CHRIS WATTS REPORTEDLY SEEKS PRISON WEDDING WITH NEW LOVE INTEREST YEARS AFTER KILLING HIS FAMILY

Eight years after the murders of his pregnant wife and two young daughters, convicted killer Chris Watts is reportedly preparing to marry a woman he met while behind bars.

WAUPUN, Wis. — Chris Watts, the Colorado man serving multiple life sentences for killing his pregnant wife and two daughters, has reportedly found a new romantic partner — and the relationship may be heading toward marriage.

According to reports cited by FOX 5 NY and PEOPLE, Watts has applied to marry Lizzie Henderson, a 39-year-old licensed real-estate agent whom he reportedly met while incarcerated.

The revelation has sparked widespread reaction because Watts is serving multiple life sentences without the possibility of parole for the 2018 murders of his wife, Shanann Watts, and their daughters, Bella and Celeste.

A RELATIONSHIP THAT BEGAN BEHIND BARS

Watts, now 41, is incarcerated at Dodge Correctional Institution in Wisconsin.

PEOPLE reports that Henderson has visited him nearly two dozen times over a 15-month period.

According to reports, the relationship has become serious enough that the pair have applied to marry through the Wisconsin prison system.

Henderson has reportedly moved from Ohio to Wisconsin, bringing her closer to the prison where Watts is serving his sentence.

She has also reportedly begun using the name “Lizzie Watts.”

Court records confirm that a Lizzie Henderson filed a confidential legal name-change application, although the details of that proceeding remain sealed.

WHO IS LIZZIE HENDERSON?

Henderson has largely kept her personal life private.

Reports identify her as a licensed realtor who previously lived in Ohio and later relocated to Wisconsin.

She reportedly acknowledged that some people may find her relationship with Watts unusual.

In comments reported by Us Weekly, Henderson said that how the relationship began was private between herself, Watts and God.

She has also described Watts as a born-again Christian.

The relationship appears to have developed through communication and visits while Watts was incarcerated.

THE MAN SHE CHOSE IS SERVING LIFE FOR A FAMILY MURDER

Watts pleaded guilty in November 2018 to killing his wife and daughters.

Shanann was 34 years old and pregnant with the couple’s third child.

Their daughters, Bella and Celeste, were 4 and 3.

Watts initially gave investigators a false account of what had happened, but he eventually admitted responsibility for all three killings.

He was sentenced to multiple consecutive life terms without the possibility of parole.

The case became one of the most notorious family-homicide cases in the United States.

Before his arrest, Watts publicly appeared to be searching for his missing wife and children.

Within days, investigators uncovered evidence that transformed the missing-person investigation into a murder case.

THE FAMILY HE LEFT BEHIND

On August 13, 2018, Shanann, Bella and Celeste were reported missing from their Colorado home.

Shanann had recently returned from a business trip when she disappeared.

Her friend became concerned after she failed to respond and eventually contacted authorities.

Watts initially told investigators that he did not know where his family was.

He even appeared on television asking for their safe return.

But the investigation quickly turned toward him.

Two days later, Watts confessed to killing Shanann.

He initially attempted to blame Shanann for the deaths of the girls, claiming she had killed them after he told her he wanted to separate.

Investigators did not accept that explanation.

He ultimately pleaded guilty to killing all three.

NOW HE WANTS TO MARRY AGAIN

The reported marriage application has created an extraordinary contrast.

Watts will never leave prison as a free man.

Yet he is reportedly planning a wedding.

If the marriage takes place, it would occur entirely within the prison system and would not change his sentence.

He remains imprisoned for life without parole.

The reported relationship has nevertheless generated intense public reaction, with many people struggling to understand why someone would voluntarily pursue a romantic relationship with a convicted family killer.

WATTS HAS HAD FEMALE PEN PALS BEFORE

This is not necessarily the first time Watts has attracted romantic attention while incarcerated.

PEOPLE reports that he has a history of corresponding with women while in prison.

His case has generated a substantial amount of interest from people who have written to him, discussed him online or attempted to establish relationships with him.

The reported relationship with Henderson appears to be considerably more serious than simply exchanging letters, however, given the reported prison visits and marriage application.

THE MARRIAGE WOULD NOT CHANGE HIS FUTURE

Whatever happens romantically, Watts’ legal future remains unchanged.

He is serving life sentences without the possibility of parole.

There is no indication that a marriage application could lead to his release.

Instead, the reported wedding would take place with Watts remaining incarcerated.

That means the relationship, if the marriage is approved, would unfold almost entirely within the restrictions imposed by the correctional system.

WHY THE STORY IS CAUSING SUCH A REACTION

For many people who followed the Watts case in 2018, the idea of him beginning another relationship is difficult to comprehend.

The victims were his wife and two very young daughters.

Shanann was also pregnant.

The crimes permanently destroyed a family and left relatives grieving.

Now, nearly eight years later, news that Watts has reportedly found someone who wants to marry him has reopened public discussion about prison relationships, rehabilitation, forgiveness and the phenomenon sometimes called “hybristophilia” — romantic or sexual attraction toward people who have committed serious crimes.

But whatever label is applied to the relationship, one thing is certain:

Watts remains behind bars.

He is not being released.

He is not serving a reduced sentence.

And he is not eligible for parole.

A NEW CHAPTER — BEHIND PRISON WALLS

The reported relationship between Chris Watts and Lizzie Henderson represents an unexpected new chapter in one of America’s most infamous family-murder cases.

For Henderson, it is apparently a relationship she has chosen despite knowing Watts’ history.

For the families of Shanann, Bella and Celeste, the news arrives against the backdrop of an unimaginable loss that can never be undone.

And for Watts himself, any future wedding would take place under the same reality that has defined his life since 2018:

He will spend the rest of his life in prison.

The reported marriage application remains subject to the Wisconsin prison system’s procedures and approval.

For now, the extraordinary question is not whether Chris Watts will ever walk free.

He won’t.

It is whether, from behind prison walls, the convicted family killer will once again become a husband.