Chris Watts Pleads Guilty to Avoid the Death Penalty

Chris Watts initially told police he killed his pregnant wife, Shanann, in a rage after she killed their two daughters; investigators never believed him. And on Tuesday, the Colorado man pleaded guilty to murdering Shanann as well as the two girls, 4-year-old Bella and 3-year-old Celeste, on Aug. 13. The plea deal, which involved Chris Watts pleading guilty to nine charges including first-degree murder and unlawful termination of a pregnancy, allows him to avoid the death penalty, CNN reports. He will be sentenced Nov. 19 and could face three consecutive life sentences, CBS Denver reports. (He reportedly told Shanann he wanted to separate the morning of the murders; friends say the couple was having marital problems.)