The pregnant Colorado woman and her two young daughterswho vanished earlier this weekwere likely murdered inside their house before their bodieswere allegedly hidden around propertybelonging to the woman’s husband’s former employer, officials said.
Prosecutors disclosed the detail about the suspected location of the slayings on Thursday during a bond hearing for Chris Watts, 33, a district attorney spokeswoman tells PEOPLE.
He is accused of first-degree murder and tampering with evidence in the deaths of 34-year-old wife Shanann Watts and their daughters, Bella and Celeste, 4 and 3.
Causes of death for Shanann and her girls have not been released; neither has motive.
However, a family friend previously told PEOPLEthat there was marital discord between Chris and Shanannand public records show they had faced financial issues in the past, including a bankruptcy in 2015.
More recently, it seemed, the family had returned to financial stability,theDenver Postreports, citing social media posts about their extensive travels.
Before his arrest in their deaths, when his family was still missing, Chris gave several news interviews casting himself as a grieving husband and father hoping for their safe return.
From left: Chris and Shanann Watts with their daughters (center).
Chris and Shanann Watts.Shanann Watts/Facebook
During one such appearance, he said that before she disappeared, he and Shanann had an “emotional conversation.”
“But I’ll leave it at that.”
Chriswas arrested Wednesday night. The next day,the remains of all three of his alleged victims were foundnear each other, according to authorities in Frederick, where the Watts lived.
“This is absolutely the worst outcome that any of us could imagine,” the Colorado Bureau of Investigation’s John Camper said in announcing Shanann was found.
Remains believed to be daughters Bella and Celeste were located later Thursday near Shanann’s body, officials said. Their exact location was not disclosed.
“Like, this house is not the same. Last night was traumatic,” he said. “Last night was — I can’t really stay in this house again with nobody here.”
At his hearing on Thursday, Chris was ordered held without bond. He is next scheduled to appear in court on Tuesday where he will face formal charges.
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Frederick Police
On Facebook, Shanann’s brotherspoke even more directly, writing in one post: “I just want 30 seconds alone with that heartless psychopath.”
According to her brother, Shanann, who was 15 weeks pregnant, was to give birth to a boy named Nico.
source: people.com
