Chris Watts Struggling With 'Depression' in Jail, Source Calls Him 'Despondent'

More than a month after his arrest in the death of his pregnant wife and two children, Chris Watts is struggling with depression in jail. 

Watts, 33, who is accused of strangling wife Shanann Watts, 34, and their daughters, Bella and Celeste, ages 4 and 3, is "despondent," a source told People magazine.

“He’s not doing well at all," the source said. "The gravity of the situation has hit him like a ton of bricks. Depression is setting in."

Watts has been placed under suicide watch as he awaits trial and is under close watch protocol at Weld County Jail, where he must be checked on every 10 to 15 minutes to ensure his well-being, HLN’s Crime & Justice with Ashleigh Banfield reported.

“He sleeps all day and isn’t really talking to anyone, including his family," the source told People.

Following his arrest on Aug. 15, Watts told police he strangled Shanann after watching her kill their youngest child, Celeste, in response to his saying he wanted to separate, according to an arrest affidavit. 

He claimed their oldest daughter, Bella, had already been killed and that he “went into a rage” upon noticing her body, attacking Shanann.

The children’s bodies were found inside oil tanks shortly after Shanann’s body was discovered in a shallow grave, all on the property of Watts’ former employer, Anadarko Petroleum. 

Police believe that Watts was having an affair with a co-worker.

Watts faces three counts of first-degree murder; two counts of first-degree murder for causing the death of a person under the age of 12 while being in a position of trust; one count of unlawful termination of a pregnancy and three counts of tampering with a deceased body.

He has not yet entered a plea.

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