[MUSIC PLAYING]
CHRIS WATTS: Like, I have no inclination
of where they're at right now.
It's like a nightmare that I just can't wake up from.
Like, I want her back so bad.
I want those kids back so bad.
REPORTER: Police in Colorado have
issued an alert for a pregnant mother
and her two young daughters.
CHRIS WATTS: I had nothing to do with this act
of, like, evil cruelty.
So you obviously are a really bad liar.
SUSAN CONSTANTINE: He is the sloppiest killer
I've ever seen.
He looks like he's trying to cover his tracks.
Every time I close my eyes, I start to see her saying, Daddy,
no, and that was it.
To me, it's the ultimate betrayal.
JEAN POWERS: This was the case that people
wanted a punishment for.
TANIA HAGAN: If you're not going to be safe in your own house
with your own husband, where are you safe?
MATT FRANCIS: God have mercy on his soul
for betraying both those kids and his wife.
I think death is even not good enough for him.
[THEME MUSIC]
CHRIS WATTS: This is my flesh and blood.
This is, like, what I wanted all my life.
They love me.
Nothing makes sense.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
The first time I ever heard about Shan'ann, Chris, Bella,
and CeCe was actually when the missing
persons report was issued by the police department.
TANIA HAGAN: The initial news coverage
said that there was a missing wife and two children.
JEAN POWERS: It stirred such a reaction in the community.
There was a thirst and a curiosity
for any and every detail.
DILLON THOMAS: This is a small town where this really
doesn't happen all that often.
We're drawn to say, what happened to these people?
They just disappeared from thin air.
JEAN POWERS: They were a happy Colorado, regular family.
DILLON THOMAS: Shan'ann and Chris seem to be living
the all-American family dream in Frederick, Colorado,
which is the blue-collar town.
The father who goes out, works in the oil field early
in the morning, comes home to the loving wife
and their two young daughters.
It all kind of took a turn once you realize that their love
story wasn't as beautiful and clear as what was painted
originally on social media.
My friend sent me a friend suggestion for him.
It was actually his cousin's wife.
And I deleted it.
I was like, I'm not interested.
I don't want to meet a guy.
Buh-bye.
So I deleted her friend suggestion for him.
Two months later, I went through one of the, I would say,
darkest times of my life.
I was diagnosed with some health challenges.
And then I met Chris.
I met Chris because of those health challenges.
I thought my life was crumbling underneath me
and I didn't know which way to turn.
I didn't have a lot of friends at the time
because a lot of my friends I did have, I lost,
because they didn't understand that I looked perfectly fine,
and I felt horribly inside--
horribly.
I was like, ah, what the heck.
I'm never going to meet him.
Accept.
Well, one thing led to another.
And eight years later, we have two kids.
We live in Colorado.
And he's the best thing that has ever happened to me.
I've known the family for 25 years.
I mean, when I first met him, he was, like-- he was really shy.
He just kind of kept to himself.
He was probably even a little girl-scared, you know?
He was more into school and sports,
wasn't really assertive.
His personality was just very peaceful and calm and quiet,
and Shan'ann was super outgoing.
I think that opposites attracted.
MATT FRANCIS: I met Shan'ann as her ninth-grade
high school theater teacher.
We also became really good friends over time.
We'd known each other for 20 years.
Her empathy was through the roof.
She was great in how she cared for other people.
Everybody who worked with her, when they talked to her,
knew that they were heard.
And I think that was one of her superpowers.
KELLY: I think that he really fell in love with her fast,
and they both just connected.
They were together for about a year before he proposed to her.
DILLON THOMAS: It was almost as if Chris was her saving grace.
He knew me at my worst and he accepted me.
And he stuck around because he was the one for me.
And he is amazing.
And I can't tell you how wonderful he is.
DILLON THOMAS: Chris and Shan'ann decide to uproot from
North Carolina and move all the way west to the Rocky Mountains
in Frederick, Colorado.
And Chris started working for one
of the largest oil employers.
TANIA HAGAN: They had their babies, Celeste and Bella.
KELLY: I mean, I remember following on social media,
seeing birth announcements.
You have Bella, who looks and acts just like Chris,
and you have CeCe that is the spitting
image of Shan'ann-- the all-American little family.
(SINGING) My daddy is a hero.
He helps me grow up strong.
He help me snuggle, too.
He reads me books.
He ties my shoes.
Oops, we did it again.
[LAUGHS]
I like that shirt.
So pink means--
SHAN'ANN WATTS: That's just the test.
I know.
It just says-- but pink is going to be girls?
SHAN'ANN WATTS: I don't know.
Just the test.
CHRIS WATTS: That's awesome.
They were finally able to have the baby boy that they
had always wanted, and Shan'ann decides
she wants to name him Nico.
I guess when you want to, it happens.
Wow.
I always thought everything was
great and fine and wonderful.
Nobody was aware that there was any marital problems.
Shan'ann and Chris were putting off
that they had it all together.
But in reality, they had some financial struggles
and ended up filing for bankruptcy.
It comes forth that they had a court date where they were
supposed to go and find out if they were going
to be foreclosed on, I guess.
That's going to be stressful for anyone.
DILLON THOMAS: Their financial situation was grim.
They're around $70,000 in debt.
MATT FRANCIS: I think there was a lot of things going on
behind closed doors, especially with her husband and the family
dynamic, that she just couldn't fix.
Chris and Shan'ann are already on rocky times.
And then Chris enters one of his offices,
where he meets a woman named Nichol Kessinger.
Thank you so much for coming out here with me, Christopher.
I am having a wonderful time.
You mean a lot to me.
[KISSES]
I mean, it broke my heart for her when I found
out he was cheating on her.
DILLON THOMAS: There was another person in this story.
There was a lover on the side.
A normal person would go out and get
a divorce or even a separation.
Well, Chris couldn't do that.
He wanted a solution and he wanted a quick solution.
KELLY: He was having an affair because he didn't
feel appreciated anymore.
There's so many different dynamics going on here.
Before you know it, a perfect storm is created.
From that point forward, a bunch of balls
started rolling in the wrong direction.
He wanted to have a new life, and this new life would
happen with his new mistress.
He thought that he could just start over.
If it weren't for him falling in love with his mistress,
there's a good chance that Shan'ann, Bella,
and CeCe would still be here.
[MUSIC PLAYING]