Updated: August 12, 2026
Chris Watts New Wife Lizzie: Eight years after Chris Watts murdered his pregnant wife Shanann and their two young daughters, the case still draws intense public attention. Now a new chapter has emerged. Watts, 41 and serving multiple life sentences without parole at Dodge Correctional Institution in Wisconsin, is in a serious relationship with Lizzie Henderson, a 39-year-old woman who has already begun calling herself Lizzie Watts. The pair have applied to marry through the prison system, and recent reports confirm she relocated to be near him. Here is what is known so far.
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Who Is Lizzie Henderson, Chris Watts’ Reported New Partner?
Lizzie Lee Henderson is a 39-year-old licensed realtor originally from the Cleveland, Ohio area. She has an active real estate license in Wisconsin and currently works nearby while also caring for her mother. Family members have confirmed the relationship to reporters. She has visited Watts frequently—prison logs show roughly 20 to 23 contact visits over the past year to 15 months, including Christmas Day 2024. Photographs published this week show her wearing rings on her left ring finger. In September 2025 she filed a confidential application to legally change her name, and relatives say she has already started using “Lizzie Watts.”
When contacted, Henderson acknowledged the relationship could seem “weird” to outsiders but declined to share how it began beyond stating it was “between me, him and God.” On Watts’ crimes she said he knows how she feels and that she wants to respect everyone involved.
How the Relationship Developed Behind Bars
Watts has received correspondence from multiple women during his incarceration. This relationship appears more established. Henderson moved from Ohio to Wisconsin specifically to live closer to the maximum-security facility in Waupun. Visits allow limited physical contact at the start and end; no conjugal visits are permitted. One witness reported seeing the couple in a prolonged embrace during a visit in August 2025, the day after the anniversary of the 2018 murders.
The connection seems rooted in shared faith. Watts has reportedly turned toward religion while incarcerated, and Henderson’s comments frame the relationship in spiritual terms. This is not his first prison correspondence, but the combination of frequent visits, relocation, name-change application, and formal marriage request marks it as unusually committed.
Plans for a Prison Wedding and Key Details
The couple has submitted an official marriage request through the Wisconsin prison system. Approval requires warden permission and meeting strict criteria, so the process can take time. Until then, Henderson is already presenting herself publicly as connected to Watts.
Here is a clear overview of the main facts:
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Chris Watts age / status | 41; multiple life sentences, no parole |
| Lizzie Henderson age | 39 |
| Profession | Licensed realtor (Ohio origin, now Wisconsin) |
| Relocation | Moved from Ohio to Wisconsin near Dodge CI |
| Visits | 20–23 contact visits over ~15 months |
| Name change | Application filed September 12, 2025 |
| Current self-reference | “Lizzie Watts” |
| Marriage status | Applied; not yet approved |
| Prison location | Dodge Correctional Institution, Waupun, WI |
Public Reaction and Broader Context
News of the relationship has triggered widespread discussion. Many people express disbelief that anyone would pursue marriage with a man convicted of killing his pregnant wife and two children. Others note that prison relationships, including marriage applications, occur more often than the public realizes. Henderson’s family has described the situation as surprising. She has emphasized respect for the victims while remaining committed to the relationship.
This development arrives nearly eight years after the 2018 murders in Frederick, Colorado. Watts pleaded guilty and received five consecutive life sentences. He was later transferred to Wisconsin for security reasons. The case remains one of the most closely followed family-annihilator stories of recent years, which explains why details about his current personal life spread so quickly.
Conclusion
Chris Watts and Lizzie Henderson are not yet married, but the steps they have taken—relocation, frequent visits, name-change application, rings, and a formal marriage request—show a clear intention to formalize the relationship behind bars. As of mid-August 2026 the application is pending. Whether the prison system ultimately approves it remains to be seen. What is already clear is that the story continues to evolve and holds public interest for the same reason the original case did: it forces uncomfortable questions about forgiveness, isolation, and human connection in the most extreme circumstances.