Chris Watts Unmasked Pt.3 - Delusions and Denials: The Disgraceful ‘Good Guy’ Act
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What does Chris Watts claim about his identity and why does he call himself a ‘good guy’?
The crime desk. Arresting podcasts.
Chris Watts spared his in-laws and the rest of the world the horrors of hearing the disturbing details of his crimes. He pleaded guilty in November of twenty eighteen to all of it, murdering his whole family, including an unborn son. On paper, he accepted blame and had taken accountability. He didn't have much of a choice. Police were onto his lies, and his acts were both unfathomable and indefensible. Yet another reality has emerged in the eight years since Watts' crimes. He has failed entirely at appreciating the true evil nature of his actions. In fact, a source who went to Bible study with Watts told Daily Mail earlier on this year that he has. has only ever shown remorse for pressuring Shenan to get an abortion, but has never mentioned the murders.
In this episode, we're examining crime desk reporting that sheds light on the apparent thinking of Chris Watts. We're gonna break down the ways in which Watts has constructed a delusional self-image. Based on interviews and years of crime desk reporting on the case, he seems to have almost no sense of guilt for what he did. He also continues to sell what may be the ultimate falsehood to new people in his life. He thinks he's a good guy. He claims to have become a Christian convert in prison and he presents himself as a pious man. If that's genuine, he's a devout person who may have never shed a tear about the loss of his adoring children or their devoted mother. I'm Kayla Brantley and this is the Trial USA.
We'll be back with a discussion on Chris Watts's many delusions in a moment.
Welcome back to the trial USA. I'm joined now by the crime desk senior reporters Luke Kenton, Rachel Sharp, and Steve Helling. Steve, let's start with you. You have reported extensively on Chris Watts and the murders. Based on your reporting, what kind of person does Chris Watts think he is?
So everything that I've seen in his writings, in what people say, is that he thinks he's a good guy. He thinks that he was led astray, that maybe Nicole was partially to blame for the death of his kids, but that he has a reason for everything he did. And if you just listen to his reason, if you just pay attention to him for just a minute, he'll explain it and you'll understand. That he's a really good guy who was just misled in some way. That's what he likes people to think.
How do the reporters describe Watts’s habit of blaming women and shifting responsibility?
He writes that to people, whether it's a woman he wants to sleep with, or whether it's one of his friends or family or his mother, that's what he writes, that he was misled, not that he was evil.
That he was misled and that also Shenan he presents her as this very controlling, horrible woman that he just had to get out. It does seem like he always has a reason.
It's always blame the victim with him. And you know, the interesting thing with him is that everybody who he blames is a woman. I mean he blames the girlfriend, he blames the the wife, you know. There's a lot of blame to go around in his mind, but none of that blame is on him. And I don't think he truly believes he did the wrong thing. Everybody who I've talked to says that he sees himself as like King David in the Bible, who was who did all these things but was still a man after God's own heart. And that's what he thinks about himself.
Steve, how much of that perception that he has of himself has been enabled by external voices? I'm thinking particularly about his parents and perhaps the ways in which they have tried to also rationalise his behaviours and explain away the crimes.
Well, his mother especially is very much in his corner. Um, even after he pleaded guilty, she was looking into ways that he could appeal it so that he could get out of prison. Um, and to her, her little boy can do no wrong. You know, when I talk to Sherlyn Cadle, she says that Chris's mom was really wanting to work with her and and make her son look innocent. And then when she felt like he wasn't looking innocent enough. She cut off Sherlyn. You know, we see that a lot. I've seen some of the letters that she has written him.
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Chapters
8 chapters
1
What does Chris Watts claim about his identity and why does he call himself a ‘good guy’?
0:02–2:47
2
How do the reporters describe Watts’s habit of blaming women and shifting responsibility?
2:47–5:23
3
What role does Watts’s mother play in supporting his narrative and letters from prison?
5:23–7:37
4
What are the bizarre visions and “visitations” Watts reports experiencing in prison?
7:37–10:12
5
Do Watts’s alleged supernatural experiences indicate a psychotic break or a manipulative strategy?
10:12–12:05
6
How do family members and friends react to Watts’s claims and the family’s denial of his guilt?
12:05–14:08
7
What new evidence about Shannon’s marriage and the ‘Hold Me Tight’ book reveals the couple’s final weeks?
14:08–16:12
8
What conclusions do the hosts draw about Watts’s delusions, the family’s support, and the upcoming deep‑dive into his psychology?
16:12–22:39
Speakers
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