Bodies Found On Anadarko Property May Be Missing Children, 3, 4

FREDERICK, CO — Two bodies that police believe are the remains of missing Frederick children 4-year-old Bella and 3-year-old Celeste Watts were located Thursday afternoon, police said.

Police said the remains were located "in close proximity" to the Anadarko Oil and Gas company property where police found the body of pregnant Frederick resident Shanann Watts, 34, early Thursday morning. Police said they would not disclose where exactly that site was.

ALERT: Watts Told Police He Strangled Wife After She Strangled Daughters

Denver7 reported that investigators said the girls' bodies were found inside oil tanks the were "mostly full."

Watts's husband Christopher Watts, 33, was arrested Wednesday night around 11:30 p.m. in connection of the deaths of his wife and daughters. Christopher Watts appeared in bond court in Wells County District Court Thursday afternoon, where Judge Marcelo Kopcow denied bond.

Also in court Thursday, prosecutors hinted that Christopher Watts may have killed his wife and two young daughters in their home, at 2825 Saratoga Trail, but didn't elaborate why, Denver7 reported. Late Wednesday night and early Thursday, police were seen removing bags of evidence from the home and investigators towed away a truck.

Family friends who allowed Christopher Watts to stay at their home when his wife and daughters first went missing said they regretted taking him in, Denver7 reported. They said Christopher and Shanann had mentioned selling the house. Amanda Thayer said Shanann had confided to her that she feared her husband was cheating.

Christopher Watts was booked into the Weld County Jail facing three counts of first-degree murder and three counts of tampering with physical evidence. District Attorney Michael Rourke said the office would likely be filing formal charges Monday. The 19th Judicial District Attorney asked for the arrest affidavit to be sealed.

Related: 5 Fast Facts About Homicide Of Shanann Watts And 2 Daughters

Woman, daughters went missing Monday

On Monday, a friend of Shanann's contacted police after Shanann did not show up for a doctor's appointment. Frederick police swarmed the neighborhood and issued alerts for Shanann and the girls, saying they might be endangered. On Wednesday morning, the Colorado Bureau of Investigation and the FBI announced they were assisting with the search.

Christopher Watts gave interviews about his missing family members on multiple television stations.

"I just want them back. I just want them to come back," he told Denver7. "If they're not safe right now, that's what's tearing me apart right now."

According to sources, Shanann Watts was away in Arizona for a business trip, leaving the girls with their father for the weekend. She arrived home around 2:30 a.m. from the airport, Christopher Watts told multiple television stations. He claimed he last saw his wife and the girls around 5:30 a.m., when he left the home.

Investigators would not speculate publicly Thursday whether Shanann died at the same time as her daughters, or if the girls had died earlier, while their mother was away. They did not confirm that Christopher Watts had confessed, nor would they comment on whether he was cooperating with authorities.

A statement released by the family of Shanann Watts said: "It is with deep hurt, confusion and anger to confirm our beautiful cousin Shanann Watts, her unborn child, and her two angelic daughters, Bella and Celeste, were viciously murdered by husband Chris Watts; who confessed to the killings," according to CBS. "Please keep Shanann's parents and brother in your prayers."

Related: Pregnant Mom, Daughters May Have Been Killed in Home: Prosecutors

Related: Pregnant Mom, 2 Daughters Killed In Colorado Had Strong NJ Ties

The family had moved to Colorado from Moore County, North Carolina, according to television reports.

Police declined to say if they know the motive for the killings, saying the investigation is ongoing.

Public records showed the family had financial difficulties, including a bankruptcy in 2015, when the couple reported they had more than $400,000 in debt. They were also sued by their homeowner association, Wyndham Hill Master Association Inc., in July, 2018.

The next court date for Christopher Watts will be Monday, when the DA's office files official charges.

Image via Colorado Bureau of Investigation

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