Prosecutors demand ‘killer dad’ Chris Watts provide DNA as he claims wife strangled daughter

Authorities in Colorado want to take DNA samples from Christopher Watts as prosecutors continue to build a case against him for the murder of his pregnant wife and their two young daughters.

The Weld County District Attorney’s Office wants the judge presiding over the case to force Watts to provide fingerprints, palm prints, pictures of his hands, and other DNA-related evidence.

The request was made in a legal motion filed on Thursday, a copy of which was obtained by PEOPLE.

Watts was arrested and charged with first-degree murder in the deaths of his 34-year-old wife, Shanann Watts, and their two daughters – Celeste, three, and Bella, four – at their home in Frederick, Colorado.

Christopher Watts is in court for his arraignment hearing at the Weld County Courthouse on August 21, 2018 in Greeley, Colorado

Christopher Watts is in court for his arraignment hearing at the Weld County Courthouse on August 21, 2018 in Greeley, Colorado

Watts was arrested and charged with first-degree murder in the deaths of his 34-year-old wife, Shanann Watts, and their two daughters - Celeste, 3, and Bella, 4 - at their home in Frederick, Colorado

Watts was arrested and charged with first-degree murder in the deaths of his 34-year-old wife, Shanann Watts, and their two daughters – Celeste, 3, and Bella, 4 – at their home in Frederick, Colorado

He is also charged with tampering with evidence for allegedly burying his wife in a shallow grave 35 miles from home and dumping his two daughters into a tank filled with crude oil.

If convicted, Watts faces the death penalty.

Authorities accuse Chris Watts or killing them after she returned from a business trip in the early morning hours of August 13.

A friend of Shanann who dropped her off at home from the airport alerted police after she did not respond to phone calls, according to the Coloradoan.

Watts told police that he and his wife argued ‘emotionally’ about separating on that morning.

He claims that his wife then strangled both of their children to death.

The Weld County District Attorney’s Office wants the judge presiding over the case to force Watts to provide fingerprints, palm prints, pictures of his hands, and other DNA-related evidence

The Weld County District Attorney’s Office wants the judge presiding over the case to force Watts to provide fingerprints, palm prints, pictures of his hands, and other DNA-related evidence

Watts claims he then strangled Shanann in a fit of rage.

He told authorities that after he told his wife he wanted to separate, he watched as she strangled Celeste while Bella was ‘blue’, her lifeless body in a bed nearby.

But investigators say Watts is lying. He was arrested on August 15 – one day before the bodies of his wife and their two children were found.

Watts is being held without bond in the Weld County Jail. He has yet to enter a plea.

‘The theory that she [Shan’ann] did it doesn’t hold any water,’ a source close to the investigation told PEOPLE.

‘There is absolutely no evidence that she killed her children.’

Meanwhile, Watts’ lawyers are asking the court to investigate whether prosecutors have leaked damaging information about their client to the press.

Prosecutors have denied the accusation. 

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk