• News
  • Film and TV
  • Music
  • Tech
  • Features
  • Celebrity
  • Politics
  • Weird
  • Community
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • LADbible
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
TikTok
YouTube
Submit Your Content
Five shocking things Netflix's Chris Watts documentary didn't show

Home> Film & TV

Updated 11:54 7 May 2023 GMT+1Published 11:07 7 May 2023 GMT+1

Five shocking things Netflix's Chris Watts documentary didn't show

The documentary skipped some key details in the tragic case

Amelia Jones

Amelia Jones

Netflix's American Murder: The Family Next Door, covered the heinous crimes of family annihilator, Chris Watts, but there are five things the documentary missed.

The documentary, which was released in September 2020, focuses on the murder of Watts' wife Shanann, who was 15 weeks pregnant at the time of her death, and their two daughters, four-year-old Bella and three-year-old Celeste on 13 August 2018.

After initially claiming he had no knowledge of their whereabouts, his story fell apart within days.

He pleaded guilty to the three murders, receiving five life sentences and an additional 48 years for the unlawful termination of Shan'ann's pregnancy and 36 years for 'tampering' with the bodies.

Advert

But even with the documentary walking us through the tragic events there are still question marks over what happened and why - and Netflix merely scratched the surface of the layered events that shocked the world.

Chris Watts murdered his pregnant wife and daughters.
Netlifx

Firstly, there was reportedly tension between Shan'ann and Chris' parents.

Watts made claims that Shan'ann has never got on with his parents who didn't attend their wedding.

Advert

He alleges she wasn't talking to his parents when he killed her, according to OK! magazine.

She believed that Watts' mother, Cindy, was reckless and didn't take her youngest daughter, Celeste's nut allergy seriously, serving her ice cream that contained peanut.

“You should call your dad and tell him you did not appreciate your mom putting your daughter at risk today,” she said in a text message to her husband, which was released by Weld County District Attorney.

“She’s evil and willing to risk your daughter’s life just to get under my skin. You and your dad are no different if you are ok with her behavior. There’s nothing wrong with me and l’m not crazy. I just love my kids way too much.”

Advert

Watts' mother later told ABC11 in November that it was a 'hard relationship' with Shannan as far as she 'was concerned'. She said: "I couldn't do anything right."

Secondly, while we know Chris was having an affair with Nicole Kessinger - it was previously unclear how serious their relationship was.

Watts' mistress claims he lied to her.
Netflix

Far from being a fling, Kessinger had 'searched Google for wedding dresses' for 'over two hours', on 4 August 2018, according to documents obtained by People.

Advert

Kessinger also 'searched Google on topics related to ‘marrying your mistress'.

She claimed that Watts lied to her about being separated from his wife and was finalising a 'mutual' divorce when the two met at work.

"I believed him." she told The Denver Post.

It was reported by The Daily Mail that Kessinger had applied for paperwork in Jefferson County, Colorado to change her name and protect her identity.

Advert

Also left out from the documentary was Watts' secret female prison visitor.

According to a 'Inmate Visitation History' document from 6 January, 2020, obtained by OK!, Anna Nowak is one of Watts’ approved visitors at Dodge Correctional Institution in Wisconsin.

She visits almost weekly and was even turned away in April 2019 for apparently exceeding the maximum number of visits per day.

Watts is currently serving five life sentences for the murder of Shanann and their kids.
Netflix

Advert

The fourth thing you might not know about is that Kessinger wasn't Watts' only indiscretion.

OK! claim that, despite being married, Watts was on Tinder before the murders, where he met and had a 'really fast and aggressive' one-night-stand with Amanda McMahon in March 2018, after meeting in a parking lot.

She also told Inside Edition that Watts said that he was divorced.

Trent Bolte, a male escort, also claims to have had a 10-month relationship with Watts in 2018.

Advert

Bolte's mom, Colleen also confirmed he was 'seeing' Watts before the ‘horrible crime’.

However, Watts told investigators: “I’ve never been with a guy."

Lastly, it was also reported that Shanann was trying to save her marriage.

To help their relationship, the couple had planned a weekend away in Aspen and she had looked for couples counsellors in the area.

Advert

In a text message obtained by People, she told him to stop 'living the bachelor life' and said they 'need to talk'.

She had also reportedly searched for Groupon deals for travelling and was able to get a babysitter for their daughters.

Featured Image Credit: Everett Collection Inc / Alamy Stock Photo/Netflix

Topics: Crime, True crime, Netflix, Film and TV

Amelia Jones
Amelia Jones

Advert

Advert

Advert

Choose your content:

21 mins ago
a day ago
2 days ago
  • 21 mins ago

    93% rated Netflix mini-series keeps fans hooked as they search for the next Squid Game

    'South Korea does it yet again'

    Film & TV
  • a day ago

    Secret Netflix code finds 100% rated mini-series you didn't know existed

    'A definite must-see'

    Film & TV
  • 2 days ago

    Underrated Netflix mini-series labeled 'beautiful and relatable' as viewers watch for 9.4 million hours

    Idris Elba stars in the 'refreshing' eight-parter

    Film & TV
  • 2 days ago

    Fans can't stop watching 'underrated' Ryan Reynolds movie that's one of the best 'made in the last 10 years' and is now on Netflix

    Ryan Reynold has a whole lot of films under his belt but many think this gem is underrated

    Film & TV
  • Erik and Lyle Menendez share their story in their own words for upcoming Netflix documentary
  • Traumatized Netflix fans say ‘every frame’ of ‘disturbing’ movie based on heartbreaking true story hurts
  • Viewers stunned and ‘had to take a break’ after ‘best acting they’ve ever witnessed’ in controversial Netflix show
  • Viewers ‘still traumatized’ after watching disturbing true-crime film that ‘made them sick’