Imagine a life lived in shadows, where every whisper of your name ignites a wildfire of speculation. In the age of the digital lynch mob, where the court of public opinion rules supreme, one must wonder: what happens to those who disappear into the folds of infamy? Nichol Kessinger’s name might not ring a bell immediately, but her story, tangled with the dark deeds of Chris Watts, haunts the back alleys of our collective consciousness.
Is she a ghost, flitting through small towns under an assumed identity, or has she reinvented herself, like a phoenix rising from the ashes of scandal? In a world where privacy is a relic of the past, could she truly vanish, or is she just a step ahead, always looking over her shoulder? The notion of sighting Kessinger is as elusive as finding a needle in a haystack, sparking curiosity and fueling rumors.
This tale is not just about one woman’s escape from notoriety; it’s a mirror reflecting our society’s hunger for scandal, redemption, and the unknown. Each supposed sighting, each unverified account, forces us to question: are we seeking closure for her, or for ourselves? Welcome to the enigma of Nichol Kessinger – where reality blurs with the fantastical, and every rumor carries a kernel of truth.
TL;DR
- Background Overview: A brief history of Nichol Kessinger and her involvement in the infamous case.
- Public Fascination: Why Nichol remains a figure of intrigue and the reasons behind the continuous interest.
- Current Speculations: Discussing the rumors and sightings of Nichol Kessinger.
- Morality and Curiosity: Analyzing our societal obsession with figures like Nichol.
- Call to Action: Encouraging readers to explore more stories of unsolved mysteries.
Hello there, welcome to OMG So Good, where we dive into the juiciest stories with a dash of wit and a sprinkle of sarcasm. Today, we’re dissecting the Netflix documentary, American Murder: The Family Next Door, which covers the horrific murders of Shanann Watts and her daughters, Bella and Cece. The documentary was well-received, but it left us scratching our heads. Where was Nichol Kessinger, Chris Watts’ mistress? Let’s explore this missing piece of the puzzle.
Who Is Nichol Kessinger?
First off, let’s call her Nikki, Nikki is a geologist. She graduated from Colorado State University with a Bachelor of Science in 2013. She also has an Associate of Science degree focused on Geological and Earth Sciences from the Community College of Aurora. According to her now-deleted LinkedIn profile, she’s been a Colorado girl most of her life, living in Fort Collins, Littleton, Denver, and Aurora. Evansville, Wyoming seems to be the only place outside of Colorado where she’s resided.
When Nikki met Chris at Anadarko Petroleum, sparks flew. Chris said Nikki “put him on a leash” as soon as their eyes met. Romantic, right? Well, maybe a bit more foreshadowing than we’d like. He sent her cards full of song lyrics and pledges of undying love. Today, Chris has found religion in prison. In letters to author Sherilyn Cadle, he described Nikki using a Bible verse from Proverbs, calling her an “evil woman.” Charming.
The Chris Watts Confession
Before diving into the gory details, let’s rewind to August 14th, 2018, just one day after Chris murdered his family. Chris gave a bizarre interview to the local news. “I want them wherever they’re at…like I have no inclination to where they’re at right now…it’s just earth-shattering. I don’t feel like this is even real right now,” he said. His house, he claimed, was a “ghost town.” Little did the world know the truth hidden behind his crocodile tears.
The Horrific Details
According to police reports and Chris’s letters, here’s what really happened on August 13th. Chris smothered his daughters, Bella and Cece, in their beds with their pillows. He then strangled Shanann to death in their room. He wrapped Shanann in a sheet, and as he dragged her body downstairs, his daughters woke up and asked, “What’s wrong with Mommy?” Chris told them Shanann wasn’t feeling well and loaded her body into his truck.
The three then drove to an oil site where Chris planned to work that day. He put garbage bags over Shanann’s head and feet and placed her on the floor in the back seat. Bella and Cece were in the back, right next to their mother’s body. When they arrived, Chris first smothered Cece with her blue blanket. Bella, the more talkative and aware of the two, was next. Chris confessed to the FBI that Bella’s last words were “Daddy, no!” Haunting, isn’t it?
Nichol Kessinger’s Role
Now, let’s circle back to Nichol . According to Chris, after the murders, he felt “free to be with Nikki.” He felt no remorse, describing an overwhelming darkness inside him. Immediately after the murders, Chris searched for a “4-star top-secret Aspen hotel” to take Nikki to, unenrolled his daughters from school, contacted a realtor to sell the house, and looked up lyrics to Metallica’s song “Battery.” Nikki, on the other hand, went to the police with her dad but only after deleting all her texts from Chris and asking a friend to do the same. She even Googled how much Amber Frey made on her book deal. Classy.
The Missing Piece
Why wasn’t Nikki a bigger part of the Netflix documentary? That’s the million-dollar question. According to the district attorney’s office, Chris Watts’ guilty plea precluded any need to probe further into Nikki’s involvement. Convenient, right? Yet, some discrepancies remain. For instance, discovery documents show Nikki searched for both Chris and Shanann on Google as early as August 2017, months before they allegedly met. A typo, perhaps? Or a deeper, darker connection?
My Take on the Case
Let me step in here with my perspective. The omission of Nichol Kessinger from the documentary leaves a significant gap in understanding the full story. Whether she had a direct role or was just a bystander caught in the whirlwind, her presence is undeniable. It’s fascinating, yet disturbing, to see how someone can become so entangled in such a tragic narrative. Chris’s actions and his relationship with Nikki add layers of complexity to an already horrific tale.
To understand the true motives and events, it’s essential to consider all pieces of the puzzle, including Nikki’s influence. The fact that she was searching for information on Shanann and Chris months before their affair allegedly began raises questions about her involvement and intentions. Was she just another pawn in Chris’s twisted game, or did she play a more active role? The truth might be more unsettling than we can imagine.
Where is Nichol now?
Nichol Kessinger’s whereabouts remain uncertain, with various reports suggesting different possibilities. After her involvement with Chris Watts and the ensuing media attention, she faced significant public backlash, losing her job and deactivating her social media accounts. Some sources speculate that she might have entered a witness protection program due to threats and the intense scrutiny she faced (Marie Claire Magazine) (Heavy.com).
Kessinger has not been publicly heard from since a 2018 interview with The Denver Post, and there has been no concrete evidence of her current location or situation. The idea that she might be living under a new identity in a different town remains a plausible theory, she could be in Chang Mai which we explored in a previous article.
Final Thoughts
In conclusion, while the Netflix documentary does a commendable job of laying out the basic facts of the Watts family murders, it falls short of providing a complete picture. Nichol Kessinger’s absence is glaring, and her role in the events leading up to and following the murders deserves closer scrutiny. As true crime enthusiasts and empathetic humans, we owe it to the victims to seek the truth, no matter how uncomfortable it may be.
We’re left to ponder the delicate dance between infamy and anonymity. Is she the specter of her past, forever shadowed by whispers and pointed fingers, or has she mastered the art of reinvention in a world eager to forget? Her story isn’t just a footnote in the annals of true crime; it’s a testament to our fascination with the elusive and the extraordinary.
In chasing these fleeting glimpses of Nichol, we confront our own thirst for narrative closure and the complex web of morality, empathy, and curiosity that binds us all. Are we seeking justice, redemption, or merely the thrill of the hunt? The answer lies somewhere in the shadows she inhabits, forever just out of reach.
Curious to unravel more tales of intrigue and mystery? Dive into our extensive collection of articles that delve into the lives of those who live on the edge of the spotlight, where every turn holds a new twist. Check out our ‘Unsolved Mysteries’ category and let your curiosity lead the way. Who knows what you’ll uncover next?