Netflix’s American Murder: The Family Next Door shocked millions when it premiered in 2020, chronicling the murders of Shanann Watts and her two young daughters, Bella and Celeste.
But while the documentary relied heavily on real footage and messages, several key details surrounding the case were either glossed over or left out entirely.
Chris Watts killed his pregnant wife and children on August 13, 2018, before pretending his family had vanished.
He later pleaded guilty to multiple charges and is now serving life without parole.
There are several major aspects of the case the documentary did not fully explore, including an interaction he had with his mom.
Chris Watts' Mom Opens Up
Speaking to 9News in 2018, Cindy Watts revealed her horror at what her son had done and began piecing together all the signs.
When Shanann Watts became pregnant, Cindy revealed that her son was not excited about welcoming a new child, but instead it came as a shock, as they had been discussing divorce.
Cindy revealed that Watts had explained to her that he and Shanann were "not compatible" and that he wasn't happy in the relationship.
His mother seemed happy with this revelation, as a divorce would have benefited the couple; however, things soon took a dark turn.
Breakdown between Shanann Watts and her in-laws
In the months before her death, Shanann’s relationship with Chris Watts’ parents had deteriorated badly. Tensions escalated after an incident in which Shanann accused Cindy Watts of endangering their daughter Celeste by serving ice cream containing peanut chips, despite the child’s severe allergy.
Shanann sent furious messages to Chris, accusing his mother of deliberately risking Celeste’s life.
The conflict grew so severe that Watts’ parents blocked Shanann on social media and skipped Celeste’s birthday party.
They also did not attend their son’s wedding, a rift the documentary barely addressed.
Nichol Kessinger’s fixation on a future with Watts
While the film confirmed Watts’ affair with coworker Nichol Kessinger, it did not show how deeply invested she appeared to be.
Court records later revealed that just days before the murders, Kessinger spent hours searching online for wedding dresses and researching topics such as marrying a mistress.
After learning Watts had lied about the status of his marriage, Kessinger reportedly filed paperwork to change her name, signaling how seriously she viewed the relationship.
Claims of additional affairs before the killings
Beyond Kessinger, Watts was linked to other alleged relationships.
Amanda McMahon told police she met Watts on Tinder and described a violent encounter in which she said he became aggressive and placed his hands around her throat.
A male escort, Trent Bolte, also claimed he had a months-long relationship with Watts in 2018.
Authorities later questioned the credibility of Bolte’s account, and Watts denied the allegations, but these claims never appeared in the documentary.
A mysterious frequent prison visitor
After his conviction, Watts reportedly received regular visits from a woman named Anna Nowak.
Prison visitation records show she visited him more than 30 times in 2019, often weekly, and once exceeded the daily visitation limit.
The documentary did not address Watts’ continued personal connections while incarcerated.
Shanann was still trying to save the marriage
Despite their issues, Shanann had not given up on her relationship. Before her death, she was researching romantic trips, booking childcare, and attempting to reconnect with her husband.
While American Murder portrayed cracks in the marriage, it did not fully explore Shanann’s efforts to repair it or her belief that reconciliation was still possible.
A darker reality behind the public image
Legal analysts later noted how Watts’ carefully curated family image masked severe dysfunction.
The omissions from Netflix’s documentary reveal a more complicated and disturbing picture — one where resentment, secrecy, and emotional fractures ran deeper than viewers initially saw.
The full story behind Chris Watts is far more complex than what appeared on screen.