Heartbreaking moment dad of murdered pregnant mum Shanann Watts breaks down as he faces her ‘killer’ husband faces death penalty
A HEARTBROKEN dad struggled to contain his tears in court as he faced his daughter's husband who is on trial for her murder.
Frank Rzucek Sr. held his face in his hands as he bitterly wept in a Colorado courtroom on Tuesday, with Chris Watts sitting just feet away from him.
Watts, from Oklahoma, is accused of throttling his daughters Bella, four, and three-year-old Celeste before hiding their bodies along with their mum Shanann in oil tanks.
The two girls and their mum disappeared from their family home in Frederick, Colorado, last Monday and Chris went on local television pleading for them to come home.
Frank became emotional in court as it was revealed Watts initially told police it was his wife who murdered the children.
Watts claimed he erupted in rage after Shanann strangled their kids, after he said he wanted a separation.
The Watts family murder - what is known so far:
- The bodies of Shanann and her kids were found dumped inside oil tanks at Chris Watts' workplace
- Investigators say they were killed at the family home before their bodies were moved
- Shanann had just landed a glamorous new job which kept her away from home
- Pals say the mum shared her fears Chris was cheating on her days before her death
- The couple once filed for bankruptcy and were facing a hefty fine in court next week
- Chris Watts made an emotional appeal for his missing wife and kids to come home
- After the appeal, cops reportedly announced he had confessed to killing his family
Frank Rzucek Jr., Shanann's brother, rubbed his grieving father's back while glaring at Watts who did not enter a plea to any of his charges.
Watts faces three first-degree murder charges, two counts of killing a child under 12, one count of unlawful termination of a pregnancy and three counts of tampering with a deceased human body.
Judge Marcelo Kopcow told him he would face the death penalty if found guilty.
Investigators believe the three were killed in the family home, before the two children were dumped in oil tanks at the Anadarko oil and gas exploration site where Chris worked in Frederick.
Another body, believed to be 15-week pregnant Shannan, was also found nearby.
Police visited the Watts home on August 13 following requests from a family friend who asked officers to check on Shanann.
Cops searched the house and found her cellphone at the bottom of a chair, her purse in the kitchen and suitcase at the bottom of the stairs.
Watts revealed to police that he had planned on leaving his wife.
He claimed their conversation was civil, but they later became "upset and crying", so she planned to stay at her friend's house, court papers said.
Watts will next appear in court on November 19.
We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? Email us at tips@the-sun.co.uk or call 0207 782 4368 . You can WhatsApp us on 07810 791 502. We pay for videos too. Click here to upload yours.