Shanann’s family files wrongful death lawsuit

The family of Shanann Watts and her two daughters has sued their killer to prevent him from ever profiting off their deaths.

Collecting money from Christopher Watts, though, is a long shot.

“It’s fairly obvious that Chris Watts doesn’t have money,” Steven Lambert, the family’s attorney, said. “He’s not O.J. Simpson. We’re not going to collect millions out of him.”

Sandra and Frank Rzucek filed the wrongful death suit against Watts in Weld County District Court on Nov. 19, the same day Watts was sentenced to life in prison in the murders of 34year-old Shanann, 4-yearold Bella and 3-year-old Celeste. The money would help cover funeral expenses, the loss of Shanann’s income and compensate for the family’s “permanent and continuing emotional distress” due to the killings, according to the lawsuit.

The lawsuit is meant to keep Watts from profiting from the murders, Lambert said. If Watts were to write a book or sell the rights to his story for a movie or show, the lawsuit would make sure any money he made would go to the Rzuceks, who are Shanann Watts’ parents.

“Just in case 20 years down the line from now he decides to write a book we could come for that money,” Lambert said.

The lawsuit would also prevent Watts from keeping any money made in the sale of the Frederick home where the family lived and where he killed his wife and children.

The Rzuceks have discussed creating a charity with any money they gain from the case, Lambert said.

The lawsuit also asks for relief for the death of Shanann’s unborn child, Nico, under a Colorado law that allows a woman to sue if someone knowingly causes an unlawful termination of her pregnancy. Frank Rzucek, her father, can sue under that law as the representative for his daughter’s estate.

Under Colorado law, the surviving spouse of a deceased person or their heirs may file a wrongful death suit. But because the spouse was the killer in Watts’ case and the heirs were also victims, Shanann Watts’ parents were able to file the lawsuit.

Lambert and his legal team requested that a jury determine the amount of damages awarded to the Rzuceks.

Watts pleaded guilty on Nov. 6 to murdering his family and hiding their bodies on a rural Weld County oil site. Watts first told police that he strangled his wife after she killed the two young girls, but prosecutors later said that was a lie.

Weld County District Attorney Michael Rourke filed a claim on Nov. 20 stating that Watts owed at least $41,807 in restitution for his crimes. Rourke also noted that he expects to file requests for more money in the future.