Who Exactly Is Nichol Kessinger, And Where Can We Find Her At The Moment?

In August 2018, a devastating crime gripped the nation. Shanann Watts and her two daughters, Bella and Celeste, were brutally murdered by Chris Watts, a seemingly normal family man.

This horrific crime led to the exposure of an illicit affair between Chris Watts and his coworker, Nichol Kessinger.

The revelation of this affair stirred immense public interest and speculation, with many wondering if Kessinger had any knowledge of, or role in, the murders.

While Kessinger has denied involvement in the crime, her behavior during the investigation and the timeline of her relationship with Watts raise numerous questions.

This article explores the role of Nichol Kessinger in this tragedy, examining the timeline of her affair with Watts, the strange details surrounding their relationship, and the ongoing speculation about her involvement.

Who Is Nichol Kessinger?

Nichol Kessinger worked as a safety officer at Anadarko Petroleum in Colorado, the same company where Chris Watts worked as an operator.

Kessinger and Watts began an affair in June 2018, just two months before Watts murdered his wife, Shanann, and their two daughters.

Kessinger described Watts as a soft-spoken and kind man. She claimed that she was unaware of Watts’ marital status at first, as he did not wear a wedding ring.

According to Kessinger, Watts told her that he and his wife were separated and that they were in the process of finalizing their divorce.

The Start of Their Affair

Kessinger and Watts bonded over their shared interest in fitness and healthy living. Their relationship escalated quickly, and they began spending more time together.

Kessinger claimed that she believed Watts’ marriage was essentially over. However, this aspect of Kessinger’s story has been called into question, as records show that Kessinger frequently visited Shanann’s Facebook page.

Shanann was active on social media and often posted updates about her family, including the news of her pregnancy.

Given the public nature of Shanann’s posts, it seems unlikely that Kessinger was unaware of Watts’ ongoing family life.

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Red Flags and Suspicious Behavior

Kessinger’s version of events suggests that she was unaware of the darker aspects of Watts’ life. However, several aspects of her behavior, both before and after the murders, have raised suspicion.

Kessinger’s Online Activity

In the weeks leading up to the murders, Kessinger’s online search history revealed some startling details.

She searched for wedding dresses and researched phrases like “marrying your mistress” and “man I’m having an affair with says he will leave his wife.”

This was despite the fact that she and Watts had only been involved for two months, and they had not discussed any concrete plans for the future.

Even more troubling, investigators discovered that Kessinger had been searching for information about Chris Watts as early as August 2017, nearly a full year before she claimed they first met.

This has led to speculation that Kessinger may have had an interest in Watts long before their affair began.

Kessinger’s Knowledge of Shanann’s Pregnancy

One of the most significant inconsistencies in Kessinger’s account is her claim that she only learned about Shanann’s pregnancy through news reports after the disappearance.

However, Shanann had publicly announced her pregnancy on social media, and given Kessinger’s frequent visits to Shanann’s Facebook page, it seems unlikely she did not know.

This has led to speculation that Kessinger may have been lying about her knowledge of Shanann’s pregnancy, potentially in an attempt to distance herself from the crime.

The Night of the Murders: Kessinger and Watts’ Communication

On the night of August 12, 2018, just hours before Shanann was murdered, Chris Watts and Nichol Kessinger had a 111-minute phone call.

During this call, Watts was lying on a bare mattress, a detail that Kessinger later said she found odd.

Watts claimed that he had stripped the bed because the sheets smelled, but investigators later found that the bodies of Shanann and her daughters were wrapped in sheets when they were recovered.

Despite the lengthy nature of the call, Kessinger was unable to recall what they discussed during the conversation when she was interviewed by the police.

Given that this conversation occurred just hours before Watts committed the murders, Kessinger’s inability to remember the details has been viewed with skepticism.

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The Aftermath: Kessinger’s Behavior Raises Questions

After the murders, Kessinger’s behavior became even more suspicious. She initially told police that she contacted them after she became concerned about Watts’ apparent lack of concern for his missing family.

However, records show that Kessinger was not the first to inform the police about the affair.

In fact, it was a supervisor at Anadarko Petroleum who told authorities about Watts’ relationship with Kessinger, casting doubt on her version of events.

Kessinger’s Search History and Deleted Messages

Following the murders, Kessinger deleted all of her communications with Watts and attempted to destroy her phone’s SIM card.

She later admitted to this, telling police that she did so because she was horrified by the revelations about Watts.

However, her attempts to erase evidence of their relationship only deepened suspicions about her involvement.

Investigators also discovered that Kessinger had searched for ways to delete text messages and whether the police would be able to recover them.

Additionally, Kessinger’s search history revealed that she had looked up information about Amber Frey, the mistress of Scott Peterson, a man convicted of murdering his pregnant wife, Laci Peterson.

Kessinger searched for Frey’s net worth and information about how the public viewed her after the case.

This has led many to believe that Kessinger was worried about how she would be perceived by the public once her relationship with Watts became known.

Public Speculation: Was There More to the Story?

As more details about Kessinger and Watts’ relationship came to light, public speculation about Kessinger’s possible involvement in the murders grew.

Some theories suggest that Kessinger may have been involved in an insurance fraud scheme or even that she may have encouraged Watts to murder his family so they could be together.

While there is no direct evidence to support these claims, several pieces of circumstantial evidence have fueled these rumors.

Lack of an Alibi

Kessinger did not have a verified alibi for the time of the murders. This, combined with the fact that her phone pinged a cell tower in Frederick, Colorado (where the Watts family lived) on the morning of the murders, has led some to speculate that Kessinger may have been more involved in the crime than previously thought.

However, there is no concrete evidence linking her to the crime scene.

Insurance Fraud Theory

Some have speculated that Kessinger may have been involved in a plot with Watts to commit insurance fraud.

As a safety officer at Anadarko Petroleum, Kessinger had detailed knowledge of the oil site where Watts hid the bodies.

Some believe that Kessinger may have known that the site could be used to dispose of evidence, potentially allowing Watts to claim insurance money after an “accidental” explosion.

While this theory is purely speculative, it adds to the ongoing intrigue surrounding Kessinger’s involvement.

Kessinger’s Life After the Murders

Following the revelation of Watts’ crimes, Nichol Kessinger disappeared from public view.

She quit her job at Anadarko Petroleum, deleted her social media accounts, and moved away from the community.

It has been speculated that Kessinger may have entered witness protection, though this has not been confirmed.

In the interviews Kessinger gave to police, she avoided saying the names of Shanann, Bella, Celeste, or Nico (Shanann’s unborn son).

This is a psychological distancing technique, often used by people to separate themselves emotionally from their victims.

Whether this was intentional or subconscious, it only added to the public’s suspicion.

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Conclusion: The Lingering Questions Around Nichol Kessinger

Nichol Kessinger’s role in the Chris Watts case continues to be the subject of much debate.

While she has not been charged with any crimes and there is no direct evidence linking her to the murders, her behavior and the timeline of events have raised many questions.

Whether she was merely a woman caught up in an affair with a manipulative man or if she had a more significant role in the tragic outcome remains uncertain.

The Watts family murders serve as a chilling reminder of the dark consequences of deceit and betrayal.

As more details about the case emerge, the public’s fascination with the role Nichol Kessinger played in this tragedy shows no signs of fading.

For many, the truth of her involvement may never be fully known.

FAQs About Nichol Kessinger and the Chris Watts Case

Q: Who is Nichol Kessinger?

A: Nichol Kessinger was Chris Watts’ coworker and mistress. They began an affair in June 2018, two months before he murdered his wife Shanann and their two daughters.

Q: Was Nichol Kessinger involved in the murders?

A: There is no concrete evidence that Kessinger was directly involved in the murders. She cooperated with law enforcement, and investigators did not charge her with any crimes.

Q: Did Kessinger know Chris Watts was married?

A: Kessinger claims Watts told her he was separated from his wife. However, investigators found she had frequently visited Shanann’s social media, which openly documented the Watts family’s life.

Q: What role did Kessinger play in the investigation?

A: Kessinger provided critical information to the police about her affair with Watts. However, a supervisor at their workplace had already informed the police about their relationship.

Q: What suspicious actions did Kessinger take?

A: Kessinger deleted text messages and tried to destroy her phone’s SIM card. She also conducted online searches on deleting texts, marrying a mistress, and Amber Frey’s net worth.

Q: Where is Nichol Kessinger now?

A: After the case, Kessinger quit her job, deleted her social media, and moved away. It is rumored she may be living under an assumed identity or in witness protection.

Q: Did Kessinger’s phone ping near the Watts home?

A: Yes, phone records show that Kessinger’s phone pinged near the Watts home the morning of the murders, though she lived 25 minutes away.

Q: Why did Chris Watts confess to the murders?

A: After failing a polygraph test, Watts confessed to the murders. Some speculate his relationship with Kessinger may have influenced his decision, but there is no clear evidence of this.

Q: What was the nature of Kessinger’s internet searches?

A: Kessinger searched for topics like wedding dresses, marrying a mistress, and Amber Frey, the mistress in the Scott Peterson case. She also researched how to delete phone records.

Q: How long did Kessinger and Watts’ affair last?

A: Their affair lasted for about two months, starting in June 2018 until the murders in August.