BROTHER. THEY HAVE BEEN FULLY ADVISED OF THE NATURE OF THE PROCEEDINGS TODAY. ALSO, BASED UPON THE ORDER THAT THE COURT ENTERED LAST WEEK, I CAN TELL THE COURT THAT -- THEY HAVE ALSO HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO MEET WITH REPRESENTATIVES FROM MY OFFICE OVER THE WEEKEND TO DISCUSS THE NATURE OF THE HEARING TODAY. I BELIEVE WE ARE COMPLIANCE WITH THE VICTIMS RIGHTS ACT. >> THANK YOU. WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO DO IS EXPLAIN THE PROCEDURES THAT WE ARE GOING TO USE REGARDING THE SENTENCING HEARING. LET ME FIRST SAY THAT I REALIZE THAT THE SENTENCING HEARING HIS EMOTIONAL FOR MANY OF US. AND I EXPECT THAT YOUR BEHAVIOR IN THIS COURTROOM AND THE OVERFLOW COURTROOM IS APPROPRIATE. IF THE COURT DETERMINES THAT YOU ARE DEMEANOR AND BEHAVIOR DURING THE HEARING IS NOT APPROPRIATE, I HAVE ADVISED THE DEPUTIES THAT I WILL BE ASKING TO BE ESCORTED OUT OF THE COURTROOM. SO BE MINDFUL OF YOUR DEMEANOR. ALSO AS A REMINDER, ALL ELECTRONIC DEVICES MUST BE TURNED OFF. THE ONLY ELECTRONIC DEVICES THAT I'VE AUTHORIZED TO BE USED ARE THOSE THROUGH THE EXPANDED MEDIA COVERAGE ORDER. IF DEPUTIES SEE THAT YOU ARE USING AN ELECTRONIC DEVICE NOT AUTHORIZED BY THE COURT, THEY WILL TAKE ACTION ON THAT. SO BE MINDFUL OF THAT. IF YOU NEED TO TURN OFF YOUR ELECTRONIC DEVICES, PLEASE DO SO NOW. SO THESE ARE THE PROCEDURES THAT WE ARE GOING TO USE FOR THE SENTENCING HEARING FIRST -- FIRST, THE PROSECUTION WILL PRESENT EVIDENCE AND THEN THE DEFENSE WILL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT EVIDENCE. THEN, IF THERE ARE ANY VICTIMS UNDER THE VICTIMS RIGHTS ACT THAT HAVE NOT BEEN CALLED BY THE PROSECUTION OR DEFENSE OR ANY OTHER FIND VICTIMS UNDER THE VICTIMS RIGHTS ACT, THEY WILL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE A STATEMENT TO THE COURT AS IT RELATES TO THE RIGHTS UNDER THE VICTIMS RIGHTS ACT. THEREAFTER, THE PROSECUTION WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ARGUE AND THE DEFENSE WILL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE AN ARGUMENT. IF MR. WATTS CHOOSES TO, YOU WILL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE A STATEMENT AND THEN THE COURT WILL IMPOSE A SENTENCE IN THIS CASE. DOES EVERYBODY UNDERSTAND? OKAY. AND SO, ARE YOU GOING TO BE SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF THE PROSECUTION? >> YES, YOUR HONOR.>> YOU ARE WELCOME TO PRESENT EVIDENCE.>> I WOULD LIKE TO TENDER TO THE COURT WHAT HAS BEEN MARKED AS SENTENCING EXHIBITS 1 TO 21. I HAVE PRESENTED TEES TO THE DEFENSE. >> THE SENTENCING EXHIBITS ONE THROUGH 21 REPRESENT A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT PHOTOGRAPHS THAT ARE IN DISCOVERY THAT SHENANIGANS MOTHER AND FATHER WANT THE COURT TO HAVE. THEY MAY ALLUDE TO THOSE AND I HAVE ASKED THEM TO -- THAT IS THE SUBSTANCE OF THOSE. >> DO HAVE INDIVIDUALS TO MAKE A STATEMENT?>> I WOULD LIKE TO CALL UPON FRANK STICK >> GOOD MORNING. >> I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT SHENANIGANS -- THEY LOVED LIFE AND LOVED BEING AROUND PEOPLE. THEY ALWAYS HAD GOOD TIMES. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THEY WENT TO THE BEACH THIS YEAR AND THEY LOVED IT. GOD ONLY KNOWS WHAT HAPPENED THAT NIGHT IN LIFE WILL NEVER BE THE SAME WITHOUT THEM. THEY HAD ALL OF THEIR LIVES TO LIVE AND THEY WERE TAKEN BY A HEARTLESS PERSON. THIS IS THE MONSTER THAT TOOK THE LIVES OF THEM. I TRUSTED YOU TO TAKE CARE OF THEM AND NOT KILL THEM. AND THEY TRUSTED YOU THE HEARTLESS MONSTER THAT TOOK THEM OUT LIKE TRASH. THEY WOULD LOVING AND CARING PEOPLE AND YOU MAY HAVE TAKEN THEIR BODIES FROM ME BUT YOU WILL NEVER TAKE THE LOVE THAT THEY HAD FOR ME. THEY LOVED US MORE THAN YOU WILL EVER KNOW BECAUSE YOU DO NOT KNOW WHAT LOVE IS. IF YOU DID, YOU WOULD NOT HAVE KILLED THEM. YOU THOUGHT YOU WOULD GET AWAY WITH THIS AND I DON'T KNOW HOW. THE CAMERAS DO NOT LIE. YOU CARRIED THEM OUT LIKE TRASH. I'VE SEEN THE VIDEOTAPE. BURIED MY DAUGHTER AND PUT BELLA AND CELESTE IN BARRELS OF CRUDE OIL. YOU HAVE TO LIVE WITH THIS VISION EVERY DAY OF YOUR LIFE AND I HOPE YOU SEE EVERY TIME WHEN YOU CLOSE YOUR EYES THAT -- CLOSE YOUR EYES AT NIGHT. I WILL THINK OF THEM EVERY DAY OF MY LIFE AND I LOVE THEM EVERY DAY OF MY LIFE. PRISON IS TOO GOOD FOR YOU. MAY GOD HAVE MERCY ON YOUR SOUL. I HOPE YOU ENJOY YOUR NEW LIFE IT IS NOTHING LIKE YOU HAD OUT HERE IN MAY THE COURTS HAVE NO MERCY ON YOU. IT HURT EVERY DAY IN SO MANY WAYS. I'VE HEARD PEOPLE SAY THAT YOU ARE NOT A MONSTER. YOU ARE AN EVIL MONSTER. ONE OTHER THING. THANK YOU, YOUR HONOR. >> THANK YOU. >> HE WOULD LIKE TO STAND WITH ME BUT HAS ASKED ME TO READ HIS STATEMENT FOR HIM. >> I HAVE BARELY SLEPT THE PAST THREE MONTHS BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN GOING THROUGH A LOT OF DIFFERENT EMOTIONS BECAUSE I DID NOT SEE THIS COMING. YOU WENT FROM BEING MY SISTER'S PROTECTOR AND ONE OF THE MOST LOVED PEOPLE IN MY FAMILY TO SOMEONE I WILL SPEND THE REST OF MY LIFE TRYING TO UNDERSTAND. WHAT GAVE YOU THE RIGHT TO PUT YOUR HANDS ON A WOMAN, LET ALONE MY BEST FRIEND, MY BELOVED SISTER, YOUR DAUGHTERS AND YOUR SON. WHY WERE THEY NOT ENOUGH FOR YOU? YOU TOOK AWAY MY WHOLE WORLD AND THE PEOPLE THAT MATTER TO ME THE MOST. EVERYTHING IN MY LIFE I LOVED, THEY LOVED YOU AND TRUSTED YOU AND LOOKED UP TO YOU BECAUSE YOU PROMISED TO KEEP THEM SAFE AND INSTEAD YOU TURNED ON YOUR FAMILY. MY BLOOD IS BOILING AS I WRITE THESE LAST WORDS BECAUSE THEY ARE THE LAST YOU WILL EVER HEAR FROM ME. I CANNOT THINK OF THE RIGHT WORDS TO DESCRIBE THE HATE I FEEL AND, TO BE HONEST, YOU'RE NOT WORTH THE TIME AND EFFORT IT TAKES TO PUT PEN TO PAPER. THERE IS NOT A DAY THAT GOES BY THAT I DON'T CRY FOR MY FAMILY. I ASK MYSELF WHY. WHY WOULD YOU DO THIS? YOU DID NOT DESERVE TO BE CALLED A MAN. WHAT KIND OF MAN SLAUGHTERS THE PEOPLE THEY LOVE THE MOST? DID YOU REALLY THINK THAT THIS WAS YOUR BEST OPTION TO THROW AWAY YOUR FAMILY LIKE THEY WERE GARBAGE? THEY DESERVE BETTER AND YOU KNOW IT'S. I HOPE YOU SPENT THE REST OF YOUR LIFE BEING HAUNTED BY WHAT YOU HAVE DONE. NONE OF US DESERVE THIS. LISTENING TO MY MOTHER AND FATHER CRY THEMSELVES TO SLEEP CAUSES ME ANGUISH THAT IS BEYOND WORDS. I CANNOT DESCRIBE HOW THIS FEELS AND HOW BADLY MY HEART BREAKS FOR MY PARENTS. YOU'VE TAKEN AWAY MY FAMILY BUT YOU CAN NEVER TAKE THEM FROM MY HEART. YOU TOOK AWAY MY PRIVILEGE OF BEING AN UNCLE TO THE MOST PRECIOUS LITTLE GIRLS I HAVE EVER KNOWN. I WILL NEVER HEAR THE WORDS UNCLE FRANK AGAIN, BUT YOU WILL NEVER BE CALLED DAD AGAIN. YOU WILL NEVER BE ABLE TO PUT YOUR HANDS ON ANOTHER WOMAN. I CANNOT COMPREHEND HOW THEY WERE NOT ENOUGH FOR YOU. THEY LOVED YOU MORE THAN ANYONE. YOU WERE THERE HERO. HOW COULD YOU DESTROY THE PEOPLE WHO LOVE THEM THE MOST? I PRAY YOU DON'T HAVE A MOMENTS PEACE. A CAGE YOUR PRIVILEGED TO LIVE IN BECAUSE MY FAMILY IS NOT EVIL LIKE YOU. WE BEGGED THEM TO SPARE YOUR LIFE BECAUSE DESPITE EVERYTHING, WE BELIEVE NO ONE HAS THE RIGHT TO TAKE THE LIFE OF ANOTHER, EVEN SOMEONE LIKE YOU. I FEEL SORRY FOR YOUR FAMILY. I KNOW THE PAIN THEY MUST FEEL KNOWING THEY CANNOT HUG YOU BECAUSE THAT IS HOW WE FEEL EVERY TIME REQUIRED FOR OUR FAMILY. NOTHING HURTS MORE THAN HEARING MY FAMILY CRY FOR THEIR LOVED ONES. I WISH THAT YOU WOULD TELL THE TRUTH, BUT I KNOW THAT IS ASKING FOR MORE THAN YOU'RE CAPABLE OF. I STAYED UP ALL NIGHT WRITING THE STATEMENT. I DO NOT SLEEP BECAUSE OF YOU. I LIFE WILL NEVER BE THE SAME, BUT AT LEAST MY CONSCIENCE IS CLEAR. I LIVE FREE, BUT I CANNOT DO THE SAME FOR YOU. I'VE NOT SLEPT IN DAYS BECAUSE I'VE BEEN ANXIOUSLY AWAITING THIS MOMENT, THE MOMENT I GOT TO TELL YOU HOW I FEEL AND HOW THIS HAS AFFECTED MY FAMILY AND I. WE CAN FINALLY GRIEVE AFTER TODAY. IF ANYTHING WILL COME OUT OF THIS STRONGER THAN WE WERE BEFORE AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR YOUR FAMILY.>> THANK YOU. >> GOOD MORNING. >> I AM SHANNON'S MOTHER. I WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR THIS MOMENT. I WANTED TAKE A MOMENT TO THANK EVERYONE WHO HAS PRAYED FOR OUR FAMILY AND SENT GIFTS AND CARDS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD. I KNOW GOD WILL PUT PEOPLE WHERE THEY NEED TO BE. I ALSO WANT TO TAKE THE TIME TO TAKE -- TO THANK THE TOWN OF FREDERICK, THE FBI, THE DAS OFFICE, THE CBI, FOR EXCEPTIONAL WORK. WITH THINK NICOLE ATKINSON, SHANNON'S NEIGHBOR AND HER FAMILY. THEY ARE HEROES. GOD MAKES NO MISTAKES ON WHO HE PUTS INTO YOUR LIFE. MARRIAGE IS ABOUT LOVE, TRUST, FRIENDSHIP, AND UNITY. WE MARRY UNTIL DEATH DO US PART AND OUR DAUGHTER CHIN AND LOVE TO AND HER FAMILY WAS HER WORLD. THE DAY THAT YOU TOOK THEIR LIFE GOD REMOVED THEIR CROWN. YOUR WIFE TRUSTED YOU AND YOUR CHILDREN ADORED YOU. THEY ALSO TRUSTED YOU. YOUR DAUGHTER BELLA SANG A SONG PROUDLY, AND I DON'T KNOW IF YOU GOT TO SEE IT BUT IT WAS, DADDY, YOU ARE MY HERO. I HAVE NO IDEA WHO GAVE YOU THE RIGHT TO TAKE THEIR LIVES. BUT I KNOW THAT GOD AND HIS ANGELS WERE THERE AT THAT MOMENT TO BRING THEM HOME TO PARADISE. GOD GIVES US FREE WILL AND NOT ONLY DID YOU TAKE YOUR FAMILY OF FOUR, YOU TOOK YOUR OWN LIFE. I WANT THE WORLD TO KNOW THAT THEY WERE LOVED BY US AND THEY WILL ALWAYS BE PROTECTED BY GOD AND HIS ANGELS. I DID NOT WANT DEATH FOR YOU BECAUSE THAT IS NOT MY RIGHT. YOUR LIFE IS BETWEEN YOU AND GOD AND I PRAY THAT HE HAS MERCY FOR YOU. FROM SHE -- THANK YOU, YOUR HONOR. >> YOUR HONOR, THAT IS ALL THE WITNESSES THAT I PLANNED ON CALLING. I AM AWARE THAT MR. AND MRS. WATTS WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE COURT. I WOULD INVITE THE COURT TO CALL UPON THEM OR WE CAN DO IT AFTER ANY EVIDENCE THAT THE DEFENSE HAS. >> DO THEY WISH TO MAKE A STATEMENT? >> GOOD MORNING, YOUR HONOR. >> AND IF I CAN HAVE YOU INTRODUCE YOURSELF TO THE RECORD. >> I AM CINDY WATTS. >> I HAVE AUTHORIZED YOU TO MAKE A STATEMENT TO THE COURT AS PATERNAL GRANDPARENTS OF THE CHILDREN. IF YOU CHOOSE NOT TO MAKE A STATEMENT BUT YOUR DESIGNEE CHOOSES TO DO SO, SHE MAY DO THAT. HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO PROCEED TODAY? WHO WILL BE SPEAKING TODAY? >> YOUR HONOR, INITIALLY THEY HAVE ASKED ME AND ARE HOPING THEY HAVE THE STRENGTH TO SPEAK, BUT IF THEY DO NOT, THEY HAVE WRITTEN OUT STATEMENTS AND ASKED ME TO FINISH FOR THEM. >> WHO WOULD LIKE TO GO FIRST?>> IF I COULD START, YOUR HONOR. ON BEHALF OF THEM AND THE COMMUNITY WE THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY AND THE RECOGNITION UNDER THE VICTIM BILL OF RIGHTS. WE COME TODAY AS THE GRANDPARENTS AND THE PARENT OF THE DAUGHTER AND CHILDREN WHOSE LIVES WERE TAKEN IN THIS CASE. WE ARE NOT HERE TO ASK FOR LENIENCY AND WE ARE NOT IN ANY WAY CONDONING OR TOLERATING THE CRIME THAT HAS OCCURRED AND THE PAIN THAT HAS BEEN CAUSED. WE JOIN IN OUR DAUGHTER-IN-LAW AND GRANDCHILDREN'S FAMILY SAYING THIS SHOULD NEVER HAVE HAPPENED. THIS IS NOT CONDONE A BOWL. THIS IS SOMETHING WE WILL NEVER GET OVER WE APPRECIATE THE CONSIDERATION AND THE FAMILIES THAT HAVE LOST EVERYONE. WE APPRECIATE THAT THEY BEGGED FOR CHRISTOPHER'S LIFE. WE AGREE AND ECHO WHAT THEY HAVE SAID THAT IT IS NOT HIS PLACE TO TAKE ANYONE'S LIFE NOR WOULD IT BE OUR PLACE AS A COMMUNITY TO TAKE HIS LIFE. WE THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY AND FOR EVERY CONSIDERATION AND EFFORT THAT HAS BEEN PUT OUT. THE PROSECUTION IN THIS CASE HAS, IN FACT, RESPECTED THE VICTIMS BILL OF RIGHTS AND EXPLAINED THAT THE INFORMATION THAT MY CLIENTS HAD AT THE TIME THEY WERE INTERVIEWED WAS NOT CORRECT. THEY WERE MISINFORMED AND THEY WERE SEARCHING FOR ANSWERS AND THEY WERE NOT INTENDING TO CAUSE PAIN TO ANYONE AND THEY APPRECIATE THAT THE PROSECUTION ANSWERED THE QUESTIONS AND GAVE THEM THE TIME AND RESPECT AND CONSIDERATION SO THAT THEY COULD TELL THE COURT AND EVERYONE IN THIS COMMUNITY THAT THE INTERVIEW CONTENT WAS -- THAT THEY ACCEPT THAT THEIR SON HAS DONE THIS AND THEY ACCEPT THAT HE CHOSE TO PLEAD GUILTY AND THAT HE REQUESTED THEIR CONSENT AND AGREEMENT FOR LIFE SENTENCE. THEY APPRECIATE THAT HE IS GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE THAT LIFE SENTENCE. IT IS HIS RESPONSIBILITY AND HIS SENTENCE AND IT IS NOT ENOUGH TO MAKE UP FOR WHAT HAS BEEN DONE. WE UNDERSTAND AND WE JOIN THE FAMILY IN THAT WE HAVE QUESTIONS. WE DON'T KNOW HOW SUCH A THING COULD HAVE HAPPENED OR THAT A MAN WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR RAISING WIFE WOULD TAKE THE STEPS THAT HE DID AND THAT HE WOULD DISREGARD THEIR BODIES AND THE LOVE HE HAD FOR THEM AND THEY HAD FOR HIM AND EVERYONE ELSE AND TAKE THE GESTURES AND PUT THIS COMMUNITY THROUGH THE INVESTIGATION AND DISCOVERY AND RESPONSIBILITY OF BRINGING JUSTICE. WE DO NOT UNDERSTAND THAT AND WE DO NOT THINK IT WAS APPROPRIATE AND WE CANNOT BEGIN TO THINK THAT AN EXPLANATION WILL EVER JUSTIFY IT. MY CLIENTS INDICATE THAT THEY UNDERSTAND THAT A FULL OPPORTUNITY FOR A CONFESSION WITH ALL OF THE RESPONSIBILITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY HAS NOT ACCORD AND THEY SUPPORT THE FAMILY AND THE REQUEST THAT THAT HAPPENS IF NOT TODAY, BUT AT AN APPROPRIATE TIME AND APPROPRIATE MANNER SO THAT EVERYONE CAN HAVE PEACE TO UNDERSTAND TO THE BEST OF THEIR ABILITY THE DETAILS THAT THEY NEED AND TO HAVE THEIR QUESTIONS ANSWERED. AND BY GIVING THIS OPPORTUNITY OF A LIFE SENTENCE, WE HOPE THAT HE EMBRACES THAT MOMENT AND THAT HAD THE DEATH PENALTY BEEN PURSUED IT WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE ACCOUNTABLE AND TO GIVE A FULL CONFESSION AND HAD THE DEATH PENALTY BEEN SOUGHT, COUNSEL WOULD HAVE FOUGHT FOR HIS LIFE AND THE PROSECUTORS WOULD HAVE BEEN ENGAGED IN A MULTI-YEAR BATTLE, THE FAMILIES WOULD HAVE BEEN TORN APART IN THIS COMMUNITY WOULD HAVE HAD TO SUBSIDIZE THIS AND ENDURE IT AND WE HAVE SO MUCH ILLNESS THAT DID NOT HAPPEN. WE WOULD STRONGLY ENCOURAGE CHRISTOPHER WATTS TO GET THAT FULL CONFESSION IN THE TONE AND TIMING HE THINKS APPROPRIATE WITH THE GUIDANCE OF HIS COUNSEL. WE FEEL IT WOULD BE HELPFUL AND APPROPRIATE TO EASE THE PAIN AND SUFFERING. BUT WE ALSO SAY THAT WE DO NOT THINK THERE IS ANYTHING THAT HE CAN SAY THAT WILL EVER ACCOUNT FOR HIS BEHAVIOR. THERE IS NOTHING THAT CAN BE DONE TO CURE THE HARM HE HAS CAUSED, AND HE HAS THE RESPONSIBILITY TO SERVE HIS SENTENCE WITH DIGNITY AND WITH REGARD FOR EVERYONE AND TO SPEND EVERY BREATH HE HAS LEFT IN ATONEMENT FOR WHAT HE HAS DONE. >> IF I COULD HAVE YOU STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD. >> CINDY WATTS.>> THANK YOU. >> I AM THE GRANDMOTHER OF TWO BEAUTIFUL GRANDDAUGHTERS, BELLA AND CATHERINE AND I'M ALSO THE MOTHER OF CHRISTOPHER WATTS, WHO I WILL BE DIRECTING MOST OF MY STATEMENT TO. I WOULD LIKE TO BEGIN BY RECOGNIZING THE HORROR OF THIS CRIME AND ACKNOWLEDGING THE DEVASTATING LOSS THAT BOTH FAMILIES HAVE FACED. OUR FAMILIES HAVE BEEN IRREPARABLY BROKEN BY THE NEEDLESS DEATHS OF SHANANN, BELLA AND CELESTE. THIS IS SOMETHING WE WILL NEVER GET OVER. WE WILL ALWAYS MOURN THE LOSS OF OUR FAMILY AND WE ARE UNITED IN OUR GRIEF. I AM STILL STRUGGLING TO UNDERSTAND HOW AND WHY THIS TRAGEDY OCCURRED. I MAY NEVER BE ABLE TO UNDERSTAND AND ACCEPT THIS, THAT I PRAY FOR PEACE AND HEALING FOR ALL OF US. AND NOW TO MY SON, CHRISTOPHER. I HAVE KNOWN YOU SINCE THE DAY YOU WERE BORN AND I HAVE WATCHED YOU GROW FROM A QUIET AND SWEET CURIOUS CHILD WHO BELLA REMINDED ME SO MUCH OF TO A YOUNG MAN WHO WORKED HARD IN SPORTS AND MECHANICS TO ACHIEVE YOUR GOALS. YOU A GOOD FRIEND, BROTHER, FATHER, AND A SON. I HAVE LOVED YOU FROM THE BEGINNING AND WE STILL LOVE YOU NOW. THIS MIGHT BE HARD FOR SOME TO UNDERSTAND HOW I CAN SIT HERE UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES AND TELL YOU THAT WE ARE HEARTBROKEN. ALTHOUGH WE CANNOT IMAGINE WHAT LED US TO THIS DAY. BUT WE LOVE YOU AND MAYBE YOU CANNOT BELIEVE THAT EITHER. AS THE LORD SAID IN JEREMIAH, 3:31, I HAVE LOVED YOU WITH AN EVERLASTING LOVE AND THEREFORE I HAVE CONTINUED MY FAITHFULNESS TO YOU. AND AS YOUR MOTHER I HAVE ALWAYS LOVED YOU AND I STILL DO. I HATE WHAT HAS HAPPENED. YOUR FATHER AND SISTER AND I ARE STRUGGLING TO UNDERSTAND WHY. BUT WE WILL REMAIN FAITHFUL AS YOUR FAMILY JUST AS GOD REMAINS FAITHFUL BECAUSE OF HIS UNCONDITIONAL LOVE FOR US ALL. WE LOVE YOU. WE FORGIVE YOU. >> THANK YOU.>> JUDGE, IF I COULD READ MR. WATTS A STATEMENT? MY NAME IS RON WATTS AND I'M THE GRANDFATHER OF BELLA, AND CELESTE, AND NICO. AND I'M THE FATHER OF SHANNON. I AM THE FATHER OF CHRISTOPHER WATTS AS WELL. ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS I HAVE DONE IN MY LIFE IS TO RAISE MY CHILDREN AND TO WATCH AS THEY STARTED THEIR OWN FAMILIES. I SPENT MANY YEARS COACHING LITTLE LEAGUE AND TALKING TO MY SON AND TAKING HIM TO THE RACES AND SHARING MY LOVE AND KNOWLEDGE OF CARS WITH HIM. HE WAS JUST AS INVOLVED WITH HIS GIRLS. I BELIEVE HE LOVES HIS GIRLS. I KNOW HE DOES. THIS TRAGEDY HAS IMPACTED MY FAMILY IN SO MANY WAYS. BEYOND LOSING MORE GRANDCHILDREN , AND OUR BELOVED DAUGHTER-IN- LAW, WE ARE FORCED TO QUESTION EVERYTHING. WE STILL DO NOT HAVE ALL OF THE ANSWERS AND I HOPE ONE DAY, CHRISTOPHER, YOU CAN HELP US. CHRIS, I WANT TO TALK TO YOU AS A FATHER. YOU ARE HERE TODAY ACCEPTING RESPONSIBILITY, BUT I WANT TO TELL YOU THIS NOW. I LOVE YOU. NOTHING WILL EVER CHANGE THAT, AND I WANT YOU TO FIND PEACE AND TODAY IS YOUR FIRST STEP. THE BIBLE SAYS IF WE CONFESS OUR SINS GOD IS FAITHFUL AND JUST AND WILL FORGIVE US. CHRIS, I FORGIVE YOU AND YOUR SISTER FORGIVES YOU AND WE WILL NEVER ABANDON YOU AND WE LOVE YOU. DAD. JUDGE, THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS THE COURT. >> ARE THERE ANY OTHER STATUTORY VICTIMS UNDER THE VICTIMS RIGHTS ACT THAT WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A STATEMENT TODAY? >> YOUR HONOR, I AM NOT AWARE OF ANY. >> FOR THE RECORD, NO ONE IS RAISING THEIR HANDS. WOULD YOU LIKE TO PRESENT ANY EVIDENCE? >> I HAVE NO EVIDENCE, YOUR HONOR.>> THANK YOU. >> ARE THERE ANY STATEMENTS YOU WOULD LIKE TO MAKE ON BEHALF OF THE PROSECUTION? >> YES, PLEASE. >> YOUR HONOR, THERE ARE NO WORDS TO ATTIC THE -- ADEQUATELY DESCRIBE THE ACTIONS THAT BRING US BEFORE THE COURT. I'M NOT GOING TO TRY TO EXPRESS THE HORROR ARE THE PAIN AND SUFFERING THAT THE DEFENDANT HAS CAUSED TO THESE FAMILIES IN THESE COMMUNITIES AND TO ALL WHO ARE PART OF THIS INVESTIGATION. I DO WANT TO SPEND A FEW MINUTES SHARING WITH THE COURT THE DETAILS OF THE CRIME AND GIVE ONLY HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO REVIEW THE AFFIDAVIT AND A FEW FACTS THAT HAVE BEEN OFFERED TO THE COURT IN THE PLEADINGS THAT HAVE BEEN FILED. THE QUESTIONS THAT HAVE SCREENED OUT TO ANYONE WHO WOULD LISTEN SINCE AUGUST 13, 2018, OR WHY, AND HOW? WHY DID THIS HAVE TO HAPPEN AND HOW COULD A SEEMINGLY NORMAL HUSBAND AND FATHER ANNIHILATE HIS ENTIRE FAMILY AND FOR WHAT? THESE ARE THE QUESTIONS THAT ONLY ONE INDIVIDUAL IN THIS COURTROOM ARE ON THIS PLANET KNOWS THE ANSWERS TO. I FULLY EXPECT WE WILL NOT RECEIVE THE ANSWERS TO THESE QUESTIONS TODAY NOR WILL WE HAD ANY POINT IN THE FUTURE. I DO NOT EXPECT THAT HE WILL EVER TELL THE TRUTH ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED OR WHY. EVEN IF HE DID, THERE IS NO RATIONAL WAY THAT ANY HUMAN BEING COULD FIND THOSE ANSWERS ACCEPTABLE RESPONSES TO SUCH HORRIFIC QUESTIONS. THE BEST WE CAN DO IS TRY TO PIECE TOGETHER AN UNDERSTANDING FROM THE EVIDENCE THAT IS AVAILABLE TO US. AND THE EVIDENCE TELLS US THIS. THE DEFENDANT COLDLY AND DELIBERATELY ENDED FOUR LIVES. NOT IN A FIT OF RAGE AND NOT BY WAY OF ACCIDENT BUT IN A CALCULATED AND SICKENING MANNER. SHOULD AND WAS 34 YEARS OLD AND HAD MARRIED THE DEFENDANT IN NOVEMBER 2012. OVER THE WEEKEND SHE HAD BEEN ANY WORK CONFERENCE IN PHOENIX, ARIZONA, AND RETURNED HOME IN THE EARLY MORNING HOURS OF AUGUST 13. WE KNOW SHE GOT HOME AT 1:45 IN THE MORNING AND THE CAMERA SHOWS HER ARRIVING HOME FROM THE AIRPORT. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, AT LEAST ACCORDING TO THE DEFENDANT, HEY HAD AN EMOTIONAL CONVERSATION ABOUT THE STATE OF THEIR MARRIAGE AND ABOUT WHAT THEIR LIVES WOULD LOOK LIKE GOING FORWARD. WHAT WAS SAID DURING THAT EMOTIONAL CONVERSATION ONLY HE KNOWS. WHAT WE DO KNOW IS THAT SHORTLY AFTER THAT THE DEFENDANT STRANGLED HER TO DEATH WITH HIS OWN HANDS. WE KNOW THAT HE SLOWLY TOOK HER LIFE THE MORNING OF AUGUST 13th. WE KNOW THIS WAS NOT DONE IN AN UNCONTROLLED, VENGEFUL MANNER THAT HE DESCRIBED TO AGENTS OF THE CBI AND FBI. IF THAT WERE THE CASE YOU WOULD EXPECT TO SEE VICIOUS HORRIBLE BRUISING ABOUT HER NECK, SHOULDERS, AND FACE. AND YOU EXPECT TO SEE THE BONE IN HER NECK BROKEN AND YOU EXPECT TO SEE SOME KIND OF DEFENSIVE WOUNDS ON HIS BODY AS SHE STRUGGLED AND FOUGHT FOR HER OWN LIFE. NONE OF THOSE ARE PRESENT. THE ONLY INJURIES THAT WERE ON SHANANN'S BODIES WERE FINGER MARK BRUISING TO THE RIGHT SIDE OF HER NECK. WE KNOW THAT EXPERTS WILL TELL US THAT IT TAKES 2 TO 4 MINUTES TO STRANGLE SOMEONE TO DEATH MANUALLY WITH THEIR OWN HANDS. THE HORROR THAT SHE FELT IS THE MAN THAT SHE LOVED WRAPPED HIS HANDS AROUND HER THROAT AND CHOKED THE LIFE OUT OF HER MUST HAVE BEEN UNIMAGINABLE. EVEN WORSE, WHAT MUST BELLA AND CELESTE MUST HAVE EXPERIENCED AS THEIR FATHER, THE ONE MAN ON THIS PLANET WHO WAS SUPPOSED TO NURTURE AND PROTECT THEM WAS SNUFFING OUT THEIR LIVES. THEY BOTH DIED FROM SMOTHERING. LET ME SAY THAT AGAIN. THE MAN SEATED TO MY RIGHT SMOTHERED HIS DAUGHTERS. WHY? IMAGINE THE HORROR IN BELLA'S MIND AS HER FATHER TOOK HER LAST BREATH AWAY. YOUR HONOR, UNDERSTAND, THAT BELLA FOUGHT BACK FOR HER LIFE. THE CONNECTIVE TISSUE BETWEEN HER UPPER LIP AND HER GUM HAD AN INCH -- A CENTIMETER AND HALF LACERATION. SHE BIT HER TONGUE MULTIPLE TIMES. BEFORE SHE DIED. SHE FOUGHT BACK FOR HER LIFE. CELESTE HAD NO SUCH INJURIES. IN FACT, SHE HAD NO EXTERNAL INJURIES AT ALL. BUT ACCORDING TO THE MEDICAL EXAMINER SHE WAS SMOTHERED NONETHELESS. THE DEFENDANT THEN METHODICALLY AND CALMLY LOADED THEIR BODIES INTO HIS WORK TRUCK, NOT IN A HASTY OR DISORGANIZED WAY. HE WAS SEEN FROM THE NEIGHBORS DOORBELL CAMERA BACKING HIS TRUCK INTO THE DRIVEWAY, GOING BACK AND FORTH INTO THE HOUSE AND BACK OUT TO THE TRUCK THREE DIFFERENT TIMES. ONE TIME FOR EACH OF THEIR BODIES. HE THEN DROVE THEM AWAY FROM THE FAMILY HOME ONE FINAL TIME INTENT ON HIDING ANY EVIDENCE OF THE CRIMES THAT HE HAD JUST COMMITTED. IN ONE FINAL SIGN OF CALLOUSNESS FOR HIS WIFE, HIS DAUGHTERS, AND THEIR UNBORN SON AND THE REMAINS, HE DROVE THEM TO A LOCATION HE THOUGHT NO ONE WOULD EVER FIND THEM. TO ONE OF THE OIL TANKERS THAT HE WAS FAMILIAR WITH. HE KNEW THIS WAS SAFE. HE HAD TEXTED A COWORKER THE NIGHT BEFORE SAYING I WILL HEAD OUT TO THAT SITE AND I WILL TAKE CARE OF IT. HE HAD CAREFULLY ENSURED THAT HE WOULD BE ALONE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE PLANES TO DEPOSIT THE REMAINS OF HIS FAMILY IN A PLACE HE HOPED THEY WOULD NEVER BE FOUND. IN ONE FINAL MEASURE OF DISRESPECT FOR THE FAMILY HE ONCE HAD HE ENSURED THAT THEY WOULD NOT BE TOGETHER EVEN IN DEATH, OR SO HE THOUGHT. HE DISPOSED OF THEM IN DIFFERENT LOCATIONS. HE BURIED SHANANN IN A SHALLOW GRAVE AWAY FROM THE OIL TANKS. BELLA AND CELESTE WERE THROWN AWAY IN THE OIL TANKS AT THIS FACILITY. DIFFERENT TANKS SO THEY WOULD NOT BE TOGETHER IN DEATH. IMAGINE THIS, YOUR HONOR, THIS DEFENDANT TOOK THOSE LITTLE GIRLS AND PUT THEM YOUR HATCH AT THE TOP OF AN OIL TANK EIGHT INCHES IN DIAMETER. BELLA HAD SCRATCHES ON HER LEFT BUTTOCKS FROM BEING SHUT THROUGH THIS WHOLE. BLONDE HAIR WAS FOUND ON THE EDGE OF ONE OF THESE HATCHES. THE DEFENDANT TOLD INVESTIGATORS THAT THE TANK SEEMED EMPTY YEARS THAN CELESTE BECAUSE OF THE SOUND THAT THE SPLASHES MADE. THESE WERE HIS DAUGHTERS. SIGNIFICANTLY, WHEN HIS COWORKERS ARRIVED LATER THAT MORNING TO A PERSON THEY DESCRIBED HIM AS ACTING NORMALLY. IT WAS A NORMAL WORKDAY. EVEN WHILE HIS DAUGHTERS SANK IN THE OIL NOT FAR AWAY FROM HIM. AND HIS EFFORTS AT DECEPTION TRULY BEGAN. WE HAVE ALL SEEN THE EMOTIONLESS INTERVIEWS THAT THE DEFENDANT GETS TO THE LOCAL MEDIA ASKING FOR HELP IN LOCATING HIS FAMILY. WE WATCHED AS HE CLAIMED THAT THE HOUSE WAS EMPTY WITHOUT THEM AND THAT HE HOPED THAT THEY WERE SOMEWHERE SAFE AND HE WANTED THEM TO COME HOME. HE TOLD INVESTIGATORS THEY WERE AT HOME SLEEPING WHEN HE LEFT FOR WORK THAT MORNING AND THAT SHANANN HAD TOLD HIM THAT SHE WAS TAKING THE GIRLS TO A FRIENDS HOUSE THAT DAY. WHAT IS STRIKING ABOUT THIS CASE BE ON THE HORSE I HAVE DESCRIBED TO YOU IS THE NUMBER OF COLLATERAL VICTIMS HE CREATED BY HIS ACTIONS. WHILE HE STOOD IN FRONT OF TELEVISION CAMERAS ASKING FOR THE SAFE RETURN OF HIS FAMILY SCORES OF LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS, NEIGHBORS, FRIENDS AND FAMILIES SCOURED THE AREA. THEY TEXTED HIM BEGGING FOR ANY INFORMATION AND SENT HIM THERE BEST WISHES, AND ALL THE WHILE HE HID WHAT HE HAD DONE. THE LIST OF INDIRECT VICTIMS DOES NOT AND THERE. THINK OF THE FIREFIGHTERS IN THE COLORADO STATE PATROL EXPERTS WHO HAD TO BE CALLED UPON TO PULL THOSE LITTLE GIRLS OUT OF THOSE OIL TANKS OR THE CORNER AND EMPLOYEES WHO HAD TO CONDUCT THE AUTOPSIES OR THE VICTIM ASSISTANCE WHO ATTEMPTED TO EASE THE SUFFERING OF THOSE AFFECTED. ALL OF THIS, YOUR HONOR, FOR WHAT? WHY? WHY DID THIS HAVE TO HAPPEN? HIS MOTIVE WAS SIMPLE, YOUR HONOR. HE HAD A DESIRE FOR A FRESH START AND TO BEGIN A RELATIONSHIP WITH A NEW LOVE THAT OVERPOWERED ALL DECENCY AND FEELINGS FOR HIS WIFE AND DAUGHTERS AND UNBORN SON. WHILE SHANANN TEXTED HIM OVER AND OVER AGAIN IN THE DAYS AND WEEKS LEADING UP TO HER DEATH ATTEMPTING TO SAVE HER MARRIAGE, THE DEFENDANT PUT PICTURES OF HIS GIRLFRIEND INTO HIS PHONE AND CENTER TEXT MESSAGES AT ALL HOURS OF THE NIGHT. HE WAS SEARCHING THE INTERNET FOR SECLUDED VACATION SPOTS TO TAKE HIS NEW GIRLFRIEND. AND WHILE SHANANN TOOK HER GIRLS TO VISIT THE FAMILY, THE DEFENDANT WENT TO CAR MUSEUMS AND THE SAND DUNES WITH HIS NEW GIRLFRIEND. THE STARK CONTRAST BETWEEN THE SUBJECT OF THEIR INTERNET AND TEXT CONTENT IS STUNNING. EVEN THE MORNING AFTER HE KILLED THEM AND DISPOSED OF THEIR BODIES, HE MADE PHONE CALLS. ONE WAS TO THE SCHOOL WHERE THE GIRLS WERE SUPPOSED TO START TELLING THE SCHOOL THAT THE GIRLS WOULD NOT BE COMING TO SCHOOL ANYMORE AND THEY WERE BEING UNENROLLED, PRESUMABLY TO GIVE HIM MORE TIME BEFORE LAW ENFORCEMENT NOTIFICATION ABOUT THEM GOING MISSING. HE CONTACTED A REALTOR TO START DISCUSSING THE SELLING OF HIS HOME AND HE TEXTED WITH HIS GIRLFRIEND ABOUT THE FUTURE. NONE OF THIS ANSWERS THE QUESTION OF WHY. IF HE WAS THAT HAPPY AND WANTED A NEW START, GET A DIVORCE. YOU DON'T ANNIHILATE YOUR FAMILY AND THROW THEM AWAY LIKE GARBAGE. WHY DID THEY HAVE TO LOSE THEIR LIVES IN ORDER FOR HIM TO GET WHAT HE WANTED? YOUR HONOR, JUSTICE DEMANDS THE MAXIMUM SENTENCE UNDER THE AGREEMENT REACHED BY THE PARTIES. AS YOU WILL RECALL IT CALLS FOR LIFE SENTENCES AS TO SHANANN, BELLA, AND CELESTE, AND ALL OF THOSE TO RUN CONSECUTIVELY TO EACH OTHER. IT CALLS FOR THE COUNT OF UNLAWFUL TERMINATION OF A PREGNANCY TO RUN CONSECUTIVELY TO COUNTS, -- COUNTS ONE, TWO, AND THREE. I WOULD SUGGEST THAT THE THE EFFORTS I HAVE DESCRIBED MANDATE THAT THE SENTENCES FOR COUNTS 7 8, AND 9 BE THE MAXIMUM OF 12 YEARS AND THAT THE SENTENCES RUN CONSECUTIVELY TO EACH OTHER. IT IS CLEAR THAT EACH OF THESE ACTS -- THAT THESE WERE NOT THE SUBJECT OF ONE ACT BUT EACH OIL TANK THAT HE WALKED UP TO WITH HIS DAUGHTERS BODIES IN THE HOLE THAT HE DUG FOR HIS WIFE AND UNBORN SON MANDATE A MNDATORY CONSECUTIVE SENTENCE. IT HAS BEEN ALLUDED TO THIS MORNING BUT THE DEFENDANT WAS ELIGIBLE FOR THE DEATH PENALTY IN THIS CASE UNDER THE EXISTING LAW IN THE STATE OF COLORADO. AS YOU HEARD, SHANANN'S FAMILY OPPOSED MY OFFICE SEEKING THE DEATH PENALTY AND BEING BOUND TO THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM FOR THE NEXT SEVERAL DECADES. THAT IS IN LARGE PART WHY WE HAVE REACHED THE AGREEMENT THAT WE HAVE. FOUR LIVES WERE LOST AT THE HANDS OF THE DEFENDANT ON AUGUST 13 FOR REASONS WE WILL NEVER FULLY UNDERSTAND. IN THE END THE RZUCEK FAMILY WAS MORE MERCIFUL TO HIM THAN HE WAS TO HIS WIFE AND DAUGHTERS AND UNBORN SON. PRISON FOR THE REMAINDER OF HIS LIFE IS EXACTLY WHERE HE BELONGS FOR MURDERING HIS ENTIRE FAMILY. THANK YOU. >> ARE YOU SEEKING 91 DAYS TO FILE A REQUEST FOR RESTITUTION? >> I AM, YOUR HONOR.>> WE BE SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF YOUR CLIENTS? GOOD MORNING. >> GOOD MORNING, YOUR HONOR. MR. WATTS HAS ASKED US TO SHARE THIS MORNING THAT HE IS DEVASTATED BY ALL OF THIS. AND ALTHOUGH HE UNDERSTANDS THAT WORDS ARE HOLLOW AT THIS POINT, HE IS SINCERELY SORRY FOR ALL OF THIS. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. MR. WATTS, AS I INDICATED WHEN WE BEGAN, YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO MAKE A STATEMENT IF YOU CHOOSE TO. WOULD YOU LIKE TO MAKE STATEMENT?>> NO, SIR. >> THANK YOU. THE COURT HAS CONSIDERED THE ARGUMENTS MADE BY THE ATTORNEYS. AND THE COURT HAS CONSIDERED STATEMENTS MADE BY THE VICTIMS IN THIS CASE. COURSE IS GOING TO FIND THAT THE PLEA AGREEMENT IS FAIR AND REASONABLE UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES. I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE RZUCEK FAMILY AS WELL AS THE WATTS FAMILY SHOWING MERCY ON MR. WATTS IS UNDERSTOOD. I RESPECT THAT DECISION TO REQUEST THAT THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY NOT SEEK THE DEATH PENALTY IN THIS CASE. SO THE COURT IS GOING TO ACCEPT THIS PLEA-BARGAIN UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES. WORDS THAT COME TO MIND WHEN I HEAR THE EVIDENCE IN THIS CASE ARE SENSELESS CRIME AND THE VICIOUSNESS OF THE CRIME. AND EQUALLY AGGRAVATING IN THIS COURT'S DETERMINATION IS THE DESPICABLE ACT OF DISPOSING OF THE BODIES AND THE MANNER IN WHICH THEY WERE DONE IN THIS CASE. I HAVE BEEN A JUDICIAL OFFICER FOR STARTING MY 17th YEAR AND I COULD OBJECTIVELY SAY THAT THIS IS PERHAPS THE MOST INHUMANE AND VICIOUS CRIME THAT I'VE HANDLED OUT OF THE THOUSANDS OF CASES THAT I HAVE SEEN. AND NOTHING LESS THAT A MAXIMUM SENTENCE WOULD BE APPROPRIATE AND ANYTHING LESS THAN THE MAXIMUM SENTENCE WOULD DEPRECIATE THE SERIOUSNESS OF THIS OFFENSE. SO THE COURT IS GOING TO SENTENCE MR. WATTS HAS FOLLOWS. WITH REGARD TO COUNT ONE, MURDER IN THE FIRST DEGREE AS IT RELATES TO SHANANN WATTS, THE COURT IS GOING TO SENTENCE YOU, SIR, TO A LIFE SENTENCE IN THE COLORADO DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS FOLLOWED -- EXCUSE ME -- WITH NO POSSIBILITY OF PAROLE. AND THAT IS GOING TO RUN CONSECUTIVELY TO ALL BUT COUNTS 3 AND 4. WITH REGARD TO COUNT 2, AS IT RELATES TO MURDER IN THE FIRST DEGREE WITH BELLA, THE COURT IS GOING TO SENTENCE YOU TO LIFE IN THE COLORADO DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS WITH NO POSSIBILITY OF PAROLE. WITH REGARD TO COUNT 3, THE COURT IS GOING TO SENTENCE YOU AS A RELATES TO CELESTE TO LIFE IN THE COLORADO DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS WITH NO POSSIBILITY OF PAROLE. WITH REGARD TO COUNTS 4 AND 5 RELATING TO BELLA AND CELESTE AS A DIFFERENT THEORY OF FIRST- DEGREE MURDER, THE COURT IS GOING TO SENTENCE YOU TO LIFE IN THE COLORADO DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS AND LEGALLY, THE SENTENCES MUST RUN CONCURRENTLY IS A DIFFERENT THEORY OF FIRST- DEGREE MURDER. RECOGNIZING THE UNLAWFUL TERMINATION OF PREGNANCY FOR THE UNBORN CHILD THAT HAS BEEN NAMED NICO, THE COURT BELIEVES THAT THE MAXIMUM SENTENCE OF 48 YEARS WOULD BE APPROPRIATE TO RUN CONSECUTIVE TO THE OTHER CHARGES. AND AN ADDITIONAL MANDATORY PAROLE PERIOD OF THREE YEARS AS SET FORTH BY STATUTE. WITH REGARD TO COUNT 7, AS IT RELATES TO TAMPERING WITH A DECEASED BODY AS WELL AS COUNTS 8 AND 9, EACH A CLASS 3 FELONY, THE COURT WILL IMPOSE A MAXIMUM SENTENCE OF 12 YEARS EACH FOR THOSE COUNTS TO RUN CONSECUTIVELY TO THE OTHER COUNTS. COURT IS GOING TO ORDER THAT STATUTORY FEES BE PAID AND COURT COSTS. THE COURT WILL GRANT THE PROSECUTION 91 DAYS TO FILE A NOTICE OF RESTITUTION. AND THAT WOULD BE THE SENTENCE OF THE COURT. WE WILL SHORTLY BE IN RECESS. I WOULD RESPECTFULLY ASK THE PARTIES THAT YOU REMAIN IN YOUR SEAT. THERE IS A PLAN BY THE DEPUTIES ON ALLOWING PEOPLE TO EXIT THE COURTROOM. SO PLEASE REMAIN SEATED UNTIL YOUR AUTHORIZED TO LEAVE THE COURTROOM BASED ON THE DIRECTION OF THE DEPUTIES. DEPUTIES, I WOULD RESPECTFULLY ASK THAT YOU TAKE THIS DEFENDANT INTO CUSTODY AND HAVE HIM SERVE THE REST OF HIS LIFE IN THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS. WE ARE IN RECESS. >> PLEASE RISE. >> YOU HAVE JUST BEEN WATCHING THE SENTENCING HEARING FOR CHRISTOPHER WATTS. HE HAS BEEN SENTENCE IN THE KILLING OF HIS YOUNG DAUGHTERS, HIS PREGNANT WIFE, AND NINE COUNTS BY MY COUNT. THE HEADLINE. A LIFE SENTENCE AND NO POSSIBILITY OF PAROLE FOR ALL OF THE COUNTS WITH THE EXCEPTION OF COUNT NUMBER 7, TAMPERING WITH A DECEASED BODY. YOU WILL CALL THE DETAILS OF THIS CASE. HE PLEADED GUILTY ON NOVEMBER 6 TWO THE THREE CHARGES OF MURDER IN THE DEATH OF HIS WIFE SHANANN AND HIS YOUNG DAUGHTERS , AND ALSO THE UNBORN CHILD, WHICH THE FAMILY HAD NICKNAMED NICO. THAT WAS A COUNT THAT WAS CONSIDERED TO BE UNLAWFUL TERMINATION OF LIFE AND SO NOW THIS MAN WAS SPENT THE REST OF HIS LIFE IN PRISON. YOU COULD LISTEN TO THE JUDGE SAYING THAT IN ALL HIS YEARS ON THE BENCH HE HAD NOT SEEN A CRIME AS HEINOUS AS THIS ONE. THE TESTIMONY AND STATEMENTS GIVEN BY FAMILY MEMBERS OF SHANANN WATTS, INCLUDING HER FATHER WHO ESSENTIALLY SAID YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT LOVE IS AND CALLED HIM A MONSTER. IN FACT, HE CALLED HIM A HEARTLESS MONSTER AND THE THOUGHT THAT HE MIGHT GET AWAY WITH THIS, HE THOUGHT HE COULD GET AWAY WITH THIS. HE SPOKE WORDS OF LOVE TO HIS DAUGHTER AND SAID THAT HE LOVES HER AND THAT HE IS SUPER EXCITED TO SEE JUSTICE FOR HER AND HER CHILDREN. SHANANN WATTS BROTHER SPOKE AND HE HAD SOMEONE READ HIS STATEMENT. IT WAS VERY MOVING TESTIMONY AND STATEMENTS THAT WERE GIVEN BY FAMILY MEMBERS. OUR CBS NEWS LEGAL ANALYST IS JOINING ME TO TALK ABOUT THIS. THIS PRETTY MUCH WENT AS EXPECTED. BUT STILL LISTENING TO THE FAMILY MEMBERS GIVING THEIR STATEMENTS, NO ONE -- I THINK FOR THE JUDGE AND FAMILY MEMBERS, EVERYONE GATHERED IN THAT COURTROOM, BUT WE STILL DO NOT UNDERSTAND IS WHY. THERE WAS AN AFFAIR AND MONEY ISSUES, BUT THE MONSTROSITY OF THIS CRIME DOES NOT SEEM TO LINE UP WITH WHAT WAS GOING ON IN THEIR LIVES AND WE WILL NEVER REALLY KNOW THAT.>> THAT IS CORRECT. WE NEVER WILL REALLY KNOW. UNLESS THIS DEFENDANT DECIDES AT SOME POINT THAT HE WANTS TO GIVE AN INTERVIEW FOR RADIO OR TELEVISION THAT HE WILL WANT TO TELL HIS STORY OTHERWISE WE WILL NOT KNOW THE FULL FACTS OF WHAT WOULD MOTIVATE ANYBODY TO COMMIT SUCH A HEINOUS CRIME. THE ONLY GOOD THING, IF THERE IS A GOOD THING, IS THAT THE FAMILY MEMBERS GOT TO SAY WHAT THEY NEEDED TO SAY AND I THINK THIS IS A PERFECT EXAMPLE OF WHY ALL THE STATE AND FEDERAL COURTS RECOGNIZE THE VALUE OF VICTIM IMPACT STATEMENTS. >> YES. AND JUST FOR THE LEGALITIES HERE. A LIFE SENTENCE WITH NO POSSIBILITY OF PAROLE. CHRISTOPHER WATTS GOT LIFE SENTENCES FOR ALL THE INDIVIDUALS INCLUDING SHANANN, AND'S -- AND THEY DECIDED TO NAME THE UNBORN CHILD IN AND THOSE RAN CONSECUTIVELY WITH THE OTHER SENTENCES.>> THE PLEA- BARGAIN WAS VERY THOROUGH AND HE WAS GOING TO GET THREE CONSECUTIVE LIFE SENTENCES. WHY WOULD THEY BE CONSECUTIVE IN ADDITION TO THE 48 YEARS IS TO MAKE SURE THAT AT NO POINT IN TIME COULD THERE EVER BE A POSSIBILITY OF PAROLE. AND THE FAMILY ALSO AGREED TO THIS PLEA-BARGAIN, WHICH THEY CERTAINLY HAD A RIGHT TO SAY THEY WOULD OR WOULD NOT AGREE TO, AT LEAST TO HAVE INFLUENCE ON THE PROSECUTION. BUT THEY AGREED TO THE PLEA- BARGAIN FOR THE SIMPLE REASON THAT NO ONE WANTED TO BE PUT THROUGH A TRIAL WHERE WE WOULD HAVE TO LIVE THROUGH THE STORY AGAIN. SO THIS PLEA-BARGAIN IS VALUABLE TO BOTH SIDES. IF HE DID NOT WANT TO DIE, THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE WHO WOULD RATHER DIE THAN SPEND THE REST OF THEIR LIVES IN PRISON. IF HE DID NOT WANT TO DIE, HE GOT THE BENEFIT. AND THE FAMILY CERTAINLY GOT TO HAVE THEIR CATHARSIS AND THEIR NEED TO SPEAK, WHICH I THINK IS VALUABLE. BUT ALSO THE FACT THAT THEY ARE NOW GUARANTEED THAT HE WILL NEVER BE OUTSIDE OF A PRISON AGAIN.>> AND, FINALLY, THIS CASE ATTRACTED NATIONAL ATTENTION BECAUSE OF SOME OF THE THINGS WE'VE JUST BEEN SHOWING YOU. THE NUMEROUS SOCIAL MEDIA VIDEOS THAT EXIST OF THE FAMILY SMILING, LAUGHING, AND THE DAUGHTERS SMILING AND LAUGHING. ONE OF THE DAUGHTERS SAID, I LOVE YOU, DADDY. THIS CAPTIVATED THE NATION BECAUSE NO ONE COULD UNDERSTAND WHAT LED CHRISTOPHER WATTS TO DO THE THINGS HE DID. BUT HE KILLED HIS WIFE AND HE KILLED HIS TWO YOUNG DAUGHTERS AND YOU HEARD THE PROSECUTORS SAYING THAT ONE OF THE DAUGHTERS FOUGHT FOR THEIR LIVES BECAUSE OF THE INJURIES THEY SUSTAINED AS THEY WERE BEING SMOTHERED TO DEATH. AND HE HIRED AN OPERATOR AND PLACED THE CHILDREN IN THESE OIL CANISTERS AND DISPOSED OF HIS WIFE'S BODY. IT WAS HORRIFIC. >> I WOULD SAY THIS WITHOUT FEAR OF CONTRADICTION. IN ADDITION TO THE DECADES OF CRIMINAL LAW THAT I PRACTICED ON BOTH SIDES, THERE WERE ALSO THE YEARS THAT I'VE COVERED HUNDREDS OF CASES, PARTICULARLY FOR COURT TV AND WATCHED IN GRAPHIC DETAIL AND LISTENED TO THE DETAILS OF CRIMES AND I WOULD SAY THAT THERE ARE VERY FEW THAT COULD EVEN REMOTELY APPROACH THE HORRIFIC NATURE OF THIS TRAGEDY.>> RIKKI KLIEMAN, THANK YOU FOR YOUR ANALYSIS. WE APPRECIATE THAT. >> WE ARE GOING TO TAKE A QUICK BREAK. MARK STRASSMANN IS ON THE GROUND IN COLORADO AND HE WILL HAVE A LOT MORE HERE AND MORE ON THE CBS EVENING NEWS. YOU'RE WATCHING CBSN. >>> CHINA IS CRACKING DOWN ON MUSLIMS AND ETHNIC GROUPS IN THE WESTERN PART OF THE COUNTRY'S. OFFICIALS HAVE HAVE POISONED PEOPLE WITH CONSERVATIVE ISLAMIC TIES. THE GOVERNMENT SAID PEOPLE THAT SURRENDER WITHIN 30 DAYS WILL BE TREATED WITH LENIENCY.>> THERE IS GROWING INTERNATIONAL OUTRAGE OF CHINA'S TREATMENT OF LEADERS. THEY HAVE SLAMMED BEIJING FOR DETAINING AND SURVEILLING MUSLIMS AND OTHER ETHNIC GROUPS IN REEDUCATION CAMPS. CHINA ARGUES THERE FIGHTING TERRORISM AND EXTREMISM. >>> PROTESTS ERUPTED IN HAITI AFTER IT WAS CONCLUDED THAT $2 BILLION OF AID WAS MISUSED. ACTIVISTS DEMANDED THE GOVERNMENT BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR USING THE MONEY. THE SENATE FOUND $2 BILLION FROM THE VENEZUELAN AID PROGRAM WERE NOT USED PROPERLY. >>> SIX PEOPLE WERE KILLED AND FIVE OTHERS INJURED DURING PROTESTS. MORE THAN 3000 OFFICERS WERE DEPLOYED IN THE CAPITAL AND OTHER SMALLER CITIES.>>> POPE FRANCIS IS URGING GLOBAL ACTION TO HELP THE POOR. HE SAID PEOPLE IN NEED ARE WEEPING BY THE WEALTHY BEAST I'M WHAT BELONGS TO EVERYONE. HE DEMANDED THAT PEOPLE HELP THOSE IN NEED. >> HE MADE REMARKS DURING MASS AT ST. PETER'S BASILICA AND INVITED 6000 PEOPLE AND VOLUNTEERS TO CHURCH. >>> I WILL SEE YOU AGAIN TOMORROW MORNING AT 7 AM EASTERN ON CBSN.>> TANYA RIVERO TAKES OVER AFTER A SHORT BREAK. YOU'RE STREAMING CBSN, CBS NEWS. ALWAYS ON. . >>> THIS IS EXTRAORDINARY. THIS IS IMPORTANT. >> THIS IS HISTORIC. >> THIS IS SOME OF THE WORST OF FLORENCE. >> THIS HAS ALTERED YOUR LIFE. >> THIS IS WHAT IT'S LIKE COVERING A STORY IN CHINA. >> THIS. >> THIS. >> THIS. >>> NEARLY80 DEAD, AND HUNDREDS UNACCOUNTED FOR, AND NOW RAIN COULD HINDER THE SEARCH FOR MORE FIRE VICTIMS IN CALIFORNIA. PLUS MORE BACKLASH FOR THE MURDER OF JAMAL KHASHOGGI. U.S. INTEL FINDS THE SAUDI CROWN PRINCE LIKELY ORDERED THE KILLING, AS THE U.S. FACES MORE PRESSURE TO PUNISH THE KINGDOM. AND THE PRESIDENT IS ALSO DEFENDING HIS ACTING ATTORNEY GENERAL IN THE RUSSIA PROBE. THIS COMES AS MR. TRUMP PREPARES TO SUBMIT
And the worst thing is that women send him love letters.
This whole case was a dumpster fire of misery. I can't imagine living like these people did. The veneer of being civilized is so thin.
cant watch what did he do
Did he regret the family thing that massively he finally exploded and did this? If so why didn't he just drop off the earth, men have disappeared on families before. Or was he into having a family, but was secretly psycho and hiding it until one day he realized he was attracted to another woman and wanted to move on and the demons took him over?
I do find that when this type of thing happens to white Christian suburban types the media coverage is overwelming, but near where we live a poor black ghetto mother of three was absolutely slaughted by someone along with her kids in a basement apartment and almost no coverage outside Troy, NY where it happened. There was a "good be rid of them, had it coming" kinda vibe.The scene caused some police to need counselling, but most people were like "that's the ghetto for you"
As much as this dirt bag is a piece of shit at least there's less humans on the planet now that has to be some sort of consolation prize for us misanthropes right?
The real misanthropy fuel is the sound of the annoying sobbing. Woowee, some humans died, sum bigga deal!