Silke Jasso
FREDERICK, Colo. (AP) — Authorities say bodies believed to be a pregnant woman and her two young children were found on the property of one of Colorado’s largest oil and gas drillers where her husband used to work. John Camper, director of the Colorado Bureau of Investigation, told reporters Thursday that investigators have found Shanann Watts’ body and were trying to recover what they believe are the bodies of 4-year-old Bella and 3-year-old Celeste from Anadarko Petroleum Corp. property.
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Chris Watts has been arrested in the disappearance of his family. His paystubs show he was working for Anadarko in 2015. Company spokeswoman Jennifer Brice said he’s no longer employed there. She declined to provide any other information, citing the active investigation. She says the company is heartbroken and is supporting investigators.
A woman whose body was found after her husband was arrested in the disappearance of her and their two young daughters had just visited her hometown in North Carolina and a neighbor said she seemed happy.
Her parents’ next-door neighbor, Joe Beach, said he had seen Shanann Watts when she visited the neighborhood of modest homes in Aberdeen for three weeks. He thought she went back to Colorado within the last week.
Beach says he talked to her a couple of times about her daughters and life in Colorado. He says that “she didn’t give me an indication that there was anything wrong. She seemed pretty happy.”
He said he knew her parents well and had known Shanann since she was a teenager. Beach said she was a nice person with two lovely children, both of whom he had seen on the recent visit.
He said he hasn’t spoken to her parents since the tragedy, but a neighbor told him they flew to Colorado.
The original story was published on August 16, 2018 at 10:17 a.m.
Authorities say they have found the body of a pregnant Colorado woman reported missing this week and believe they know where the bodies of her two children are.
The announcement Thursday came a few hours after police said they had arrested 33-year-old Christopher Watts in the disappearance of his 34-year-old wife, Shanann, and their two daughters, 4-year-old Bella and 3-year-old Celeste.
John Camper, director of the Colorado Bureau of Investigation, said investigators have strong reason to believe they know where the girls’ bodies are and are trying to recover them.
Watts was arrested Wednesday night and is due to appear in court Thursday. He hasn’t been charged yet, and it isn’t known if he has a lawyer who can speak on his behalf.
A social media account of a pregnant Colorado woman whose husband has been arrested in the disappearance of her and her two young daughters paints a portrait of a happy family. Shanann Watts often posts photos and videos on Facebook of her family, friends and herself. Her comments are typically upbeat and say how happy she is, whether she’s running errands, playing with her kids or promoting a health program.
She and 4-year-old Bella and 3-year-old Celeste were reported missing Monday. Police say they arrested her husband, Chris Watts, on Wednesday in connection with the case. Shanann Watts posted selfies of her and her husband smiling in restaurants, in front of the ocean on vacation and at their house. On one from May 5, she wrote: “I love this man! He’s my ROCK!”
Authorities say a Colorado man has been arrested in connection with the disappearance of his pregnant wife and their two young children. Police in the town of Frederick said Chris Watts was taken into custody Wednesday. His 34-year-old wife, Shanann Watts, and their two daughters, 4-year-old Bella and 3-year-old Celeste, were reported missing Monday.
The police said on Twitter early Thursday that Chris Watts will be held at the Weld County Jail. He has not yet been charged. It wasn’t immediately known if he had a lawyer. Chris Watts spoke previously with The Denver Channel and pleaded for his family’s safe return.
Authorities did not release any information on the whereabouts or conditions of Shanann or her daughters. Police say they plan to release more information at a morning news conference.
