5,0 de 5 estrellas
Great read for those interested in the Watts case and sociopaths, psychopaths and/or narcissists
Revisado en los Estados Unidos 🇺🇸 el 6 de enero de 2020
I was drawn into the Watts family murder case immediately. From the very beginning of the media coverage, where Chris Watts was so clearly lying as he falsely and numbly pleaded for the safe return of his family, I was drawn into the case in order to figure out what exactly had happened. How is it possible that a seemingly happy family who looked so perfect on social media could wind up dead with one person in prison for life for their murders? I am not one to read a book cover-to-cover right away, but I did so with this book. I felt as though I knew everything about the case that had been previously supplied to the public, but this author provided articles, texts, and quotes from other individuals involved that I had never read or heard before.
I really appreciated the diagnostic breakdown of what the author felt was so dangerously different and wrong with Chris Watts. I also appreciated how she delved into the lust factor concerning Nicole Kessinger. I think most people are so quick to simply label Chris Watts as a sociopath, psychopath, and/or a narcissist without exploring what preceded the eruption of such dangerous behavior as well as the dynamics in play prior to the murders. What transpired prior to the annihilation of the Watts family was, for Chris Watts, a perfect breeding ground for the murders to take place, including: Chris Watts' psychopathology, the background and history of Chris and Shanann Watts' families of origin, the personalities of Chris Watts and Shanann Watts, their financial woes, the stress of raising a family (including quotes from Chris Watts that were filled with contempt regarding his daughters and wife), Chris Watts being addicted to Kessinger and the high she brought him, and more. However, perhaps the most perplexing fact was that Chris Watts may have always been different than the average human being, but he showed no signs of dangerous or violent behaviors prior to the murders. I believe that the author competently explored this issue in this book.
The author explores the relationship of the couple and their families as well as their personalities and I believe that she does so in an honest and objective manner. Shanann was the more dominant partner, something that is apparent by the numerous personal videos uploaded online, which are still available by accessing Shanann's public Facebook profile. Shanann admitted in these videos that Chris will do anything that she says. I appreciate how the author makes sure to explain that Chris Watts chose to annihilate his family; Chris Watts is a grown man and could have decided to divorce, leave, move, or he could have picked a different life partner in the first place. Remember, Chris Watts initially pursued Shanann and not the other way around. I cringe when I heard people blame Shanann for her own murder. If Chris Watts was truly unhappy and longed for a "fresh start" with his girlfriend because his wife was so dominant, he could have squirreled away cash, filled his gas tank, and left for Mexico, abandoning his responsibilities behind in Colorado. I firmly believe that Shanann, although devastated, would have been perfectly capable of raising her brood of three successfully on her own. Why kill everyone? Because Chris Watts could not have simply left and been known to others as someone who had abandoned his family; he could not have been known to others as a cheater, a liar, a neglectful husband/father, or a bad guy. Chris Watts needed and wanted the adoration of others.
A few thoughts:
On page 25, the author supplies quotes from Officer Coonrod's body camera whilst he was initially going through the Watts family home and simultaneously interviewing Chris Watts. When I first watched this video, I was struck by how much of a blatant liar Chris was! He seemed proud of what he had done and the secrets he was hiding. The way Chris Watts explained to Officer Coonrod in the walk-in closet that Shanann "said she was gonna.... take.... the.... kids....." while motioning with his hands to over-enunciate what Shanann had supposedly said she was going to do; that is such a clear sign of a lie. Likewise, throughout the case, Chris Watts would sneer, giggle, and often spoke of the girls in the past-tense (e.g. "She loved those boots" instead of "She loves those boots" while being interviewed by Coder and Lee as well as when he was showing the officers Celeste's bathroom - which was locked - Chris explains that "they would go in there" and play in the bathroom instead of saying, "They go in there"). All throughout the case, it was always shocking to me how many times Chris Watts slipped up and said they would, did, had, used to, liked, etc.
All in all, I am very pleased that I purchased this book and I appreciated the explanations it provided concerning the psychopathology of Chris Watts.
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