'Devastated' and 'Sincerely Sorry': What Family Murderer Chris Watts Had to Say as He Was Sentenced

It was, he knew, likely a meaningless thing to say. ButChris Wattssaid it anyway: He was sorryfor murdering his pregnant wife, Shanann Watts, and theirtwo young daughters.

“Although he understands that words are hollow at this point, he is sincerely sorry for all of this,” his attorney said.

Prosecutor Michael Rourke described for the court how Chris strangled 34-year-old Shanann, his wife of nearly six years, with his bare hands not long after she returned home from a weekend work trip.

Chris Watts.RJ Sangosti/The Denver Post/Getty Images

Shan’ann Watts (right) and her daughters.Shanann Watts /Facebook

“I’ve been a judicial officer now for starting my 17th year and I could objectively say that this is perhaps the most inhumane and vicious crime that I have handled out of the thousands of cases that I have seen,” said Judge Marcelo A. Kopcow.

“Nothing less than a maximum sentence would be appropriate, and anything less than that maximum sentence would depreciate the seriousness of this offense,” Kopcow said.

Chris’ motive “was simple,” Rourke said. “He had a desire for a fresh start, to begin a new relationship with a new love.” (Police have said Chriswas cheating on Shanann with a co-workerwhen he murdered her.)

Rourke also described the “stark contrast,” in the lead up to the homicides, between Shanann’s efforts to save her marriage and Chris’ disinterest.

“None of this answers the question of why, however,” he said. “If [Chris] was this unhappy and wanted a new start, get a divorce. You don’t annihilate your family and throw them away like garbage.”

source: people.com