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Published 15:39 15 Jul 2026 GMT
Further details have emerged about family killer Chris Watts, with a crime expert revealing the reason behind him moving prison in 2018.
Watts, who murdered his pregnant wife and two children in 2018, was handed five life sentences after pleading guilty to the heinous crimes in Colorado.
Speaking on the Doctor Oz Show, true crime expert and prosecutor Melissa Moore discussed the disturbing case that attracted national headlines and the reason for his removal from the Colorado Department of Corrections.
Watts strangled his wife, Shanann, before suffocating their two daughters in a cold-blooded murder after his affair with Nichol Kessinger was uncovered by his wife.
When Shanann announced she was leaving him, Watts turned on his wife and two daughters, before disposing of their bodies in a shallow grave and oil tanks.
After his arrest and conviction, Watts initially spent time in custody in Colorado under the state’s Department of Corrections before being transferred to Wisconsin.
Moore claimed that Watts was in receipt of a hostile welcome when he arrived at the Colorado prison: “As far as Chris being in prison, I've heard from my sources that he was booed by the other inmates when he entered."
“I think he's definitely understanding that this is a life sentence and there's no way out of it. Um, also, I've heard that he was moved from Colorado prison for the safety of himself, but also, some people might think like, well, who cares about his safety? Look what he did to his kids,” Moore added.
The prosecutor continued: “But it's really also for the safety of the staff, the guards, because if they have to break up a fight or attack, then they're, you know, they're in harm's way. The lowest of the low is killing your own offspring."
Due to the context of his crimes, Watts is understood to be categorized as a vulnerable inmate, and is likely to be under stricter supervision.
Moore claimed that he would most likely be victimized, saying: “And there's a hierarchy, too. There is a hierarchy in prison where men who attack their children or pedophiles are the lowest of the low. So, even in this is a, you know, high-profile case. So, he's got a target on his back.”
