Chris Watts sentenced to life in prison for murdering pregnant wife, 2 daughters

A Frederick, Colorado, man who pleaded guilty to murdering his pregnant wife and two daughters in August has been sentenced to life in prison.

Christopher Watts’ sentence was handed down Monday after his parents and the family of his slain wife Shanann Watts made emotional statements before the court.

“I could objectively say this is perhaps the most inhumane and vicious crime that I have handled out of the thousands of cases I have seen,” Judge Marcelo Kopcow told the court. “Nothing less than a maximum sentence would be appropriate.”

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Chris Watts pleaded guilty on Nov. 6 to three counts of murder for the deaths of his 15-weeks-pregnant wife, 34, and their daughters Bella, 4, and Celeste, 3.

He also pleaded guilty to two counts of murdering a child, one count of unlawful termination of a pregnancy and three counts of tampering with a deceased human body.

Prosecutors said Watts strangled his wife and then smothered his daughters before dumping their bodies on an oil site where he used to work.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

• This article originally appeared on HuffPost.