginning, and we still love you now. This might be hard for some to understand. How I can sit here under these circumstances and tell you all that we are heartbroken, although we can’t imagine what could have led us to this day. But we love you. Maybe you can’t believe it either. As the lord said in Jeremiah 331: I have loved you with an everlasting love. Therefore, I have continued my faithfulness to you. As your mother, Chris, I have always loved you, and I still do. I hate what has happened. Your father, sister, and I are struggling to understand why, but we will remain faithful as your family just as God remains faithful because of his unconditional love for all. We love you, and we forgive you, son.”
Cindy turned around and looked directly at Chris, who could not bring himself to meet his mother’s gaze.
“We forgive you, son” she said sobbing as she stepped aside to make room for her husband to speak.
Ronnie could not personally read his statement, but a victim advocate read on his behalf. This was the only point in the trial where Chris looked up and directly ahead. Ronnie spoke of being involved in his son’s life, enjoying coaching Little League and going to the races with him. Ronnie knew in his heart that Chris loved his girls in the same way Ronnie loved his own children. He urged Chris for answers and said:
Chris, I want to talk to you as a father. You are here today accepting responsibility, but I want to tell you this now: I love you. Nothing will ever change that. And I want you to find peace, and today is your first step. The Bible says if we confess our sins, God is faithful and just and will forgive us. Chris, I forgive you and your sister forgives you and we will never abandon you and we love you. Dad.
After Ronnie spoke, the television cameras panned to Chris, catching one lone tear trickle down the side of his face.
Finally, DA Rourke approached the podium, ready to present the evidence they had against Chris. Up until this point, other than the immediate family members and the investigators, no one knew what was coming. There had been speculation and rumors in the media, but it was unclear as to what evidence law enforcement had that compelled Chris to plead guilty to all charges.
DA Rourke, with deep sadness in his eyes, looked at the judge. He knew what he was about to say would be traumatic for so many in the courtroom:
Your Honor, there are no words to adequately describe the unimaginable tragedy that brings us before this court today. By my comments, I’m not even going to try to express the horror, the pain, or the suffering that the defendant has caused these families, this community, and to all who were a part of this investigation. However, I do want to spend a few minutes sharing with the court the details of the crime, and so far, you’ve only had an opportunity to review the affidavit and a few facts here and there that have been offered to the court in the motions and the pleadings that have been filed.
The questions that have screamed out to anyone who will listen since August 13th of 2018 are why and how? Why did this have to happen? How could a seemingly normal husband and father annihilate his entire family? For what? These are the questions that only one individual in this courtroom or on this planet knows the answers to. I fully expect we will not receive the answers to these questions today, nor will we at any point in the future. I don’t expect he will tell the truth about what really happened, or why. Even if he did, there is no rational way that any human being could find those answers acceptable responses to such horrific questions. The best we can do is try to piece together some kind of understanding from the evidence that is available to us. And the evidence tells us this: the defendant coldly and deliberately ended four lives. Not in a fit of rage, not by way of accident, but in a calculated and sickening manner.
Shanann was 34 years old. She had married the defendant in November of 2012. Over the weekend leading up to August 13th she had been at a work conference in Phoenix, Arizona, and returned home in the early morning hours of August 13th. We know she got home at about 1:45 in the morning. The doorbell camera on her home shows her arriving back home from the airport. Shortly thereafter, at least according to the defendant, they had, what he referred to as an “emotional conversation” about the state of their marriage and what their lives would look like going forward. What was said during that emotional conversation, only he knows. What we do know is that shortly after that, the defendant strangled her to death with his own hands. We know that he slowly took her life the morning of August 13th. We know that this was not done in an uncontrolled vengeful manner that he tried to describe to agents from CBI and the FBI. If that were the case, you would expect to see vicious, horrible bruising about her neck, shoulders, and face. You would expect to see the highway bone in her neck broken. You would expect to see defensive wounds on his body as she struggled and fought for her own life. None of those were present. The only injuries that were on Shanann’s body were what appeared to be fingernail or finger mark bruising to the right side of her neck. We know that our experts will tell you that it takes 2-4 minutes to strangle someone to death manually with their own hands. The horror that she felt as the man that she loved wrapped his hands around her throat and choked the life out of her must have been unimaginable.
Even worse, what Bella, age 4, and Celeste, age 3 must have experienced or thought as their father, the one man on this planet who was supposed to nurture and protect them, was snuffing out their lives. They both died from smothering. Let me say that again. The man seated to my right smothered his daughters. Why? Imagine the horror in Bella’s mind as her father took her last breaths away. Your Honor understand between her upper lip and her gum had a centimeter and a half laceration. She bit her tongue multiple times before she died. She fought back for her life, as her father smothered her. Celeste had no such injuries. In fact, she had no external injuries at all but according to the medical examiner, she was smothered, nonetheless.
The defendant then calmly and methodically loaded their bodies into his work truck. Not in a hasty or disorganized way. He was seen from his neighbor’s doorbell camera backing his truck into the driveway, going back and forth into the house and back out to the truck three different times. One time for each of their bodies. He then drove them away from their family home, one final time, intent on hiding any evidence of the crimes he just committed.
In one final sign of his callousness for his wife, his daughters, and his unborn son and their remains, he drove them to a location where he thought no one would ever find them, to one of the oil tank batteries with which he was so familiar. He knew this was safe. He had texted a coworker the night before saying I’ll head out to that site. I’ll take care of it. He had carefully ensured that he would be alone in the middle of the plains to secrete away the remains of his family, in a place that he hoped they would never be found.
In one final measure of disrespect for the family he once had, he ensured they would not be together, even in death, or so he thought. He disposed of them in different locations. He buried Shanann and Nico in a shallow grave away from the oil tanks. Bella and Celeste were thrown away in the oil tanks at this facility. Different tanks so these little girls wouldn’t be together in death. Imagine this, Your Honor: this defendant took those little girls and put them through a hatch at the top of an oil tank 8 inches in diameter. Bella had scratches on her left buttocks from being shoved through this hole. A tuft of blond hair wa
s found on the edge of one of these hatches. The defendant told investigators that Bella’s tank seemed emptier than CeCe’s because of the sound the splashes made. These were his daughters.
Significantly, when his coworkers arrived later that morning, they all described him as acting completely normal. It was a normal workday. Even while his daughters sank in the oil and water not far away from him. And then his efforts at deception truly began. We’ve all seen the emotionless interviews the defendant gives to the media, asking for help in locating his family. We watched as he claimed the house was empty without them and he hoped they were somewhere safe and that he just wanted them to come home. He told investigators that they were at home sleeping when he left for work that morning and that she had told him she was taking the girls to a friend’s house for the day. What is striking about this case, your Honor, beyond the horrors I have already described to you, is the number of collateral victims he created by his actions. While he stood in front of TV cameras asking for the safe return of his family, scores of law enforcement officers, neighbors, friends, and family scoured the area, fretted for her safe return. They texted him begging for any information and sending him their best wishes, all the while, he hid what he had done.
The list of indirect victims does not end there. Think of all the firefighters and the border state patrol and hazmat experts who had to don protective suits and who were called upon to pull Bella and Celeste out of those oil tanks. Or the coroner employees who had to conduct these autopsies, or the victim’s assistants who frantically attempted to ease the suffering of those affected. All this, Your Honor, for what? Why? Why did this have to happen? His motive was simple, Your Honor. He had a desire for a fresh start. To begin a relationship with a new love that overpowered all decency and feelings for his wife, his daughters, and his unborn son.
While Shanann texted the defendant over and over in the days and weeks leading up to her death, attempting to save her marriage, the defendant secreted pictures of his girlfriend into his phone and texted her at all hours of the night. While Shanann sent the defendant self-help relationship and counseling books, one of which was ironically enough thrown in the garbage, he was searching for secluded vacation spots to take his new love and researching jewelry. And while Shanann took the girls to visit family in North Carolina, the defendant went to car museums and the sand dunes with his new girlfriend. The stark difference between the content of their text messages and internet searches is absolutely stunning. Even the morning after he killed them and disposed of their bodies, he made several phone calls. One was to the school where the girls were supposed to start, telling the school that the girls would not be coming back to school anymore. That they were being unenrolled. Presumably to give him more time before law enforcement notification about them going missing. He contacted a Realtor to start discussing the selling of his house, and he texted with his girlfriend about their future. None of this answers the questions of why, however. If he was this happy and wanted a new start, get a divorce. You don’t annihilate your family and throw them away like garbage. Why did Nico, Celeste, Bella, and Shanann have to lose their lives in order for him to get what he wanted?
After Rourke spoke to the courtroom, Judge Kopcow said that this was the most inhumane and vicious crime he had handled out of the thousands of cases he had seen. He formally sentenced Chris to five life sentences in prison without the possibility of parole, including forty-eight years for the unlawful termination of Shanann’s pregnancy and thirty-six years for the disposal of the bodies. Chris would serve his sentence at Waupun Correctional Institute in Wisconsin, the same prison where infamous serial killer Ed Gein served his.
Three months after arriving in Waupun, in February of 2019, Chris received a visit from Colorado Bureau of Investigation Agents Grahm Coder, Tammy Lee, and Detective David Baumhover. They had been haunted and puzzled by this case and were seeking answers from him. They showed up unannounced, and Chris, somewhat surprisingly was willing to speak candidly with them about his life, the evening of the murders, and the days following. Chris spoke to them for more than five hours in a more detailed confession. Before we explore that, we need to investigate the past and examine the lives of Chris and Shanann.
* * *
4. Schmelzer, Elise. “‘It’s Horrific’: Christopher Watts’ Girlfriend Speaks out for the First Time as Sentencing in Frederick Murders Draws Near.” The Denver Post. The Denver Post, November 16, 2018. https://www.denverpost.com/2018/11/15/christopher-watts-murder-mistress-nichol-kessinger/.
5. Watts, Cindy. Interview with 9Wants to Know. 9 News.Com, Denver Colorado, November 15, 2018.
Chapter 9
“He’s a keeper.”
Shanann Cathryn Rzucek was born on January 10, 1984 in New Jersey to Frank and Sandi Onorati Rzucek. Frank Rzucek, Shanann’s father was always a gentle, emotional and loving man, fondly known for wearing his heart on his sleeve. Physically fit, tan, and handsome, Frank had a dazzling smile and personality to match, much like his daughter.
Sandi was outgoing, dominant, and strong willed but also fiercely loving and loyal. With her strong and fiery personality, Sandi was the dominant one in her partnership with Frank.
A few years after Shanann’s birth, Franklin Rzucek Jr. was born. As an adult, Frankie was a tall, lean, attractive man who had inherited his father’s bright smile and chiseled cheekbones. Shanann seemed to be a perfect mix of her mother and father. When she smiled, she resembled Sandi.
The family of four soon moved to North Carolina, and Shanann and Frankie Jr. would attend high school there. In high school, Shanann was extremely well-liked and described by others as someone who everyone wanted to be around. She was always her own person. Incredibly independent and ambitious, she left home at eighteen and never looked back.
As an adult woman, Shanann was strikingly gorgeous. She had the signature Rzucek smile that lit up her whole face. Her eyes sparkled and danced, and her face would glow when she smiled. Her energy was contagious. More important, Shanann was one of the most loving and loyal people one could ever wish to have in their life. If you were her friend, she would do anything for you. If you were having a bad day, you could call her, and she would drop everything for you.
Not only was she determined, driven, loyal, and kind, but she was also raw, honest, and real about herself. Shanann once said:
I’m far from perfect. I didn’t complete college, I’m not the best writer or speaker, I’m insecure and scared!!! I have so many fears and doubts! What I am great at is not giving up! I get knocked down over and over again, but I get up and FIGHT! I fight harder and harder every time I fall! I want to set the best example I can for my children, my husband, and myself!
Christopher Lee Watts was born on May 16, 1985 in Spring Lake North Carolina to parents Ronnie and Cindy Watts. His sister Jamie was seven years older than he. Ronnie worked as a parts manager at a Ford Dealership, and Cindy was a notary and secretary for a used car dealership. The family was religious and regularly attended First Baptist Church.
Chris described having a relatively normal, happy and uneventful childhood. Ronnie was quiet and never really spoke about feelings or showed them. Cindy was more emotional and made many of the decisions in the relationship. Chris’s older sister, Jamie, was very outgoing, pretty, popular, and well-liked. From a young age, Chris was in her shadow. He has ardently stated that he never wanted to be like Jamie. He wanted to be his own person. Jamie doted on Chris in childhood. She was very motherly with him and always wanted to know how he felt.
Chris’s weight fluctuated throughout life. He loved to eat, and his family joked that he was like a garbage disposal. He was overweight and socially awkward throughout some of his relationship with Shanann. When he started using the Thrive products Shanann was selling and began to work out and eat healthier, he became tan and fit. His co-workers nicknamed him the “silver fox,” a tribute to his silver hair and all
-American good looks. Chris had light brown eyes. They didn’t sparkle like Shanann’s, but when he smiled, his teeth were bright white, and he appeared to be a friendly, nice guy who was easy to talk to and be around.
Chris attended Pine Crest High School in North Carolina. He played sports and did very well in school. While he wasn’t popular by teenage social standards, he was very well-liked by peers and teachers. Chris always played by the rules and did everything right. He was the type of kid who never got in any trouble and would de-escalate rather than instigate conflict. He was incredibly introverted and withdrawn, although always respectful and deferential. Even though he wasn’t a lady’s man, some girls had crushes on Chris, despite his being shy and awkward.
Chris kept in touch with his childhood best friend, Mark. They became friends when they were eight or nine. Mark joined the military, and in adulthood, Chris and Mark didn’t speak or see each other much, but they had that special childhood bond and would always pick up where they left off whenever they reconnected.
Chris mostly kept to himself in high school. He didn’t have a group of friends, and when it was time for prom, he went with a girl who asked him. He didn’t really date in high school or show much of an interest in doing so. Instead, he chose to focus on school and sports. He was described as incredibly intelligent with a photographic memory. In 2003, he won a $1,000 scholarship to attend NASCAR Technical Institute in Mooresville. Chris loved cars and was an aspiring mechanic. After graduating from NASCAR, he worked for a Ford dealership in Morrisville.
My Daddy Is a Hero Page 10
