GREELEY, Colo. (CBS) — Chris Watts and his attorneys have reached a plea deal in highly-watched murder case out of Frederick. Watts is accused of killing his wife, Shanann, and his two young daughters, Bella and Celeste.
Shanann was pregnant with their third child, a boy.
Watts reached a plea deal Tuesday (Nov. 6) afternoon to avoid the death penalty. He pleaded guilty to all nine charges against him.
On Aug. 20, he was formally charged with five counts of murder in the first degree, one count of unlawful termination of a pregnancy and three counts of tampering with a deceased human body.
The district attorney eliminated the death penalty from consideration in exchange for pleading guilty
to all nine counts.
The deal ensures that Watts, who is 33, will consecutively serve each sentence for the unlawful termination charge and the murders of his wife and daughters.
The request to not seek the death penalty came from Shanann Watts’ family.
