Chris Watts is serving five consecutive life sentences after pleading guilty to murdering his pregnant wife, Shanann Watts, and their two young daughters in one of the most shocking family killings in recent memory. The Colorado father entered his plea in November 2018, just months after the bodies of Shanann and daughters Bella and Celeste were discovered on the property of his former employer.
The case drew national attention for its brutality and for the calculated way Chris initially tried to deflect blame onto his wife. Nearly a decade later, he continues to make headlines — most recently for a prison romance with a woman who has relocated across state lines to be near him.
Here’s a breakdown of the sentence Chris received and where the case stands today.
Chris Watts’ Guilty Plea and 5 Life Sentences
Chris pleaded guilty on November 6, 2018, to all nine charges connected to the deaths of Shanann and their two daughters, the Weld County District Attorney’s Office confirmed to Us at the time. The charges included five counts of first-degree murder, one count of unlawful termination of pregnancy and three counts of tampering with a deceased human body.
He had initially faced the possibility of the death penalty or life in prison without parole. The victims’ family, however, agreed to have District Attorney Michael Rourke eliminate the death penalty option in exchange for Chris pleading guilty to all nine counts.
At his sentencing, Chris was ordered to serve five consecutive life sentences, meaning he will not be eligible for release. Three of those life sentences were ordered to be served consecutively, while two were to be served concurrently. Additionally, Chris received 48 years for the unlawful termination of a pregnancy and 36 years for tampering with a deceased human body.
The outcome closed one chapter of a case that had gripped the country since the previous summer, when the Frederick, Colorado, family vanished under circumstances that quickly turned suspicious.
Chris Watts’ 1st Court Appearance and Charges
Before the plea deal, Chris made a stoic first appearance in a Colorado courtroom on August 21, 2018, entering in an orange jumpsuit with shackles around his wrists and ankles. He offered only quiet “Yes, sir” and “No, sir” responses to Judge Marcelo A. Kopcow as the charges were read aloud.
Shanann’s father, Frank Rzucek, was seated nearby and began sobbing into his hands as prosecutors detailed the case. Her brother, Frankie Rzucek, tried to console their father by rubbing his back while glaring at Chris, who did not look over at the family.
The judge told Chris that the murder charges carried a minimum of life in prison and a maximum of the death penalty. Chris had been arrested late on August 15, 2018, and formally charged five days later with nine felonies, including the first-degree murders of Shanann, Bella and Celeste. The remains of Shanann, who was 15 weeks pregnant, and her two daughters were found on August 16, 2018, on a property belonging to Chris’ former employer.
Chris Watts’ Shifting Story and Affair
Shanann and the girls went missing in August 2018 after the pregnant mother of two returned home to Frederick from a business trip. Three days later, the three were found dead.
Chris was arrested soon after, but he initially attempted to blame his wife. He claimed to police that he witnessed “Shanann actively strangling Celeste” via a baby monitor in their bedroom, while Bella lay “sprawled” on the bed. Chris then alleged that he “went into a rage and ultimately strangled Shanann to death.”
An arrest affidavit obtained by Us in late August 2018 told a different story.
Authorities noted, “Chris said he loaded all three bodies on the back seat of his work truck … Chris said he buried Shanann near two oil tanks and dumped the girls inside the oil tanks.”
The affidavit also indicated that Chris was allegedly “involved in an affair with a coworker” and had spoken to Shanann about separating. He had denied cheating on his wife during previous interviews with authorities, but the document claimed police confirmed his infidelity after a two-day investigation. Prosecutors later revealed at trial that Chris was involved with coworker Nichol Kessinger at the time of the killings.
Prosecutors also obtained inked footprints from Chris in September 2018 after investigators discovered “possible bare foot impressions” along with other unspecified “items of evidence.” The evidence was recovered at the site where Shanann, Bella and Celeste’s bodies were found.
Chris Watts’ Prison Romance With Lizzie Henderson
Eight years after the killings, Chris is now in a relationship with Lizzie Henderson. The pair are reportedly so serious that Henderson has relocated from Ohio to Wisconsin to be closer to Chris as they plan to wed.
Henderson confirmed to the Daily Mail in August 2026 that she was in a relationship with Chris while acknowledging their love story could be viewed as “weird.” She also shared that he is now a born-again Christian. Despite confirming the romance, she did not reveal how they met.
“How things began is between me, him and God,” she said.
Henderson applied to legally change her name to Lizzie Watts in September 2025, according to court documents seen by the Daily Mail. She sparked marriage rumors when she was photographed wearing a ring on her wedding finger, while her former stepfather said the couple submitted a marriage request to prison officials.
When asked what she thought about Chris’ crimes, Henderson said he “knows how I feel.” She added, “I don’t know all the people involved, but I would want to respect them.”
Henderson has made the most of her time with Chris, revealing she visited him 20 times in 2025 and spent Christmas Day with him in 2024. The pair were also spotted kissing just one day after the seventh anniversary of the killings, per the outlet.
Lisa Johnson, who was visiting a loved one at Dodge Correctional Institution in Waupun, Wisconsin, said she saw Chris and Henderson making out during a visit in August 2025. Johnson told the outlet that Chris was holding a Bible while speaking to Henderson, who she said was “googly-eyed” and seemed “really excited to take a picture with him.”
Inmates at Dodge Correctional Institution are prohibited from having any physical contact with loved ones until the end of a visit, when they are given 10 seconds to embrace. Conjugal visits are not allowed. Johnson said Chris and Henderson “hugged their whole ten seconds while they were kissing.”
Prisoners at the facility must meet strict criteria and receive formal approval from the warden to move forward with nuptials.
News of Chris’ new romance comes after his second mistress, Amanda McMahon, candidly discussed her relationship with him in an interview with The Daily Mail in July 2026. McMahon said she met Chris on Tinder while he was still married to Shanann and described his “sweetness” as “very fake.” The pair ended their romance in March 2018, five months before the killings.
This story was compiled with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists.
