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Although I am familiar with the Chris Watts story from shows I’ve seen on TV, this book went into so much more detail. Of course there’s no question about who did it. But I keep wondering WHY. I think this book does a great job at painting a picture of his life with Shanann and how this may have affected him negatively. Nothing against Shanann at all, but I think it was a toxic relationship where Shanann was the dominant one. From the info the book provides on Chris and his early personality in high school, it is clear that he is an introvert and maybe even put Shanann on a pedestal to where he would do anything to please her.
At some point, he started coming into a new mindset. He started working out, had a girlfriend, was feeling confident, and his self esteem had increased to what was probably the highest it had ever been. Then, he snapped. He couldn’t take it anymore. He couldn’t take the person he was around Shanann anymore. He couldn’t take the person Shanann made him feel he was anymore. And he snapped. She might have said something that triggered him by insulting his manhood or his masculinity.
What I don’t understand is why the kids! From all accounts, he seemed like a doting father. But the book does mention that the girls, as they got older, began mimicking their mom in how she talked to their dad and in some of the things she said to him. I think his original plan was not to get rid of the kids, just Shanann. But that morning, I think one of the girls said something or did something or looked at him the way Shanann would and this set him off sending him into a rage due to his anger with Shanann. He didn’t want any reminders. He never wanted to feel that way again - less of a man or a loser or always playing second fiddle, which is probably what he felt around her towards the end. So he went into a rage and reacted to shut the girls up. Now how or why he made the decision to place them in the oil barrels, I cannot even fathom. It is sickening. He must have been in a very dark place and possessed by a demon or a greater force than him. He did seem to have two personalities - there seemed to be two different Chris’s like the detectives revealed.
Chris Watts is one of the reasons I want to know more about forensic psychology. I want to know what went on in his head. I’m not sure if we will ever know what really happened because he’s changed the story so many times and has said he will take what really happened to the grave with him. What could have happened that was so bad that he will take it to the grave?! That’s why I think Shanann insulted his manhood or masculinity. He felt even less of a man than ever before because of whatever she did or said that night or that morning. I think he is so embarrassed by repeating out loud what she did or said that he would rather remain silent and protect that piece of himself.
But what did he really think was going to happen in the long run? Did he really think he was going to get away with it and be able to live a life with his new girlfriend? And she (the girlfriend) admits she wasn’t even that into him. So what would have happened to her when she finally decided to break it off with him!!?
I think what threw a kink into his whole chain that day was Shanann’s nosey friend who called the cops. And good for Shanann to have such an amazing friend that would know something was not right and take action immediately!! Chris NEVER planned for this kink in the chain!
I will discuss this more in the future, but I don’t believe Scott Peterson should have been found guilty. I see similarities between these two cases, though. The fact that there was no forensic evidence at either scene. That doesn’t work in Scott’s favor because it shows he could have suffocated Laci and loaded her into his trunk - similarly to what Chris did. However, as I will get into later, there was too much reasonable doubt in Scott’s case.
How I wish we did know the absolute truth about what happened with Shanann and the girls and what happened to Laci and Connor. I think it would give forensic psychologists a few more clues into the minds of a murderer and a family annihilator. I also want to discuss, at some point, the podcast, Murder in Illinois, which had people divided on innocence or guilt, but this case had strong evidence.
What are your opinions or insights into the mind of Chris Watts? I would love to hear from a forensic psychologist to find out what kind of mindset or mental state he was in and is now in. Please leave your comments below or on the forum page. Any trolling or negative comments will be deleted. Please be respectful of others' comments/opinions. I am not a professional.
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