Colorado man charged with murdering pregnant wife and daughters a week after making 'desperate plea for their safe return'

Chirs Watts was 'in a rage' before he attacked his family, court documents allege

A man has been charged with murdering his pregnant wife and two daughters, less than a week after he made a desperate public plea for their safe return.

Documents filed by prosecutors in Colorado's Weld County Court alleged that Chris Watts was "in a rage" when he strangled his wife Shannan at their home in the town of Frederick. He had told that he wanted a separation, they said.

​He has also been charged with the murder of his three-year-old daughter Celeste and four-year-old Bella.

Mr Watts has been charged with nine felony charges, including two counts of murdering a child, one count of unlawful termination of a pregnancy and three counts of tampering with a deceased body.

All three of the bodies were discovered at a petroleum company where Mr Watts had previously worked. Ms Watts’ body was found in a shallow grave near oil tanks. The bodies of the two children were later found inside oil tanks nearby.

Court documents said that investigators learned that Mr Watts had been having an affair with a colleague. He initially denied that relationship to police, but later admitted that he had initiated a conversation with her about them separating, they said.

Shannan Watts regularly posted photos on social media with her husband, who allegedly killed her (Shannan Watts via Instagram)

He claimed that he had only killed his spouse after discovering that she had murdered the girls, they added.

A search for Ms Watts was initiated after she failed to show up to a doctor’s appointment, and a friend went to check on her to find that her car was still in the garage alongside two car seats.

The friend called Mr Watts, who returned to his home to find police already at the property.

Mr Watts then reportedly let the officers into his home, where Ms Watts’ purse was found in the kitchen. Officers observed that sheets and blankets had been stripped off of the couple’s bed, but did not see any signs of foul play.

Mr Watts later appeared on local television, where he pleaded for the safe return of his family.

“I’m just hoping right now that she’s somewhere safe. I just want them home so bad,” he said.

Friends and family have posted messages on social media expressing shock and dismay at the deaths.

A review of Ms Watts’ social media posts shows her frequently praising her husband.

The couple announced the most recent pregnancy online in June, when Ms Watts posted a photo of Mr Watts being handed a pregnancy test that showed the baby was on he way.