Chris Watts: Why He Killed His Family [Motive and Psychology of a Murderer]

Instead of just asking: "Why didn't he get a divorce?" We should make a real effort to answer it.

In this episode True Crime Rocket Science addresses the why of the Chris Watts case. There is a short and a long answer to this simple question. True Crime Rocket Science addresses both.

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[charis]

It doesn’t take a brain surgeon to figure it out. People are waayyy over-thinking it.
He wanted a free life with the money from the house (and ring) and no financial responsibilities of the three children for the next 20 years. He is a void— empty. He had to google what emotions to mimic. Although I do think his hatred of Shanann was real the way he dumped her body. And I think the way his mother & family members spoke of Shanann and the children, it gave him tacit permission to get rid of them.

[markviereck]

Three kids, child support, alimony would of cost him a minimum of about $2500 a month. Payments would last for many years until the kids were out of college. He would of needed to work two jobs. Nichole would of left him, women don’t like broke men.

[pennythpmas]

I think there's a child-like thinking with Watts. Looking for a Mommy figure, severing the ties with the previous Mom, with anger . He attacked his Mom with anger, verbal, and Shanann was a strict Mommy. So he angrily severed ties with her, to move on to a new Mommy, N.K.

[stephaniepittaluga]

Brilliant and unique! I’ve listened to so much commentary including by Ph.D psychologists, no one broke this down quite as you did. Much appreciated ♥️

[Dragonfly]

The more he worked on his appearance the dangerous he became. His ego became inflamed which lead him down the wrong path. Shannan was creating her Cinderella story with the magical prince coming along but with the wrong man. Both of these people had personality issues .

[russellflagg]

A lot of people have affairs, and don't get along with their in-laws. But they don't kill their family.

[carolbodnar]

You are the most honest person on YouTube about this case   .I really enjoy your work thank you!

[deannazee]

I love how you break this down. There is a dynamic about the people we surround ourselves with and how they push us to react/not react

[clownrituals]

Both Chris and Shanaan made insane financial decisions over and over for years...the stress caused by their horrible financial situation combined with the pending arrival of another child made him feel trapped...he wanted to live a new life with NK unhindered by the daunting financial responsibilities of his old life...his stupidity made him think he could use murder to solve these problems

[jackiec]

I think Cindy Watts was right. They were not compatible. It’s so sad they even met. I think she really believed she had become the perfect wife and mother with LeVel and the members. She was so involved with improving herself she didn’t see the red flags

[sdstcerny]

He most likely told girlfriend that Shanann wanted divorce because if he showed HE wanted it; he would look guilty when they disappeared.

[gailwilson]

You talk a heck of a lot of sense, I've learned so much about others and myself from listening to you - thank you!

[DaveysOldSport]

He has no excuse at all. Normal people that don't want to be in a relationship or marriage anymore...leave! At the very worst have affairs. My ex didnt want my daughter cuz "he had no money" and "wasn't ready" did he kill me? And my child? No! A sane person does not kill people unless it's in self defense. So many people try to find an excuse why he killed his wife and children. There's no excuse at all. Sure he could've said she attacked him first or abused him mentally but what excuse does a grown man have to put his kids in a truck with their dead mom's body then slowly over minutes smother them. Take your time to sit silent right now and put on a timer for 4 minutes. ThTs how long it took for his babies to die. 4 minutes is a long time when your suffering and gasping for air especially when it's one of the people who u love most in the world doing it and don't understand what's going on!. He deserves a slow death
Period.

[brianmcandrew]

As soon as he got home and Shannan had that Oops we did it again shirt on he snapped RIGHT THERE. He said WOW and I could tell in his eyes and his face that was the beginning of the end for her and the girls. He had enough.

[VWC]

A powerful and insightful analysis...EXCELLENT work!!!

[inwardk]

In a Facebook conversation to a friend which is clearly from the period of conflict just prior to the murders, Shanann says that she asked Chris whether he wanted her to abort. "I don't want to have this baby; I can't do this alone with 3 kids; I'm not happy; Chris doesn’t want this baby…said he’s scared to death and he’s happy with just Bella and Celeste!” Shanann wrote. “He thought he wanted another baby. How I got this out of him I said do you want me to abort"
If Chris had been more forceful, and if he had demanded a divorce, I am sure that Shanann would have capitulated - she would probably have made his life very difficult, she would have asked for high support payments, but the kids would have stayed alive. Getting divorced was not impossible.
Regarding the children, I feel that Chris only had the following justifications i) they were expensive; ii) he regarded them as a package deal with Shanann; and iii) he wanted to start a brand new life. None of these are good reasons for murdering a child. I feel that all along, Chris could not have loved the children very much. He was merely going through the motions of fatherhood to please Shanann. He had no genuine connection to the children, he probably didn't have the capacity for it. If he had a genuine bond with his children, he would not have killed them.

[angelav]

He couldn’t afford the divorce and alimony for 3 kids, imminent settlement of debt, selling house after bankruptcy, and trying to repurchase, exp for the new baby ....and still financially create a new family with mistress . He simply could not sustain all of it. He knew it but wanted the new woman! Desperately it seems....

[yolandarando]

Listening to your analysis in this episode, I kept wondering what is what makes Watts so different from Scott Peterson. as both cases also have so many similarities in terms of motive. It would be interesting to analyse Scott's psychology comparing it to Watts.

[madalenejohnston]

The point you make about transferring our perspectives has really struck a chord! I will read the books again with a new perspective, thank you!

[pennythpmas]

Even the murder is childish thinking. Let's just make this family go away! Great post TCRS