OPINION:
The horrific murders of Shanann, Bella and Celeste Watts and unborn child Nico have garnered national attention and riveted the country with both horror and amazement (“Chris Watts, man who strangled wife and killed his 2 girls, sentenced to life,” Web, Nov. 19). That this was a seemingly all-American-type family makes it all the more difficult to fathom that Watts, husband and father, confessed to murdering them all.
The gruesome details of their deaths and the surmised rationale for the motivation behind them, which was outlined at the sentencing hearing on Nov. 19, augmented the profound impact this case had on everyone. The recurring question that everyone has asked is “Why?”
Though the prosecutor surmised that the defendant murdered his family to begin a new life with his mistress, there seems neither rhyme nor reason for Watts having gone to the extent of eradicating his entire family. The excruciating pain endured by both sets of parents — Watts’ and his late wife’s — will be unrelenting, and the void now in their lives will be forever haunting.
Those of us who followed this case from afar were profoundly affected, too. Perhaps it is because we feel deeply for the families — and the case is confirmation of the fact that domestic violence can have lethal consequences.
The late poet Maya Angelou once said, “Try to be the rainbow in someone’s cloud.” Perhaps we can all be the rainbow for the family of Shannan Watts by keeping them in our thoughts and prayers and helping, in whatever ways we can, to help ease the pain of others. Rest in peace, Shanann, Bella, Celeste and Nico.
KAREN L. BUNE
Adjunct professor
Department of Justice, Law and Society
George Mason University
Fairfax
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