Chris Watts Confesses to His Wife's Murder in Chilling New Video

Watch the video here

By Elyse Dupre Nov 30, 2018 9:10 PMTags
Chris WattsRJ Sangosti/The Denver Post via Getty Images

It's been less than two weeks since Chris Watts received five life in prison sentences for murdering his pregnant wife, Shanann, and their two young daughters, Bella (4) and Celeste (3). 

On Thursday, the Weld County District Attorney's Office released footage of Watts confessing to the killing of his spouse.

Shanann and the young girls were reported missing from their Colorado home on Aug. 13. Just two days later, Watts was brought in for an interview with law enforcement. According to CNN, Watts, who had initially denied any involvement, failed a polygraph test and was then encouraged by investigators to tell the truth. He then reportedly asked to speak to his father, Ronnie, and confessed to killing his wife.

According to the video obtained by multiple outlets, including The Denver Post, Watts told his father he murdered Shanann because he saw her smothering their children after they had discussed separating.

"I freaked out and had to do the same…thing to her," he said.

Watts later said he did the act out of "rage."

"God almighty, son," Ronnie replied.

Watts was arrested on Aug. 15. He later confessed to killing both Shanann, who was 15 weeks pregnant, and the children. He pleaded guilty to five counts of first-degree murder, one count of unlawful termination of pregnancy and three counts of tampering with a deceased human body. Per NBC News, his children's bodies were found submerged in oil and Shanann's body was found buried on the property of a gas company, where Watts worked.

According to NBC News, his plea deal spared him the death penalty.

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The Details of Chris Watts' Triple Murder Case Are Even Crazier Than You Realized

After news of Watts' missing family members broke, he issued a public plea to have them safely return. However, per NBC News, investigators suspected Watts had something to do with their disappearance after they learned he was allegedly having an affair with a coworker named Nichol Kessinger. According to NBC News, Kessinger told investigators Watts had repeatedly told her he and his spouse had drifted apart and decided to separate. However, she soon learned he was lying and that a baby was on the way.

"I thought, if you are lying to me about this, what else are you lying to me about?" she said, per NBC News. "And it made me realize that maybe his wife was in danger at this point ... it was day two and she still wasn't home."

Per NBC News, Kessinger fully cooperated with the authorities and was not charged with a crime.