RJ Sangosti, The Denver PostChristopher Watts is in court for his arraignment hearing at the Weld County Courthouse on Aug. 21, 2018 in Greeley. Watts faces nine charges, including several counts of first-degree murder of his wife and his two young daughters.
Courtesy The Denver ChannelChristopher Watts with his wife, Shanann Watts, and their daughters Celeste (left) and Bella.
RJ Sangosti, The Denver PostNancy Lee takes a moment after placing flowers at a makeshift memorial for Shanann, Bella and Celeste Watts, outside the family's home on Aug. 17, 2018 in Frederick. Frederick police have arrested Shanann's husband, Christopher Watts, on suspicion of killing the three.
RJ Sangosti, The Denver PostThe bodies of Shan’ann Watts, 34, her daughters Bella, 4, Celeste, 3, and unborn son Nico arrive at Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church before the funeral mass on September 1, 2018 in Pinehurst, North Carolina.
RJ Sangosti, The Denver PostMembers of the community gather for a candlelight vigil to honor Shanann, Bella and Celeste Watts outside the family's home on Aug. 17, 2018, in Frederick.
RJ Sangosti, The Denver PostFamily shows their emotion as the casket of one of the young Watts girls is put in place for the pallbearers outside Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church on Sept. 1, 2018 in Pinehurst, North Carolina. Family and friends gathered for the funeral mass of Shanann Watts her daughters Bella, 4, Celeste, 3, and unborn son Nico.
RJ Sangosti, The Denver PostFrank Rzucek, with other pallbearers, places the casket of one of his grand-daughters into a hearse outside Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church on Sept. 1, 2018 in Pinehurst, North Carolina. Family and friends gathered for the funeral mass of Shan’ann Watts her daughters Bella, 4, Celeste, 3, and unborn son Nico.
RJ Sangosti, The Denver PostFriends and family make their way from the Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church after the funeral mass for Shanann Watts, 34, her daughters Bella, 4, Celeste, 3, and unborn son Nico on Sept. 1, 2018 in Pinehurst, North Carolina.
RJ Sangosti, The Denver PostChristopher Watts sits in court for his sentencing hearing at the Weld County Courthouse on Nov. 19, 2018 in Greeley. Watts was sentenced to life in prison for murdering his pregnant wife, daughters.
RJ Sangosti, The Denver PostFrank Rzucek the father of Shanann Watts, left, and her brother Frankie Rzucek were in court for Christopher Watts arraignment hearing at the Weld County Courthouse on Aug. 21, 2018 in Greeley. Christopher Watts faces nine charges, including several counts of first-degree murder of his wife Shanann and his two young daughters, 4-year-old Bella, and 3-year-old Celeste.
RJ Sangosti, The Denver PostFrank Rzucek the father of Shanann Watts was in court for Christopher Watts arraignment hearing at the Weld County Courthouse on Aug. 21, 2018 in Greeley. Christopher Watts faces nine charges, including several counts of first-degree murder of his wife Shanann and his two young daughters, 4-year-old Bella, and 3-year-old Celeste.
RJ Sangosti, The Denver PostAccording to Christopher Watts's arrest affidavit, Shanann Watts' body was found in a shallow grave near this oil work site, seen here on Aug. 21, 2018 near Roggen. Both of her daughter's bodies, 4-year-old Bella and 3-year-old Celeste, were submerged for days in the same oil tanks in rural eastern Colorado, prosecutors said.
RJ Sangosti, The Denver PostResidents stand in front of a makeshift memorial for Shanann, Bella and Celeste Watts outside the family's home on Aug. 17, 2018 in Frederick. Frederick police have arrested Shanann's husband Christopher Watts on suspicion of killing the three.
RJ Sangosti, The Denver PostA makeshift memorial to Shanann, Bella and Celeste Watts, who have been missing since Monday, is seen outside the family home on Aug. 16, 2018 in Frederick. Frederick police have arrested Shanann’s husband Christopher Watts on suspicion of murdering the three.
RJ Sangosti, The Denver PostNichol Kessinger on Nov. 15, 2018 in Denver. Kessinger said Chris Watts told her he was finishing up divorce proceedings with his wife and that a month into their relationship he told her the divorce was final.
RJ Sangosti, The Denver PostSandra Onorati Rzucek and Frank Rzucek, the mother and father of Shanann Watts, listen to the Weld County District Attorney during a press conference, at the Weld County Courthouse on November 6, 2018 in Greeley, Colorado. Christopher Watts, the Frederick man who killed his pregnant wife and two children and then hid their bodies in an oil field, pleaded guilty to avoid the death penalty.
RJ Sangosti, The Denver PostMichael J. Rourke, Weld County District Attorney, center, speaks to media during a press conference, at the Weld County Courthouse on November 6, 2018 in Greeley, Colorado. Christopher Watts, the Frederick man who killed his pregnant wife and two children and then hid their bodies in an oil field, pleaded guilty to avoid the death penalty.
RJ Sangosti, The Denver PostRonnie and Cindy Watts address the court during their son's sentencing at the Weld County Courthouse on November 19, 2018 in Greeley, Colorado. Christopher Watts was sentenced to life in prison for murdering his pregnant wife, daughters.
RJ Sangosti, The Denver PostChristopher Watts sits in court for his sentencing hearing at the Weld County Courthouse on November 19, 2018 in Greeley, Colorado. Watts was sentenced to life in prison for murdering his pregnant wife, daughters.
RJ Sangosti, The Denver PostMichael J. Rourke, Weld County District Attorney, addresses the court at the Weld County Courthouse on November 19, 2018 in Greeley, Colorado. Christopher Watts was sentenced to life in prison for murdering his pregnant wife, daughters.
RJ Sangosti, The Denver PostSandra Onorati Rzucek, the mother of Shanann Watts, sits back down after reading a statement during court at the Weld County Courthouse on November 19, 2018 in Greeley, Colorado. Christopher Watts was sentenced to life in prison for murdering his pregnant wife, daughters.
RJ Sangosti, The Denver PostFrank Rzucek, the father of Shanann Watts, center, looks as the judge talks during the sentencing at the Weld County Courthouse on November 19, 2018 in Greeley, Colorado. Christopher Watts was sentenced to life in prison for murdering his pregnant wife, daughters.
RJ Sangosti, The Denver PostAubriella Luna, 8, joined others from her community for a candlelight vigil to honor Shanann, Bella and Celeste Watts outside the family's home Aug. 17, 2018, in Frederick.
RJ Sangosti, The Denver PostRoses are placed on a statue of Mary outside Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church before the funeral mass for Shanann Watts, 34, her daughters Bella, 4, Celeste, 3, and unborn son Nico on Sept. 1, 2018 in Pinehurst, North Carolina.
RJ Sangosti, The Denver Post
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Christopher Watts is in court for his arraignment hearing at the Weld County Courthouse on Aug. 21, 2018 in Greeley. Watts faces nine charges, including several counts of first-degree murder of his wife and his two young daughters.
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By Kieran Nicholson | knicholson@denverpost.com | The Denver Post
PUBLISHED: | UPDATED:
Getting your player ready...
Christopher Watts, who was sentenced to life in prison for the murder of his pregnant wife and two young daughters, has been transferred to a prison outside of Colorado.
Watts, who pleaded guilty on Nov. 6, has been transferred out of Colorado for safety considerations, said Mark Fairbairn, a Department of Corrections spokesman.
“It’s for safety and security, not just for him, but for our staff, everyone,” Fairbairn said.
The corrections department did not disclose where Watts has been transferred. Family members of his victims and the Weld County District Attorney’s Office, who prosecuted the case, have been notified of the development, Fairbairn said.
Watts strangled his wife, Shanann, and smothered his daughters, 4-year-old Bella and 3-year-old Celeste, and disposed their bodies in a Weld County oil field on Aug. 13.
