Chris Watts' reported plans to marry a new girlfriend from behind bars have sparked fierce backlash online, with many questioning why anyone would choose to build a life with a man serving multiple life sentences for killing his pregnant wife and two young daughters. The 41-year-old convicted killer is reportedly seeking to marry Lizzie Henderson, a realtor who has moved closer to the Wisconsin prison where he is serving his sentence.
The reported relationship has drawn fresh attention eight years after Watts admitted to killing Shanann Watts, their daughters Bella and Celeste, and his unborn son. While Henderson has acknowledged that people may find the relationship unusual, she has said Watts understands how she feels about his crimes.
Chris Watts' Reported Prison Wedding Plans
Watts is reportedly seeking permission to marry Henderson while serving his sentence at Dodge Correctional Institution in Wisconsin. Reports say the couple met through Watts' time in prison, and Henderson has since moved to Wisconsin to be closer to him.
8 years after he savagely murdered his wife and children, Chris Watts is planning on getting married again.
— Rose (@901Lulu) August 12, 2026
Chris and Lizzie Henderson (39) have had over 20 visits in the past 15 months, with each contact lasting up to three hours. pic.twitter.com/KHiZIt2Y5t
The reported plans have also raised questions about the couple's future because Watts will remain behind bars for the rest of his life. He was sentenced in 2018 to multiple life terms without the possibility of parole after pleading guilty to killing his wife and daughters.
Prison records reportedly show that Henderson visited Watts many times during 2025, with one account describing the pair embracing and kissing during a visit. She has also reportedly sought a legal name change to Lizzie Watts, although the reported marriage request still requires approval.
Why the Relationship Has Sparked Anger
The backlash is largely tied to the fact that Watts did not simply commit a violent crime against a stranger. He pleaded guilty to murdering Shanann, who was pregnant at the time, as well as their daughters Bella, 4, and Celeste, 3.
The justice system in this country is officially a total joke. 🤬 We are paying for this A hole
— Victor Bigham 🇺🇸 (@Ravious101) August 12, 2026
We are now learning that Chris Watts the monster who brutally murdered his pregnant wife and two young daughters in 2018 is officially planning a wedding from behind bars.
A… pic.twitter.com/fWayp5rIFQ
Watts was sentenced to three consecutive life sentences without parole for the murders, along with additional sentences connected to the death of his unborn son and the handling of the victims' bodies. The judge described the killings as among the most inhumane and vicious crimes he had handled.
Watts Has Attracted Women While in Prison
The reported relationship with Henderson is not the first time Watts has received romantic attention while incarcerated. Accounts from people familiar with his time in prison have described women writing to him and developing strong attachments after communicating with him.
🚨Chris Watts has applied to get MARRIED from prison!!!! 🤯
— Bethany O’Leary 🇺🇸 🦅 (@BethanyForTruth) August 11, 2026
Nearly eight years after he murdered his pregnant wife Shanann and their two young daughters, Bella and Celeste, he is in a relationship with 39-year-old Lizzie Henderson.
According to reports, Henderson moved from… pic.twitter.com/Q2c3KgQvdI
Watts' former cellmate Dylan Tallman previously claimed that women would become deeply involved with Watts after speaking with him. Tallman also alleged that Watts could become intensely focused on a woman after forming a connection with her.
Watts' 2018 Crimes Still Cast a Shadow
Watts initially told authorities and the public that his family had disappeared before later admitting that he had killed them. His wife Shanann and their daughters were reported missing in August 2018, and their bodies were later found at an oil work site.
Killer Chris Watts is getting married from behind bars, according to the New York Post. To refresh your memory, he murdered his 15 week pregnant wife and two daughters. Shanann (34), Bella (4) and Celeste (3) were disposed of at an oil storage site. Shanann’s body was placed in a… pic.twitter.com/JtWyDRuisJ
— Shiny Happy Person (@HRH_SHP) August 12, 2026
Prosecutors said Watts killed his family as he wanted a new life, with his affair with another woman forming part of the events surrounding the case. He later pleaded guilty to the murders rather than face a trial, receiving life without parole.
The case shocked people across the United States and remains one of the most widely discussed family murder cases of recent years. Any reported plans for Watts to marry again are therefore likely to bring renewed attention to the victims and the crimes that put him behind bars.
Why Are People Asking, 'Why Marry Him?'
For critics, the biggest question is not whether Watts can have a relationship in prison, but why someone would willingly choose that life. A marriage would mean accepting a relationship built around prison visits, strict rules and the fact that Watts will never be released.
Henderson, however, appears to view the relationship differently and has reportedly continued to stand by her feelings despite the public criticism. Her reported decision shows how different private relationships can look from the outside, especially when they involve a convicted killer serving life without parole.
For now, the reported marriage remains subject to the prison system's approval. If the request is approved, Watts could begin another chapter of his life behind bars, while the intense public debate over his new relationship is likely to continue.
