Nichol Kessinger: The Woman At The Center Of The Chris Watts Tragedy
The name Chris Watts sends shivers down the spine of anyone familiar with true crime. His horrific act of murdering his pregnant wife, Shanann Watts, and their two young daughters, Bella and Celeste, in August 2018, shocked the world. At the heart of this devastating story, beyond the immediate family, lies another figure whose life became inextricably linked to the tragedy: Nichol Kessinger.
Kessinger, Watts' affair partner, found herself thrust into the national spotlight, scrutinized by investigators, the media, and a captivated public. Her story is one of deception, unwitting involvement, and the painful aftermath of a relationship built on lies.
Who is Nichol Kessinger? Her Background and Career
Before her name became synonymous with one of America's most infamous murder cases, Nichol Kessinger was an ordinary professional. Born in 1988, Kessinger was known for having a keen interest in geology. She pursued this passion academically, graduating from Colorado State University in 2013 with a Bachelor of Science, with an emphasis on geology. This academic background led her to a career as a geological technician.
At the time she met Chris Watts, Kessinger was employed as a contract employee at Anadarko Petroleum in Platteville, Colorado, where she worked in safety. It was within the confines of this workplace that her path tragically intersected with Chris Watts.
The Unfolding Relationship with Chris Watts
Nichol Kessinger met Chris Watts in the office where they both worked, though Watts would also spend time out at oil wells in the fields, according to court records obtained by The Denver Post. Their professional acquaintance quickly evolved. Nichol Kessinger and Chris Watts started speaking at work in June 2018, and by July 2018, the pair had started a romantic relationship.
From Kessinger's perspective, Watts presented himself as a different man. When Nichol Kessinger started dating Christopher Watts in July, he appeared to be a soft-spoken man and a thoughtful father who was at the end of divorce proceedings. She came forward and told authorities that she believed Watts was going through an amicable divorce during the course of their relationship. This perception was a stark contrast to the dark reality Watts was concealing.
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Interestingly, the "Data Kalimat" notes that when Watts lost weight and started working out in 2017, he said, women started paying attention to him. This detail paints a picture of a man undergoing a transformation, perhaps seeking validation or a new identity, which ultimately led him down a path of deceit and destruction.
The Affair and its Tragic Aftermath
The affair between Nichol Kessinger and Chris Watts was a critical element in the narrative of the Watts family murders. They had an affair in the months leading up to the murders, and it became clear that Nichol Kessinger was Chris Watts' affair partner and the main motive behind his family murders. The Netflix documentary "American Murder: The Family Next Door" explores how Kessinger influenced Chris to kill his family and what she knew about his lies, highlighting the devastating impact of their relationship.
Chris Watts' desire to start a new life with Kessinger was a driving force behind his unspeakable acts. Before the bodies of his pregnant wife and two daughters were found in an oil field in 2018, Chris Watts denied any wrongdoing in a chilling text to his mistress, Nichol Kessinger, further illustrating his capacity for deception.
When the truth about Watts' crimes emerged, Nichol Kessinger was just as shocked as the rest of the world when she found out her lover was a murderer. Her reaction was one of disbelief and horror. Initially, in the triple murder case, investigators thought Kessinger was an accomplice in the murders. However, it was later revealed that she was as startled as others by the unraveling of the case.
Despite her initial shock, Kessinger cooperated with police. She deleted texts, which naturally raised questions, but she provided valuable information to investigators. Some online petitioners, however, continue to want her investigated for more, reflecting the public's lingering questions and desire for complete understanding in such a heinous crime.
Nichol Kessinger's Role in the Investigation and Public Eye
Kessinger's cooperation was crucial in piecing together the timeline and Watts' state of mind. She was a key witness who provided insight into Watts' lies and his double life. Her interview with The Denver Post, where she stated, "He's a liar... He lied about everything," underscored the profound betrayal she felt upon realizing the extent of Watts' deception.
The Netflix documentary "American Murder: The Family Next Door" brought the case, and Kessinger's involvement, to a global audience. The documentary prompts viewers to find the answers to the biggest questions about Chris Watts, his wife Shanann Watts, and Chris Watts' girlfriend Nichol Kessinger. It delves into the dynamics of their relationship and the influence it had on Watts' actions.
It's also worth noting a disturbing claim made by Watts himself from prison: Chris Watts claimed Nichol Kessinger murdered his daughters and dug Shanann's grave, according to an inmate. This claim, widely dismissed as Watts' attempt to deflect blame, further illustrates the toxic nature of his character and his continued efforts to manipulate the narrative, even from behind bars.
Life After the Conviction
Following Chris Watts' conviction, Nichol Kessinger's life underwent a drastic change. She is in witness protection and has not contacted him since his conviction, despite his claims of receiving letters from her. This move to witness protection highlights the immense pressure and public scrutiny she faced, as well as the need for her safety given the high-profile nature of the case and the threats that can arise from such notoriety.
Her decision to remain out of the public eye and sever all ties with Watts underscores her desire to move on from the traumatic events she was unwittingly drawn into. The public may continue to have questions, but for Nichol Kessinger, the chapter with Chris Watts is definitively closed.
Summary
Nichol Kessinger, a geological technician with a background in safety, became a central figure in the Chris Watts murder case due to her affair with him. She met Watts at work in June 2018, and by July, they were in a romantic relationship, with Kessinger believing Watts was undergoing an amicable divorce. The affair was later identified as a primary motive behind Watts' horrific murders of his family. Kessinger cooperated extensively with the police, providing crucial information despite deleting some texts, and was ultimately cleared of any accomplice involvement, being as shocked as anyone by the truth. Her story, explored in documentaries like "American Murder: The Family Next Door," reveals the extent of Watts' deception and Kessinger's unwitting role in the lead-up to the tragedy. Today, she remains in witness protection, having cut all contact with Watts, seeking to distance herself from the devastating events that irrevocably altered her life.
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