These women claim to feel compassion for the man despite being fully aware of the horrific murders he has committed.
Chris Watts killed his pregnant wife and two daughters in what is now famously being called "The Watts Family Murders." Watts confessed to killing his family in the cruelest manner and was sentenced to life in prison. Judge Marcelo A. Kopcow handed down the sentences, which included 48 years for the unlawful termination of his wife, Shannan's pregnancy, and 36 years for the disposal of the victims’ bodies, reported The New York Times. “This is perhaps the most inhumane and vicious crime I have handled out of the thousands of cases that I have seen,” Kopcow had stated at the time.
The details of the murder were released to the public. And even as Watts has been imprisoned for his inhuman crime, he has found himself a fanbase. He has reportedly been receiving racy love letters in prison and is corresponding with multiple women, reported PEOPLE. A source from the jail said, "He got a lot of letters at first. Many of them are from women who thought he was handsome and felt compassion for him. He had nothing better to do, so he wrote them back. And he started having penpals. A couple of them stood out, and they've kept in contact."
These women feel compassion for the man despite being fully aware of the horrific murders he has committed. Prosecutors have even released several letters sent to the 35-year-old. "In my heart, you are a great guy," wrote a woman named Candace. "If you do write me back I’d be the happiest girl alive that's for sure." Inside Edition accessed a few of the letters written by these women. Another woman wrote: "I'm hoping to brighten your days." A woman named Tatiana, wrote, “I find myself thinking a lot about you” and even sent a photo of herself in a bikini.
Chris Watts, Colorado man who killed pregnant wife and 2 daughters, is receiving love letters, bikini photos from women as he serves life sentence in prison https://t.co/IUHIqIRYgo pic.twitter.com/mlQHwFLMhV
— ABC7 Eyewitness News (@ABC7) December 19, 2018
The murders became a high-profile case and even inspired the 2020 Netflix documentary American Murder: The Family Next Door. Following the documentary, the letters to Watts increased. "Some of the letters are angry," the source said. "A lot of them are from people of faith who want to pray for him. But then he gets letters from women who want to connect with him, you know, romantically. He responds because he doesn't have anything better to do." The source added, as per The Daily Star, "He had nothing better to do, so he wrote them back. And he started having pen pals. A couple of them stood out, and they've kept in contact."
Being attracted to gruesome murderers is not a new phenomenon and is called hybristophilia. It is when someone is sexually attracted to individuals who have committed outrageous crimes, according to new.com.au. Nancy Grace, a US legal commentator, and TV journalist discussed this phenomenon on the podcast, Crime Stories, that she hosts. "My point is, who are these nuts that are 'in love' with him? "He didn't have a trial, he pled guilty under oath, he admitted he's guilty. He's not innocent deep, deep down inside.
"Who are these people?" she asked incredulously.
‘You Heat Me Up:’ Chris Watts Filled Letters To Mistress With Sappy Song Lyrics https://t.co/8EcrgkgftQ pic.twitter.com/aay4f6iq8E
— Oxygen (@oxygen) December 7, 2018
"They are not so different from fanatics who fall in love with celebrities," psychoanalyst Dr. Bethany Marshall said. "There are some similar features. But I think it's a little deeper than that." Killers like Ted Bundy, Jeffrey Dahmer, Charles Manson, and Richard Ramirez, who even ended up marrying one of his admirers, also received love letters. Psychologist Katherine Ramsland has written extensively about serial killers and attraction said, “Some believe they can change a man as cruel and powerful as a serial killer. Others ‘see’ the little boy that the killer once was and seek to nurture him."
This phenomenon has been around forever and apparently some things never change: Women sending killer dad Chris Watts 'racy' letters: https://t.co/cpS7QLfUbN
— Dr. Christine Sarteschi, PhD, LCSW (@DrSarteschi) September 8, 2021
"In my heart I know you are a great guy. If you do write me back I'd be the happiest girl alive that's for sure"