Chris Watts, serving five life sentences for killing his family in 2018, has reportedly applied for a prison marriage license in Wisconsin.
Chris Watts behind bars has found a new love and is now reportedly seeking a prison wedding in Wisconsin. The man convicted of killing his pregnant wife and two young daughters is serving five consecutive life sentences and, according to a report, has already moved toward marriage from inside Dodge Correctional Institution.
Watts, 41, is in a relationship with Lizzie Henderson, 39, an Ohio realtor who has reportedly moved to Wisconsin to be closer to him. Henderson confirmed the relationship and said she understood that others could view it as strange. She offered little detail about how the two met, saying, “How things began is between me, him and God.” According to court records seen by the outlet, she also applied last September to change her name to Lizzie Watts.
The report said Henderson has been photographed wearing a ring on her wedding finger and has submitted a marriage request to prison officials, a claim relayed by her former stepfather. She was also described as having visited Watts 20 times in 2025 and spending Christmas Day with him in 2024. The pair were also reportedly seen together just one day after the seventh anniversary of the killings, and another visitor later described watching them kiss and embrace during a visit at the prison.
That account came from Lisa Johnson, who said she saw Watts and Henderson together during a visit last August while she was at Dodge Correctional Institution in Waupun. Johnson said Watts was holding a Bible and described Henderson as eager and focused on taking a picture with him. She also said the couple hugged during their allowed end-of-visit contact time and told each other they loved one another. Prison rules in Wisconsin allow only a short embrace at the end of a visit, and conjugal visits are not permitted.
“Chris Watts, serving five life sentences for killing his family in 2018, has reportedly applied for a prison marriage license in Wisconsin.”
Watts is serving his sentences for the 2018 killings of his family in Frederick, Colorado. He strangled his wife, Shanann, who was 15 weeks pregnant, after the couple had sex, then placed her body in the trunk of his car. He later drove his daughters, Bella, 4, and Celeste, 3, to an oil field where he worked and killed them before disposing of all three bodies in wells, according to the account. He initially lied to investigators before admitting what he had done.
In the case, Watts told police he felt trapped in his marriage and wanted to begin a new life with a co-worker, Nichol Kessinger, with whom he was having an affair. Since then, he has continued to attract female admirers and pen pals while imprisoned. The prison marriage request now adds another disturbing chapter to a case that still stands out for its brutality and its betrayal of a family that trusted him.
For American readers, the story is a grim reminder that even behind bars, notorious inmates can still draw attention, support and attempts at new beginnings. What happens next will depend on whether prison officials approve the marriage request under Wisconsin’s rules, which require strict criteria and the warden’s sign-off. The takeaway: Chris Watts remains in prison for one of the country’s most notorious family murders, but he is now trying to turn that life sentence into a wedding license.
Frequently asked questions
Who is Chris Watts reportedly involved with?
He is reportedly in a relationship with Lizzie Henderson, a 39-year-old Ohio realtor.
What has Henderson reportedly done about the relationship?
She has reportedly moved to Wisconsin, applied to change her name to Lizzie Watts, and submitted a marriage request.
Where is Watts serving his sentence?
Watts is incarcerated at Dodge Correctional Institution in Waupun, Wisconsin.
Why is Chris Watts in prison?
He is serving five consecutive life sentences for killing his pregnant wife, Shanann, and their daughters, Bella and Celeste, in 2018.
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