DETAILS: Chris Watts admits to killing wife, blames her for kids’ deaths

The Colorado man charged with nine felonies in the deaths of his pregnant wife and two children admitted to killing the mother but said he did it because she killed the two girls.

The arrest affidavit for Chris Watts was released Monday afternoon, and it provides new grim details about the deaths of Shanann Watts and her two daughters, Celeste and Bella. The mother and her daughters were reported missing before being found at an Anadarko site last week where Chris had worked. ( MAP )

According to the arrest affidavit, police began searching the house when a neighbor reported Shanann missing. Chris spoke with police and initially told them he didn’t know where she went, but later gave details about what happened before her disappearance.

Chris told police that Shanann returned home from a trip at about 2 a.m. on Aug. 13. He then said at about 5 a.m., he had a conversation with Shanann about marital separation. He told police it was a civil conversation but became emotional. He then said he left for work at about 5:30 a.m., which was also shown on a neighbor’s surveillance camera.

Investigators kept searching for clues throughout the day but found no evidence of foul play inside the house, despite finding many of Shanann’s personal effects still in place inside the house.

Over the course of two days, investigators learned that Chris was having an affair with a coworker. He had denied that in previous interviews.

But then a break came when police interviewed Chris again and he asked to speak with his father. He told police he would “tell the truth after speaking with his dad,” according to the affidavit.

Chris spoke with his dad and then told police his account of what happened before Shanann’s death.

Chris said after the conversation about separating, he went downstairs for a moment and then returned to the bedroom. He says when he was in the bedroom, he looked at the baby monitor on the nightstand and noticed Bella “sprawled out on her bed and blue, and Shanann actively strangling Celeste,” according to the affidavit.

Chris told police that he “went into a rage and ultimately strangled Shanann to death” before loading all three bodies into the back of his truck. He admitted to burying Shanann at the work site and dumping the girls inside the oil tanks.

It’s not clear if police believe Chris’ account. He’s currently charged with multiple counts of murder for all three of the deaths.

He remains in protective custody and is in isolation due to the publicity in this case. He will appear in court Tuesday morning for the first time since learning his formal charges.

This is a developing story, check back for updates.

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Chris Watts has been formally charged with nine felonies after confessing to killing his pregnant wife, Shanann, and his two daughters, Celeste and Bella.

Watts faces three counts of first-degree murder after deliberation; two counts of first-degree murder – victim under 12/position of trust; one count of first-degree unlawful termination of a pregnancy; and three counts of tampering with a deceased human body, court records stated Monday.

According to court records, investigators believe that Watts killed the two girls before he turned his attention to Shanann. The murder charges for the girls say the crime happened between Aug. 12 – 13, but the count of murder for Shanann and the charges for moving the bodies are listed as happening on Aug. 13.

Their bodies were found at a worksite owned by Anadarko, where Watts worked before his firing Wednesday. The girls were found in an oil tank while the mother was found in a shallow grave nearby.

The Weld County District Attorney was given a deadline to file these formal charges by 3:30 Monday afternoon. A news conference is scheduled for 4 p.m. to provide more details.

Watts remains in protective custody and is in isolation due to the publicity in this case.

We’re working on obtaining the arrest affidavit so we can get a better idea of the case investigators are building against him.

Watts will appear in court Tuesday morning for the first time since learning his formal charges.

This is a developing story, check back for updates.