Chris Watts is now incarcerated at Dodge Correctional Institution, a maximum-security prison in Waupun, Wisconsin, where he is serving multiple life sentences without the possibility of parole for the 2018 murders of his pregnant wife, Shanann Watts, and their daughters Bella and Celeste. He was transferred there in December 2018 and has remained at the facility since.1People. Where Is Chris Watts Now
Why He Was Moved Out of Colorado
Watts was sentenced in Weld County, Colorado, on November 19, 2018. Just two weeks later, on December 3, he was transferred out of the Colorado prison system to Wisconsin. Colorado Department of Corrections spokesman Mark Fairbairn said the move was made “for security concerns due to him being a high-profile offender.”2KBZK. Chris Watts Transferred to Prison Outside of Colorado
The transfer was carried out under the Interstate Corrections Compact, which allows states to house inmates elsewhere when their presence poses significant safety or security risks, particularly those convicted of “especially infamous or heinous crimes.”3WMTV. Chris Watts Serving Sentence in Waupun Prison Under the compact, Colorado retains legal authority over him, and the sending state generally is not charged for housing costs.
Daily Life at Dodge Correctional
Watts is held in protective custody and works as a prison custodian. He has been described as deeply unpopular among the general population, considered “the lowest of the low” because of the nature of his crimes.4New York Post. Killer Dad Chris Watts Lives in Fear in Wisconsin Prison
Sources with knowledge of his routine say he avoids eye contact with other inmates, attends Bible study sessions, and has gained significant weight while leading a sedentary lifestyle.4New York Post. Killer Dad Chris Watts Lives in Fear in Wisconsin Prison
His disciplinary record inside is thin. He has received two citations since his incarceration: one in 2020 for unauthorized communication and transfer of property, and another in 2021 for disobeying orders and possessing miscellaneous contraband.1People. Where Is Chris Watts Now
Visitors and Pen Pals
Watts has had very few in-person visitors. A Wisconsin Department of Corrections spokesperson stated he had no scheduled visitors for several weeks as of mid-2024, though his mother had visited earlier that year and he occasionally receives pastoral visits.4New York Post. Killer Dad Chris Watts Lives in Fear in Wisconsin Prison
What he does maintain is an extensive correspondence with pen pals, the majority of them women. According to a prison source, “The only outlet he has is with these letters.” The volume of mail reportedly increased after Netflix released the documentary American Murder: The Family Next Door in September 2020.5People. Chris Watts Is Sending Racy Letters to Women From His Prison Cell
The Sentences He Is Serving
On November 6, 2018, Watts pleaded guilty in Weld County to nine felony counts: three counts of first-degree murder after deliberation, two counts of first-degree murder of a child under 12 by a person in a position of trust, one count of unlawful termination of a pregnancy, and three counts of tampering with a deceased human body.6Denver7. Chris Watts Reaches Plea Deal The plea allowed him to avoid the death penalty, a decision driven by the wishes of Shanann’s family. Her mother, Sandra Rzucek, told Watts at sentencing, “I didn’t want death for you because that’s not my right. Your life is between you and God.”7NBC News. Christopher Watts Sentenced to Life in Prison
Judge Marcelo Kopcow imposed three consecutive life sentences for the three murders, two concurrent life sentences for the murder-of-a-child charges, an additional 48 years for unlawful termination of a pregnancy, and 36 years total for the three tampering counts.8Fort Collins Coloradoan. Frederick Colorado Mourns Chris Watts Murder Victims There is no possibility of parole.
The $6 Million Judgment Against Him
Shanann’s parents, Frank and Sandra Rzucek, filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Watts the same day he was sentenced. Their attorney said the suit was intended to claim any remaining assets and to prevent Watts from ever profiting from the murders through a book or story sale.9Denver7. Christopher Watts Agrees to Pay $6 Million
Watts did not contest the case. In November 2019, a judge ordered him to pay $6 million: $1 million for each of the three deaths and $3 million for grief, pain, suffering, and loss of companionship, with the total subject to 8 percent annual interest.10Fort Collins Coloradoan. Chris Watts Ordered to Pay in Wrongful Death Lawsuit The family’s attorneys acknowledged they would likely never collect.9Denver7. Christopher Watts Agrees to Pay $6 Million As part of his criminal sentencing, Watts was also ordered to pay more than $41,000 in restitution for funeral and burial costs.
What Happened to the Family Home
The Watts family home on Saratoga Trail in Frederick, Colorado, sat vacant for years after the murders. The mortgage went into default and the lender began foreclosure proceedings, later revoked by Weld County, and the property was caught in legal limbo because of liens and the wrongful death judgment.11Denver7. Colorado Murder Home Sits in Legal Limbo
The family had purchased the home for about $400,000 in 2013. It eventually sold in November 2022 for $600,000 and changed hands again in October 2024 for $650,000, after being listed earlier that year at $775,000.12People. Colorado Home Where Chris Watts Murdered His Family Has Found a Buyer