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By Doha Madani and Sarah Ford
A Colorado man who publicly prayed for the safe return of his missing pregnant wife and their two daughters pleaded guilty to killing him. In an agreement, the prosecutor told him to avoid the death penalty.
Christopher Watts, 33, pleaded guilty to the nine counts of indictment against him – including five counts of first degree murder – in the death of his wife, Shanann Watts, and their daughters, Bella, age 4 , and Celeste, 3, whose bodies were found on the property of an oil and gas company where Christopher Watts was working in August, according to a press release from Colorado's 19th judicial district.
The plea agreement includes a conviction that Christopher Watts will be sentenced to spend the rest of his days in jail, said Weld County District Attorney Michael Rourke.
At a press conference, Rourke said the agreement was made with the support of Shanann Watts' family. He then explained what he called the "extraordinary delays that currently exist" in Colorado for the killing of prisoners.
"They were very strongly in favor of a resolution in this case without the death penalty," Rourke said. Rourke recounted a conversation with Shanann Watts' mother, Sandra Rzucek, who helped to make the decision.
Sandy said very, very cleverly, she said, "He chose to take those lives. I do not want to be in a position to make the choice to take hers, "said Rourke." And so it's about as firm as she could have told me, and that's what it's all about. was very convincing to all of us as we were discussing how to proceed in this case. "
Christopher Watts pleaded guilty to five counts of first degree murder, three counts of alteration of a dead human body, and one count of unlawful termination of his pregnancy.
He appeared calm but emotional and spoke with a trembling voice as he pleaded in court. He did not watch a member of Shanann Watts' family.
Shanann Watts, 34, and their daughters, Bella and Celeste, were originally reported missing in August. Chris pleaded for their return at interviews held in front of the family's home in Frederick, Colorado, and told reporters, "I want them so much at home."
The Colorado Bureau of Investigations later announced that Shanann Watts and the girls had been murdered inside their home. Shanann Watts' body was later discovered on the property of a petroleum and natural gas company for which Christopher Watts had worked. The bodies of Bella and Celeste were then found nearby in an oil tank.
Shanann Watts was 15 weeks pregnant at the time of her death.
Christopher Watts first told the police after his arrest that he had killed Shanann Watts after their daughters had been killed, according to court documents.
Rourke described these claims as "an outright lie" and stated that he did not believe that Christopher Watts would give the authorities a complete, accurate and truthful statement.
"What I can tell you most affirmatively today, from what has happened in the courtroom, is that he has tried to falsely, improperly, and frankly Shanann on a false lie, "said Rourke. "The spotlights shine directly where he belongs – on him."
When asked if a motive had been determined in the case, Rourke stated that the investigators thought they had a "partial reason" and that he would have more to say about it after the conviction, which is scheduled for November 19.
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