Chris Watts' parents tell son they forgive him and hope for peace and healing for all at sentencing
Chris Watts' parents read out their emotional statement in court at his sentencing hearing for the murder of his pregnant wife and children and it was addressed to him. They said they were devastated and confused about why he committed the horrific crimes but that they forgive him. Before Chris received his sentence in the court - life in prison without the possibility of parole - his parents' attorney read out a letter from them stating: "We are not here to ask for leniency and are not in any way condoning or tolerating the crime that has occurred or the pain that has been caused."
Chris pleaded guilty on November 6 to first-degree murder charges after he murdered his pregnant wife, 34-year-old Shanann Watts, and their two young daughters, Bella (4) and Celeste (3). He accepted a plea deal from the prosecutors in order to avoid capital punishment. At the sentencing hearing that took place on November 19, the prosecutors stated that Chris strangled Shanann and smothered his daughters.