Is Chris Watts Still Looking to File an Appeal? Why He Wants to Appeal His Case

Netflix's documentary American Murder: The Family Next Door brings Chris Watts' case to the spotlight. In 2018, Watts was sentenced to five life sentences for killing his two daughters, wife, and their unborn baby. 

The documentary follows Watts through that night, as well as the trial following his arrest, where he changed his story multiple times before pleading guilty.

Usually, when a person pleads guilty to a crime, they forfeit their right to file an appeal for their case. But Watts has previously made it clear he plans to pursue a possible appeal. Did he ever file for it, or is his sentence still the same?

According to People, in 2019, Watts was "looking into ways to appeal" his case, hoping there would be a loophole in the legal system that would allow him to file the motion. There are a few specific roadblocks that add difficulty to Watts' potential appeal, as not only did he technically forfeit his right to, but he's currently serving out his sentence in a prison in Wisconsin, while the initial trial took place in Colorado.

“It would cost him money that he just doesn’t have,” an unnamed source told People at the time. “But he is still exploring his options.”

According to the outlet, there were a few reasons why he felt entitled to an appeal, mostly because he claims he might not have been in the best state of mind at the time to confess to the crimes as he did.

“Everything happened so fast there at the end [of the legal proceedings],” the source said. “And he’s not sure he was in the right mind to plead guilty like he did. For him, it’s not just about him getting out of jail — it’s also that he hasn’t been able to really have his day in court.”

At the time, it didn't look like Watts had much of a chance — but has that changed?

While it seemed like he was making preparations to have his case appealed, it doesn't appear as though Watts has found a loophole to get his case brought back to court again, according to People.

Right now, Watts is staying in lockdown in prison, serving out much of his sentence in solitary. Allegedly, he's only allowed out of his cell for an hour a day to exercise and shower, and otherwise has few other interactions.

"Nothing changes," a source told the outlet. "Every day is like the day before, and every day in his future will be the same as today."

He's apparently found religion while in prison, praying often and telling his family he has proclaimed himself a “servant of God." But when he's not reflecting, he's thinking of his family.

“A day doesn’t go by — a minute doesn’t go by — where he doesn’t think about his family,” the source said. "He's in a hell of his own making."

That being said, it doesn't look as though Watts will have another day in court, and he's slowly learning to accept that.

"He knows that this is his life," the source told People. "There really isn’t much hope for his future.”