Chris Watts is reportedly seeking to marry his prison girlfriend, Lizzie Henderson, nearly eight years after he was sentenced to life in prison for killing his pregnant wife and their two daughters.
Reports published on August 11, 2026, say Watts has submitted an application seeking permission for a prison wedding with Henderson. The development has sparked renewed public interest in the convicted killer’s personal life and the woman who has reportedly maintained a relationship with him while he serves his sentence.
However, one distinction is important: Lizzie Henderson is not confirmed to be Chris Watts’ wife at this time. Current reports describe her as his girlfriend and say the couple has applied to marry.
Who Is Lizzie?
Lizzie Henderson is reportedly a 39-year-old former realtor from the Cleveland, Ohio, area.
According to recent reports, she moved to Wisconsin in order to be closer to Dodge Correctional Institution in Waupun, where Watts is serving his sentence.
Her reported relocation has attracted attention because it suggests that her relationship with Watts has continued despite the circumstances surrounding his imprisonment.
Henderson has also reportedly been a frequent visitor to the prison, with records cited by media reports indicating that she visited Watts numerous times over the course of a year.
The Relationship
Henderson’s connection with Watts has reportedly developed through prison visits and ongoing communication.
Reports say she visited him at least 20 times over a one-year period and spent Christmas Day 2024 with him.
When approached about the relationship, Henderson reportedly confirmed that she and Watts were together. She also addressed criticism surrounding her decision to maintain a relationship with a convicted family killer, saying that the circumstances of how their relationship began were a matter between herself, Watts and God.
Her comments have generated considerable reaction because of the extraordinary circumstances surrounding Watts’ case.
Marriage Application
The latest development is a reported application for a prison wedding.
That does not mean the couple has already married.
Reports indicate that Watts has sought permission to marry Henderson while incarcerated. Whether the application is ultimately approved and whether an actual ceremony takes place are separate questions.
The reported application is nevertheless significant because it indicates that the relationship has progressed beyond ordinary prison visitation.
Some social-media posts have referred to Henderson as Watts’ “new wife,” but that description should be treated cautiously unless an official marriage record or confirmation from the couple establishes that a legal marriage has occurred.
Name Change Claims
Another detail surrounding the relationship involves Henderson’s reported use of the surname Watts.
Media reports have claimed that she has informally used “Lizzie Watts” and has taken steps toward legally changing her last name.
There have also been claims that she has been seen wearing rings resembling wedding bands.
Those details may fuel speculation that a marriage has already occurred, but they do not by themselves establish a legally completed marriage.
The latest reporting continues to describe the situation as a proposed prison marriage rather than a confirmed wedding.
Where Watts Is Imprisoned
Watts is incarcerated at Dodge Correctional Institution in Waupun, Wisconsin.
He was transferred there in December 2018 after being sentenced in Colorado.
His incarceration followed his guilty pleas in the deaths of his pregnant wife, Shanann Watts, and their daughters, Bella and Celeste.
Watts pleaded guilty in November 2018 and received multiple life sentences without the possibility of parole. He remains imprisoned under that sentence.
The 2018 Murders
The proposed marriage has inevitably drawn attention back to the crime that placed Watts behind bars.
On August 13, 2018, Shanann Watts and her two daughters disappeared from their home in Frederick, Colorado. Shanann was pregnant at the time.
Watts initially denied knowing what had happened to his family. Investigators later determined that he had killed his wife and children.
He ultimately admitted responsibility and entered guilty pleas rather than taking the case to trial.
The killings became one of the most widely followed American true-crime cases of the decade.
Life Sentence
Watts’ punishment leaves little conventional future for a married couple.
He is serving life sentences without the possibility of parole, meaning he is not expected to leave prison as a free man.
The reported relationship with Henderson therefore exists almost entirely within the restrictions of incarceration.
Any marriage would not change Watts’ sentence or provide him with a path to release.
It would instead create a legal marital relationship while he remains imprisoned.
Public Reaction
News of the reported wedding application has produced strong reactions online.
Many people remain deeply disturbed by the possibility of Watts marrying again because of the nature of his crimes. Others have focused on Henderson’s decision to maintain a relationship with him despite his permanent incarceration.
The relationship has also reignited discussions about why some people become romantically involved with notorious prisoners.
However, Henderson’s motivations are ultimately personal, and speculation about her psychological state or reasons for the relationship should not be presented as fact without evidence.
Not Yet His Wife
The phrase “Chris Watts’ new wife Lizzie” is already appearing in online discussions, but the available reporting does not support stating that a completed marriage has definitely occurred.
The current development is that Watts has reportedly requested a prison wedding with Lizzie Henderson.
If the application is approved and the couple completes a legal ceremony, that would establish Henderson as his wife. Until then, she is more accurately described as his reported prison girlfriend or fiancée-to-be, depending on what is formally confirmed.
What Happens Next?
The next step is determining whether the reported prison wedding application receives approval.
If the ceremony goes ahead, additional details about the marriage may become available through official records or statements from the couple.
For now, the story remains notable because of the unusual circumstances: a convicted family killer serving multiple life sentences has reportedly sought to marry a woman who moved states to remain close to him.
Chris Watts remains imprisoned for life, while Lizzie Henderson’s reported relationship with him continues to attract intense public scrutiny.
For the moment, however, there is no reliable basis to state that Lizzie Henderson is already Chris Watts’ legal wife. The latest reports describe a proposed prison marriage, not a confirmed wedding.
