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US husband held after missing family 'found dead in fuel tanks' | |
(about 1 hour later) | |
The bodies of missing Colorado mother Shanann Watts and her two daughters have been located inside a fuel tank days after she vanished, reports say. | |
Her husband Chris Watts has been arrested on suspicion of murdering his entire family. His arrest came one day after he appealed for their return. | |
Local media said the tanks were nearly full when Mr Watts allegedly hid their bodies there to conceal the odour. | |
The couple had financial troubles, and she suspected her husband was cheating. | |
In the aftermath of her death, a stunned mountain community is left wondering what could have led to the murder. | |
Mrs Watts, 34, who was 15 weeks pregnant, and the couple's children Bella, four, and Celeste, three, went missing on Monday. | |
The bodies were found inside oil and gas tanks on the premises of a petroleum company where Mr Watts worked, unnamed sources told local media | |
He was fired from the company - Anadarko Petroleum - on Wednesday after his arrest. | |
'I just want them home' | 'I just want them home' |
Police suspect all three were killed inside their home, but they have not yet released a cause of death. | |
Mr Watts is being held on suspicion of three counts of murder and tampering with evidence, report local media. | Mr Watts is being held on suspicion of three counts of murder and tampering with evidence, report local media. |
Police have until Monday to press charges. | Police have until Monday to press charges. |
He was arrested less than 24 hours after appealing for his family's return. | He was arrested less than 24 hours after appealing for his family's return. |
"I'm just hoping right now that she's somewhere safe," he told reporters. | "I'm just hoping right now that she's somewhere safe," he told reporters. |
"I just want them home so bad." | "I just want them home so bad." |
Mr Watts told reporters his wife had returned from a business trip to Arizona in the early hours of Monday. | Mr Watts told reporters his wife had returned from a business trip to Arizona in the early hours of Monday. |
He said they had stayed up having an "emotional conversation" about an unspecified subject until his departure for work at 05:15 local time. | He said they had stayed up having an "emotional conversation" about an unspecified subject until his departure for work at 05:15 local time. |
'Best thing ever' | 'Best thing ever' |
On social media, Mrs Watts had praised her spouse as an "amazing father" and "the BEST husband EVER!" | |
In a video that she posted on Facebook on 11 June, she filmed her husband's reaction as she revealed she was pregnant with the couple's third child. | |
"That's awesome. I guess when you want to, it happens," he said, wearing sunglasses and smiling as he held up the pregnancy test kit. | |
On Instagram, Mrs Watts extolled him as "my amazing supportive hubby!" | On Instagram, Mrs Watts extolled him as "my amazing supportive hubby!" |
"He rocks and couldn't imagine life without him!" she wrote. | |
In one video she said: "He is the best thing that ever happened to me." | In one video she said: "He is the best thing that ever happened to me." |
'He could be cheating' | 'He could be cheating' |
Family, friends and the community in Frederick, Colorado, are stunned by the tragedy. | Family, friends and the community in Frederick, Colorado, are stunned by the tragedy. |
"You know, the hardest part about it all is, when you're closer to the family, is the 'why?'" Jeremy Lindstrom told local ABC affiliate Denver7. | "You know, the hardest part about it all is, when you're closer to the family, is the 'why?'" Jeremy Lindstrom told local ABC affiliate Denver7. |
Mrs Watts' friend, Amanda Thayer, told CBS News: "It came to her [Mrs Watts'] mind that possibly he [her husband] could be cheating." | Mrs Watts' friend, Amanda Thayer, told CBS News: "It came to her [Mrs Watts'] mind that possibly he [her husband] could be cheating." |
She said that Mr Watts had stayed the night in the Thayer family home, sleeping across the hall from her five-year-old son, as police searched for his missing family. | She said that Mr Watts had stayed the night in the Thayer family home, sleeping across the hall from her five-year-old son, as police searched for his missing family. |
"That'll haunt me," her husband, Nicholas Thayer, said. | "That'll haunt me," her husband, Nicholas Thayer, said. |
Frankie Rzucek, Mrs Watts' brother, wrote on Facebook late on Wednesday night: "I just want to know why." | Frankie Rzucek, Mrs Watts' brother, wrote on Facebook late on Wednesday night: "I just want to know why." |
"My blood is boiling and the pain and anger and sadness I have in my heart," he added. | "My blood is boiling and the pain and anger and sadness I have in my heart," he added. |
Financial problems | Financial problems |
A bankruptcy filing from June 2015 revealed that the couple had been struggling financially. | A bankruptcy filing from June 2015 revealed that the couple had been struggling financially. |
In addition to a home mortgage, they had a total of $70,000 in debt from medical, student loans and car bills. | In addition to a home mortgage, they had a total of $70,000 in debt from medical, student loans and car bills. |
The couple earned about $90,000 in 2014, and stated they had less than $1,000 in savings. | The couple earned about $90,000 in 2014, and stated they had less than $1,000 in savings. |
Warning: Some viewers may find this video disturbing | Warning: Some viewers may find this video disturbing |
Mrs Watts had recently started working for a weight loss supplement company, which she frequently posted about on social media. | Mrs Watts had recently started working for a weight loss supplement company, which she frequently posted about on social media. |
The new job seemed to allow them more financial stability, and the ability to go on holiday to far-flung destinations. | The new job seemed to allow them more financial stability, and the ability to go on holiday to far-flung destinations. |
"All inclusive, no work, all fun vacations," she wrote recently about visits to the Dominican Republic, Mexico and San Diego. | "All inclusive, no work, all fun vacations," she wrote recently about visits to the Dominican Republic, Mexico and San Diego. |