A neuroscientist has shared the haunting thing Chris Watts did in his wife's car after murdering her and their children.
On August 13, 2018, the 35-year-old father committed one of the most horrifying crimes in modern American history.
Watts strangled his 15-weeks-pregnant wife, Shanann, before killing their daughters, four-year-old Bella and three-year-old Celeste. He later disposed of their bodies at an oil worksite where he was employed.
The case gained global attention when it was featured in Netflix’s American Murder: The Family Next Door, which used police bodycam footage and real texts to document the chilling events.
After murdering his family in cold blood, Watts returned to his home in Frederick, Colorado, to find Shanann's friend, Nickole Atkinson, her son Ben, and the police waiting for him.
Acting as though he had no idea what had happened, the convicted killer's calm demeanor raised suspicions, but not everyone was convinced.
Neuropsychologist Derek Van Schaik took to YouTube to analyze the 40-minute bodycam footage of Watts’ interaction with law enforcement, revealing some chilling and disturbing actions.
Disturbing Behavior in Shanann's Car
The YouTube video, which has amassed 41 million views, begins with Shanann's friend Nickole Atkinson greeting the cop and explaining that she reported Shanann missing after failing to hear from her for over 12 hours and realizing that her car was still parked in the garage.
Watts then arrives at the house and is seen walking toward the garage, where Shanann's car is still parked.
Van Schaik points out that he does not rush inside to assist with the investigation, even though it’s possible his wife was experiencing a medical emergency. Instead, he acts detached and passive.
He notes that Watts greets the officer and then walks into the garage and opens his deceased wife’s car "to either put something into her car or take something out," adding: "It's very likely he did something that he thinks will help cover his tracks or make it appear that he is less guilty."
After that, Watts enters his house and opens the front door for Shanann’s friend Nickole and her son, Ben.
Van Schaik observes that he spends one minute and 15 seconds inside the house, which could suggest he was "altering" the crime scene.
While the police officer looks around, the neuroscientist notes that the father-of-two uses "diversion evidence and diversion dialogue," a tactic to draw attention away from himself and attempt to steer the investigation in a different direction.
His bizarre attempts to make his family's disappearance appear natural continued throughout the footage.
Watts' Nervous Reactions and Defensive Behavior
The bodycam footage captures a revealing moment when Ben informs the police that a camera installed at a neighbour's home captured the only person leaving the house that day: Watts.
His reaction was a flat, emotionless "ok." Van Schaik interprets this as him attempting to downplay an obviously incriminating detail - a classic sign of guilt.
Throughout the video, Watts exhibits signs of nervousness, particularly in how he fidgets and behaves. The expert points out that while Watts seems more concerned about being caught than about the fate of his family, Shanann's friend, Nickole, is clearly anxious and worried for her friend’s safety.
Van Schaik states that the most revealing moment in the 40-minute clip is when officers and neighbors gather to review security footage from a nearby home.
While everyone else focuses on the screen, Watts can be seen burying his face in his phone, which could be an attempt to mentally escape the room as he likely feared the footage would expose him.
As the footage plays, he begins to nervously talk over the video. Van Schaik identifies this as a major indicator of guilt, explaining that this kind of behavior is typical of someone trying to control the narrative.
Then, rather than watch what was on the screen, Watts turns his head away from the screen - a clear signal he couldn’t bear to see the evidence unfolding.
He also took a deep breath and placed his hands on his head, a self-soothing gesture to calm intense internal stress.
Watts was eventually arrested just days later and confessed to the murders.
He pleaded guilty to nine charges, including murder and the unlawful termination of a pregnancy, on November 6, 2018. He is currently serving five life sentences without parole in Wisconsin.
Investigators stated that Watts’ motive may have been tied to an extramarital affair he was having at the time with a co-worker, Nichol Kessinger, The Independent reports.
The killer initially denied the affair but later admitted to it during the investigation. Kessinger cooperated with authorities, telling investigators that she was unaware Watts was still married and that his wife was pregnant. She said she ended their relationship after learning the truth.