Chris Watts Claims Spiritual Renewal in Prison After Family Murders

Infamous murderer Chris Watts has expressed a newfound spiritual awakening while serving his life sentence for the brutal murders of his pregnant wife and their two young daughters. In letters sent from the Dodge Correctional Institution in Wisconsin, Watts claims to have found God and described himself as a “new man,” despite the horrific nature of his crimes committed in August 2018.

Watts, now 40 years old, has reached out to a female pen-pal, stating he has been “forgiven” by God for the killings of his wife, Shanann Watts, and their daughters, Bella, age four, and Celeste, known as Cece, age three. In these handwritten letters, he insists that he is a “new creature” and has distanced himself from his past actions.

On August 13, 2018, Watts murdered his wife, who was 15 weeks pregnant at the time, in their home in Frederick, Colorado. He subsequently suffocated his daughters and disposed of their bodies in oil drums. The murders unfolded as Watts sought to pursue a relationship with his mistress, Nichol Kessinger, whom he has since blamed for leading him astray. In his letters, he acknowledges his wrongdoing but insists that external influences played a significant role in his actions.

“I have always taken full responsibility for what I did, even though I was misled by a wicked woman,” he wrote, suggesting that Kessinger’s presence in his life contributed to the tragic outcome. Despite this, Watts claims to have achieved a level of redemption. “I know that God does not see me as a sinner who killed his family; he sees me as His child,” he stated. “I have confessed my sins. I am forgiven. The hardest thing I have had to do was to forgive myself.”

Watts’ letters detail his interpretation of his faith, referencing 2 Corinthians 5:17, which speaks to transformation: “If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature; old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” He asserts that he has found peace in his faith, stating, “God has separated me from my sin as far as East is from West, and I am finally at peace with myself.”

The case drew significant media attention, particularly following the release of the Netflix documentary titled “American Murder: The Family Next Door” in 2020. The film utilized raw, firsthand footage to explore the events surrounding the disappearance of Shanann Watts and her daughters, as well as the subsequent investigation.

Initially, Watts denied any involvement in the disappearance of his family, but as evidence mounted, he confessed to the murders. He claimed that his wife had killed their daughters in a fit of rage, prompting him to kill Shanann in a similar emotional state. However, police confronted him with evidence of his affair, leading to his eventual admission of guilt.

On November 6, 2018, Watts was sentenced to five life sentences without the possibility of parole. He remains incarcerated in a maximum-security facility, where he continues to reflect on his past actions and his current perceived transformation.

As his correspondence has rekindled public interest, the complexities of his case highlight not only the tragic loss of life but also the ongoing discourse surrounding morality, accountability, and the potential for redemption.