Chris Watts May Have Strangled Daughters Before Hiding Bodies In Oil Well

Chris Watts allegedly confessed to killing his pregnant wife and two young daughters. Now, court papers suggest how the children may have been murdered.

Court papers obtained from KDVR suggest the Colorado man may have strangled his daughters Bella, 4, and Celeste, 3.

Attorneys for Watts filed a motion in a Colorado court 20 minutes before the scheduled autopsy requesting DNA swabs be taken from the children.

A DNA expert advised the defense counsel that even though the two bodies have been in an oil well filled with crude oil for several days "DNA would still be present."

"Counsel has contacted the prosecution, advised them of this opinion, and asked whether or not they intend to take a DNA swab of the necks on the remains of the two children," the court papers read. "It does not seem clear that the coroner, pathologist, or anyone working on behalf of the prosecution team in autopsy plan to take swabs of the necks of the two decedent children."

"I have a lot experience taking samples from dead bodies getting good results after strangulation," the court filing read. "The hands of the children should be sampled as well."

Shanann, who was 15 weeks pregnant, Bella and Celeste were reported missing on Monday, August 13 before their bodies were found on Thursday. Chris allegedly confessed to the murders and was arrested on three counts of first-degree murder and three counts of tampering with a deceased human body. He has not yet been charged.