Eight years after the murders of his pregnant wife and two young daughters, Chris Watts has reportedly taken steps toward marriage while serving multiple life sentences in prison. Watts, now 41, is incarcerated at Dodge Correctional Institution in Wisconsin after pleading guilty to the 2018 killings that shocked the United States.
According to recent reports, Watts has become engaged to Lizzie Lee Henderson, a 39-year-old woman from Cleveland. Henderson reportedly moved to Wisconsin to be closer to the prison where Watts is being held. She has also reportedly taken steps toward changing her name to “Lizzie Watts,” further fueling speculation about the seriousness of their relationship. The reported relationship has generated widespread disbelief because of the severity of Watts’ crimes and the fact that he will remain behind bars for the rest of his life.
The 2018 Murders
Watts murdered his wife, Shanann, and their daughters, four-year-old Bella and three-year-old Celeste, on August 13, 2018, in Colorado. Shanann was also pregnant with the couple’s son at the time. Court records confirm that Watts was charged with, among other offenses, the unlawful termination of Shanann’s pregnancy and the concealment of human remains. The case initially attracted attention when Shanann and the children were reported missing. Watts appeared publicly and appealed for their safe return, but investigators soon began focusing on inconsistencies in his account. He eventually confessed to killing his family. In November 2018, Watts pleaded guilty to multiple charges and received several life sentences without the possibility of parole. He avoided a potential death sentence by accepting the plea agreement.
A Relationship That Began Behind Bars
Reports indicate that Watts has received considerable correspondence from women since his incarceration. His notoriety increased further following the release of the Netflix documentary American Murder: The Family Next Door, which brought renewed attention to the case. Among the women who reportedly contacted Watts was Henderson. The two are said to have developed a relationship through correspondence before eventually progressing to prison visits. Reports claim Henderson has visited Watts numerous times and relocated from Ohio to Wisconsin to be closer to him. The circumstances surrounding their relationship have prompted intense public reaction. Some observers have questioned why anyone would willingly pursue a romantic relationship with a convicted family murderer, while others have emphasized that Henderson is responsible for making her own personal decisions.
Marriage Behind Prison Walls
Watts’ reported application to marry does not mean that a wedding is guaranteed. Because he is incarcerated, the process is subject to prison regulations and approval. Reports indicate that permission from the prison administration is required before the marriage can proceed. For Watts, a marriage would take place under circumstances radically different from his previous family life. He is serving life imprisonment without parole, meaning he cannot return to ordinary life outside prison. The reported engagement has nevertheless placed Watts back in the public spotlight, years after the murders themselves.
Why the Case Still Captivates the Public
The Watts case remains one of the most disturbing family murder cases of recent years. Much of the continued interest comes from the contrast between the seemingly ordinary family life presented publicly before the killings and the horrifying events that investigators later uncovered. The possibility of Watts marrying while imprisoned has added another unexpected chapter to a case that continues to generate documentaries, media coverage and public discussion. For many people, the reported engagement is difficult to understand given the lives destroyed in 2018. Whatever ultimately happens with the marriage application, Watts remains incarcerated and serving the sentences imposed for the murders of Shanann, Bella and Celeste.
