FBI Officials Deliver First Public Comments About the Chris Watts Murder Investigation: ‘Domestic Violence Can Happen Anywhere’

It has been more than four years since Chris Watts murdered his pregnant wife and two daughters – later burying his wife and dumping his children in a crude oil tank. The events happened on August 13, 2018, and he eventually confessed to the murders on August 15th.

Several months later, Watts was sentenced to three consecutive life sentences for the first-degree murder of his wife and two daughters, two concurrent life sentences for first-degree murder by a person in a position of trust, and 48 years for unlawful termination of pregnancy. 

Not only that, he received an additional 36 years for three counts of tampering with a deceased human body. He has been in a Wisconsin prison ever since. Now nearly four years later and we’re receiving new, ‘chilling’ details about the murder investigation that led to his confession.

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Last month, at the 2022 Northeast South Dakota Family Violence Prevention Conference, two of the investigators – FBI Special Agent Grahm Coder and Colorado Bureau of Investigation Field Agent Tammy Lee – recounted the ‘awful’ moment Chris Watts admitted to murdering his family. 

Speaking to social workers, educators, medical professionals, and prosecutors, the investigators described the details Watts shared with them during the confession – including how his oldest daughter screamed ‘Daddy, no!” before he smothered her to death. Those words still haunt him.

The investigators were invited to the conference in an effort to help those in attendance better understand the many signs of domestic violence. It’s estimated that more than 10 million Americans are physically abused by their partner every year, but help is readily available. 

“This case shows that domestic violence can happen anywhere. It affects so many families — and sometimes, the results can be deadly,” said CBI agent Tammy Lee. Chris Watts originally tried to play the role of an innocent father, but that was before he failed a polygraph test.

Tammy Lee Also Opened Up About Chris Watts in 2019

During a 90-minute episode of Criminal Confessions on Oxygen, Tammy Lee opened up about the Chris Watts murder investigation and the ‘outrage’ she felt as he made his confession. ‘I just couldn’t believe a father could do something so horrible to his children and his wife,’ she said. 

She went on to explain how ‘disgusted’ and ‘sick’ she felt as he explained the details behind the murders, the burial, and the dumping. During the investigation, Lee grew attached to the victims – especially the wife, Shanann, adding that she ‘loved being a mom’ and ‘loved being a wife.’ 

“At no point did he decide to spare their lives, and it made no sense to us. … You know, he didn’t even cry for them. Like, I’ve cried more for them than he has. Like, who does that?” said Lee, holding back tears. It’s a story that left everyone speechless as the news started to spread.

Chris Watts turned 37 earlier this year and will spend the rest of his life behind bars. Since entering prison, reports indicate that none of the prisoners want anything to do with him. In fact, a source close to the situation explained he’s ‘on the lowest social tier of the entire prison.”

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“Chris told us that every night when he closes his eyes, he hears Bella yell “Daddy no!’ I feel like it’s kind of what he deserves. I hope he hears that every night,” said Tammy Lee. If you witness or experience domestic violence, don’t hesitate to reach out for help – you could save a life.