01of 10Summer 2018: A Seemingly Happy FamilyIn the months beforeShan’ann Wattsandher two children went missing— and then were found dead — she posted pictures and videos on her social mediathat depicted a picture-perfect family. She gushed about her husband of nearly six years,Chris Watts, being “the best thing” and said that they had a “storybook” romance. In a June 14 post on Facebook, she captured daughter Bella singing about her love for her father: “My daddy is a hero, he helps me grow up strong. He helps me snuggle too. He reads me books. He ties my shoes. You’re a hero through and through. My daddy, daddy, I love you.”
01of 10
Summer 2018: A Seemingly Happy Family
In the months beforeShan’ann Wattsandher two children went missing— and then were found dead — she posted pictures and videos on her social mediathat depicted a picture-perfect family. She gushed about her husband of nearly six years,Chris Watts, being “the best thing” and said that they had a “storybook” romance. In a June 14 post on Facebook, she captured daughter Bella singing about her love for her father: “My daddy is a hero, he helps me grow up strong. He helps me snuggle too. He reads me books. He ties my shoes. You’re a hero through and through. My daddy, daddy, I love you.”
02of 10
Aug. 13: Chris' Family Vanishes
USA TODAY NETWORK/Sipa USA
03of 10
Aug. 14: Emotionless Pleas for Help
Chris Watts.
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Aug. 15: An Arrest
Chris Watts.Joshua Polson/AP/REX/Shutterstock
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Aug. 16: Grim Discoveries
Shan’ann Watts (center) and her daughters.Shanann Watts /Facebook
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Aug. 20: A Shocking Defense?
Chris Watts.RJ Sangosti - Pool/Getty
A source close to the investigationtold PEOPLE that Chris' alleged defenseis not plausible: “There is absolutely no evidence that she killed her children.”
07of 10Aug. 21: Shan’ann’s Grieving Family Appears in CourtRJ Sangosti/The Denver Post/Getty ImagesDuring Chris' arraignment after he was formally charged, Shan’ann’s family couldn’t contain their emotions as they heard details of the deaths of her and her daughters. Shan’ann’s father,Frank Rzucek, openly weptthroughout the hearingwhile Shan’ann’s brother,Frankie Rzucek, glared at Chris. “My blood is boiling,” Frankie had written on Facebook in the days before the hearing, adding, “I just want 30 seconds alone withthat heartless psychopath.”
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Aug. 21: Shan’ann’s Grieving Family Appears in Court
RJ Sangosti/The Denver Post/Getty Images
During Chris' arraignment after he was formally charged, Shan’ann’s family couldn’t contain their emotions as they heard details of the deaths of her and her daughters. Shan’ann’s father,Frank Rzucek, openly weptthroughout the hearingwhile Shan’ann’s brother,Frankie Rzucek, glared at Chris. “My blood is boiling,” Frankie had written on Facebook in the days before the hearing, adding, “I just want 30 seconds alone withthat heartless psychopath.”
08of 10Sept. 1: Emotional FarewellRJ Sangosti/The Denver Post/GettyHundreds of mourners assembled at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Pinehurst, North Carolina,to pay their final respects to Shan’ann and the girls. Thousands more watched the live stream of the funeral on Facebook. During the 90-minute ceremony,no one mentioned Chris. “Shan’ann was a woman of love,” Father John Forbes told the mourners. “She loved God, her family and her friends. She was a woman of determination. She had dreams to be fulfilled, and she worked towards to those dreams. She wanted to make a difference. She wanted to be an exceptional wife and mother.”
08of 10
Sept. 1: Emotional Farewell
RJ Sangosti/The Denver Post/Getty
Hundreds of mourners assembled at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Pinehurst, North Carolina,to pay their final respects to Shan’ann and the girls. Thousands more watched the live stream of the funeral on Facebook. During the 90-minute ceremony,no one mentioned Chris. “Shan’ann was a woman of love,” Father John Forbes told the mourners. “She loved God, her family and her friends. She was a woman of determination. She had dreams to be fulfilled, and she worked towards to those dreams. She wanted to make a difference. She wanted to be an exceptional wife and mother.”
09of 10Sept. 4: Chris' Life Behind BarsWeld County Sheriff’s OfficeDenied bond,Chris will remain in jailuntil his murder trial opens. On Sept. 4, PEOPLE confirmed that he hadbeen placed on suicide watch. He spends 23 hours a day in his jail cell, where he sits in protective custody. He does not have a cellmate. Additionally, he is not allowed the same privileges as other people at the jail, including no access to weights, reading material and television. One hour per day, he is allowed to leave his cell; he is taken to a small room where he is allowed to shower and make phone calls to his family or to counsel. A source who has spoken to Chris tells PEOPLEthe severity of his predicament has sunk in: “He’s not doing well at all. … Depression is setting in, and he’s despondent.” A day after PEOPLE confirmed Chris was under suicide watch, a source close to the case said the co-worker with whom he was allegedly having an affairwas “cooperating” with authorities.
09of 10
Sept. 4: Chris' Life Behind Bars
Weld County Sheriff’s Office
Denied bond,Chris will remain in jailuntil his murder trial opens. On Sept. 4, PEOPLE confirmed that he hadbeen placed on suicide watch. He spends 23 hours a day in his jail cell, where he sits in protective custody. He does not have a cellmate. Additionally, he is not allowed the same privileges as other people at the jail, including no access to weights, reading material and television. One hour per day, he is allowed to leave his cell; he is taken to a small room where he is allowed to shower and make phone calls to his family or to counsel. A source who has spoken to Chris tells PEOPLEthe severity of his predicament has sunk in: “He’s not doing well at all. … Depression is setting in, and he’s despondent.” A day after PEOPLE confirmed Chris was under suicide watch, a source close to the case said the co-worker with whom he was allegedly having an affairwas “cooperating” with authorities.
10of 10Sept. 7: Grief and HealingShan’ann’s younger brother expressed his gratitude to the community that hassupported his family since the three deaths last month.“I wanted to take a minute and thank everyone who has helped us in every way possible,” Frankie Rzucek wrote on Facebook. “From best friends and family to people from all over THE WORLD.““Its truly an honor and a blessing to be a part of this family,” he continued. “Its an [indescribable] feeling when people all over the globe reach out just to send their condolences or be a listening ear.“In his Sept. 7 post, Rzucek alluded to the violent way Shan’ann, Bella and Celeste are believed to have died in their home.“Never in my wildest dreams would I have ever dreamt such a horrific nightmare and just plain heartbreaking tragedy would ever happen to my regular ol happy family,” Rzucek wrote, adding:“We lost so much in a blink of an eye, but we also gained love and support from people all over and they became part of our FAMILY.”
10of 10
Sept. 7: Grief and Healing
Shan’ann’s younger brother expressed his gratitude to the community that hassupported his family since the three deaths last month.
“I wanted to take a minute and thank everyone who has helped us in every way possible,” Frankie Rzucek wrote on Facebook. “From best friends and family to people from all over THE WORLD.”
“Its truly an honor and a blessing to be a part of this family,” he continued. “Its an [indescribable] feeling when people all over the globe reach out just to send their condolences or be a listening ear.”
In his Sept. 7 post, Rzucek alluded to the violent way Shan’ann, Bella and Celeste are believed to have died in their home.
“Never in my wildest dreams would I have ever dreamt such a horrific nightmare and just plain heartbreaking tragedy would ever happen to my regular ol happy family,” Rzucek wrote, adding:
“We lost so much in a blink of an eye, but we also gained love and support from people all over and they became part of our FAMILY.”
source: people.com
