ladbible logo

To make sure you never miss out on your favourite NEW stories, we're happy to send you some reminders

Click 'OK' then 'Allow' to enable notifications

Is Christa Richello Chris Watts' Girlfriend?

Is Christa Richello Chris Watts' Girlfriend?

She's recently defended the murderer in a TV programme about Watts' life in prison

Laura Sanders

Laura Sanders

Christa Richello and Chris Watts are two names which have hit the headlines once again, after a video of Richello defending the murderer and talking about their relationship emerged.

She speaks on the programme Cellmate Secrets: Chris Watts, which not only finds out more about the pair's relationship but also looks at Watts' life in jail.

According to E! News, it was during the clip that Richello admitted to developing a 'close and intimate relationship' with Chris and his cellmate Dylan Tallman, who she's now engaged to.

You can watch the trailer in the video player below.

Who is Christa Richello?

Christa Richello, age 42, is a clinical psychologist and has previously worked as a prison psychologist.

She specialises in sexual abuse and trauma cases and told The Daily Mail that she had worked inside the Connecticut prison system - which Watts is currently serving time in. She had to quit due to her lupus, which is a condition that causes joint pain, skin rashes and tiredness, and is the same condition Watts' wife had.

Richello's own father was in prison when she was growing up, and she recalls going to visit him during the Cellmate Secrets trailer.

She currently lives in East Haven, Connecticut.

Who is Chris Watts?

Chris Watts, 36, is a convicted murderer. He's currently serving life in prison for the 2018 murders of his wife Shanann, who was 15 weeks pregnant, and their daughters Bella, four, and Celeste, three.

Chris Watts murdered his wife and two daughters.
Netflix

The killer was documented in Netflix's hugely popular true crime documentary American Murder: The Family Next Door, which featured interviews and footage from the police during the investigation.

How did Christa Richello meet Chris Watts?

During the Cellmate Secrets trailer, Richello said she started writing to Watts in prison because she was intrigued by 'how quickly' the case was wrapped up.

"I found it very odd, the way the case was handled," she said.

"I've never seen a case in history that somebody took a plea agreement so quickly, a case was completely ended and not investigated.

Chris Watts was sentenced to three consecutive life terms in prison (
Netflix)

"And there's all these different theories because normally this would be going on in a trial for years, and it was only two months to this plea agreement. And that's what caught me."

Richello also delves into how her interest in Watts is similar to her own mum's fascination with murderer and cult leader Charles Manson, admitting that being 'intrigued' in famous criminals is in her DNA.

Who is Dylan Tallman?

Dylan Tallman, 33, is a career criminal and Chris Watts' former cellmate.

In 2020, the two jail birds were separated after they allegedly engaged in seual relations. Watts' boxer shorts, a jar of Vaseline, and baby oil were found in Tallman's cell. Richello told The Daily Mail they weren't having sex.

He and Watts are both serving time in the Dodge Correctional Institution in Waupun, Wisconsin.

Christa Richello engaged to Dylan Tallman

Richello and Tallman met through Watts.

It's reported that Christa wrote to Watts after hearing of his case and because he gets so much mail from admirers, he passed Richello's letter on to Tallman to reply to.

From then on, Tallman and Richello were writing to each other and Richello went to visit him in prison a number of times before the pandemic hit.

Tallman proposed to Richello in summer 2020 and, according to The Daily Mail, Richello sometimes refers to herself as 'Christa Tallman', even though the two aren't yet legally married.

"He's delightful. He's just great. He's wonderful," she told The Daily Mail. "I feel comfortable enough with Dylan to be able to marry him and jump right into a relationship. I've gotten to know him very, very well."Featured Image Credit: Discovery+/Netflix

Topics: True Crime