Accused Murderer Chris Watts Could Inherit Slain Wife Shan’ann’s Estate
The pregnant Colorado mom who was killed in August — along with her two young daughters — reportedly died without a will. In other words, there could be a battle over the assets she left behind.
People confirmed that Shan’ann Watts, 34, did not make arrangements for her estate after her death. In paperwork filed Tuesday in Weld County probate court, her father, Frank Rzucek, revealed that she did not leave a will, and he is currently a seeking power of attorney to help manage her estate.
According to Colorado state probate code, if an adult dies without a will, there is a standard succession of inheritance: If the decedent was married, the estate usually goes to the spouse. If there is no surviving spouse, the estate goes to the children. If there is no surviving spouse or children, the estate goes to the decedent’s parents.
In the paperwork, however, Rzucek reportedly indicated that his daughter had no living descendants — despite being survived by her husband of nearly six years, Chris Watts, 33, who allegedly murdered her and their kids Bella, 4 and Celeste, 3.
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Earlier this week, it was revealed that the autopsies of the victims had been completed, but there were concerns that there may not be enough evidence to convict him. Bella and Celeste’s bodies were dumped into a tank of oil and left submerged for three days. Meanwhile, the body of his Shan’ann was discovered in a shallow grave near the tanks on a site owned by Watts’ former employer Anadarko Petroleum.
Shan’ann and her daughters were reported missing on Aug. 13. Just two days later, Watts was arrested and charged with first-degree murder. She was 15 weeks pregnant with a son to be named Nico.
Watts will next appear in court on November 19.
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