Husband confesses to killing pregnant wife, kids: reports
Chris Watts in custody after reportedly admitting to police that he killed his pregnant wife Shanann Watts and their two young daughters; Jonathan Hunt reports on the chilling case in Colorado.
The Colorado man accused of killing his wife and two daughters last month is under suicide watch, reports said Tuesday.
Chris Watts, 33, is reportedly under "Close Watch Protocol," at the Weld County Jail, which is about 60 miles north of Denver.
While under “Close Watch Protocol” – the technical name for suicide watch – Watts spends 23 hours a day in his jail cell and guards must check on him every five to 10 minutes to make sure he is still alive and in custody, People magazine reported.
Fox News has reached out to the jail for confirmation.
Watts is accused of killing wife Shanann, 34, and their daughters Bella, 4, and Celeste, 3.
Their bodies were found on property owned by Andarko Petroleum, one of Colorado's largest oil and gas drillers, and where Watts worked as an operator. The girls had been submerged in crude oil for four days, court documents filed by defense lawyer James Merson said.
Watts allegedly told police that his wife strangled their children after he asked for a separation. Police said they learned that Watts was having an affair with a co-worker.
While under suicide watch, he is not allowed the same privileges as other people at the jail, including no access to weights, reading material and television, People magazine reported. He is allowed to leave his cell for one hour a day – to shower and make phone calls to his family or to counsel.
The magazine cited that a source at the jail also confirmed it to HLN.
Watts is charged with three counts of first-degree murder.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
