When thirty-four-year-old Shanann Watts missed a doctor’s appointment on August 13, 2018, her friends reported her missing to the Frederick, Colorado Police. When officers searched the home, they found Shanann’s car parked in the garage and her belongings—including her wallet, cell phone, and medication—were found in various spots around the house, but there was no sign of Shanann or the couple’s two children anywhere.

The next day, the FBI opened an investigation into the disappearance of Shanann, Bella and Celeste and Chris took to local television to give one of the most infamous and suspicious interviews of all time. He asked anyone with information about their whereabouts to come forward. The very next day however, Chris failed a polygraph exam and eventually confessed to murdering his wife, but he initially denied killing their children.

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

Chris Watts Discovery Documents

Denty & Shaz

References

Baker, KC. 2018. Pregnant Woman and Her 2 Little Girls Vanish and Could Be in Danger, Authorities Say. August 15. Accessed April 15, 2026. https://people.com/crime/colorado-pregnant-mom-daughters-vanish-medication-left/.

Glatt, John. 2020. The Perfect Father: The True Story of Chris Watts, His All-American Family, and a Shocking Murder. New York, NY: St. Martin's Press.

Helling, Steve. 2018. Pregnant Mom Vanishes, Husband Pleads for Help — Then 3 Bodies Turn Up: How Watts Family Murder Case Unfolded.September 18. Accessed April 15, 2026. https://people.com/crime/shanann-chris-watts-family-murder-timeline/.

McDonnell-Parry, Amelia. 2018. "Colorado man claims he killed pregnant wife after she strangled their daughters." Roling Stone, August 20.

Swanson, Sady, and Nick Coltrain. 2018. "Christopher Watts sentenced to 3 life terms for murdering pregnant wife, 2 daughters." Fort Collins Coloradoan, November 20: 1.

Chris Watts Discovery Documents

Cowritten by Alaina Urquhart, Ash Kelley & Dave White (Since 10/2022)

Produced & Edited by Mikie Sirois (Since 2023)

Research by Dave White (Since 10/2022), Alaina Urquhart & Ash Kelley

Listener Correspondence & Collaboration by Debra Lally

Listener Tale Video Edited by Aidan McElman (Since 6/2025)

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