A Colorado man charged in the murder of his pregnant wife and two daughters told investigators that he killed his spouse in a "rage" because she strangled their two children.
Chris Watts, 33, who's facing nine felony counts related to the death of his wife, Shannann; unborn child Niko and two daughters 4-year-old Bella and 3-year-old Celeste, said his wife killed the children after he told her he wanted to split up, according to court papers unsealed Monday.
The Colorado oil company worker told his wife that the marriage was over after she got back from a business trip on Aug. 13, according to an affidavit. He claimed that he witnessed her strangling their youngest daughter and saw that the other child was already dead, sprawled out on the couple's bed via a blue baby monitor.
Watts said he "went into a rage" and strangled his wife.
Watts told police that he loaded all three bodies into his work truck and he buried his wife at Anadarko Petroleum, where he used to work, and dumped his daughters inside oil tanks.
The Weld County District Attorney Michael Burke said that the two girls were killed Aug. 12 or 13 and Shannann Watts, 34, was strangled after she returned from her business trip.
Burke charged Watts with three counts of first-degree murder, two counts for causing the death of a minor, unlawful abortion and three counts of tampering with the dead bodies.
After reporting his family missing, Watts then went on local TV pleading for anyone to come forward with information about their whereabouts.
The bodies were found at the company on Thursday.
Shanann Watts was 15 weeks pregnant when she was killed. She was slated to reveal the gender of the baby over the weekend, according to a friend.
He was arrested on Wednesday night.
Burke would not say if he would seek the death penalty in the case.
"It's way too early to make that decision," he said.
Shannan Watts' father also spoke briefly at the news conference, thanking the police and the media for their diligence in the case.
"Thank you for your prayers," Frank Rzucek said.
Chris Watts will appear in court on Tuesday to answer the charges.
