True Crime Analysis, Breakthroughs, Insights & Discussions Hosted by Bestselling Author Nick van der Leek

What's Wrong with the "Second Confession"? Fact vs Fiction Checklist

Claim #1: Chris Watts murdered his elder daughter after she witnessed him killing her mother.

TCRS:
Bella did not witness her mother’s murder.
Bella was dead before her mother’s murder.

Claim #2: It started with Shan’ann threatening to keep their children…

TCRS:
There were no arguments or conversations on Monday night or Tuesday morning, with the exception of a 111 minute phone call between Watts an Kessinger from approximately 21:00 to 23:00.

Claim #3: ….she learned of his affair…

TCRS:
Watts never admitted to the affair. He committed murder so that he didn’t have to admit to it, or confront her, and so that Kessinger wouldn’t find out about the pregnancy [either that Shan’ann was pregnant, or that he was the father, or both].

Claim #4: Bella reportedly spent her final moments begging her father to spare her life.

TCRS:
Bella did not “fight back” or beg. The injuries inflicted were in the process of forcing her little body through an 8-inch hatch, and then stomping on her to make sure she went all the way through.

Claim #5: Shan’ann had said something to the effect of, “well you’re not going to see the kids again.”

TCSR: This is true, but it wasn’t said on Monday morning. It came up for the first time in the Phone Data review on August 8th.

fullscreen-capture-20190215-221928-001-1 (1)
On the same day Shan’ann declared to Cassie and Nickole [and in the same conversation about the house loan]:
fullscreen-capture-20190305-091311.jpg
It has been argued that Watts’ admission to killing Bella after she saw him kill her mother sounds genuine because he’s not trying to minimize what actually happened.
I would argue it is still minimizing. The way it is described in the media is that Bella “begged”. The way Watts probably told it likely very different. She simply said, “What are you doing to Mommy?” and then he quickly smothered her. That’s not begging.
All of this conforms to the classic “I just snapped” defense wormout. But semantics aside, what could be worse than Shan’ann freaking out, Watts killing her and then killing his child? What could possibly be worse?
A triple, premeditated murder – that’s what. A coldly calculated annihilation plotted and planned several days ahead of time and then coolly, almost casually executed when the time came. That is infinitely worse.
HIOBIZU

123 Comments

  1. ncam619

    Hey Nick, earlier this evening I watched a you tube live with Jamie’s best friend. She said she spoke to chris watts yesterday (Sunday) she said he told her the same thing the daily mail article said. He told her there was a fight, they “made up” and then there was a 2nd fight. She said this hours before the daily mail article came out. I’m a VERY skeptical person but she was quite convincing, and i have to say…I believe her. The most insane part of the story is that Chris told her the girls were alive when they left in his truck that morning. Shan’ann was in the back while both girls sat upfront. He then murdered both girls at the cervi site. Now THAT is an entirely different scenario. I can’t even begin to imagine.

    • nickvdl

      It doesn’t matter whether it’s the Rzuceks, Frankie, the FBI, his sister, his best friend, the cops, the lead detective, Dr. Phil, Nancy Grace – it doesn’t matter who passed it on, the point is it’s the new version from Chris Watts. That’s the point.
      If you think the new version is believable, then that’s your right. It’s a new version and in this version Shan’ann doesn’t kill the kids, he does. That doesn’t make this version true, although it probably is more true than the earlier version.
      If you recall his first version was they talked and then he left her in bed with the kids [alive] and went to work. The second was they talked and they had an argument, and then she killed the kids, and he killed her. This version was closer to the truth [in that there were three dead bodies out there] but still not the truth. The third version is two talks, she threatens to take the children, so he kills all of them. Is the third version the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth? Give me a break!
      No one seems to be thinking the most obvious thing. If he wanted custody of his kids, why would he kill them? If he killed Shan’ann to get custody of the kids [that’s his motive], then why does he kill his children?
      The scenario is literally:
      You can’t have the kids.
      Okay, I will kill you and the kids.
      That was the original scenario for how and why Shan’ann killed her own children [which nobody believed].
      But now that’s supposed to make sense? Are you fucking kidding me?

      • Jade

        It’s Chris Watts flipping the script constantly to deflect blame off of himself onto Shanann. Almost none of this new “version” made any sense just like the others. CW said having sex with SW was a “test” so a test to what? That you could callously have sex with her and murder her during sex or immediately after?? I’d also like to point out that CW had been sleeping in the basement for weeks during their marital strife and suddenly he’s in the bed that morning?? Also NK claims while on the phone with CW he was watching TV waiting up for SW either in the living room or basement. So somehow CW is asleep in the bed. If they had sex she didn’t initiate it come on she was exhausted physically and mentally. This was a pre-planned and collaborative effort to kill the family. I’m not saying Cindy Watts had anything to do with the murders but she hated SW and put thoughts into CW head too. There’s a trail of destruction coming from the Watts family, NK and CW that ultimately ended in murder. If SW really threatened to take the kids and he actually cared about the kids; I mean he’s claiming that was the catalyst or final straw why kill them an hour later? Ridiculous. Either the kids or one were killed immediately before or after SW. It just doesn’t seem plausible that you drive for an hour and then decide to kill your kids. No it was all or none; I believe the trash bags were used for the girls bodies. It is also telling that CW has vivid memories of most of the crime like, “Bella said softly” or “Mascara running down her face” but he can’t remember if he pinned SW arms or other amnesia moments that don’t make sense. Yes he’s a cold-blooded murderer and I honestly think he was eager to concoct up this story because his mother believes he has a chance at getting out one day and I really think he believes that too. He is spinning this tale to seem like the jilted Father who lost it and didn’t mean to kill his family when really it’s quite the opposite. He’s manipulating the public and the investigators because he thinks by spinning this version he might be forgiven not just by SW family but by the public and justice system and he is sadly mistaken. CW web of lies is just that; the only thing we know for certain is that he actually killed them all. I think it’s much more simple than he’s trying to make it seem. SW suspected but had no evidence to support he was cheating so he’s guilty tripping conscious had him believiing that “she knew” what?? I think honestly based on some of what CW was saying that it’s possibly he was in some kind of pyschosis from drugs, Thrive products, stress and built up anger that turned him into this monster or he was always deep down inside fascinated with murder. Either way the trail of blood leads back to CW and NK. My theory is that he was in the basement, something happened in the basement because the dogs picked up on that. SW not fighting back does confuse me because she was feisty and strong-willed. It could be that she was so broken up about the situation that she gave up or she had fallen asleep.

    • Victor

      During the sentencing, Frank mentioned that he “saw the video”, in which Chris loaded up his family in the truck “like trash” – Frankie.Jr also mentioned on Facebook that he and his family were shown security footage that clearly showed CW loading up the bodies, but these images weren’t released to the public because they were “too morbid” – so now I’m very confused…did they actually see footage in which Chris was seen loading the bodies, or didn’t they? Previous statements from Frank and Frankie.Jr suggest that they had, but now they’re saying that this 2nd confession is the true account of how things went down?

      • julinka1981

        I don’t believe they did, the video from neighbor only shows CW. I don’t believe there was another camera that pointed into garage.Plus if Bella and Cece were alive-they wouldn’t be “morbid” either way none of the reports make sense from Rzucek family. And best to see what will be released anyway,before we get worked up “I mean “Bella begged for life” is just obvious being more dramatic.

  2. Genevieve

    I think we have to go with what makes the most sense. I believe Nick’s entire scenario, makes far more sense than anything out of CW’s lying mouth.

  3. Shoregirl74 NJ

    Hi everyone. Nick’s take on this makes me think…can we really believe Watts ever again?? I would really like to believe that Bella didnt beg for her life or see her mother dead :'( I dont know what to think. He’s the biggest piece of garbage to have ever walked the earth. IF he is lying , God Damn HIM for saying such a lie as to put Shanann’s familly and friends through the sheer terror of visualizing that precious little babies final moments.

    • Victor

      Hi Shoregirl, I agree – this new ‘scenario’ CW has apparently put out, that he’s had *6 months* to plot and piece together, completely removes any patina he may have had of being a tragic figure, or someone deserving of a small [tiny] degree of empathy. After having so many endless days and nights alone to think, you’d assume he would come up with a story that paints him in a better light, minimising his actions – so he’s gone with ‘snapping’ and killing Shanann in a rage, okay, but what he did to his little daughters in confession #2 is even worse than confession #1…he drove with them lying on the floor of his truck for 45 minutes, next to the body of their murdered mother, and then smothered them in absolute cold blood? This guy must be suicidal, because he’s gonna get shanked. Good riddance.

      • Jade

        Victor I think CW is like a “magician” he just makes stuff up as he goes. This new version is carefully worded in that he is trying to make himself seem like victim of circumstance and like it was “rage” and it was anything but the sort. There’s a trail and it shows pre-meditation. The plan was for CW and NK to be together no matter what it took. The timing of NK searching for dresses speaks volumes I think she was literally looking for wedding dresses a day before or exactly a week before the murders. I do not think the financial problems were that big of a problem because Shanann was good at what she did and CW admitted to that, even praised her for it. I think the baby on the way may have been the real “trigger” for him because it’s one thing to divorce a wife and two kids quite another to divorce a pregnant wife and two kids that the mistress supposedly doesn’t know about. He said SW said, “Don’t hurt the baby” and he strangled her. CW doesn’t realize it through his own lies that’s he’s giving away parts of the real story with code words like “blinders on”, “something implanted it in my head”, “Don’t hurt the baby” and “What’s wrong with Mommy’ and “What’s wrong with CeCe” these are very telling phrases and oddly enough I think SW might have been the one to ask what’s wrong with CeCe?

      • thetinytech2018

        I’d agree – if he was in gen pop (general public). I don’t think he is, I’d bet my bottom dollar he PC-ed and is basically in a cell, by himself, 23 hours a day and the one hour he gets out of his cell isn’t spent where other inmates could get him. Further, it’s usually the child molesters and beaters that run the risk of a CO or other inmate(s) finding out what they’re in for and then going after him. Im sure he isn’t the most liked, but at the same time there’s probably plenty of his kin walking around the penitentiary.

  4. Genevieve

    Shoregirl, I agree. Jodi Arias did something similar in her sentencing trial. She told the judge that her victim, Travis Alexander, was conscious when she slit his throat. That was said purely as a way to torment Travis’ family as Jodi wanted to inflict maximum pain upon them. Jodi had gone from obsessively loving Travis Alexander, to hating him, and then to thinking that she had done the world a huge favour by savagely murdering him.
    I wonder if CW is doing something similar. He blamed Shannan for the death of the girls and blamed Shannan for her own death. He said to his father, “I did the same thing to f…ing her.” His total contempt for Shannan may have extended to the girls and now to her family.

  5. ianmc1968

    No matter what i will never believe taht the ‘111 minute conversation’ he had THAT NIGHT, didnt have a huge bearing on what happened later. I mean its just too co-incidental. Not directly blaming ‘Nikki’ for any of this because she could never have known what CW would end up doing. But that conversation was the final straw. Then Shan’ann coming home for a confrontation after seeing the credit card details of his meal on the sat night was the impetus for the ’emotional conversation’ that lead to her death. I just cant get my head around why the baby girls had to be murdered too. Maybe it was a ‘if I can’t have them then neither will you’ scenario.

    • Genevieve

      Agree Ian. NK was extremely vague about such a long phone call during the most crucial time possible.

    • Ralph Oscar

      “No matter what i will never believe taht the ‘111 minute conversation’ he had THAT NIGHT, didnt have a huge bearing on what happened later. I mean its just too co-incidental. Not directly blaming ‘Nikki’ for any of this”
      You miss the point. The girls were very light sleepers. CW would not have been ABLE to have that 111 minute conversation with NK if the girls had still been alive.

      • thetinytech2018

        I doubt very much that he killed Shanann the way he tells it in either account. Makes no sense honestly. I’ve seen those houses and read up on the builder of those homes, those houses are cheap as hell, thrown up quickly cookie cutter style (tract homes) and they’re on a zero lot line. You could cough with the window open and your neighbor would hear you, hell you could stick your hand out the window and into your neighbor’s house for a tissue! Add to that the vaulted ceilings which I have in my own home, and well… your voice travels, and with cheaply made homes comes a lack of sound proofing. Neighbors had heard them fighting in the past, safe to say they would’ve heard something that night. I have a higher pitched voice and Im a female that often has to be told to “speak up” and my voice can still boom throughout my home. There was no argument when she came home, there wasn’t much of anything except murder because he was running out of time. Remember – she was late, really late and even said she didn’t expect Chris to be awake because he was to be up for work at 430am. I believe the kids were already dead, that’s why he was waiting up for her in the first place. Think about it – this is a man who detested his wife at this point and had refused to talk to her prior, yet now when she comes home he all of a sudden has a change of heart? No. He knew he was royally screwed if he fell asleep waiting for her because he had already done away with the kids.
        Shanann would’ve been exhausted, but even with that a mother away from her kids that long is going to come home, kick off her shoes, check on the kids and either go shower and then bed or just bed. He couldn’t have her doing that, because if she found them not in their beds or worse – in their beds deceased – she would let out some type of audible shrill sound. Especially if she found one child not in bed, panicked, ran into the other child’s room and found them missing as well, she’d be screaming that the kids are gone and for Chris to wake up to help her. Surely in the dead calm of the early morning hours, the last thing you want is someone screaming and messing up your plans. He didn’t, couldn’t have that wild card in the equation. He had killed the children already, that’s why he was awake, it wasn’t to finally have an in depth conversation with his wife who he detested, especially when she had asked him multiple times to talk to him but he shut down. So why then, at that time? Why would he all of a sudden want to speak to her? Even after he found out she was going to be later than originally thought, he didn’t throw in the towel, he stayed up until 230… when he had to get ready for work in 2 hours. He couldn’t have her come home to find the kids dead or not in their bed and freak out. So what does he do? There’s no texts saying he’s waiting up, never says we have to talk, nothing of the sort and she said to NA that “Chris will be asleep when I get home.” So not even she knew this monumental conversation was to occur. It doesn’t add up, unless…
        He was really waiting for her to come home so he could finish the job. He’s anxious, he’s killed the children, and he knows it’s now or never, if he’s gonna go through with it he’s got very little time to kill, cleanup and dispose of his crime before work. Can’t call out because that won’t look right, right? So he sees her get dropped off by NA, it’s later than he thought, so he makes sure the security cameras can’t access the wifi (they need that to work, otherwise those cameras have no hard drive to save the file to, they’re like eyes with no brain to interpret and no memory to remember if the wifi is blocked. Then he makes sure it’s dark so that she won’t suspect he’s awake, and right after she comes in and kicks off her shoes at the front door (where they were found) he steps out from an alcove perhaps or a darkened corner of the room and goes for it. Maybe she sees him, maybe she’s blindsided but that’s where it happens. This eliminates a bunch of issues, one being time (he doesn’t have to talk to her and waste more valuable time he doesn’t have), another being the issue of sound. She can’t yell or fight back if he blind sides her, there’s nothing to be grabbed to hit him with, there’s nothing to crash upon the ground in a struggle and set off the neighbors and most importantly, there’s no chance of her climbing the stairs and realizing the kids aren’t in bed (or that they are but they’re deceased). He also keaton’s exactly where she is, you don’t want your targèt wandering around the house, you want them backed into a corner. Moreover, you don’t have to carry heavy dead weight down the stairs. This wasn’t a small 100lb female, and dead weight has no give, so if she’s killed on the first floor he saves himself time not having to move her from the second to the first floor.
        I wish he would just stop with all the theatrics and come clean already, but I doubt that will happen. Still, if there’s anything this blog has taught me, it’s that even in all the chaos of crime, there are patterns to be found – and letting your intended victims run the roost is probably not the best idea.

  6. Kaye

    It also makes no sense that Chris had zero defensive wounds on him if he is saying that he strangled Shan’ann immediately after a fight. She would have scratched the hell out of his arms, bruised him, or something. Are we supposed to believe she stood or laid there passively while he strangled her, especially when she is emotional and worked up?

  7. mitzi2006

    I don’t believe any of his new “story”, it makes no sense with the evidence and what about the planning evidence, the security system, testing Nate’s camera view, arranging to go to the site. None of the evidence shows a confrontation, no bruising on shanann other than her neck bruising, nothing on him, it belies belief. I’d like to know who initiated this meeting, the law enforcement? Chris watts? Rzuceks lawyer?
    The one thing that’s been bugging me and hope someone has a theory is what is the purpose of him stating two separate fights with a “make up” in between. Why not just one fight? He has a reason for this lie, he’s had plenty of time to think but I can’t come up with a reason but it benefits him in some way, what the heck is it

    • Kaye

      I think the two fights story gives a reason for what was going on for three hours, from 2 to 5. He wants to make it seem like a big murder explosion happened in the last hour or so before going to work—to make it more plausible that it happened quickly in “rage.” But I think he spent those hours cleaning up and coming up with his story about the “play date.” Plus he needed to pretend that all was normal, that he’s just leaving at the regular time for work. So he waited around cleaning, until it was time to load the bodies and head out to CERVI.

      • Clean Queen

        Kaye, I agree. I am willing to entertain other options, but your scenario, and Nick’s timeline of events still makes the most sense to me.

  8. EJD

    I could be way off here but I find it hard to believe he got those kids in the truck ALIVE without at least one of them screaming and or crying and there is no evidence on the looped video from the neighbor that has been released (to the public anyway) of it. Am I missing something?

    • LW

      If they were alive, they were drugged. But probably weren’t alive. I don’t trust ANYTHING CW has to say.

      • EJD

        But If the kids were drugged to get them in the truck, I suspect that would have been in the toxicology reports but I’m guessing.

        • Laura Thompson

          We don’t know what effects petrochemicals have on toxicology, though. CW did Google Oxycodone 80 mg for some reason, and probably not just for fun.

        • Kaye

          Another problem with that scenario is how could he take the risk of driving that distance with two toddlers not in car seats? If even one of them were moving around and visible, he would be reported or pulled over. I doubt he would want to draw any attention when he’s got a dead body right behind him.

      • Ralph Oscar

        The ONLY evidence that either child was still alive was that there was oil in Bella’s lungs or stomach (can’t remember). CW *insisted* that of COURSE she wasn’t alive when he stuffed her down the thief hatch.

    • Steve Taylor

      The lawyer said he told Bella they were taking mommy to the hospital.

    • Ralph Oscar

      Those girls certainly didn’t *walk* into the truck. We would’ve seen their feet alongside CW’s.

  9. kimj1111

    I’m not convinced that Shan’ann was killed upstairs, but I don’t know. Changing her clothes into PJs just seems like too much work with all he had to do, and the sheets found in the trash have an odd blank spot between the stains – It looks to me like someone’s nose and mouth could have been pinched to suffocate them. I’m not much of a thong girl (although my husband would probably like that), but that also stuck out to me – a pregnant woman fighting to keep her family intact, he husband who would not have sex with her, wearing a lacy thong. Then again, I have a friend who loves thongs for the lack of panty lines, so what do I know?
    The lack of marks on him also strikes me as odd. It seems like to not get scratched, people would either be drugged or he’s on top of them on either side while they are trapped under blankets, leaving their arms trapped by their sides. I don’t believe for a minute that Shan’ann killed them.
    To me, the best factoid of this being premeditated is that on Monday, Shan’ann had a doctor’s appointment, and asked Chris to take the girls to school on Monday, at least the week before. He agreed. However, he never received that day off – in fact, he was texting his coworkers that he would go check on a site Monday morning the weekend before. It’s a small thing, him working on Monday and no one mentioning that he asked for the day off, even though his supervisors were interviewed. But it sticks out to me…

    • Victor

      Shanann had asked Chris to take the *following* Monday off, August 20th – that date was to be the official first day of kindergarten for Bella, and Shanann wanted Chris there for the drop-off/photo opportunity. Monday August 13th was just daycare for both girls, Shanann was going to take them to school alone that morning. Shanann did ask Chris to prepare the girls’ backpacks and lunches for the 13th though…did he do this? No idea. Was this something he normally did the night before, or in the morning?

    • Ralph Oscar

      “The lack of marks on him also strikes me as odd. It seems like to not get scratched”
      In CW’s “Sermon on the Porch”, there was a red mark on the left side of CW’s neck. He said it was a mosquito bite.

  10. Stacy

    I think SW was definitely asleep when he attacked her. I agree Nick it doesn’t make sense to kill the girls too because he’s afraid of losing custody. Unless she could prove abuse he would most likely have at least some visitation if not 50/50 (not sure how custody is usually handled in CO). He may have had to pay alimony or at least part of the house payment while separated that is pretty common where I am from but that stops once they reach a divorce settlement. I think he had decided he was done with them emotionally and decided to be done with them physically as well. None of his actions afterwards so someone who was so heated and emotional.

    • ncam619

      I watched dr.phil today and no one ever said that he killed the kids because of the thought of not seeing them again. He said that Shan’ann told him he would never see the kids again and “as a consequence of that conversation” he strangled her. imo when shan’ann spoke those words he knew she was going to be vindictive and do whatever it took to bring Chris down. I remember Chris saying “Shan’ann always gets what she wants”. He was probably thinking about was how much he would have to pay (literally and figuratively). He didnt give me a shit about whether or not those girls would continue to be in his life. He knew he wouldn’t be able to have the life he wanted with NK and that’s ultimately why they ALL had to go.

  11. Sylvester

    Did anyone see “Dead Man Walking” – Sean Penn, Susan Sarandon? There are parallels between that movie and Chris Watts. Susan played a nun who was sent to the prison to help prisoner Penn, who was going to be executed, to find redemption – she was also anti-death penalty. But she had to have him tell the truth, what really happened, and drop the cocky act and come to terms with what he did. Only then would she fight for him, and help him find peace. I don’t think Coder, Lee, and Baumhover went to Wisconsin to help Chris find peace and tell the truth. Maybe they would like that to happen, but I don’t think Chris is ready to face the truth. That he coldly and with calculation, planned the murder of his children and his wife because he wanted something else. And someone else. And if he couldn’t have the someone else then he would at least have something else. Not much of a reason is it? Not very logical. Doesn’t sound very good does it. It sounds better for there to have been an argument, a threat, a skirmish, a struggle. There has to have been “last words.” It’s important for him to have people think he isn’t a monster. He’s not “that” Chris. He can promise us he’s not that Chris. But he is that Chris – and that’s what he can’t understand. For years he acted like the Chris he needed us to believe and I suspect he’s still going to do it. But we’ll see.

    • nickvdl

      The 5 hour interview with Watts is going to be fascinating, and mark my words, will contrast spectacularly from the spin Dr. Phil puts on it. Like the original interrogation, polygraph test and re-interrogation, expect Coder, Lee and Baumhover to go through the scenarios again and again and end up with something not very convincing [like the last time], but a few baby steps closer to what actually happened.
      It will be very interested to see how they respond, and also to get a feel for Baumhover’s style in an interrogation setting.

      • mitzi2006

        Dr Phil definitely had facts wrong in his original show about this crime, I take everything with a heavy grain of salt that he will discuss in this one. Made me wonder after last show if he really researched the actual evidence at all. He obviously did not read the autopsy reports which should be the bare minimum to read. His info that there was broken bones is not accurate. When you get a big thing like that wrong I question everything else he says. If he does not ask this lawyer about the premeditation evidence is he really after the truth based on facts, or just a ratings win.

        • CBH

          Dr. Phil often disregards facts to go for the ratings win. He’s not a serious source for true crime.

          • mitzi2006

            So many guests when they get in a war of words with him say he deceived them about what was supposed to be the focus. I believe them, too many of them have said it plus there’s been leaks of how he treats his staff behind the scenes and they are threatened with legal action if they spill anything, much like the contractor he had a dispute with and he played extremely harsh with her. I think he’s a bully

          • CBH

            He is indeed a bully. One time he had a young girl on with psychiatric problems, she said something he didn’t like and he threw her off the show, even though she apologized profusely. He is despicable.

          • Steve Taylor

            Bailey who said she didn’t want her mom on the show, but Dr Phil surprised her by bringing the mom unbeknownst to Bailey. That was a dbag move. He should have apologized, but overcompensated for being wrong by yelling at her.

      • Clean Queen

        100% agree. I expect Chris’s new story and the Dr. Phil narrative to be markedly different

      • JC

        For a small town detective with little prior experience with homicides, I think Baumhover deserves ample recognition and praise for his initial instincts during the investigation. I’m sure he has a burning desire to understand the psychology behind this type of crime and to him, personally and professionally, it feels like unfinished business. Surely he’s learned a great deal in a short amount of time from Coder and Lee. Before this, his expertise was mostly investigating burglaries and counterfeit bills passed at local gas stations. His writings give some insight into his job before this life-altering case of his career. Can you imagine?
        https://www.frederickco.gov/715/From-the-Desk-of-Detective-Dave

      • Sylvester

        That occurred to me also – to hear how the real professionals have a second go at Chris. I think all three of them knew right from the jump he was lying. Kudos to them for their due diligence.
        I for one am not freaking out about these “stunning new revelations”. But I hope an analysis will be done here as I don’t have cable television (Dr. Phil).

  12. Karen

    It’s too bad the agent didn’t press harder about the 111-minute phone call. We got nothing from it. She couldn’t remember anything from almost 2-hours of conversation? That would have made a big difference. The shadow people are running with this whole thing now being thoroughly convinced that was Bella’s shadow. Looking forward to the report coming out on the 7th. Nick, do you have a date on the next book yet? Thanks

  13. William

    People magazine reporting that law enforcement are blindsided by the Dr Phil interview with the Rzuceks and their lawyer, they did not know. Makes me think they have an ongoing contract with Dr Phil, get ready for periodical “bombshells”.

  14. Shannon

    He ambushed Shannan minutes after she walked in and the kids already dead. Thats why no wounds on anyone. He knew he had to catch her off guard. If not, a huge fight, guarantee Shanann would have fought back. No way that happened. Shanann not happy walking up the front door that nite. She could come on to him about 62.00 bill, affair. But he could come back….you fucked up our finances…..tit for tat.
    He wanted completely out of all Responsibility for this family. He knew that if they had discussed anything, screaming, yelling maybe some hitting. Kids would wake up….then what. A friggin nightmare.
    Now the house is completely a new scene.
    That would take hours to calm everyone down.
    No time for this.
    I’m not putting much in Rzucek 2 interviews. If actually makes me mad. Cops probably mad also.
    I’m not even sure if to believe Chris’s statement. To talk, you get something in return. If not, then why talk.

  15. Shannon

    Nick’s timeline and facts are more correct then anything else.

    • CBH

      Absolutely agree.

  16. Stacy

    Not sure if any of it is true but the Dr. Phil episode has been leaked. It claims Chris took the girls alive to the site and killed them there. Bella saw him kill CeCe and asked him not to do the same. He claims they were on the floorboards of the truck when he took them there. He told them mommy was hurt and they were going to the hospital. I hope to God it isn’t true. I think he planned it all. One thing about what Bella said or did3 to keep in mind is he may not be quoting exactly what she said. I often tell people what my 4 year old wants (he’s hungry) and wouldn’t necessarily say exactly what he said to me.

    • ncam619

      One thing that stood out to me in that imterview was that one of the lawyers mentioned a couple of times that the girls were sitting on the floorboard for the entire ride to cervi but then he said once they got to the site Bella “took her seatbelt off”. That is a major contradiction imo and makes me question everything that came out of his mouth.

      • nickvdl

        Does he mean the floorboards at the rear of the truck or on the floor in the cabin?

        • JC

          Just released:
          https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9YKp6Vzcstk

        • mitzi2006

          Floorboards are normally referred to as in the cab, the back is normally referred to as the box but that could be the terms in one area and not all

        • JC

          The sound goes out at 26 minutes in,unfortunately.

          • JC

            Here’s 35 minutes of the 40 minute show time
            *Important note: This version of the “confession” comes from Sandi Rzucek, as told by her lawyers, and her source is never named. Dr. Phil says he doesn’t want to “speculate” on where she obtained her information.
            Ultimately, the transcripts/audio interview will be a reliable source from a reliable source.
            https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9YKp6Vzcstk

        • ncam619

          Cabin floorboards.

      • mitzi2006

        So he makes sure they’re in seatbelts to keep them safe to kill them 45 minutes later? Yea, makes sense. This guy is just unbelievable in more than one sense

  17. Stacy

    Ncam619 good catch. I have not seen it and don’t plan to watch it. I will wait and see what is released Thursday.

  18. SRC

    Could it be Mr. Watts is enjoying a bit of his newfound fame? However infamous it may be? Perhaps he’s reveling a bit in his spotlight and doesn’t want those lights to dim quite yet? If ever. Living an obscure life resulted in nothing but a mediocre existence, spiraling debt, conflicted identity, and modest praise. Being thrown onto center stage has given him more recognition for what he felt he deserves than anything else he’s ever done. Queue the love letters, the fan mail, the defenders of his ever so sensitive soul. Poor, poor, misunderstood Chris. His devoted fans will be off to his rescue…again.
    Can you imagine that flight back home between Baumhover, Coder, and Lee? The feelings of utter horror and/or resignation they were just forced to participate?
    For their benefit, I’m hoping they got in a few good zingers, “You know Chris, we thought you were a good guy caught up in an unfortunate situation who just made a really bad choice, now we know you aren’t that good guy at all anymore.”

  19. Shannon

    All over internet, nobody believes it.

    • JC

      I agree, Shannon. Unnamed sources shouldn’t be taken seriously. My question is why the rush to air this a day before the transcripts are released? We should know tomorrow when the transcripts are available. Lots of questioning will be about the ‘why’ and might lead CW to uncover more of his knowledge of the family finances or something else that will be uncomfortable for them to address.

      • Shannon

        There is absolutely no reason for them to be on TV.
        Nobody could or should speak about what the killer says….before he says it.

        • mitzi2006

          Exactly and lawyers “guessing” that they interviewed him because they are looking at another person and don’t know if they’re still investigating someone else. Geez, as lawyers you’d think they wouldn’t spill that even if they knew it for sure. That’s law enforcements job to disclose that before someone gets a tip off from lawyers

        • JC

          Exactly, it’s absolutely unheard of. This didn’t come from any investigators sitting in that interview. That would be a huge, huge breach of privileged info. A career ender. The only person she knows (I can think of anyway) that would read that interview and tell her is DA Rourke. And if he thought he had to warn the Rzuceks so they wouldn’t have to find out in the news,,he’d have to get permission from the CBI and FBI. He didn’t do that. This airing today is going to be a big deal to the state and federal LE agencies. I thought it’s against the law to interfere with federal investigations and leak to the public, but apparently her lawyers think it’s okay. No wonder Phil said he wasn’t going to “speculate” on the source. Unless the source is CW himself , someone’s in deep trouble.

          • Shannon

            I just called the hair salon in alberdeen ….not sure of spelling where sandy works.
            A machine came on.
            Maybe time difference in Canada to there.

  20. Shannon

    How could you drive, dead body in back, kids either on the floor inside truck, or wait, there in seatbelts, wait then where’s Shanann….where is she, oh yes, sitting in front seat, not sure if seatbelts on, if not she would just flip around. Now did Chris dig holes before or after killing the kids. Hard to dig with 2 kids freaking out. Toss a coin to see which kid to kill first. Dig holes after this….How do you smother, strangle 2 kids on a field….noisy one first…or wait…plop them just in the tank…they should drown.
    What is this shit…..WHY oh why.
    Do you not think the cops might find this story alittle….. strange.
    Big time editing going on here.

  21. Shannon

    Sorry meant to say flops around. Unless she’s stiff as a board, hard to fit into back of truck, her feet could stick out window thou.
    Lol…..lol.
    I guess he folded her up to lay in the ground.

  22. mitzi2006

    Frank and Frankie rzucek described seeing a video of him taking three bodies out, DA also referred to that. Would these lawyers and family know that they absolutely were not alive and put in the truck and killed later? No one refuted that part of his “admission”. Now I’m wondering how much they did see on any video or if they saw the exact same one we’ve viewed

    • ncam619

      I have always been under the impression that the Rzuceck’s watched the same video we all saw.

      • Victor

        Frankie Rzuceck wrote an earlier statement on facebook, months ago, about his family seeing different footage than that which was released to the public:
        https://www.reddit.com/r/Chriswatts/comments/asytkk/frankie_jr_statement_about_seeing_chris_load_the/

        • Shannon

          I looked at this.
          What brother would say ….at least you got to see my sister’s clothes and hole. A different version of the video. Did the neighbors see there video of this.
          Wonder if junior has ever seen Nicole Simpsons dead pictures.

          • Victor

            Frankie is mentioning the release of the photos of Shanann’s “clothing and hole” with a tone of disgust, disgust with the morbid fascination of the public to see all of the gory details in this case; it makes sense: if my loved one was killed in this way I’d find the physical evidence, the stained clothing and shallow grave to be viscerally more disturbing than grainy video of the perpetrator loading a body. We don’t have the connection with Shanann that her family did, so can’t feel that same deep stab to the heart looking at images of her stained sleep-shirt, the grave where she was unceremoniously dumped.
            Whether Frankie Jr. has ever seen pictures of Nicole Simpson’s corpse or that of anyone else, who knows? Even if he has, Nicole Simpson wasn’t his flesh and blood – it’s natural to want to protect your own family, even after they’re dead. Especially after they’ve died a sad and vicious death like this.
            Re: the video – it likely didn’t come from the neighbour’s place, but that’s just speculation because it wasn’t released to us. Nate the neighbour probably doesn’t have the equipment needed to forensically examine the imagery captured anyway, even if it is from his own camera.

          • Shannon

            There’s lots of Nate’s video on internet. No one has ever said it shows him loading bodies. Even out now, looping the truck / shadow, showing only one small shadow, briefly. Unless Nate’s has cameras with different angles focused on this house, I don’t believe Junior.
            It has been said before, juniors explosive comments are immature.

          • Victor

            Once again, I’m not saying the video in question came from Nate’s camera[s]. I’m not stating categorically that this video exists, but it likely does:
            Frank Rzuceck stool up in court at CW sentencing and said “I watched the video” and comments on CW carrying out his family “like trash”. Frank isn’t going to lie about watching such a video in front of the DA, LE, public defenders, prosecution, judge and media.

          • Shannon

            Debatable.
            Have a nice evening. Off to bed now.

          • thetinytech2018

            It’s quite clear that the Rzuceks have an issue with telling the truth and dealing with reality as it presents itself. They also seem to be of weak moral character, they blatantly exploited their daughters death for profit, only it didn’t give them the payday they were hoping for. Now they’ll tell ten different stories top five different outlets just to connect a paycheck. Frankie and his parents don’t seem to be very bright, but I guess that’s stating the obvious. They’ll continue this song and dance until they can’t squeeze money out of the media anymore.

          • Shannon

            I see your on a roll….lol.
            Yes this is what I’ve been saying all along.
            I just wish all could see this Blog and maybe they will learn something.
            Chris, Watts, Rzucek’s, Police and Rourke.

      • mitzi2006

        There was a note in discovery on an officers report of a video he picked up, it had the house number on it, that has not been released that I could find. Perhaps it showed nothing but I’ve always wondered if that’s the video they’re talking about

    • Shannon

      With all the videos out about loading bodies. How did the Rzucek’s see a super clear vision of this event. I don’t believe them.
      Maybe the Rzucek family have some Issues going on with them.
      Shanann, not in right mind, all issues with her.
      Junior, charged and lying about her income, among other things.
      Rzucek’s, can’t trust their word.
      This family seems to be all over the place.
      They should let the police do there Job and go away.
      Wonder how long they even mourned the loss in reality.

      • Stacy

        Well at least they didn’t raise a murderer 🤷‍♀️

        • Shannon

          Does anybody?
          A mother looks at her baby son, guess what Honey, one day your gonna kill people.

          • Stacy

            Obviously not. I just don’t understand your apparent disgust with the victim’s family. I agree Dr Phil is not the best outlet and I don’t agree with the timing. I think they are probably very naive and not getting good advice. No one expects to ever have to deal with something like this. Some other assumptions made just seem out of line. By your logic you would probably entertain that her family was in cahoots with him so they can get lots of money. My guess is they will mourn her until they die as that is what real parents do. As far as the Watts they have said enough continually blaming their daughter in law. I doubt many news outlets would touch their story after their last disaster of an interview. Both families need help. I feel sorry for both but the Watts need to acknowledge what their son did or they will never be able to heal.

          • Shannon

            Cahoots with the family.
            Lol. I have never thought that, ever.
            Too funny.

          • Stacy

            Haha yes I was being a little facetious there. It just seems like you focus on the Rzuceks’ faults while glossing over the Watts’s.

          • Victor

            Actually, yes, some people do raise murderers. Psychopathology – mental illnesses that can be *diagnosed* such as narcissism [not calling CW narcissistic], Borderline Personality Disorder et cetera, have their basis in genetics, biological and social causes – how a child is raised and grows to view the world can ‘switch on’ certain genes and genetic predispositions. If Watts grew up being controlled, belittled, told to stifle emotions because emotions are ‘for losers’, such treatment could have tainted not only his self-esteem, but his worldview – how he viewed and reacted to the actions of those around him.
            Some people grow up to be extremely resilient, self-confident, they see the glass as half-full and feel that they have personal agency to go forward in the world and be in control of their own lives…others grow up lacking in self-confidence, and feel powerless to control the buffeting of life. How each of these people react to adversity, difficulties with others directly correlates to how they grew up to view themselves, and how they were treated as children by the hands of those who had power over them. I’m not saying the Watts raised CW to be a murderer, but his upbringing at their hands could have definitely played in a role in how these events unfolded.

  23. CBH

    It’s really sickening that Armchair Detective now looks right about those “shadows” on the neighbor’s footage of Chris loading the bodies in the truck . Ooh, so now we know the shadows really were Bella and CeCe and he really did take the kids alive to Cervi !😜

    • JC

      Wonder how many women have written to tell him about the conspiracy theories. We already know he’s easily influenced by women he likes and highly suggestible…

      • CBH

        Excellent point.

    • Shannon

      You don’t think kids would be running around. It doesn’t seem like awful lot of shadows…..running around.
      Never saw Chris trying to control 2 kids …shadows at what 5-5:30am.
      Do you think he would let them run around outside while he’s trying to dispose of Shanann in the truck?
      I don’t.
      There’s no truth here in this case. It’s getting ridiculous. All lies and stories.

      • CBH

        “There’s no truth here in this case. It’s getting ridiculous. All lies and stories.”
        You said it. 👍🏼

    • mitzi2006

      That guy claims credit for the sunrise. He said it doesn’t matter what the confession says he has other ideas he can use. Once he was an MFI investigator, think he means MI5, then he has no background in law enforcement, then he does, then he doesn’t. He’s full of it

      • mitzi2006

        *talking about armchair detective

        • Laura Thompson

          I sometimes watch his shorter pieces for the entertainment value, and because his voice is oddly appealing as I fall asleep. But, his theories are so out there, and based on thin air. He’s like the anti-Nick where logic and theories based on it are concerned. 😁

    • Clean Queen

      Ugh! This drives me nuts. I am really frustrated that Armchair and many others think he has been proven right. I swear, nobody cares to look at facts any more. It’s all about what’s most sensational. I’m trying to avoid the internet (with the exception of this site) as much as possible right now because I just can’t take it. Maddening lol!

      • CBH

        It is indeed maddening. I also believe Dr. Phil and the Rzuseks should have honored the March 7 press release date.

        • thetinytech2018

          They saw an opportunity to cash in. I mean really, frankie thought his sister, with no formal education was making half a million a year. That entire family has such an odd, almost infantile view of the world to the point where it’s concerning. I still can’t believe they thought it was in good taste to use their daughters and granddaughters death to hock overpriced, useless snake oil. I find it interesting that LeVel hasn’t said anything publicly, but then again she didn’t work for them, she was simply an independent contractor.

          • CBH

            Yes, it’s easy to see where Shannon got her world view.

  24. CBH

    Really becoming a circus. Chris decided YouTube crowd was LITERALLY the way to go:
    “Legal team for Shannan Watts’ family tells Dr. Phil 4 yr old Bella and 3 yr old Celeste were alive on the drive to dispose of Shannan’s body. They say Chris Watts then used Celeste’s favorite blanket to smother her, while Bella said “do not do to me what you just did to CeCe”. ”
    https://mobile.twitter.com/debtakahara/status/1103063221722906626?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Etweet

  25. Shannon

    Funny, the “trash” comment came from Frank Sr.
    Were garbage bags used in this murder?

    • mitzi2006

      There were garbage bags in his truck and they found a bag out at the cervi site

    • Gina

      Why yes garbage bags were used in this murder and there is not a thing funny about any of it.

  26. Sylvester

    I have wondered why, too, Chris took a picture of his family portrait on the wall of his folk’s house when he visited in the last week leading up to the murders. I see it as trying to store a memory before he committed his heinous crimes – like – “remember this.”

    • Clean Queen

      I got the exact same feeling when I heard about that.

  27. Sylvester

    I also have another niggling thought. He didn’t research how to strangle someone – if he did he managed to delete it completely, but the oxycodone search remained. And he strangled her so efficiently, knowing how to press into the carotid artery. There were bruises only on the right side of her face and neck so even though he uses both hands to demonstrate to Agent Coder how he came from behind did he only use one hand? He really must have been on top of her in a flash, even though he says he came from behind. I suppose my point is I wouldn’t know how to do it, how did he?

    • TT

      I’ve often thought this about web-searches and internet history, if I was planning a crime (I’m not!). I have access to computers and phones that aren’t mine regularly, fairly often without others knowing, and I’m sure if I wanted to search nefarious things I could do it without anyone ever knowing?

      • Stacy

        I’m surprised they didn’t find a search on how most people react when their loved ones are missing.

  28. ncam619

    Here we go with the contradictory comments again. Why Is it that Frankie posted how he saw this phantom video months ago and saw them being carried out like trash, but then just last week he posted how Chris “finally confessed the truth about what happened…”. If Frankie actually saw proof of him loading 3 dead bodies on video then why would he believe THIS version is now the truth? Spoken words (especially coming from Chris) are definitely not as compelling as video evidence. Someone isn’t telling the truth, and it’s not just Chris this time.

    • Gina

      Like Nick mentioned before that this “loading of the bodies” was an “inference”

      • thetinytech2018

        He shouldn’t be commenting on anything, as it is he’s been a wealth of misinformation. Frankie Jr isn’t what anybody in their right mind would call a healthy functioning adult. That family has done some very tasteless and irresponsible things in the wake of the events, and perhaps they should step back and grieve, perhaps seek proper counseling instead of trying to cash in by peddling that cheap LeVel garbage to the masses under the guise of “Shan’ann’s dream”. It’s all so wretched.

  29. Tracey 14

    Bible loving Chris is talking now for a reason. No doubt it’s something to benefit him. Why would he tell the whole truth since that would take away his bargaining power. I expect more of this to come in the future when he wants or needs something.
    I actually think the first version of premeditation is a little less awful then his new story of killing the kids at the oil tanks. i can’t imagine these children driving with their dead mother for 45 minutes and then watching him bury her and strangle CeCe while Bella watched and begged for her life. Smothering them in their beds is bad enough but this is truly something out of a horror movie.. Surely, he didn’t do his image any favors with this new version of events. Leads me back to there is a reason why he is telling this now. Why is the question and what is in it for him.

    • CBH

      “I actually think the first version of premeditation is a little less awful then his new story of killing the kids at the oil tank.”
      I agree.

  30. ianmc1968

    The ‘two talks’ scenario actually makes sense when you think about her online purchase at 2:30am. If we are to believe that Shan’ann made that purchase herself then it gives a bit more clarity around the timeline of events. And also may explain the different clothes she was wearing compared to what she arrived home in.
    Who knows what got unleashed in Chris after that second argument. And then once Bella saw her mother
    ‘incapacitated’ that may have triggered a feeling of no turning back and pure panic for Chris.
    Maybe he just couldn’t bear the thought of the girls knowing he killed their mother…He is a narcissist after all. And he wouldn’t want them thinking that of him. Not with his ego.
    From there the reality is just too awful to contemplate…

  31. Gina

    If he smothered Cece with her blanket wouldn’t there be fibers in her lungs? It was talked about before, if the girls were smothered with pillows they would of had fibers in their lungs and they did not.

    • Kaye

      It’s truly odd that CeCe is depicted as being completely silent and seemingly compliant, like a doll, in the story discussed on Dr. Phil. Bella is the only one to talk or fight back? I thought CeCe was the uncontrollable one—the one who was fearless? It will be interesting to see what comes out in the full confession regarding CeCe.

      • Stacy

        CeCe could have fallen back asleep during the long drive since it was so early. That may be why she didn’t struggle.

    • ncam619

      I still think he smothered them with the garbage bags. He tried to explain away his reason for having two garbage bags by saying he put them on shan’ann’s head and feet. He probably thought (in his twisted mind) that a garbage bag would sound less humane than actually using the girl’s favorite blanket that they equate with comfort & security. Everytime he thinks he has come up with a better scenario that makes him “look better” it actually has the opposite effect.

  32. SRC

    Chris Watts seems to have found God at the same time he has lost his marbles!
    Taking his newest account of events into consideration and fitting them over what is already known such as his calm, controlled movements captured on video before leaving for work that morning; arriving to his work site at 6:45 am before anyone else arrives at 7:15 am; having just 30 minutes to coldly, calculatedly dig a grave, dump a body, fill the grave, attempt to camouflage said grave; move the truck; smother a child to death; smother another child who is fighting back to death; carry one child up an exhaustive flight of stairs to one battery for disposal which was likely not an easy fit; then back for the other one, again not an easy fit; then his colleagues show up and merely observe his unusually untidy attire but find to be him his typically affable self, no signs of stress noted to remark upon; and they all just go about their work like it’s any other Monday?
    In 30 minutes. His beloved children. For a better life.
    I think this must be where the term “stir” crazy originates. Mr. Watts is certainly beginning to exemplify the phrase.

  33. Sylvester

    “Stir” is another word for prison

    • SRC

      That’s exactly where I was taking my comment, Sylvester. 🙂

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