Co-workers watched killer Chris Watts 'get more and more unhappy with his life'

When Chris Watts killed his wife and two young daughters in 2018, his horrifying actions sent shockwaves across the world.

Seemingly a normal, dedicated family man, not only did Watts snap, but he also feigned ignorance when he was first questioned about his family’s disappearance.

It was eventually established that Watts had strangled his wife Shanann to death before smothering his two children, Bella, four, and Celeste, three, and hiding them in an oil drum located on his work site. Now, in a new interview, one of his co-workers has shared a chilling insight into Watts’s behaviour in the lead-up to his horrific crimes. 

Netflix

Speaking to People, Brian Spence, a contractor who worked with Watts for several years in Colorado, US, admitted the killer’s behaviour had started to change before he carried out the killings. 

"Things changed; he changed," explained Spence. "I watched him get more and more unhappy with his life. He went from being a friendly guy to being withdrawn and angry."

He added: "I saw him lose his temper over little workplace annoyances. He had an irritable side with the contractors. He could be combative."

Spence also started noticing that Watts - who was usually in a rush to get home and see his family - started staying out drinking later. 

Watch the trailer for American Murder: The Family Next Door, Netflix’s documentary about Watt’s crimes, below: 

"He did a lot more happy hours with us contractors," he shared. "After work we'd go get beers and he'd come and have one with us, and he was always one of the last ones to leave. 

“We're all family men and had to get home to our kids, so we'd drink from 6 to 7 and then go. He'd want to stay past 8, if anyone was willing to stay."

Although he spotted changes in Watts's behaviour, Spence confessed he had no idea the father-of-two would end up killing his family in cold blood.

Spence told the outlet: “That, I didn't see coming. I knew he was unhappy, but he's not the first unhappy guy in the history of the world, and most of them don't kill their wives."

Looking back, Spence said he wished he could have done more. 

"He was obviously in pain," he said. "But I didn't know it was going to end that way. If I had any idea, I would've pulled him aside and said something. But he hid it. No one knew."