chris watts. his defense? killed his wife, but because she killed the girls. >>> in this game, you guys are allowed to kneel. there is no old white man stopping you. >> the video music awards. the new mission to engage young voters. i missed that while were you sleeping. welcome to "early start." >> i see jlo rocking on twitter. i'm dave briggs. we start with breaking news overnight. conservative think tanks and united states senate the latest targets of hackers linked to military intelligence. microsoft stopped the attack last week. the company took control of six web sites operated by the same group of the dnc hack of 2016. let's bring in fred pleitgen. fred. >> reporter: good morning, dave. the group fancy wear was behind the attack. that group is directed by russia ya 's military intelligence. they targeted conservatives and two think tanks close to the party, but both of which are critical of the politics of vladimir putin. there is no evidence these attacks were successful, but it comes a month after att

right. >> reporter: on facebook with emotions running high, shanann's brother directly accused chris wattse rot in hell. he killed high pregnant sister and two nieces." before his arrest, watts told reporters that he and his wife had exchanged words. >> we had an emotional conversation, but i'll leave it at that. >> reporter: still, on shanann's facebook page a portrait of a happy family and a woman this love. >> got a friend request from chris on facebook, i was like, what the heck, i'm never going to meet him. accept. one thing led to another, and eight years later, we have two kids, we live in colorado, and he's the best thing that has ever happened to me. >> reporter: randi kaye, cnn, new york. >>> there are new court documents that suggest that some of the victims may have been string strangled. >> -- been strangled. >> shortly before the autopsiness weautopsies on the girls and their mother, the district attorney asked that dna swabs be taken around their necks and under their fingernails. hopefully we'll learn some more. >>> no decision yet on the trial of paul manafort. as we wait

the new details we're learning about chris watts. >> this is absolutely the worst possible outcome. >> as friends react to the shocking news. >> knowing that like we welcomed him in our home. >> he's a murderer. >> and what we're learning about potential problems inside their marriage. >>> plus -- ♪ do something crazy >> the over the top cultural phenomenon sweeping the box office. >> these people aren't just rich, they're crazy rich. >> how the glittering "crazy rich asians" is not only rebooting the classic romantic comedy, it's turning into a cultural movement president universe has spoken, it wants you over there. >> that's leaving audiences in tears. but first the "nightline 5." >>> my gums are irritated. i don't have to worry about that, do i? >> actually, you do. harmful bacteria lurk just below the gum line. >> crest gum detoxfy, works when below the gum line to reverse early gum damage. new crest gum and enamel repair gives you improved enamel. enam gum and enamel repair from crest. healthy, beautiful smiles for life. >> number one in just 60 seconds. (sound of footsteps) (so

police found the body of chris watts' pregnant wife, shanann, thursday. y of a petroleum and gas company where watts previously worked. hours later, they found two bodies nearby believed to be four-year-old bella and three-year-old celeste. before his arrest watts had pleaded for their return. chris watts if somebody has her, and they're not safe, like, i want them back now. i had every light in the house on. i was hoping i would just get ran over by the kids running in the door, just barrel rushing me.(grant) he acknowledged he and his wife had an "emotional conversation" the night before. a judge has sealed the arrest affidavit and prosecutors would only say they believe shanann and the girls were killed inside the house. they have until monday to formally charge watts. (grant) watt's attorney has not yet responded. his next court hearing is tuesday. (catherine) crazy rich asains. we'll tell you how you can get re free tickets to the new movie...in just two and a half minutes. "you know you really should have told me you're like the prince william of asi

we have the latest including the last person to see the mother alive. >> chris watts charged for the murder of his wife and two children. >> my office filed formal charges against christopher lee watts. >> unlawful termination of his unborn child. >> it was one of my worst nightmares. >> nicole said she didn't want to think something bad happened to her friend when she couldn't get in contact with her last monday. she was the last known person to see her alive, dropping her off at home after a late business trip. >> when we go on trips like this, shannan blows my own up the next day. i didn't get that text. >> when she learned the mother of two missed a doctor's appointment, she alerted her husband, chris, and called police. >> he said she was on a playdate and couldn't give us the name of a friend. >> he killed his family at their home and allegedly drove the bodies of his wife and two daughters to a company property. according to court documents, shannan was found in a shallow grave and the two girls submerged in oil tanks. atkinson said she was not shocked by chris's arrest. >> the

something's not right. >> reporter: on facebook, shanann's brother directly accused chris watts. blank. may he rot in hell. he killed my pregnant sister and two nieces. police have not suggested a motive. before his arrest, watts told reporters that he and his wife exchanged words. >> it wasn't like an argument. we had an emotional conversation but i'll leave it at that. >> still, on shanann's facebook page, a portrait of a happy family. >> i got a friend request from chris and i thought, whatever, i'm never going to meet him. one thing led to another, eight years later, we live in colorado, have two kids. and he's the best thing that has ever happened to me. >> it's awful to see her talking about him. >> so lovingly. >> what we know about where the bodies were found. some new information on that. he loaded all three bodies into his truck. and took them to his oil company where he used to work. he was fired the same day he was arrested. he was given a map by >> shenan watts was found in a shallow grave, and the two girls nearby in oil tanks where police say their bodies had been

the father, chris watts, is now under arrest days after making an emotionally public reply to help finds what, girls? mommy has a baby in her belly. >> a baby! >> a moment of joy that's covered in mystery. the daughters were thrilled. >> i love you girls. >> toichgt the baby a hug. >> there's also video of her sharing the news with her husband of nearly six years, chris watts. >> that's awesome. when you want something, it happens. >> but not long after that video was taken, something terrible happened. on monday of this week, shannon and her daughters went missing. then came tuesday. and shannon's husband, chris, began a series of public replies for their safe return. >> just come back. if somebody has her, just please bring her back. i need to see everybody. i need to see everybody again. this house is not complete without anybody here. i just want them back. i just want them to come back. and if they're not safe right now, that's what's tearing me apart. >> authorities searched the home and canvassed the neighborhood. two days later a grisly discovery. >> we've been able to recover a

something's not right. >> on facebook with emotion running high, shenan's brother directly accused chris wattsme he rot in --. police have not suggested a motive, before his arrest, watts told reporters he and hess wife had exchanged words. >> we had and i emotional conversation, i'll live leave it at that. >> a portrait of a happy family. >> i got a friend request from chris on facebook. what the heck, i'll never meet him. accept. one thing led to another and eight years later, we have two kids, we live in colorado and he is the best thing that has ever happened to me. >> reporter: randi kaye, cnn, new york. >> well, new court documents suggest some of the victims may have been strangled. >> autopsies were conducted on the girls and her mother the attorney requested dfa swabs be taken under the mother's finger cenales and around the necks. we will be talking about this case and what those might be telling her. >> all right, still to come, new york governor andrew cuomo is walking back his remarks that america was never great the comments set off a lot of criticism around walk and the country.

a friend of the wife says she was not surprised that cops arrested chris watts. e'd been acting differently recently. >> he wasn't being the loving chris that he normally was, he wasn't touching or hugging or doing stuff like that. >> shepard: the family lived 25 miles noerlth north of denver. commit watts was arrested wednesday. court documents showed they found the bodies of his wife, his daughter celeste and four-year-old daughter bella on the property of an oil company where he worked. the children's bodies buried in crude oil for four days. before police arrested watts, he went on television begs his wife and children, please come home, still no word on a motive. live with more now. >> shep, legal experts say the affidavit, when released, maybe today, could shed light on a couple important things. first should detail exactly why 33-year-old chris watts was arrested, unlikely to include a motive. court documents could have key information about how watts 34-year-old wife, shanann, his daughter celeste and four-year-old daughter bella were killed. watts killed

chris watts defense?, but because she killed the girls. >>> in this game, you guys are allowed to kneel. you can do whatever the hell you want. there is no old white man stopping you. >> politics at the mtv video music awards. the new mission to engage young voters. welcome back to "early start." i'm christine romans. >> i'm dave briggs. we start with breaking news. conservative think tanks in the u.s. senate. united states senate the latest targets of hackers linked to military intelligence. a hacking group created fake versions meant to look like real sites. microsoft stopped the attack last week. the company took control of six web sites operated by the same group behind the 2016 dnc hack. let's bring in fred pleitgen. live for us in russia. >> reporter: good morning, guys. the organization we are talking about is called fancy bear. the same group that hacked into the dnc and clinton campaign during the 2016 election campaigns. u.s. intelligence highly likely believes this group is linked and possibly

her girls were her world. >> reporter: documents reveal a new allegation that chris watts was activelyith a co-worker, something friends believe shanann suspected. >> he wasn't being the loving chris that he normally was. he wasn't touching or hugging or doing stuff like that and wasn't being as attentive to the girls as normal. >> reporter: watts allegedly told police he loaded the bodies into his work truck, hiding them in an oil field where he used to work, for the next two days claiming he had no idea what happened. >> shanann, bella, celeste, if you're out there, just come back like if somebody has her, just please bring her back. >> reporter: what did you see in chris' demeanor? >> the last time i talked to him, he said i just want to cry and i looked at him and said why aren't you? he didn't shed one tear. >> reporter: prosecutors are not saying whether they find chris watts' story credible though he is charged with all three murders. he has not entered a plea but is expected back in court today. george. >> let's talk to mark geragos now. i guess clayton said the prosecutors are

we could learn why colorado prosecutors believe that chris watts, who you see there killed his pregnant wife and daughters when he is formally charged with the crime today. we have a live report for you next. so you have, your headphones, chair, new laptop, 24/7 tech support. yep, thanks guys. i think he might need some support. yes. start them off right, with the school supplies they need at low prices all summer long. like these for only $2 or less at office depot officemax. what might seem like a small cough can be a big bad problem for your grandchildren. babies too young to be vaccinated against whooping cough are the most at risk for severe illness. help prevent this! talk to your doctor or pharmacist today about getting vaccinated against whooping cough. >>> a colorado man suspected of killing his pregnant wife and two daughters is set to be form slly charged. expected to release his arrest affidavit explaining why investigators believe he did it. k k kaylee harttongung has the late >> reporter: the biggest question looming has been why. it was last monday they seemingly vanished

chris watts will be back in court on tuesday.him. back to you, christine, ryan. >>> paul, thank you. the vatican says it condemns the sexual abuse of minors. pressure had been building on the pope to address the grand jury report describing the crimes of 300 predator priests in pennsylvania. the vatican says the church must learn hard lessons and abuses described in the report are criminal and morally reprehensible. those were betrayals of the trusts that rob survivors of their dignity and faith. he hopes the church will embrace the grand jury recommendations and including eliminating the statute of limitations. >>> and a salvadorian woman has filed a lawsuit seeking to be reunited with her infant daughter who needs to be breast fed. the woman also wants the government to reconsider her denied asylum claim. in may, she came to the u.s. with her then 11 month old. they were separated. she was set to be deported on thursday. the judge has halted deportation of families who had been reunited so the children can have parental assista

jeff, chris watts will remain in jail.merican heroes came home from the wars in iraq and afghanistan badly wounded. many were paralyzed from the waist down, told that most likely they'd never walk again. there's a new device that could help the disabled get on their feet. that's if they can afford it. lee cowan has the story. >> so first arms up overhead. >> rtesical checkup that only took a few minutes, and derek deman was anxious to get on with it. the one-time high school surf champion and big-time snowboarder fell off a roof nearly a decade ago and broke his back, leaving him paralyzed from the chest down. >> not too bad, huh? >> reporter: but he's about to do something that only a few years ago would have been all but impossible. >> all right. let's get you up and walking. >> reporter: you heard right. walking. a moment later we watched a paraplegic put one foot in front of the other. he's using what's called a robotic exoskeleton. derek activates it by shifting his weight. sensors and small motors move his legs, mimi

chris watts says he left for work around 5:00 a.m.ant my family back. >> reporter: on facebook, shannan's brother writing, "i just want to know why. my precious family, bella, celeste and her soon-to-be found out unborn son, nico." >> my husband and i had two beautiful girls. >> reporter: tonight an unspeakable crime, a father of two accused of killing three. miguel almaguer, nbc news. >>> the vatican is breaking its silence some 48 hours after a bombshell grand jury report accused the church in pennsylvania of protecting over 300 predator priests who allegedly sexually abused over 1,000 children. tonight the vatican is expressing "shame and sorrow" and calls the described abuses criminally and morally reprehensible. the vatican says victims should know pope francis is on their side, but also says the church reforms have drastically reduced clergy abuse since the early 2000s. >>> have you dreamed of becoming a doctor when you worry about taking out hundreds of thousands in student loans? well today, one of the top medical schools in t

i wt those kids back so bad. >> reporter: in a 2012 video posted on you tube a chris watts had once spokenxing frayed relationships. most who knew watts say he was devoted father thrled when he learned just weeks ago that his wife was pregnant with their third child. >> pink means? >> that's j a test. >> reporter: but friends say it wasn't always a perfect marriage. the couple had filed for bankruptcy. back in court tuesday, chris watts stands accused of takin o the lives three people who trusted and needed him most. >> that was nbc's ambiguousal almaguer reporting. now when she is charges are filed today, an affidavit with detailsn the crime can also become public information. watts could face life in prison or the death penalty. >>> right now, students at santa fe high school in tas are returning to class for a new school year. this comes three mants after a e.udent opened fire killing ten people th there will be new security measures in place, including a metal detecto more armed officers, and panic buttons in every classroom. but for some parents this isn't enough. they are calling for

i want those kids back so bad. >> reporter: in a 2012 video posted on youtube, a chris watts had onceof fixing frayed relationships. >> and you don't see anything that you have in common anymore. >> reporter: most who knew watts said he was a devoted father, thrilled learning weeks ago his wife was pregnant with their third child. >> pink means? >> that's just a test. >> reporter: friends say it wasn't always a perfect marriage. the couple filed for bankruptcy. back in court tuesday, chris watts stands accused of taking the lives of three people who trusted and needed him most. >> miguel almaguer reporting there. today charging documents could be public and face life in prison or the death penalty. >>> there's a call to end late-night jail releases. protesters rallied last night after a woman was found hours after being released the demonstrators were joined by nancy skinner vowing to make changes after the mother was found dead at the dublin b.a.r.t. station in july. she died from an apparent overdose after being released from the santa clarita jail about 1:00 in the morning and repo

chris watts was arrested last week. e bodies of his wife and two children were discovered on the property owned by the oil company where watts worked. the cause of their deaths has not been made public. police have not released any information about a possible motive. >>> in nashville a man hunt is underway for two gunmen that alleged killed two people. the victims were gunned down outside of a bar early friday morning. investigators say it's possible the murders are connecticut -- connected to at least three other shootings this month. >> and the man detained by officials as he drove his pregnant wife to the hospital last week plans to file a court motion today. he was obtained because of a warrant in mexico. >> reporter: surveillance video shows her nine months pregnant and hysterical on the phone. i.c.e. agents just arrested their husband surrounding their car at the gas station while they were on the way to the hospital to give birth by a scheduled c-section. >> translator: they asked if i could show some i.d., she s

her husband, chris watts. before his arrest, chris watts expressing concern as their disappearance prompted a statewide emergency alert. >> i was trying to get home as nafta as i can. i was going through stop lights. was going through everything trying to gets home fast as i can because none of this made sense. >> police are trying to get swers to the questions everyone now wants to know. authorities have not released any new evidence to the public after searching in and around the family home with dogs. but police have scheduled a news conference or t 10:s morning to provide updates on this pregnant mother and her children. >> in an unprecedented move, president trump has yanked thea security cce for former cia chief john brennan, vocal trump critic. secretary sanders making the announcement aanusing bref erratic behavior and abusing his access without offeringce evid louisiana senator john kennedy defended the move saying, americans expect intelligence experts to be above politics. >> mr. brennan has demonst

it is never just financial problems. >> reporter: mary ellen o'toole says chris watts' emotional state appeared off when he appeared on tv earlier this week. >> i just hope right now she is somewhere safe and maybe she is waher so bad. i want those kids back d. >> wsomebodyki own famid go on o say but i didn't have anything to do with it, that's a lot of arrogance, confidence that you can pull this off. and that is not typical. >> reporter: carter evans, cbs news, los angeles. >>> back in the bay area, a horse had to be rescued after taking a tumble on a trail in point reyes. national park rangers got the animal back on its feet with a little help from his friends at the marin firefighters. the horse was given food and water and was checked out by a vet. >>> well, couples across the bay area and the country are saying i do. that is because today is 2018's most popular day to get married. >> why would that be, do you suppose? da lin explains. >> to be your lawful wedded wife? >> i do. >> i love you so much. >> i pronounce you husband and wife. you may kiss your bride. >> reporter: weddi

chris watts is being held in the county jail awaiting charges. yesterday he pleaded for his family's safe return. >>> in connecticut police are investigating an overdose outbreak of k2, a synthetic marijuana affecting people at a park in new haven. people fell ill throughout the day yesterday. a man who's believed to be connected to some of the indianapolis accidents has been arrested. tony dokoupil has ow report. >> reporter: calls began streaming in. >> emergency 1, responding to an alarm, new haven green. >> reporter: dozens of people suffering from nausea, vomiting, some unconscious, suspected of overdosing on a synthetic marijuana known as k2. >> even when we were trying to return people to service, they were passing victims on the ground. >> reporter: during the press conference, another victim. >> we're getting another call. >> reporter: emergency workers rushing to respond. >> he's not moving. >> come on, katy, let's go. >> reporter: the drug enforcement administration has tried to crack down on the distribution of k2, but it hasn't stopp

there he is, chris watts. he is charged with their murder, five counts.e strangled his wife after she killed their children. prosecutors are not buying that. more now from scott mcklain who is in colorado. >> reporter: police say that chris watts confessed had killing his wife but not their two young daughters. according to a police affidavit, he told investigators he had woken up early on the morning of august 13 and told his wife he wanted to separate. he then went downstairs and when he came back up, he says that she had strong strangled his da. then in a fit of rage he says he actually strangled her to death. there's one key detail the police say he left out, that he had been having an extramarital affair with a co-worker. prosecutors in colorado say chris watts was not the family man he seemed to be. charges against the father of two were filed for the death of his wife and 3 and 4-year-old girls, a felony charge for the death of their unborn child and three counts of tampering with a deceased human body. >> i am shanann's dad. this is her brother. w

chris watts faces nine felony charges, five counts of first degree murder, three counts of tam tampering with a body and one count of unlawful termination of a preeing sivment 34-year-old shinan watts and the two twawrgts were reported missing last monday. >> if somebody has her, please bring her back. >> the next day, chris even talked to local reporters and begged for his family to just come back >> i just want them back. >> mr. watts, why did you kill your wife and two children? >> reporter: the 33-year-old father was arrested wednesday after he confessed to murdering his wife and the two girls. their bodies were found on thursday at an oil field where chris once worked. shannan was found in a shallow grave. the children were found submerged in tanks filled with crude oil. a local paper reported that watts would be told of his charges while still in jail, rot, jeff, tomorrow he will be ma a courtroom. >> glor: omar villafranca asking the question. prosecutors saying they have not decided on the death penalty decision yet. omar, thanks. tpe francis did something today no other pope has

the girls were found inside oilas tanks on the property where their father chris watts worked, perhaps to hide them or disguise the scent. >> my daddy is a hero. >> reporter: police say watts murdered his family and told the world they were >> i just want them home so bad. >> reporter: before his arrest, watts stayed with the fa fayers, closly friends. >> we thought wenew m and obviously we didn't. >> reporter: whi most knew the watts as a happy couple, expecting their third child. >> mommy h a baby in her belly. >> yay. >> reporter: they say shanann expected fatality and the pair filed for ptcy. >> investigators will know whether or not he had a girlfriend, how deep financial trouble he was in and whether he wanted to be alone and being a parent was too much for him. >> reporter: after pleading for the public's help, watts nvaid little in court. our affiliate saying he confessed to the crime. >> the girls had the laughs of angels and they had t hearts of angels. >> reporter: three lives police say taken away by the man who was supposed to protect them. here at the family sahome where

her girls were her world. >> reporter: police also say chris watts was having an affair. just two months ago, he and his wife were celebrating another child on the way. >> so pink means? >> that's just the test. >> but pink is going to be girls? >> i don't know. >> that's awesome. >> reporter: on the day his family went missing, he allegedly told shannan he wanted weemeparate. rg sabui' but it's -- i just want them back. this plea to cameras, police say watts led them to three bodies hidden at this colorado oil ring aicre of suburban bliss. >> keep the prayers coming for our family. >> reporter: watts has not yet entered a plea. david? >> thank you. >>> there's still much more ahead. the powerful storms we're tracking. >>> the mystery gunman opening fire on a high-rise. different apartments hit in new york city. residents inside. >>> and derailment triggering evacuations. leaking gas involved. a lot more news ahead. n be a bi. that's why there's otezla. otezla is not an injection or a cream. it's a pill that treats differently. for psoriasis, 75% clearer skin is achievabl

chris watts will be back in court on tuesday. monday to bring charges against him. back to you, christine, ryan. >>> paul, thank you. the vatican says it condemns the sexual abuse of minors. pressure had been building on the pope to address the grand jury report describing the crimes of 300 predator priests in pennsylvania. the vatican says the church must learn hard lessons and abuses described in the report are criminal and morally reprehensible. those were betrayals of the trusts that rob survivors of their dignity and faith. he hopes the church will embrace the grand jury recommendations and including eliminating the statute of limitations. >>> broncos general manager john elway in the market for a back-up quarterback. colin kaepernick was an option. why he isn't anymore. andy scholes has the bleacher report when we come back. chanit. then, use the ultimate power handshake, the upper hander with a double palm grab. who has the upper hand now? start winning today. book now at lq.com. is not a marathon. it's a series of smart c

chris watts faces life i prison or the death penalty.he death penalty. at this point he say is just too early to know. hoda back to you. >> miguel almaguer, thank you. >>> ramping up with attacks on the russia probe, the president now says he could take cthrge of investigation if he wanted to. the president told "reuters" overnight, i can go in and do whatever, i could run it if i want to. but i decided to stay out. asked if he would sit for an interview with the prosecutor e president said he is leaning against it. he's ccerned anything he says to mueller under oath could lead to what rudy giuliani calls a perjury trap. >> i think we got the news cored should we do a boost? >> yes. >> a little boy named garrett put his patriotism at a new england's patriot's game. take a listen. ♪ >> his enthusiasm so contagious, more than 2 million people have checked him out online at that performance. >> knows the words better than a lot of adults. >> those are not easy words ei er. >> no. >>> just ahead, the truth about those bargains. >> i'm jeff r

i want to play sound from chris watts. out his family before reportedly confessing to the murder. take a listen. >> i'm hoping right now she's m just -- she's there but right now it's just like if she's vanished, like i want her back so bad. i want those kids back so bad. last night i wanted that knock on the door. i wanted to see those kids just running bishop barrel rush me and knock me on the ground. >> what do you see there, john? what do you hear there or perhaps just as important what don't you hear from chris watts? >> well, he gives a statement that seems on the surface to be sincere and it's what you would expect to hear but other detectives would see the same thing. he's very flat. he doesn't have any emotion. he's saying the right thing but there is nothing convincing about it. like an act he's putting on and he's not a very good actor. >> talk about getting into the brain of somebody like that who reportedly confessed to these murders. we see a lot of horrible stories where a husband kills his wife but this is d

a filing by watts defense team asks for dna samples to be taken from the girl's necks and hands. a judge sealed the arrest affidavit explaining why investigators believe chriskilled his family. that document is expected to be made public monday when he is formally charged. >> you can see watts shared so much of her family's lives on social media. but as the case for all of us, social media can't paint a complete picture. we have since learned through court document that's this family had financial struggles. in 2015, chris and his wife filed for bankruptcy. that was after they bought this house behind me and asked that valued value at $400,000. they were about $70,000 in debt. most of that student loans and kr credit card purchases. they were working through. that again that, bankruptcy filing three years ago. but this is the kind of information that investigators will be pouring through as they look to answer this question we're all asking and that's why. anna, we expect to see chris watts in court tuesday morning. >> thank you. such a disturbing story. i want to talk to a man who defended someone accused of killing their pregnant wife, mark geragos was th

clayton sandell was there. >> reporter: chris watts in court, shackled and subdued. against him for the first time, accused of murdering his pregnant wife shanann. she gushed about him on facebook. >> he was the one for me, and he is amazing. >> reporter: and the daughters who adored him. >> my daddy is a hero. >> reporter: watts came face-to-face with shanann's father and brother comforting each other as the judge read a list of crimes. police say watts confessed to killing shanann but then made a staggering claim, that he did it in a fit of rage only after he caught his wife in the middle of strangling celeste and bella. that version prosecutors and friends believe is a lie. >> i now shanann would never hurt her girls, never. her girls were her world. >> reporter: police also say chris watts was having an affair. just two months ago, he and his wife were celebrating another child on the way. >> so pink means -- >> that's just the test. >> pink is going to be girls? that's awesome. >> reporter: on the day his family went missing, he allegedly told shanann he wanted

chris watts, charged with wife, daughters murder: "we had an emotional conversation, i'll leave it athat. i just want them back. i just want them to come back."one day after that interview-- he was arrested. the couple faced financial problems in recent years and filed for bankruptcy in 2015. and according to an unsealed arrest affidavit, investigators say they discovered he was actively involved in an affair with a co-worker. michael rourke, weld county district attorney: "it's been a long week for the frederick police department. obviously for shanann's family. it's been a long week." i'm mary moloney reporting. (grant) (grant) still ahead... caught on camera: a truck crashes through a fence and goes into the water-- trapping a mother, her son and a dog inside. how good samaritans came rushing in to help. (mabrisa bay area weather) (sports tease) what a special season it has been for the a's and their breakout star... ramon laureano.... we'll check in with oakland next... and find out who could be on their way out from san fransico... the latest with the giants is on the way in spor

police say they were killed by the husband, their father, chris watts.atts confessed to the murders and told authorities where to find the bodies. all three were found at a petroleum company where watts had been previously employed. sources also say the children, 4-year-old bella and 3-year-old celeste were hidden inside gas tanks to conceal the smell. their mother was found nearby. she was 15 weeks president and had just posted a video of her surprising her husband and daughters with the news of her pregnancy. >> we did it again? i like that shirt. really? >> really. >> that's awesome. >> on my goodness. come give me a hug. i love you girls. >> i give the baby a hug. >> you want to give the baby a hug? i love you, bella. you're so sweet. give me a kiss. >> such a sweet looking family. relatives and neighbors are simply stunned. some are furious for missing signs they say were hidden in chris watts public plea to help find his family. here he was just before his arrest. >> just come back. if somebody has her, please bring her back. i need to see everybod

but with the help of a court filing last night from chris watts' defense team, we are learning that -h for at least two of the victims could be strangulation. that's because in this filing, the defense is requesting that the court allow dna samples to be taken from those two little girls, from their neck and from their hands. they're also asking for a dna sample from the mother's hands as well as underneath her fingernails. the defense didn't make it clear what they want to do with these samples. it's unclear if the judge will allow that or if that was a part of the autopsy that's already been completed. though that autopsy has been completed, authorities still not yet sharing with us the cause of death for these three victims. >> and, you know, seeing the sentiments of shanann's brother and hearing from the neighbors all week long, people talked about how close, how loving this family is. so now how perplexing is it for somebody to try to figure out what was the motive here if, indeed, this allegation is true? >> yes, why, the biggest question here. and neighbors have told me that's

watts family (quick):"that'll haunt me."even more haunting, why.why would he do this?chris about financial trouble.amanda thayer/friend of the watts family:"we had no idea they were ... financially ... until we spoke to chris on monday." nicholas thayer/friend of the watts family (quick):"he mentioned putting the house up for sale."and last week amanda says shanann confided suspicions of infidelity. amanda thayer/friend of the watts family:"she said that it came to her mind that possibly he could be cheating but at the same time, she was like, you know, he, he has no game." but they say he tricked them. only once when they were with him did they see any red flags. nicholas thayer/friend of the watts family:"it was tuesday afternoon. and it was just, kind of ... i thought ... too easily ways of knowing ... where she could have been. and he didn't seem all that eager to look into it."they called detectives that night to report it.still they say the watts appeared to be a happy family and even if they weren't, no one expected this. amanda thayer/friend of the watts family:"he

chris watts, emotionless in court saturday. stunning drama beginning monday around 2:00 a.m. en shanann watts returns from a business trip. he tells reporters he had a disagreement. >> we had an emotional conversation. i'll leave it at that, but it's -- i just want them back. >> reporter: he claims he leaves shanann, bella and celeste for work around 5:15 a.m. monday, but when shanann, who was pregnant, fails to show up for a doctor announcement, around 2:00 p.m. a concerned friend calls police. by tuesday at 1:00 p.m., chris is on tv pleading for help. >> i need to see everybody. i need to see everybody again. this house is not complete without everybody here. >> reporter: former fbi agent brad garrett telling david trained agents would find him uncon victimsing. he looks down a couple of times and he talks in generalities. >> reporter: just after 11:0030 p.m. wednesday, watts is taken into custody and transported to jail. his story, changing to a confession. family members tell abc the couple was having marriage troubles, but whatever so shattered a seemingly idyllic family

police say the husband and father, chris watts, killed them. that some members of this family may have been strangled. the body of the mother was found on the property of an oil and gas company where chris used to work. the bodies of the children were found inside an oil well. just a few weeks earlier, shannann shared a video announcing her pregnancy to her family. >> we did it again. i like that shirt. really? >> really. >> that's awesome. >> oh, my goodness. come give me hugs. >> oh! i love you girls. >> i'll give the baby a hug. >> i love you, bella. you're so sweet. give me a kiss. >> according to our affiliate, kdvr, shannann had been looking forward to a party today to announce the sex of her third child. watts has been arrested now on three counts of first-degree murder and three counts of tampering with a human body. why he may have done this, still a mystery. kaylee hartung joins us from outside the watts home in colorado. where does the investigation stand? >> reporter: authorities have shared very few details with us, the fact-finding

that's the story that chris watts is telling.re reports he had been having an extra marital affair. >> formal charges against the father were filed today. murder charges for the death of his wife and 3 and 4-year-old girls. and three counts of tampering with a deceased human body. >> i am shanaan's dad. this is her brother. we would like to thank everyone in the frederick police department and all the agencies involved for working so hard to find my daughter, granddaughters and niko. thank you everyone for coming out to the candlelight vigil and saying all your players. they are greatly appreciated. >> after she and her two girls went missing. he said he and his wife got into an argument. >> i want them back. >> nicole atkinson told good morning america she had dropped shanaan off at home after a business trip, the next day, she and her young girls were gone, with so few clues, even from watts. >> he kept saying she didn't know where she was. >> late last week, shanaan was found dead, she was buried in a shallow grave. court docu

her girls were her world. >> reporter: police also say chris watts was having an affair. just two months ago, he and his wife were celebrating another child on the way. >> so pink means? >> that's just the test. >> but pink is going to be girls? >> i don't know. >> that's awesome. >> reporter: on the day his family went missing, he allegedly told shannan he wanted to separate. um isn't, t.weadn l ersation that. but it's -- i just want them back. >> reporter: but two days after this plea to cameras, police say watts led them to three bodies hidden at this colorado oil field. shattering a picture of suburban bliss. >> keep the prayers coming for our family. >> reporter: watts has not yet entered a plea. prosecutors were asked if this could be a death penalty case, but they say it's too early. >> clayton, thank you. >>> there's still much more ahead. the powerful storms we're tracking. the storm system moving into the east next. thunderstorms and dangerous winds on tap. >>> the mystery gunman opening fire on a high-rise. different apartments hit in new york city. residents i

jeff, chris watts will remain in jail.back in court on tuesday. >> glor: difficult story to hear about. omar, thank you. the vatican today broke its silence on the pennsylvania grand jury report about the haxual abuse of children by eatholic priests. the report said the vatican was part of the cover-up. here's nikki battiste. >> reporter: late this afternoon, vatican spokesman greg burke made this statement: >> we can express our feeling in these, described in the report are criminal, they are morally reprehensible. >> reporter: the statement was in response >> reporter: the statement was in response to a two-year pennsylvania grand jury investigation that uncovered decades of sexual abuse by more than 300 clergy members, preying on at least 1,000 minors. a statement from the pennsylvania attorney general's office said the investigation revealed a "systematic cover-up spanning decades by senior church leaders in pennsylvania and the vatican." still, the vatican added this: >> holy father wants to put the victims first. mak

i want to play some sound from chris watts. about his family before confessing, reportedly confessing to the murder. take a listen. >> i'm just hoping right now that she somewheresafe, and maybe she's just, she's there, but right now, it's justlike, if she's vanished, like, i want her back so bad. i wst those k back so bad. last night, i wanted that knock on the door. i wanod see those kids run in, just barrel rush me, just give me a hug and knock me on the ground >> what do you see there, atjoh? o you hear there, or perhaps as important, what don't you see, what don't you hear from chris watts? >> well, he gives statement that seems on the surface to be very sincere, and it's what u'd expect to hear but for somebody who's done this for a while and other detectives would probably see the se thing, and a lot of your viewers would say the same thing. he's very flat.'t he doeave any emotion. he's saying the right things, but there's nothing convincingo it. it's like it's an act that he's putting on and he's not a very good actor. >

. >> chris watts is scheduled to appear in court tomorrow. and the confession sending shockwaves across the country. here is is an would be is an dell. fr >> reporter: chris and shanann watts were well liked. he worked for a petroleum company. she had a job with a wellness company. >> if you're out there, just come back. if somebody has her, please bring her back. >> reporter: on closer examination, suspicion. watts revealing he and his wife exchanged words the morning she disappeared. >> we had an emotional conversation, i'll leave it at that. >> my initial reaction in watching a video of him was this guy's lying. >> reporter: former fbi agent and consultant, brad garrett points to watts' body language in those interviews. >> his body language appears to be almost completely flat. he's standing in front of a reporter, arms are crossed. he's starting to rock which is an anxiety-driven behavior. >> i miss telling them, you got to eat that or you're not going to get your snack afterwards. i miss that. >> it sounds like past tense, talking about

we learned that chris watts' story changed over the course of a two-day investigation.ly he essentially feigned ignorance where his missing wife and daughter could be only telling investigators that he initiated a conversation with his wife about a separation. over the course of that two-day investigation, authorities learned he was having an affair with a co-worker, something he initially denied and admitted. then came his version of a confession which he says that conversation about separation led to this family's tragic turn. he confessed to killing his wife. he says he strangled her in a fit of rage only after he found her strangling both of their daughters. now, he then identified for authorities where he discarded the bodies, interesting enough, authorities had already located the bodies with the help of a drone survey of that petroleum company in the field where he worked. that drone spotted a bed sheet that it turns out was covering shanann watts' shallow grave. now, despite this confession from chris watts, the district attorney here is still charging him with

telling our denver affiliate chris watts has nowonssed to killing his pregnant wife and their two little girls, 3-year-old and 4-year-old. a confession apparently coming just dayhe after ty were first reported missing monday afternn. watts doi media interviews playing the victim. >> it just seems like i'm living in a nightmare and i can't get out of it. i just want them home so bad. >> watts spoke to kuas hours after he claimed his wife and daughters vanished. >> i have no idea where they went. this is earth shattering. >> three days after asking the public's help, the alleged stunning confession. according to local media, watts also reportedly telling investigators he would lead them to their bodies. nbc news has not yet confirmed that report. >> we're missing some people out in the neighborhood, a mother andch her small dren. >> just hours earlier police officially listing the trio as endangered circulating their photos to neighbors in a small suburb outside denver. >> there's a lot the stake and are exploring all avenues. >> questioned by friends and family, watts stuck t this story.

charges against chris watt hasn't been announced. authorities went to the home after a call from a concerned friend. >>> a rural oklahoma school system forced to shutdown for two days this week after a group of adults threatened a transgender girl on facebook. the threats started when the student used the girls bathroom at the middle school. one said it was open hunting season on transgender people. the girl's mother says her daughter is in fear for her life. >> that's scary. these are adults making threats to a child. i don't understand it. to see any fear in her like that. other people, especially adults -- i can't explain how badly that hurts me. >> the public school system resumed classes yesterday. the transgender student's mother filed a protective order against the parents who made the comments. >>> in california, all evacuations for the carr fire have been lifted. the fire burning in the northern part of the state has scorched more than 2,000 acres. the inferno left seven people dead and at last check 67% contained. residents

. >>> more details emerging today when prosecutors in colorado formally charge chris watts with the deathsegnant wife and two little girls. kaylee hartung has more from frederick, colorado. >> reporter: dave and christine, we expect to learn why police believe chris watts murdered his wife and two children. he is expected to be charged later today and with that, we expect to learn more details that have not previously been released. it was a week ago this began to unfold. last monday that shanann and bella and celeste were reported missing. we learned from shanann's facebook and instagram and private moments like when she told her husband she was pregnant with their third child. as the case for all of us, soeg social media did not paint the picture. the couple filed for bankruptcy in 2015. by all accounts, they were working their way out of debt. this is the information that investigators with will comb through as they look to answer our biggest question. why. dave and christine. >> stunning story. thank you. >>> florida's tourism board launching a program to help with the red tide. this h

information on the arrest and interrogation of suspect chris watts. according to the affidavits watts said he was swrg an affair and he asked for a separation. he claimed she killed the kids and he killed her in a fit of rage. prosecutors say they are not buying any of it. neighbors are trying to grasp p t -- grasp the chain of events. >> watts is expected to be back in court today and could face the death penalty if he is convicted. >>> happening today first responders will remember those who lost their lives on the job. they will take a casket from concord to walnut creek. it is called the spirit ride. it is the slow down, move over law. the procession starts at 10:00 this morning. >>> happening today the plan to overhaul one of the busiest re they will debate will create de geary. the board will discuss others to access the lanes once completed. we'll have a closer look at 5:30. >>> coming up here on today in the bay attempts to hack the upcoming midterm election already detected, the help microsoft is offering. >>> if your child enjoys soda they m

nicholas and amanda thayer say they let chris watts stay with them the night his wife and daughters wereeported missing.that was before police in frederick, colorado arrested watts on three counts of first degree murder and three counts of tampering with a human body.amanda thayer / friend of watts family: we loved shanann and those girls so much.police found the body of chris watts' wife shanann thursday on the property of a petroleum and gas company where watts previously worked. hours later, they found two bodies nearby believed to be four-year-old bella and three-year-old celeste.just a couple of a months ago, shanann had posted a facebook video of the moment she told her husband she was pregnant with their third child.chris watts / june 2018: guess when you want to, it happens.before his arrest, watts had pleaded for their return.chris watts / tuesday: if somebody has her, and they're not safe, like, i want them back now. i had every light in the house on. i was hoping i would just get ran over by the kids running in the door, just barrel rushing me.he acknowledged he and his wife h