Cherlyn Cadle, 72, began corresponding with convicted killer Chris Watts following his incarceration for the 2018 murders of his wife Shanann and their two young daughters. What started as a "motherly" relationship took a dark turn when Watts reflected on his mistress and the circumstances surrounding the killings, according to an interview Cadle gave to Daily Mail.
Background
Watts is currently serving consecutive life sentences without the possibility of parole at Dodge Correctional Center in Waupun, Wisconsin. He was convicted of murdering his wife Shanann, who was pregnant with their third child, and daughters Celeste, 7, and Bella, 4. The murders occurred in August 2018 at the family's home in Frederick, Colorado.
Cherlyn Cadle reached out to Watts after his conviction, establishing what she described as a motherly relationship with the imprisoned killer. Over hundreds of letters and phone calls, Cadle corresponded with Watts as he reflected on the events that led to the deaths of his family members.
The Investigation
According to Cadle, once Watts began discussing his mistress Nichol Kessinger, his communications revealed a sinister side to what she described as his "boyish charm."
"He told me dark, sexual things that he did with his mistress," Cadle said. "There were a lot of things you wouldn't tell your mother, but he told me."
Cadle stated that Watts claimed if it had not been for Kessinger, he would not have carried out the murders. However, she noted that Watts consistently attempted to blame others rather than accepting responsibility for his actions.
"It was always someone else's fault: Nikki or Shanann, or someone else. He always had someone to blame for what he did, instead of really taking responsibility for his own actions," Cadle said. "That really got under my skin."
In November 2018, Watts admitted to police that he strangled Shanann at their Frederick home. He then drove her body to an Anadarko oil field in Weld County, where he suffocated the children. He buried Shanann in a shallow grave and placed the girls' bodies inside oil storage tanks.
Weld County District Court Judge Marcelo Kopcowe sentenced Watts to consecutive life sentences without the possibility of parole.
Key Takeaways
- Cherlyn Cadle, 72, corresponded with Chris Watts following his conviction for killing his wife and two daughters
- Watts reportedly told Cadle about "dark, sexual things" involving his mistress Nichol Kessinger
- Watts allegedly claimed he wouldn't have committed the murders if not for his mistress
- Cadle said Watts consistently blamed others rather than accepting responsibility
- Watts confessed to the murders repeatedly, revisiting details and occasionally revealing more than intended
- Cadle ended contact with Watts in 2023 after hundreds of letters and calls
- Watts is serving consecutive life sentences without parole at Dodge Correctional Center in Wisconsin
What's Next
The correspondence between Cadle and Watts provides additional insight into the mindset of the convicted killer years after his conviction. While Watts remains imprisoned, the letters offer new details about his relationship with Kessinger and his perspective on the murders that killed his pregnant wife and two young daughters. No additional court proceedings are anticipated as Watts' appeals have been exhausted.