‘There’s No Telling What Will Be Done To Him In Prison,’ Chris Watts’ Mom Says; Wishes His Defense Would Fight Harder

The parents of confessed killer Chris Watts have aired extreme worry about what might happen to their son in prison.

Mother Cindy Watts expressed her concern during an interview with local ABC affiliate KMGH in Denver, saying she was frustrated with the strategy of the defense counsel in her son's case, who she said seemed solely focused on saving his life rather than actually fighting the charges against him.

“Save his life and life in prison — to me there’s no difference. He’s going to die in prison and there's no telling what will be done to him in prison and I just want him to fight,” she told the outlet. “I don’t want him to not take this plea deal. I want him to plead not guilty to [killing] the children.”

Watts pleaded guilty Nov. 6 to killing his pregnant wife Shanann and their two daughters, Celeste and Bella, but his parents have questioned his guilt and claimed his wife had been the one who was abusive.

His father, Ronnie Watts, also said that their son told them "he did the same thing she had done to him, that she did to the girls," referring to a claim made by Chris Watts that he killed his wife after he found her strangling one of his two daughters.

"I just want to make sure he's doing the right thing," Ronnie Watts said. "If he didn't kill the children, I want him to say that and let them prove it."

The family, who has recently publicly defended their son’s actions, has even considered looking for another attorney for their son's case, the station reports.

“It has been so overwhelming. And I feel like I have to do something to help my son,” Cindy Watts said, according to the station. “I just need to do something. If he’s not going to fight, I’m going to fight for him.”

Meanwhile, Shanann Watts' parents, Frank and Sandra Rzucek, responded to the Watts’ previous defense of their son in a statement issued Tuesday morning.

Writing that Chris Watts chose to plead guilty "because he is guilty," the couple added that his parents had made "vicious, grotesque and utterly false statements" about their daughter in the interview.

"Their false statements, however hurtful and inaccurate, will never alter the truth about Shanann, and will never alter the truth about the crimes committed by their son, Chris Watts," the statement issued to local ABC affiliate WTVD, said. "Shanann's memory and reputation deserves to be protected. And her family is fully prepared to do so."

[Photo Credit: Associated Press]