Five disturbing details missing from Netflix's Chris Watts murder documentary
Netflix documentary American Murder: The Family Next Door tells the real-life story of how one man brutally murdered his wife and children, before dumping their bodies in the most callous way. However, some key details were omitted
Netflix is known for its regularly updated stream of gripping and shocking true crime content, but one documentary remains one of the most horrifying.
Viewers were left so deeply disturbed by Netflix documentary American Murder: The Family Next Door, they were 'sick to their stomach' when it was first added to the streaming platform. The show told the story of a father who brutally murdered his pregnant wife and children.
On August 13, 2018, Chris Watts, 35, strangled his pregnant wife, Shanann Watts, 34, to death and then killed his two daughters, Bella, four, and Celeste, three, in Colorado, where the family lived. Shanann's body was found on property owned by Anadarko Petroleum, one of the US's largest oil and gas drillers in Colorado, where Watts worked as an operator. Investigators found the bodies of Bella and Celeste nearby in an oil tank.
Watts pleaded guilty to nine charges, including murder and the unlawful termination of a pregnancy. He is currently serving a life sentence without parole in Wisconsin.
The Netflix documentary, which was aired in 2020, followed the tragic turn of events. From showing how Chris and Shannan met and began their romance to the aftermath of her and their daughters' murder, the documentary also used real-life footage to bring Watts' crimes to life.
As seen on the doc, he eventually confessed to the triple murder, but some details from the story were omitted. Here, the Mirror looks at the five chilling details that were missing from the documentary, as reported by US news site VT.co.
1. 'Evil' mother-in-law
Shannan isn't thought to have had a good relationship with Chris Watts' parents and branded her mother-in-law, Cindy Watts, "evil". She believed Cindy endangered their youngest daughter, Celeste, by serving her ice cream with peanut chips, despite her severe nut allergy, Daily Mail reported.
'You should call your dad and tell him you did not appreciate your mom putting your daughter at risk today,' she told her husband in a furious message. 'She's evil and willing to risk your daughter's life just to get under my skin.'
Tensions escalated to the point where Watts' parents reportedly blocked Shanann on Facebook and skipped Celeste's birthday party entirely. They hadn't even attended their son's wedding.
As the doc showed, devastated Cindy vowed in court to continue to support her son despite his despicable crimes, which included the deaths of his young daughters.
2. Marriage obsession
American Murder: The Family Next Door depicted Watts as having an affair with coworker Nichol Kessinger, but it didn't reveal that the illicit romance was a full-blown relationship and Kessinger had hopes of marrying Watts, reports Daily Mail.
Just nine days before the murders, on August 4, 2018, Kessinger searched Google for over two hours, looking at wedding dresses. She also browsed topics related to 'marrying your mistress,' according to Business Insider.
After discovering Watts had lied to her, Kessinger is said to have later filed to change her name in Jefferson County, Colorado.
3. Alleged affairs
Amanda McMahon claimed she had a one-night stand with Watts in March 2018 after meeting him on Tinder. 'It got really fast and aggressive,' she said of the encounter.
She told the police that she had to physically fight Watts off her after he turned violent, putting his hands around her throat and trying to initiate anal sex despite her reluctance. He also reportedly revealed details of his "rape fantasy" to her in extreme detail.
And a few months after the murders, The Mirror spoke to the gay escort Trent Bolte, who claimed he had a 10-month affair with Watts in 2018. However, Watts denied any involvement. 'I've never been with a guy,' he told police.
4. Female prison visitor
According to an 'Inmate Visitation History' document dated January 6, 2020, a woman named Anna Nowak was approved to see Watts and made 31 visits between March and December 2019.
The document shows that she was once turned away after exceeding the maximum visits for a single day.
5. Plans for romantic getaway
The documentary hinted at marriage troubles - using Shanann's own text messages, but she also made serious efforts to save the relationship - because she loved her husband and she didn't want a broken home for her two daughters who doted on their father,
The Daily Mail reported that the unsuspecting spouse was looking for travel deals on Groupon and had also arranged childcare for Bella and Celeste so she and her future killer could holiday together.
To the outside world, the Watts looked like any family next door - a loving couple and two adorable children living a happy, normal life together. But behind closed doors, it was a very different and horrifying story.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mirror
5 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Parks and Recreation star dies after being fatally shot 'by neighbour'
King of the Hill star Jonathan Joss, who is the voice actor of John Redcorn on the show, tragically died after being shot by a neighbour King of the Hill voice actor Jonathan Joss has died after being shot by a neighbour in Texas. The San Antonio Police Department and onlookers claimed the 59-year-old Parks and Recreation actor got into an argument with his neighbour on the city's south side over the weekend before he was shot. A man called Sigfredo Alvarez-Cega was arrested and charged with murder, with a bond set at $200K, as reported by TMZ. The authorities told the publication that the neighbour pulled out a gun during the argument and shot Joss several times before fleeing in a car, with the police arresting him a block away from the residence. Alvarez-Cega was then taken into custody. Paramedics were called to the scene but couldn't save Joss. As shared in a police report, Joss passed away from 'injuries sustained after multiple gun shots'. The Mirror have reached out to the San Antonio Police Department for comment. Following the release of the news, fans rushed to social media to pay tribute to Joss. One said: "This is absolutely devastating news. Jonathan Joss was such a talented actor, and his iconic roles brought so much joy to so many. What a tragic loss." Another said: "It absolutely shatters my heart to learn of the passing of Jonathan Joss, known and loved by many fans as the voice, heart, spirit, and soul of the character John Redcorn. He made a point to be involved in the fandom, and was so kind to all of us. He will never be forgotten!" Joss' husband, Tristan Kern de Gonzales, released a statement on the actor's official Facebook page claiming the argument began when the couple were checking the mail "at the site of our former home". "When the man fired, Jonathan pushed me out of the way," he said. "He saved my life. Jonathan is my husband. "He gave me more love in our time together than most people ever get. We were newlyweds. "We picked Valentine's Day. We were in the process of looking for a trailer and planning our future," Gonzales posted before adding he was with Joss when he passed and 'told him how much he was loved.' "To everyone who supported him, his fans, his friends, know that he valued you deeply. He saw you as family. My focus now is on protecting Jonathan's legacy and honoring the life we built together," he added. Joss was the voice of John Redcorn on King of the Hill from series two to 13 and even recorded lines for the revival of the animated series. He was also known as Chief Ken Hotate in Parks and Recreation.
Daily Mail
5 hours ago
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Blake Lively makes shock move and drops 'intentional infliction of emotional distress' claim against Justin Baldoni
By Published: | Updated: Blake Lively has sensationally dropped her claim that Justin Baldoni intentionally caused her emotional distress, after his legal team demanded to see medical proof. A new court filing, exclusively obtained by shows the embattled actress has also withdrawn a second claim of negligent infliction of emotional distress and try to avoid having to share her health records with the 41-year-old's legal team. But there was a sting in the tale for Baldoni – who now has two fewer claims to defend himself from – after the actress demanded to drop the claims without prejudice, meaning they could be refiled. The attempt has prompted a new round of legal letters, with Baldoni's team angrily insisting the mom-of-four is trying 'to have it both ways' and demanding that she comply with their 'reasonable' request to see her medical documents. An insider told that Lively's lawyers had hoped to quietly ditch the emotional distress elements of the lawsuit to dodge having her records scrutinized. Lively had claimed that the emotional distress allegedly inflicted on her by Baldoni had 'severely impacted her physical, psychological and emotional wellbeing' – all of which could show up in her health records if true. A new court filing, exclusively obtained by shows the embattled actress has also withdrawn a second claim of negligent infliction of emotional distress and thus try to avoid having to share her health records with the 41-year-old's legal team has reached out to Lively's representative for comment. Although the actress has now dropped the emotional distress claims, Baldoni will still have to defend himself over her other claims which include sexual harassment and the orchestration of a smear campaign against her. The 41-year-old is also pursuing a $400m countersuit of his own that also claims defamation and accuses the glamorous blonde of damaging his reputation and career. The withdrawal is the latest twist in a tsunami of legal developments that in recent weeks has seen the warring pair battle it out over his attempt to subpoena her one-time bestie, Taylor Swift. Swift, 36, was dragged into the saga in January due to a now-notorious claim by Baldoni that Lively referred to the megastar and husband Ryan Reynolds, 48, as 'my dragons' and threatened to unleash them upon him if he refused to go along with her changes to a scene. According to a legal letter sent along with the subpoena, Lively allegedly threatened to leak a decade's worth of text messages if Swift failed to issue a statement in support of her. Lively's team quickly hit back and denied the claims, and also demanded the subpoena be withdrawn – a request later granted by Judge Lewis Liman. Subpoenas against Lively and Reynolds were upheld and the actress is facing a deposition, although that too is the subject of wrangling due to her reluctance to be grilled by Baldoni's lawyers. The dropping of the emotional distress claims is yet another legal setback for the 37-year-old actress, who has been the subject of a deluge of negative headlines for months and has seen her friendship with Swift publicly deteriorate. On top of that, some of her allegations have begun to look increasingly dubious including the claim that Baldoni had nuzzled her neck and told her 'you smell so good' during a dancing scene. Although Lively claimed it had been filmed with microphones off, obtained raw footage that showed the sound was on and that the conversation had instead been about the scent of Lively's fake tan. She has also faced scrutiny over some of her team's legal maneuvers, among them a shell lawsuit filed in October that was used as the basis to subpoena publicist Stephanie Jones for a phone used by her former employee Jennifer Abel. The messages on the phone between Abel and crisis PR Melissa Nathan were later used as the basis for Lively's claims of a smear campaign, although Baldoni's team hit back saying the texts were selectively edited and released the conversations in full. Jones had hotly denied handing over the texts as a favor, arguing in court papers that she turned the device over only after receiving a subpoena last October. But that led to the existence of a 'sham' lawsuit being revealed – a now-dropped case filed by Lively's company Vanzan against anonymous Does 1-10. The revelation prompted a furious response from Baldoni's lawyer Bryan Freedman who described the Vanzan suit as a 'sham'. 'Ms. Lively's and Mr. Reynolds' company Vanzan had nothing to do with this case and they knew it,' Freedman said in a statement. 'This sham lawsuit was designed to obtain subpoena power without oversight or scrutiny, and in doing so denied my clients the ability to contest the propriety, nature, and scope of the subpoena. 'There is nothing normal about this. Officers of the court have a duty of candor to the court and an obligation not to file fictitious lawsuits that have no basis in fact or law. 'This was done in bad faith and constitutes a flagrant abuse of process.' has also revealed that Baldoni has added a powerful female litigator to his legal counsel who could make a 'meaningful difference' to his acrimonious battle with Lively, according to insiders – and she has an unlikely connection to Taylor Swift. Ellyn S. Garofalo, who previously worked with Venable LLP – the law firm used by Swift – has joined Baldoni's side as part of the Wayfarer legal team in a move that has prompted fans to question the singer's involvement in the ongoing war. The pop superstar, 35, was dragged into the feud between Lively, 37, and her It Ends With Us costar and director Baldoni, 41, in early May when she was officially subpoenaed as a witness. A legal letter filed last month by his lawyers alleged that Lively had attempted to 'coerce' Swift to issue a public statement in support of her and urged her to delete text messages between them. Lively's lawyers later filed a motion asking the court to strike the accusations from its docket as 'baseless, unnecessary, improper and abusive,' and Lively's motion to dismiss Baldoni's letter was granted. But Baldoni's team withdrew the subpoena in late May after Venable LLP objected that it amounted to an 'unwarranted fishing expedition.' It was branded 'tabloid clickbait' by Swift's representative. Garofalo, who worked at Venable LLP from 2018 until 2021, reportedly joined Baldoni's team 'after Venable was able to get the Taylor subpoena tossed.' 'For Ellyn to join the counsel is huge,' an insider exclusively told the Daily Mail. According to her biography, Garofalo is a seasoned trial attorney with over three decades of courtroom experience. Her focus is on 'civil, criminal, and regulatory matters, including SEC enforcement actions,' and she has previously worked on high-profile cases involving Anna Nicole Smith and Alyssa Milano. 'Baldoni's team is thrilled because of her track record in the courtroom,' the insider said of the Pepperdine Law School grad. 'She not only brings exceptional legal expertise but also fulfils their desire to include a prominent female litigator.' News of her involvement comes days after an unnamed insider in Swift's inner circle allegedly provided documented evidence to Baldoni's lead attorney Bryan Freedman detailing how Lively's attorneys had 'threatened to leak' the actress's private exchanges with Swift, in a failed attempt to coerce the singer into publicly siding with her against Baldoni. The Daily Mail exclusively revealed that the 'leaker' was none other than Scott Swift - the singer's 73-year-old father. 'Garofalo was compelled to join the case after reviewing its circumstances, feeling strongly that an injustice was unfolding and that her participation could make a meaningful difference,' our source said. The legal dispute began when Lively sued Baldoni for sexual harassment. Baldoni has countersued for defamation. Both parties have denied all the allegations against them. Their trial is scheduled for March 2026.
Scottish Sun
7 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Mum of missing Scots teen Cole Cooper reveals ‘unbearable' pain over son's disappearance as she makes heartbreaking plea
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) THE mum of missing teenager Cole Cooper has issued a heartbreaking plea and revealed the "unbearable" pain as the search for her son continues. The 19-year-old has now been missing for almost four weeks as a major police search continues. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 4 Cole Cooper has been missing for almost four weeks Credit: Police Scotland 4 A major search is underway to find him Credit: Police Scotland 4 His family have pleaded for answers Credit: Michael Schofield, News Group Newspapers Ltd 4 A police helicopter has been called in to help with the search Credit: Michael Schofield, News Group Newspapers Ltd Cole disappeared in the village of Banknock last month and hasn't been seen by his family since May 2 or 3. Police say the last known sighting of him was by an old schoolfriend on May 7 when Cole asked them for a lift on the A803 at the intersection with Cumbernauld Road, Longcroft. He was officially reported missing two days later with his family pleading for answers. His mum Wendy Stewart has since told how his disappearance has left her "unable to sleep" and how she cannot go another day without knowing what her happened to her beloved boy. In a heartbreaking plea made the public on a Facebook page set up to help find Cole, she said: "Imagine this was your boy. "Cole is just 19. Every night, I lie awake, unable to sleep, haunted by thoughts of him — is he hurt? Is he scared? Does he need help? "I can't shut out the fear. I don't know if he's safe or if he's suffering. And that uncertainty is unbearable. "As a mother, I'm begging you — please, if you have even the slightest clue about where Cole might be or what might have happened to him, please speak up now. "You can be the one to bring him home. I can't imagine going another day without answers, and I know we all want to find him, so let's make it today. "We are incredibly grateful for all of the support we've received — it's been a source of strength for us during this unimaginable time. Shocking moment biker yob drags hero cop down road after fleeing during arrest for doing wheelies in town-centre "But we still need more help, more eyes, more people to step forward. Together, we can bring Cole home." The major search to find Cole has seen specialist police units brought in and dedicated officers assigned to the case. A police helicopter, drones, divers and specialist search teams have all been involved in the efforts to find Cole. Hundreds of volunteers have also conducted searches organised by the family. Do you have any information about where Cole Cooper could be? ANYONE who has information on Cole has been urged to send their information to police. Cole is described as around 5ft 10ins, of medium build with brown short hair. He was last seen wearing a black puffer-style jacket with black jogging bottoms. Cops have asked that any information, including photographs, CCTV or dashcam footage, be sent to officers that may support the investigation. They have set up a website that gives members of the public access to a form to send information and footage directly to officers. The Major Incident Public Portal (MIPP) link can be found here. Anyone who has any information can contact officers on either 101 quoting incident number 828 of Friday, 9 May, 2025. Falkirk's Area Commander, Chief Inspector Alex Hatrick, said: "We have significant resources dedicated to finding Cole and we are urging the public to come forward with any information about his whereabouts. "As part of our investigation, we have specialist resources from across the country assisting local officers. "We have seized more than 1000 hours of public and private CCTV footage as part of the investigation. 'Door-to-door enquiries are still being carried out and there will continue to be a significant police presence in the area while our searches are ongoing. "This includes uniformed and plain-clothed officers. I would encourage anyone with any information or questions to approach these officers. "We understand this may be concerning for the local community but please be assured we are working hard to find Cole." The senior cop urged anyone to come forward with information, saying anything could be the crucial clue needed to finding out what happened to Cole.
