(CNN) —
It became apparent from Chris Watts’ research for secluded vacation destinations and jewelry that the married Colorado father had found a new love interest, but what led him to kill his pregnant wife and two young children may never be known, a prosecutor said.
“I don’t think he will ever tell us. I don’t think he will give an honest assessment of why he did what he did, how he did what he did,” Weld County District Attorney Michael Rourke said after Watts was sentenced Monday to five life sentences – three consecutive and two concurrent – with no possibility of parole.
Before learning that he would never walk out of prison, Watts sat at the defense table, head down and leg bobbing, as his mother told him she loved him and his slain wife’s family called him a monster.
Judge Marcelo Kopcow called the murders in a north Denver suburb “the most inhumane and vicious crime that I have handled out of the thousands of cases that I have seen.”
Watts also received an additional 48 years for the unlawful termination of his wife’s pregnancy and 36 more years for crimes related to his disposal of the bodies.
The couple’s first son would have been named Nico Lee, according to his wife’s father.
02:33 - Source: CNN
Chris Watts gets life in prison for killing pregnant wife, kids
Chris Watts gets life in prison for killing pregnant wife, kids
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Joshua Polsonhe Greeley Tribune/POOL/AP
Christopher Watts is escorted into the courtroom before his bond hearing at the Weld County Courthouse on Thursday, Aug. 16, 2018, in Greeley, Colo. Watts, of Colorado, whose wife and daughters disappeared this week was arrested on suspicion of killing them. (Joshua Polson/The Greeley Tribune via AP, Pool)
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Frederick Police Department
Shanann Watts, 34, and her two children Bella, 3, and Celeste ìCeceî, 4, have been missing since Monday from Frederick, CO, according to Frederick Police Public Information Officer Sgt. Ian Albert.
Police checked on the residence of Watts after a friend called and requested a welfare check for the 15-week pregnant mom.
At this time police are not releasing additional information about the incident, but believe the public is not at risk, Sgt. Albert said.
Police are asking the public to call if they have any tips that could lead to the whereabouts of Watts.
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Chris Watts gets life in prison for killing pregnant wife, kids
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PHOTO:
Joshua Polsonhe Greeley Tribune/POOL/AP
Christopher Watts is escorted into the courtroom before his bond hearing at the Weld County Courthouse on Thursday, Aug. 16, 2018, in Greeley, Colo. Watts, of Colorado, whose wife and daughters disappeared this week was arrested on suspicion of killing them. (Joshua Polson/The Greeley Tribune via AP, Pool)
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Frederick Police Department
Shanann Watts, 34, and her two children Bella, 3, and Celeste ìCeceî, 4, have been missing since Monday from Frederick, CO, according to Frederick Police Public Information Officer Sgt. Ian Albert.
Police checked on the residence of Watts after a friend called and requested a welfare check for the 15-week pregnant mom.
At this time police are not releasing additional information about the incident, but believe the public is not at risk, Sgt. Albert said.
Police are asking the public to call if they have any tips that could lead to the whereabouts of Watts.
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The 33-year-old Watts pleaded guilty this month to first-degree murder and other charges in the killings of his wife, Shanann, 34, and their daughters, Bella, 4, and Celeste, 3, before crudely disposing of them at a secluded site where he worked. With approval of his wife’s family, prosecutors dropped the possibility of the death penalty.
In court, Shanann Watts’ mother, Sandy Rzucek, explained, “I didn’t want death for you because that’s not my right. Your life is between you and God, and I pray he has mercy for you.”
Watts’ hands were shackled at his waist and he wore an orange jumpsuit. He rarely looked up during the proceeding – not even when his mother turned around to face him and tearfully said, “We have loved you from the beginning and we still love you now. … We forgive you, son.”
Watts’ parents, who had previously defended their son and questioned his plea deal during an interview with CNN affiliate KMGH, recanted those remarks and told the court in a prepared statement that the family would not ask for leniency.
“This should never have happened. This is not condonable. This is something that we will never get over,” a family representative said, reading a statement as the parents looked on.
Frank Rzucek Sr., Shanann Watts’ father, questioned how Chris Watts could have killed people he was charged with protecting before disposing of them like bags of rubbish.
02:33 - Source: CNN
Chris Watts gets life in prison for killing pregnant wife, kids
Chris Watts gets life in prison for killing pregnant wife, kids
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Families react to Chris Watts killing family
PHOTO:
Joshua Polsonhe Greeley Tribune/POOL/AP
Christopher Watts is escorted into the courtroom before his bond hearing at the Weld County Courthouse on Thursday, Aug. 16, 2018, in Greeley, Colo. Watts, of Colorado, whose wife and daughters disappeared this week was arrested on suspicion of killing them. (Joshua Polson/The Greeley Tribune via AP, Pool)
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