Murder: True Crime Stories

Episode: SOLVED: The Watts Family Murder 1

Host: Carter Roy
Date: November 4, 2025

Overview

This episode delves into the chilling buildup and devastating disappearance in the Watts family murder case of 2018, focusing on the family’s public persona, their private struggles, and the alarming signs that led up to the events of August 13, 2018. Host Carter Roy approaches the story with a mix of careful empathy and forensic detail, breaking down the illusion of domestic bliss and exposing the fractures beneath.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

The "Perfect" Family Image

• Public Perception versus Reality ([00:01])
  • The Watts family appeared blissful on social media, projecting stability and happiness.
  • Carter Roy notes: “But appearances can be deceiving and behind the staged smiles and carefully crafted captions, the truth was far more complicated.”

Shanann & Chris: Origins and Struggles

• Early Relationship and Background ([04:59])

  • Shanann Rusak, struggling after divorce and lupus diagnosis, met Chris Watts online in 2010.
  • Their courtship involved support and promises from Chris, “Instead, Chris promised to stick by her through her health issues and whatever else might come their way. And that was when Shanann decided he was the one.”
  • Despite familial friction—Chris’s parents withheld approval—they married in 2012.

• Financial and Health Challenges

  • Their early years involved bankruptcy, medical bills, and moving from North Carolina to Colorado.
  • Shanann’s successful stint as a Le-Vel brand promoter eased finances but added pressures of constant digital engagement.

Marital Tension, Affairs, and Family Dynamics

• Chris’s Affair & Growing Distance ([12:35–18:22])

  • In June 2018, shortly after discovering Shanann’s third pregnancy, Chris began an affair with coworker Nicole Kessinger.
  • Shanann grew suspicious of Chris’s emotional withdrawal, telling a friend:

    “She tried to draw Chris back by giving him self-help and relationship books, but Chris didn’t read them. He actually threw one...out in the garbage.”

  • Shanann hoped a summer trip to North Carolina with the kids would improve things, but this only gave Chris more time with Nicole.

• Family Conflict Over Parental Relationships

  • A dramatic incident occurred when Shanann accused Chris’s mother of putting daughter CeCe’s health at risk, leading to a major falling out.
  • Chris’s loyalty appeared divided, intensifying the marital rift.

Chris’s Double Life

• The Extent of Chris’s Deceit ([18:40–21:05])

  • Chris misrepresented his marital status to Nicole, claiming to be separated.
  • Nicole, “looking at wedding dresses online” by August, saw a future with Chris, unaware of the depths of his lies.

• Shanann’s Emotional Isolation

  • Shanann openly considered divorce and moving away, believing Chris had checked out of their marriage.

The Night Before the Disappearance

• Signs and Final Conversations ([21:05–23:28])
  • On August 9, Shanann and Chris had their most productive conversation in months, offering her fleeting hope.
  • Carter Roy:

    “While the talk gave Shanann renewed hope, it clearly meant something different for Chris. Maybe he was just telling his wife what she wanted to hear because the second she was gone…he rushed to meet Nicole at a sports bar.”

The Disappearance: August 13, 2018

The Morning After

• The Alarm is Raised ([24:24])
  • Shanann’s friend Nicole Atkinson drove her home around 2am, expecting to hear from her later that morning.
  • The lack of response led Atkinson to the Watts house and then to an urgent call to authorities.

The Search and Chris’s Behavior

• Law Enforcement Arrives ([24:24–28:20])

  • Officer Coonrod responded to the house, noting Shanann’s car was present but no answer at the door.
  • Chris delayed his return to the house, raising suspicions.
  • Once inside, key belongings—Shanann’s phone, wallet, medication, and purse—were left behind, an ominous sign.

• The Surveillance Footage

  • A neighbor’s security camera caught unusual activity: Chris backing his truck into the garage at 5:27am.
  • Both Atkinson and the neighbor told police, “they’d never seen Chris do that before.”
  • Chris provided a dubious explanation about needing to load tools because of recent theft.

• Chris’s Story Unravels

  • Chris told police he and Shanann discussed separating that morning but claimed it was amicable.
  • His affect through the ordeal was described as oddly calm.

The Alarm Spreads

• Nicole Kessinger’s Realization ([28:20–31:55])
  • Chris told Nicole his family was missing, but his “calm” texts unnerved her.
  • Once the story broke on the news, Nicole learned the truth of Chris’s status and suspected his involvement, cutting off contact.

Police Suspicions

• Escalating Investigations ([31:55])
  • The police treated Chris as a person of interest, formally declaring Shanann and daughters missing.
  • Host notes: “Investigators still didn’t know what had happened…but they were almost positive that Chris Watts had something to do with it. And they were determined to get to the bottom of things.”

Notable Quotes and Memorable Moments

• On Appearances and Reality:

  "People’s lives are like a story. There’s a beginning, a middle and an end, but you don’t always know which part you’re on. Sometimes the final chapter arrives far too soon and we don’t always get to know the real ending.”
  —Carter Roy ([02:40])

• On Chris’s Demeanor:

  “She felt like his demeanor was off, like he was defending himself, even though he hadn’t been accused of anything.”
  —On Nicole Atkinson’s suspicions ([27:50])

• Chris’s Lies to Nicole:

  “Nicole was at a loss for words. Chris had lied about everything. He wasn’t separated at all. And suddenly she had a very bad feeling.”
  —Carter Roy ([29:52])

Important Timestamps

• 00:01–04:59: Introduction, public persona, and family background
• 12:35–23:28: Marital strain, Chris’s affair, family conflict, and the final days
• 24:24–31:55: The day of disappearance—friend’s reaction, police involvement, Chris’s story and behavior, outside perspectives, and police suspicion

Tone and Style

Carter Roy’s narration is empathetic, methodical, and direct, maintaining respect for the gravity of the case while clearly delineating fact from speculation.

Upcoming

Part two will cover the police investigation, confessions, evidence, and aftermath, promising deeper insight into the devastating truth of the Watts family murders and those affected.