Plea deal reached in case of man accused of killing wife, children with NC ties

According to the NBC affiliate in Denver, Colorado, a plea deal has been reached in the case of Chris Watts, who is accused of killing his pregnant wife Shanann Watts and their children in August.

Shanann Watts, 4-year-old Bella and 3-year-old Celeste, were reported missing on Aug. 13. Their bodies were found on Aug. 16, on the property of one of Colorado's largest oil and gas drillers where her husband used to work. Authorities did not say how they had been killed.

Shanann Watts grew up in Aberdeen, and still has family members in North Carolina. She attended Pinecrest High School in Southern Pines. She and Chris married in Charlotte in 2012.

The couple had ties to North Carolina and had been visiting family and friends there just weeks before the alleged murders.

Records show that the couple filed for bankruptcy in 2015, with less than $10 left in their savings accounts. Documents show they had amassed more than $70,000 worth of debt, mostly from credit card purchases. It's unknown if their financial struggles played a role in the murders.

Chris Watts graduated from Pine Forest High School in Fayetteville in 2003. According to the high school year book, he was part of the patriotic page and was into automotive repairs.