shannan watts arrived home from a business trip at 2:00 a.m. monday.t home. >> i just want them people to know that i want 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 loa

in a statement today, shannan's family expressed their hurt, confusion, and anger.for the family. people in this neighborhood are shocked and really horrified at what happened. jeff, chris watts will remain in jail. he's facing three murder charges and is expected 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 reveal

. >> at this point, we have been able to recover a bodye're quite certain is shannan was. >> her husbandegedly confessing to killing her and thr two young daughters. >>> good news for ose with life-threatening allergies. after outrage over skyrocketing costs, a cheaper version of a life-sayindevice will finally hit the market. > and mini van safety alert, one of the most popular rlmodels scoring poo in the latest crash tests. what your family needs to know before you buy. >> announcer: this is "nbc nightly news" with lester holt. >>> good evening, everyone. incomparable, perhaps the only word that can e capture the magnit of aretha franklin's talents and her impact can music. hers was a voice like no other, with autsy ul that transcended musical boundaries. ♪ at last, my love has comelong ♪ ♪ my loneliness >> by now you have likely heard that arenatranklin died home today in detroit from pancreatic cancer. she was 76. we knew her as the queen of soul. the tamber of her voice could give you chills and tears, and there are plenty of those tonight. we begin with our look back the aretha. ♪

watts didn't explain to police why he loaded the bodies into his truck and buried his wife, shannan, in a shallow grave and daughters in oil tanks. he's going to be in court tomorrow. kelley trippy was friends with thannan, and says she doesn't believe watts' story.ev dthink he shoulve>> hould havei it." he should have said, "i'm a ( bleep ). i'm, i am completely a monster." >> glor: omar, so hard to hear e,out this case, but still so edch police work that needs to be done. what is next here? >> reporter: watts will be back in court in november. he's expected to enter a plea. but, jeff, we still do not know if the district attorney plans p pursue the death penalty in this case. >> glor: omar villafranca, thank you very much. still ahead here tonight, a midwestern city hit by nearly a foot of rain. ases". think about all the double miles you could be earning... (loud) holy moley that's a lot of miles!!! shhhhh! ♪ what's in your wallet? shhhhh! ...to give you the protein you need with less of the sugar you don't. i'll take that. [cheers] 30 grams of protein and 1 gram of sugar. new ens

they wanted samples from the little girls' ands and shannan's neck.well, when the judge received this request, he essentially said, i am not going to tell the medical examiner's office how to do their job. it is not so say it was not collected on their own volition. but the judge did deny that particular request. the results have not been shared publicly. >> shannan watts shared that she had health challenges. she struggled with the disease lupus. what can you tell us about that and what else was happening in their lives prior to this horrific crime. >> reporter: she shared so much of her life on social media. you c you can see photos of them vacationing on the beach. and also sharing personal moments like that moment we have all seen now of her telling her husband that she was pregnant with their third child. we learned that her little girl celeste suffered from allergy problems and bella had to see a chi chiropractor. she used products giving her more energy and focus. this product gave her the energy to wake up at 4:00 a.m. and begin completing ite

. >> 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 last time i talked to him, he said i want to cry and i said why aren't you? >> chris watts said he strangled the girls and he went into a rage and strangled her. he was actively involved in an affair with a coworker. abc news, los angeles. >> in the east bay, an unusual discovery on a hayward street has police searching for answers. an officer found these two boxes near the intersection of main street and mckiefer. they appear to be uppers with ashes inside. if you recognize the boxe

. >> at this point, we have been able to recover a body we're quite certain is shannan watts. >> her confessing to killing her and their two young

. >> 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 achievable, with reduced redness, thickness, and scaliness of plaques. and for psoriatic arthritis, otezla is proven to reduce joint swelling, tenderness, and pain. and the otezla prescribing information has no requirement for routine lab monitoring. don't use if you're allergic to otezla. otezla ma

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 done. he wrote directly to all of the world's catholics about the sex abuse scandal. he said the church had abandoned its children, begged victims for forgiveness, and he said the church must spare no effort to root out predator priests. more on this from jan crawford. >> reporter: the letter was unprecedented and blunt: "we showed no care for the little e es," the pope wrote, "we abandoned them." nearly a week after the release of a sweeping pennsylvania grand jury investigation, the pope condemned the atrocities y ffered by at least 1,000 minors at the hands of nearly 300 clergy members over 70 years. but

. >> 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 inside. >>> and the major train derailment triggering if you have moderate to severe little things can be a big deal. 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 achievable, with reduced redness, th

honoring shannan watts and bella and celeste. the husband and father christopher watts after pleaing for their return, reportedly confessed to their death. >>> crowds clearing the stands in panic at a football game in florida. two men were wounded. one in critical condition. officials say it was quote, a targeted act. no students were involved. but the shooting did happen at the game. >>> check this out. a thief caught on home security. grabbing packages from a home in central florida. then, when authorities shared photos of the suspect, he returns to the scene of his crime and returns some of what he stole. along with handwritten note, saying he did it on a dare. and prays that he can be forgiven. >>> when we come back -- the incredible discovery made on a dna testing site and two girls whose lives are now forever changed. stay with us. ito take care of anyct messy situations.. and put irritation in its place. and if i can get comfortable keeping this tookus safe and protected... you can get comfortable doing the same with yours

. >> and our local affiliate is saying that shannan watts is the one buried in a deep grave and the twofound inside of an oil tank. does that tell you anything? >> well, if the father is responsible, this is a place of employment, but putting the two little girls in the oil vat, it could have been done for a variety of reason, and one of which, and i don't mean to be, and i don't want to become too graphic, but it could have sped up the dele comp process of the little girls. but, putting the mother in the shall d shallow grave in an area where he worked dissociates him with the crime if he is in fact the one that is responsible. >> we don't know the exact cause of death, but the defense has filed documents suggesting strangulation occurred. is that significant? >> well, lit depend, and the medical examiner is going to the offer an opinion of cause of death for all three people, but what i did find interest, and i have to say that i havet not seent it before where the defense counsel would come in to request certain types of work to be done by the medical examiner and almost pointing the

that is the father of shannan watts. he listened as charges were read. including five counts of first degree murder. prosecutors say he ild his pregnant wife and two daughters earlier this month. watts denies tt and said he saw that in a fit of afrage. r she learned he wanted to se rate. >>> facebook removed hundreds of facebook says they covertly hread political content to people, includine in the u.s. some of the accounts originated in iran and some in russia. gator bowl also says that some of the accounts attempted to attack other facebook accountpr andd malware. >>> people in hawaii preparing for a category 5 hurricane named hurricane lanemen it's moving toward a string of islands and could hitowtomo people spent yesterday stocking up on supplies as the storm gets closer. it could bring torrential winds, flooding. the red cross preparing to open shelters.ir at strike on parts of the hawaiian islands is possible late this week. 6:09 our time right now. arlington national cemetery is the final resting place thousands of our heroes. s to makee ground is

. >> had an argument with shannan. i love my daughters. we had an emotional conversation.but it's -- i just want them back. ha. >> reporter: police say watts is being held without bond at the weld county jail. john schiumo, cbs news. >>> a jury in virginia is expected to start deliberating today in the tax evasion and fraud trial of former trump campaign chairman paul manafort. the manafort trial is considered the first courtroom test for special counsel robert mueller's investigation although it has absolutely nothing to do with u.s. election interference by russia. manafort is charged with 18 felony counts in the case. >>> 6:39. california lawmakers have agreed to give the dmv millions of dollars to reduce wait times. but there are some strings attached. >> and a former tesla worker accuses the company of putting its customers in danger. >> and the market just opened up about 10 minutes ago. let's get a look at the big board. the dow is up about 284 points! coming up, we'll get an update from kcbs radio's financial reporter jason brooks. you know when you're at ross shop

s >> at this point we've recovered a body that we believe is shannan watts'nd bodye have reason to believe >> front door locked. >> reporter: on monday wattshe reportedhree missing telling authorities his wife returned from a work trip2:t a.m. and that they had had an emotional conversation before he left for work at 5:00. after that his wife started responding to text messages and didn't answe the door when a friend stopped b the disappearance is sparking a search. >> missing some people out oho the neighb, a mother and her small children. >> reporter: and prompting a plea from watts for their return. >> i just want them people to know i wantily f barks like i want them safe, and i want them here. >> reporter: words law enforcement believe rings as the community begins to mourn the loss of a young mother, her unborn child and two little girls. ♪ you make me feel ♪ you make me feel ♪ youake me feel like a natural woman ♪ >> she was o one those powerful voices to grace the airwaves, her music transaccepteded genres and inspired generations of artists, so we begin this evening with the life

. >> at this point, we have been able to recover a bodye're quite certain is shannan was. >> her husband their two young

but as the charges were read, shannan's father put his hands over his face sobbing. >> this is an incredible of arkansas. a 3-year-old and 1-year-old managed to survive for days after a car crash killed their mother. the older child was found monday morning after police received a 911 call about a boy walking himself along a state authority. authorities later found his little boy alive still strapped in his car seat when the vehicle was discovered in a ravine. police believe the accident may have happened thursday. police are calling the boys' survival nothing short of a miracle. >> oh, my gosh. that is so heart-wrenching when i think about the little boys in the car alone. and whatever conversation they had before the 3-year-old struck out to go, to leave the car, and i guess try to get help. and the fact that he was found on the highway and spotted is just -- it's incredible. >> it shows you what a 3-year-old is capable of and what strength they can possess at that age. >>> back to the top story, the president of the united states accused in court by his long-time attorney of coordinating

christopher watts telling investigators he would lead them to the bodies of his wife, 34-year-old shannaneir daughters. >> we are working around the clock on this case. >> reporter: in a tv interview, watts admitted that before the disappearance, he and shaanan exchanged heated words. >> we had an emotional conversation. >> reporter: he said he last saw his family around 5:00 a.m. monday when he left their colorado home for work. >> just come back. if somebody has her, just please bring her back. >> reporter: her friend, nicole, says she got worried when shaanan, who is also 15 weeks pregnant missed a doctor's appointment and woul texts. >> i just can't understand. if you're hearing this or you're out there, please, please let somebody know you're okay. >> reporter: shaanan's friends tell us her phone and keys were found here at the home. local police now getting help from the fbi. clayton sandell, frederick, colorado. >> and authorities plan a press conference a little later on this morning. >>> and in the east, the power is back on at reagan international airport. two feeder lines faile

early monday morning a colleague dropped shannan watts at her home after a business trip to arizon.chrise saw her when he left for work ... but when he tried to call and text her later, there was no response. on monday afternoon, police did a welfare check, and found her purse and keys, but no one home.on tuesday federal and state agents entered the case ... and watts himself made a public plea. 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. "did you guys get into an argument before she left?" "it wasn't an argument. we had an emotional conversation - but i'll leave it at that, but it's - i just want them back. i just want them to come back. "we feel -- we feel stupid."nicholas thayer and his wife amanda say they believed watts at first and invited him to stay at theyr home.but something seemed off. "it

watts said he went to a range and strangled shannan to death.hen she got it and it was really quick. >> reporter: police say he later admitted he dumped tir bodies at this oil field. the d.a. who is not buying his story has nott alleged a p-- a motive but it is believed he had an affair with a co-worker and the watts defense team a that the coroner do dna swab on the children's necks, raising queseons whether they may b looking for evidence of the mother's dna there. >> weegged him as the perfect family. >> the lindstrom's saw watts and his girls at a party hours before the murders and say everythi seemed normal. >> at one point c.c. had fallen on the swing set and he ran over and got her and comforted her and -- just like a normal dad would. and they were just here. they were justndlaying they -- they didn't know and they didn't -- they didn't deserve it. >> reporter: for "today," kristin dahlgren, nbc news, denver. >>> also in the headlines, in georgia three victims are recovering after a coffee shop explosion that was caught on camera. securi