Shanann Watts Biography

Shanann Watts was an American businessperson who is a victim of murder. The Watts family murders occurred on August 13, 2018, in Frederick, Colorado, US. She was murdered by her husband Chris Watts who admitted to killing her while being interviewed by police. At that time Shanann was pregnant.

Christopher Lee Watts later admitted to killing their daughters, four-year-old Bella and three-year-old Celeste, by smothering them with a blanket. On November 6, 2018, he pleaded guilty to multiple counts of first-degree murder as part of a plea deal when the death penalty was removed from sentencing. Chris Watts was sentenced to five life sentences without the possibility of parole, three to be served consecutively and two to be served concurrently.

Shanann Watts Career

In 2013, Shanann started working as a human resource specialist at Children’s Hospital Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora. She worked there till 2016, and then, joined as an independent representative for ‘Le-vel,’ a company that markets ‘Thrive’ health and wellness products.

Shanann Watts Age

Shanann was 34 years old at the time of her death. She was born Shanann Cathryn Rzucek on January 10, 1984, in New Jersey, United States.

Shanann Watts Height

Shanann stood at a height of 5 feet 5 inches (1.65 m) tall at the time of her death.

Shanann Watts Family

Shanann was the daughter of Frank Rzucek and Sandra Rzucek. She was the older sister of Frankie Rzucek. She was raised in the Moore County of North Carolina.

Her parents, Frank and Sandra Rzucek were interviewed for the first time since their daughter and granddaughters’ murders in “The Devil in Disguise”, a December 7, 2018, episode of the ABC News television news magazine 20/20.

Shanann Watts Husband / Shanann Watts Children

Shanann was married to Chris Watts from November 3, 2012, till the time of her death on 13 August 2018. The two met in 2010 when Chriss Lee Watts was an employee of the Anadarko Petroleum, Woodlands, Texas.

The couple was blessed with two daughters: Bella Marie Watts (2013-2018), and Celeste Cathryn “Cece” Watts (2015-2018). At the time of her death, Shanann was fifteen weeks pregnant with a son who she had named Nico Lee Watts; her date of delivery was January 31, 2019.

She was previously married to a man named Leonard Kim and they got divorced in 2009.

Shanann Watts Disappearance

Shanann returned home from a business trip to Arizona at about 1:48 a.m. on August 13, 2018, having received a ride from friend and colleague Nickole Utoft Atkinson. Her husband Chris was home with the children. Later that day, she and the two children were reported missing by Atkinson, who had become concerned when Shan’ann missed a scheduled OB-GYN appointment and failed to return text messages.

After she missed a business meeting, Atkinson went to Watts’ home at approximately 12:10 p.m. When the doorbell and knocks went unanswered, Atkinson notified Chris, who was at work, and called the Frederick Police Department. An officer arrived to conduct a welfare check at about 1:40 p.m. Chris Watts arrived home and talked with the officer and discussed ways to locate his missing family. During the welfare check, he gave the police officer permission to search the house, but there was no sign of Shan’ann or their daughters. The searchers discovered Shan’ann’s purse containing her phone and keys. Her car, which still contained the children’s car seats, was in the garage. Her wedding ring was found on the couple’s bed.

The FBI and the Colorado Bureau of Investigation joined the investigation the next day, August 14. Chris initially told police he had no idea where Shan’ann, Bella, or Celeste might be and had not seen his wife since 5:15 a.m. on the 13th when he left for work. He gave interviews to Denver stations KMGH-TV and KUSA-TV outside his house pleading for his family’s return. Investigators with cadaver and search dogs could be heard on the property during the interview

Shanann Watts Death

Shanann died on August 13, 2018, in Frederick, Colorado, USA.

Shanann Watts American Murder: The Family Next Door

In September 2020, Netflix released a trailer for American Murder: The Family Next Door, a documentary about the Watts family murders. Using raw, firsthand footage, this documentary examines the disappearance of Shanann Watts and her children and the terrible events that followed.

Shanann Watts Net Worth

Shanann had an estimated net worth of over $1 Million, which she earned through her career as a businesswoman.

Shanann Watt House

After Watt was murdered, nobody was living in her house despite the fact that her husband Chris actually owns the mortgage but owes $349,938.09 on the mortgage, according to Weld County records. The house was put on the market however there were no buyers according to Realtor.com. The mortgage was built in 2013 and was previously owned by a lender who put it up for auction.

The table below answers some of the frequently asked questions about Watts.