WELD COUNTY, Colo. — Attorneys for the Colorado man charged with murdering his family are accusing prosecutors and police of leaking information about the case to the media.
According to court documents, Chris Watts’ attorneys asked the court to open an investigation into whether information was illegally provided to the press.
In a court filing obtained by Scripps station KMGH in Denver, Watt’s attorneys filed a motion to have the court order a special commission to investigate their claims.
However, prosecutors have dismissed the claim and assert that publicly-filed court documents have been the source for most of the information the media has reported on.
Prosecutors further argue that granting the defense’s motion would be unreasonable, considering the court lacks the staff and funding to conduct an investigation, the documents read.
The Weld County District Attorney's Office notes that they are taking measures to limit information from being released but say media attention in the case will continue.
Watts was formally charged with killing his pregnant wife, Shanann Watts, and their two daughters, Bella and Celeste, back in August.
He was arrested Aug. 15, after pleading on television for the safe return of his family. Their bodies were found the next day on an Anadarko oil and gas site in Weld County.
Watts remains in the Weld County Jail while he awaits a Nov. 19 status conference.