Cherlyn Cadle reveals private phone confessions of Chris Watts from maximum security prison in Wisconsin

When the shocking murders of Shanann Watts and her two daughters stunned the nation in 2018, few could comprehend how a seemingly devoted father could commit such atrocities.

For Cherlyn Cadle, the case became more than headlines—it became a personal, years-long engagement with the perpetrator, Chris Watts.

Cadle, now 72, developed a correspondence and phone relationship with Watts after his conviction, initially approaching him from a place of curiosity and maternal concern.

Over time, however, the exchanges revealed a darker side, offering insight into his psychology, sexual obsessions, and manipulative tendencies.

A Pen Pal Relationship Turns Sinister

What began as motherly communication soon became an unsettling glimpse into Watts’ personal life.

He confessed details about his affair with Nichol Kessinger, describing sexual encounters in explicit detail and boasting of a near-constant physical relationship.

Cadle recalls, “A lot of things you wouldn’t tell your mother, but he told me.”

This obsession, she believes, was intertwined with his motives for murder.

Watts reportedly told her, “If I had not met Nikki, I would never have killed my family.”

His letters painted a picture of a man consumed by desire and validation, seemingly justifying unspeakable acts as a release of obsession.

Confessions Beyond the Crime

Over more than 100 phone calls and thousands of words in letters, Watts repeatedly revisited his crimes, rationalized his actions, and contradicted himself.

Cadle observed that he never grieved for his victims; instead, he grieved his lost reputation and the admiration he no longer received.

He detailed the murders in chilling terms: Shanann strangled, the unborn son lost, and his daughters smothered in oil tanks.

The level of detachment and focus on his own obsessions left Cadle shaken.

“I thought I was getting into his head, but he was getting into mine,” she said, describing nightmares and intrusive thoughts triggered by their conversations.

Manipulation and Narcissism

Cadle’s experience highlights Watts’ narcissism and manipulative tendencies.

He often blamed others—his mistress, his wife, or external circumstances—rather than taking responsibility for his actions.

At one point, he even suggested that undiagnosed Asperger’s symptoms may have influenced his behavior, a claim Cadle found indicative of self-pity rather than genuine accountability.

Their relationship eventually ended around 2023, after Cadle concluded she could no longer tolerate his relentless narcissism and refusal to confront the darkness of his crimes.

“Someone like Christopher will always take things further than he’s supposed to.

I had to confront the darkness of his crime… and then move on,” she reflected.

Impact and Consequences

Cadle’s account underscores several broader issues:

• Psychological toll on correspondents: Engaging with convicted murderers can cause trauma, nightmares, and intrusive thoughts.

• Manipulation behind bars: Some incarcerated individuals may exploit emotional relationships for validation or sexual gratification.

• Understanding criminal psychology: Correspondence can offer insight into motives and mindset, but also risks normalizing or empathizing with perpetrators.

• Challenges for prison systems: Monitoring and regulating communications is critical to prevent potential harm to outside parties.

What’s Next?

While Cadle’s correspondence has ended, her story raises questions about prison oversight and how inmates maintain contact with the outside world.

It also highlights the importance of boundaries for anyone engaging with dangerous criminals.

Legal and correctional institutions may consider stricter monitoring of inmate communications, particularly for individuals convicted of violent crimes who may exploit emotional or sexual connections.

Summary

Cherlyn Cadle’s long-term correspondence with Chris Watts offers a rare, disturbing glimpse into the mind of a convicted child killer.

What began as a motherly connection turned into exposure to his sexual obsessions, rationalizations for murder, and manipulative tactics.

Cadle’s experience underscores the psychological dangers of such interactions and raises questions about prison communication oversight.

Bulleted Takeaways

• Cadle exchanged hundreds of phone calls and letters with Chris Watts after his 2018 conviction.

• Watts shared explicit details about his affair with Nichol Kessinger and sexual obsessions.

• He repeatedly rationalized his murders and showed no genuine grief for his victims.

• Cadle observed patterns of narcissism, manipulation, and self-pity in Watts’ behavior.

• Engagement caused Cadle psychological distress, including nightmares and intrusive thoughts.

• The relationship ended in 2023 due to Watts’ refusal to take responsibility and Cadle setting boundaries.

• Her account highlights the risks of corresponding with violent criminals and the need for oversight in prison communication.

• Cadle believes understanding Watts’ motivations offers insight into criminal psychology, but warned about the dangers of emotional involvement.