Christopher Watts, the Colorado man convicted of killing his pregnant wife and two daughters, was sentenced to three consecutive life sentences plus 84 years on Monday.
Watts, 33, was given the maximum sentence for the strangling of his wife, Shanann Watts, and the suffocation of 3-year-old Celeste Watts and 4-year-old Bella Watts, The Coloradoan reports.
Watts largely avoided the death penalty due to his guilty plea on Nov. 6 and a request from Shanann's family, The Coloradoan said.
"We begged the district attorney to spare your life,... because we believe no one has the right to take the life of another, even someone like you," Shanann's brother, Frankie Rzucek, said in court.
Watts pleaded guilty to nine felony charges last week, including three counts of first-degree murder. He will serve two additional life sentences for first-degree murder of a person under the age of 12 while being in a position of trust. Those sentences will run concurrent to the three consecutive life sentences.
Watts will also serve 48 years for unlawful termination of a pregnancy and 36 years for tampering with a deceased human body - 12 years for each member of Watt's family. Those sentences will also be served concurrently to the life sentences.
Watts murdered his family on Aug. 13 and buried Shanann in a shallow grave on property owned by Anadarko Petroleum, one of Colorado's largest oil drillers. Watts is a former employee of the company.
Bella and Celeste were found nearby, their bodies pushed into the openings of two oil tanks.
While a motive for the murders had not been determined, investigators discovered that Watts had been having an affair with a woman he worked with at Anadarko Petroleum.
According to Weld County District Attorney Michael Rourke, in the weeks prior to her death, Shanann sent text messages to Watts to try and save their marriage. Watts, however, was looking for jewelry and vacation spots to take the new woman in his life.
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
About the writer
To read how Newsweek uses AI as a newsroom tool, Click here.
