Inside the Daily Life of Convicted Killer Chris Watts

Chris Watts, 33, pleaded guilty in November 2018 to killing his wife Shanann, 34, and daughters Bella, 4, and Celeste, 3. He faced nine charges: five counts of first-degree murder, one count of unlawful termination of pregnancy, and three counts of tampering with a deceased body. The judge sentenced Watts to life without parole.

A prison official told PEOPLE that Watts, who turned 39 this year, remains in the general population at Dodge Correctional Institution in Waupun, a maximum-security facility in Wisconsin. Schedule permitting, Watts can exercise once or twice a day during the week.

Since his transfer to Dodge Correctional in 2018, Watts has received two conduct reports for rules violations. In 2020, his phone privileges were revoked for 15 days, and commissary privileges were revoked for 30 days for "unauthorized forms of communication and unauthorized transfer of property." The following year, in 2021, Watts lost his access to electronics privileges for ten days for "disobeying orders and possession of miscellaneous contraband." The prison has not disclosed specific details of Watts' infractions.

In 2019, when PEOPLE reported that Watts kept photos of Shanann, Bella, and Celeste, there was a public outcry. Over 20,000 people signed a petition to remove the photos, but it was unsuccessful. Watts was allowed to keep the pictures of his murdered wife and children in his cell. Prison officials stated they couldn't legally confiscate Watts' photos as inmates are permitted to keep certain personal items. Inmates are, however, prohibited from possessing images with gang-related content or nudity.

Reportedly, Watts has been corresponding with multiple women from prison. "They send sexy pictures, and he responds," the source said. "There are a lot of women who think he's handsome and misunderstood. They send a lot of letters."

The source added that Watts spends money on stamps and paper from the commissary to maintain these pen-pal relationships. "He's got nothing else to do," the source explained. "So he feeds his ego in that way. Because he's not popular at all in prison. He's in protective custody. The only outlet he has is with these letters."

As of 2023, Watts was reportedly working as a custodian within the prison. Watts' 38th birthday last May was just another day in prison, with no special treatment.

The case continues to fascinate the public. Netflix even produced a documentary that reportedly upset Watts. Television has been making numerous specials about the murders.

When Shanann and the girls initially disappeared on August 13, 2018, Watts feigned ignorance. A few days later, he confessed to killing Shanann but tried to blame her for the girls' deaths.

Police found the bodies of Bella and Celeste in oil tanks at Watts' workplace, with Shanann buried nearby in a shallow grave. Investigators did not believe Watts' version of events.

In November 2018, Watts changed his plea and admitted guilt to all nine charges. Someone close to Watts told PEOPLE, "The evidence against him was overwhelming. He had no choice, considering the evidence. It took time for him to come around, but he did."

Before his full confession, it was revealed that Watts had been having an affair with a coworker named Nichol Kessinger. Kessinger told police she believed Watts was going through an amicable separation from his wife.

Barring extraordinary circumstances, Watts will remain in Dodge Correctional for the rest of his life. Dodge has housed other high-profile criminals, such as Jake Patterson, who kidnapped Jayme Closs and killed her parents. Patterson was transferred from Dodge after a few months.

Watts and Shanann's relationship began with a Facebook friend request, and they seemed to build an ideal life. They had two beautiful children and another on the way when tragedy struck.

A source told PEOPLE in 2019 that Watts spends his days in prison ruminating over his crimes. "He has nothing to do but think," the source said. "He thinks about what he did every day. He is tormented by his past and the mistakes he made," the source added.

Besides the photos, Watts reportedly keeps a Bible and identifies as a man of God.