Chris Watts, the man convicted of brutally murdering his pregnant wife and their two young daughters, claims in a recent letter from prison that he has been “forgiven” by God and considers himself a “new man.” This correspondence was addressed to a female pen pal while he serves his life sentence at Dodge Correctional Facility in Wisconsin.
In a handwritten note, he expressed that despite being misled by “evil women,” he takes full responsibility for his actions. “I know that God doesn’t see me as a sinner who killed my family. He sees me as his child,” he wrote, reflecting a strange sense of absolution. “I confessed my sin. I am forgiven. The hardest part was forgiving myself.”
Watts, who strangled his wife Shanann while she was 15 weeks pregnant on August 13, 2018, also admitted to suffocating his daughters, Bella, 4, and Celeste, 3. He subsequently disposed of their bodies in an oil drum. He has suggested that these shocking actions were, in part, to allow him to pursue a relationship with his mistress, stating, “I’m a new man.”
“I am not the one who committed those horrible deeds,” he continued, referencing a biblical verse implying transformation and renewal. “God has separated me from my sin as far as the east is from the west.” He spoke about a long journey towards self-forgiveness and finding peace, although how genuine that admission is remains uncertain.
Watts has also reiterated past claims about the influence of his mistress, Nicole Kessinger, whom he labels as a destructive figure in his life. He described her in derogatory terms, asserting that she led him astray, although it’s critical to note that she played no role in the murders themselves.
Despite his claims of transformation and spiritual awakening, the reality of his actions continues to haunt many, leaving a community grappling with the aftermath of a tragedy that unfolded in a seemingly ordinary household.
