Chris Watts Applies to Marry in Prison 8 Years After Killing Family

Q: Will the Wisconsin prison system actually approve a marriage license for one of America's most infamous killers?

Possibly, but it is far from automatic. Wisconsin prisons do allow incarcerated people to marry, including inmates serving life sentences. Reports tied to the Chris Watts case indicate that he and Lizzie Henderson have applied through that process. Under Wisconsin Department of Corrections procedures described in multiple reports, a prison marriage coordinator reviews the request, the outside partner is given information about the inmate’s crimes and sentence, and the warden makes the final decision. That means Watts’ notoriety alone does not appear to legally bar him from marrying. The key issue is whether the application satisfies prison rules and security requirements. If both adults are legally eligible to marry under Wisconsin law and the prison sees no administrative or safety reason to deny the request, approval is possible. At the same time, no public record shows that approval has been granted. Fox News Digital said it sought comment from the Wisconsin Department of Corrections, and the reports now available describe only an application, not an approved ceremony or license. So the realistic answer is that Wisconsin could approve it, because the prison system has a formal path for inmate marriages, but there is no evidence yet that officials have signed off. Until the Department of Corrections or the warden confirms a decision, the proposed marriage remains pending.

3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Aug 16

Prison records cited by People show Chris Watts and Lizzie Henderson have applied to marry while he serves life without parole in Wisconsin.
Henderson reportedly met Watts during his imprisonment, recently moved to Wisconsin, and Racine County court records show a woman with her name sought a confidential legal name change in 2025.
Watts, 40, pleaded guilty in 2018 to killing his pregnant wife Shanann, 34, and daughters Bella, 4, and Celeste, 3, avoiding a possible death penalty.
Fox Nation’s new documentary has revived attention on the case, while Wisconsin corrections officials have not yet commented on the reported marriage application.