Harrowing texts Chris Watts' pregnant wife Shannan sent to friend before he murdered family revealed
Shannan Watts had called off a gender reveal party and voiced concerns about infidelity in the days leading up to her murder, according to newly revealed text messages.
The murder of Shannan, her two young daughters and her unborn son is a case which sent shockwaves through America and the wider world.
On 14 August 2018, Shannan was reported missing by a close friend after she failed to attend a scheduled doctor's appointment, just a day after returning home from a business trip.
Her husband, Chris Watts, initially claimed that she and their two daughters were missing, however it would later be revealed that he'd killed his family and disposed of their bodies at a nearby oil storage site.
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He later pleaded guilty to five counts of first-degree murder, three counts of tampering with a deceased human body and one count of unlawful termination of a pregnancy.
Watts was sentenced to life without the possibility of parole, avoiding the death penalty as part of his plea bargain.
Interest in the Watts case has remained over the years, with MailOnline recently revealing heartbreaking text messages sent by Shannan in the days leading up to her death.
Cancelled gender reveal party and marital issues
In one text seen by the outlet, Shannan messaged a friend to reveal that Watts had told her he didn't want to become a father for the third time in the days leading up to the gender reveal.
"Chris told me last night he's scared to death about this third baby, and he's happy with just Bella and Celeste and doesn't want another baby," she wrote in a text dated to 7 August.
She continued: "He said we're not compatible anymore. He refused to hug me after he said he will try to 'work it out'."
In another message, Shannan recounted that she'd grabbed Watts' hand during an ultrasound, but he didn't grab back.
"I haven't slept most of the week," read a third message. My eyes burn from crying so much," read a third message.
"I cancelled the gender reveal. Nicki [friend Nicki Atkinson] is going to tell me [the baby's gender] today. I need happy news today.
"This baby in my belly deserves his full love either way."
According to Watts' testimony, he disclosed his affair with colleague Nichol Kessinger on 13 August, claiming that he killed Shannan and their children after she threatened to leave with their daughters.
What happened to Chris Watts?
Watts is currently serving his life sentence at Dodge Correctional Institution, a maximum-security prison in Wisconsin.
Letters written by Watts in prison have since emerged online, with the killer disclosing twisted details about killing his wife and children to true crime author Cheryln Cadle.
Media attention towards the case has also led to Watts receiving letters from female admirers, many of whom believe him to be innocent.
According to one woman who spoke to MailOnline back in January, Watts had likened himself to Jesus, claiming: "God had a plan for me. He wants me in prison. This is His will, just like it was His will for Jesus to die for us.
"He wants to bring people closer to him through my suffering."
Brenna Cooper