Frederick Police Department Detective, DAVE BAUMHOVER, arrived at the The purpose for our visit to the was to interview CHRISTOPHER LEE WATTS (05/16/1985) concerning the murder of his pregnant wife and daughters as well as to discuss other individuals who claimed to have had an affair with WATTS during his marriage. Intense public and media interest in the case continues, making it difficult for investigators to heal. He was moved from Colorado over safety concerns, The Denver Post reported in December. For the first time, the federal government is studying exactly how prevalent mental health issues are within law enforcement and is searching for best practices in a career where seeking help has long been stigmatized. Many people could see themselves in the family. But as he bolted from the restaurant to the parking lot to escape the flashback rage, grief and anxiety flooding his body he knew it would take more than a trip to heal the post-traumatic stress disorder he was diagnosed with after the case. Even hundreds of miles away in Phoenix, he couldnt escape reminders of the case he was trying to move past. Chaffee County man sues after police use flash-bang near his head during SWAT-style traffic-stop, Colorado grocery stores can begin selling wine on Wednesday, Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot concedes defeat, Southern California home sales fall to all-time low, Denver just got a direct flight to this Caribbean island known for music history and vegetarian cooking, NYC Mayor Adams dismisses need to separate church and state, declares himself a servant of God, Zero-calorie sweetener linked to heart attack and stroke, study finds, Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. He said, It was too much, too ugly, for too long, she said. A veteran investigator, she had handled scores of gruesomecases. Baumhover has been on leave from the department since. Frederick Police Department Detective Dave Baumhover said the Watts' home showed no signs of foul play and he added there was nothing to suggest Mr Watts had mental health problems. What Was Chris Watts Motive For Killing His Entire Family? Itll be a big victory when we can get to just having joy in watching little kids play, Lori said. In a way, I think I became more hardened to what people can do to each other, the veteran prosecutor said. This week marks the one year anniversary of theWatts family killings in Colorado, a horrific event that has changed the lives of many. Lynne Baumhover. Veteran law enforcement officers cant shake images of the well site where their bodies were recovered. Cookie Notice The callousness of the way they were discarded still baffles Maloney. Their faces. He was 85 years old. Veteran law enforcement officers cant shake images of the well site where their bodies were recovered. Less than an hour after interviewing Chris, Coonrod makes a call to Detective David Baumhover. The killings prompted difficult discussions about mental health at the Colorado organizations involved in the case as agencies across the nation are grappling with the mental wellness of their staffs. Also in 2017, the legislature added PTSD as a diagnosis that qualifies a person for workers compensation, allowing people like Baumhover to access the program. Burial will be in St. Ann's Cemetery in Vail. Still, the continued public and media interest in the case makes it difficult to move on, investigators said. During the investigation and court proceedings, he would immerse himself all day in the gruesome facts of the case. Denver Sexual Assault Hotline: thebluebench.org. The Watts case was so traumatic for law enforcement and the general public, in part, because it was simultaneously unlike so many other cases and also too familiar, said Nicoletti, who worked with some who investigated the case. Instead, she sobbed at the hair salon as her helpless mother and sister looked on. He stopped sleeping. The Celebrant will be Fr. Television stations continue to create documentaries. Getting them out of those tankers was a very complicated process, he explained, adding that they had to wait until the next day to retrieve their bodies. He didnt know how he was going to tell Shananns parents. You have no choice until the ride shuts off.. During the 2019 session, lawmakers expanded access to the Peace Officer Mental Health Grant, which was created in 2017 and pays for counseling services at local agencies. He thinks about what he did every day. And then every time I think about them the next thought in my mind is about my own daughter.. He called a counseling service immediately. Hed think of Celeste and Bella. She kept thinking of the video of the girls when Shanann told them that she was pregnant how the girls laughed and jumped up and down at the news, pulling their mom into a long hug. An alert has been sent to Colorado law enforcement agencies so they will be on the lookout for Watts and her children. A few times he stepped away from policing to work in the private sector for better pay and at the request of family members who worried about him. Through counseling, Lee said she was able to process her grief. Shanann Watts was reported missing at 1:40 p.m. MT (3:40 p.m. He didnt know how he was going to tell Shananns parents. He doesnt think he can expose himself again to the inherent trauma of the job. Ive been to many homicides of children. At the sight of the girls, he once again was at the Weld County oil site where eight months ago he had recovered the bodies of Bella and Celeste Watts. The changes are part of a nationwide culture change that is working to mitigate harm in a profession where suicide is four times higher than the national average, said Scully of the National Alliance on Mental Illness. Dave Baumhover asking if he remembers them. A veteran investigator, she had handled scores of gruesomecases. His first morning back at home in Frederick, Baumhover broke down sobbing at his kitchen table. You have no choice until the ride shuts off," Frederick police detective Dave Baumhover told the Denver Post. Call the 24-hour hotline at 303-443-7300. This is not an issue that is new, said Shannon Scully, manager of criminal justice and advocacy at the National Alliance on Mental Illness. Call the hotline at 303-322-7273 for free, 24-hour help. That has shifted as agencies and their leaders have recognized the importance of cultural change that encourages them to seek help. Dave Baumhover Just letting anyone who is interested know that Dave Baumhover deleted his blog. Hes not sure whether he will be able to return to law enforcement, a career that once drew him like a magnet. Shanann Watts was reported missing at 1:40 p.m. MT (3:40 p.m. He said typically when he does excavations, hell find a body laid out in a manner thats more respectful. He loved the job, despite the long hours. Baumhover went to Wisconsin because he needed to know what happened. 11K views 3 years ago Detective Dave Baumhover arrives at Watts' home to conduct initial investigation and search per body cam of Officer Coonrod, Frederick Police Department, following the Check. The website also has resources like a guide to helping someone you know who is being abused. Marshall fire victims protested green building codes as too expensive. that he has been diagnosed with acute PTSD as a result of working on the case. Dan Potaznick. The killings didnt make sense to people, he said. I knew what they looked like when they played and how they sounded when they giggled. The endless videos and photos of the girls that Shanann posted online, which Lee reviewed during the investigation, created a vivid mental image of the sisters. Hes not sure whether he will be able to return to law enforcement, a career that once drew him like a magnet. In the early morning hours of August 13, 2018, a young mother returned home from a business trip. He said, It was too much, too ugly, for too long, she said. He was moved from Colorado over safety concerns, The Denver Post reported in December. And then every time I think about them the next thought in my mind is about my own daughter.. The registered agent of the entity is Ming Liu . He shortly after was promoted to the agencys lone detective position. The website also has resources like a guide to helping someone you know who is being abused. From Frederick, CO police. Crime News is your destination for true crime stories from around the world, breaking crime news, and information about Oxygen's original true crime shows and documentaries. At the sight of the girls, he once again was at the Weld County oil site where eight months ago he had recovered the bodies of Bella and Celeste Watts. Its dangerous to watch television or go online. During the prison interview, Watts revealed how he killed Shanann and put her body on the floor in the back seat of his truck. John Nicoletti, a Denver psychologist who specializes in treating public safety professionals, said he has seen a seismic shift in the conversation surrounding mental health in law enforcement over his 40-year career. Call the 24-hour hotline at 303-443-7300. Weld County District Attorney Michael Rourke still has frequent nightmares about oil tanks. Select the best result to find their address, phone number, relatives, and public records. In a way, I think I became more hardened to what people can do to each other, the veteran prosecutor said. But you cant. At least 167 officers died by suicide in 2018. She wants to make sure all departments know what is available so that other families can avoid the hell theyve been through. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. He saw their mothers shallow grave nearby. The report from Watts' Feb. 18 interview with CBI Agent Tammy Lee, FBI Special Agent Grahm Coder and Frederick Police Detective Dave Baumhover did give some insight into Watts' transfer out of Colorado. The case caused me to be much more cognizant of what it is that we do and the impact that it has on the people who work in this office, he said. Gaps started to form in his memory. That Shanann would never get to go to lunch with them again, or buy them a new outfit. You know that youre recovering the bodies of two small children.. It seemed surreal. By Elise Schmelzer | Dave Baumhover at 303-652-4222 or dbaumhover@frederickco.gov, or the Frederick Police Department at 720-382-5700 with any . Lead detective Dave Baumhover was present during the recovery process and has since been diagnosed with PTSD due to the events that he witnessed. E-mail. The Frederick, Colorado, police. Cheyenne's East High School has released its honor roll for the first semester of the 2022-23 school year: State legislators have also addressed the issue. Its easier to just not go anywhere, he said. Timothy Schott, assisted by Deacon Dave Prenger. The date of Baumhover's legal warrant to look into the doorbell footage is worth noting. Baumhover, 52, has been out of work suffering from PTSD since hearing details of this confession. Its easier to just not go anywhere, he said. Carroll City Cemetery. Then hed go home and see his stepdaughter, who is about the same age as the dead girls, dancing and playing. I see those little girls. Hes not sure whether he will be able to return to law enforcement, a career that once drew him like a magnet. I'm really sad he deleted his blog. Some days you feel defeated.. Were fortunate in Colorado that departments are doing a good job in this, he said. The killings prompted difficult discussions about mental health at the Colorado organizations involved in the case as agencies across the nation are grappling with the mental wellness of their staffs. Intense public and media interest in the case continues, making it difficult for investigators to heal. podcasts Updated Date: Feb 04, 2022 Category: True Crime Publish Date: Dec 19, 2020 Jump to Full Description Top Snippets - They Woke Up And I said, I know. . After a few years away from the profession, Baumhover joined the Frederick Police Department full time in 2011 in search of a more low-key police job in a smaller community. Were fortunate in Colorado that departments are doing a good job in this, he said. Baumhover went to Wisconsin because he needed to know what happened. He brought in therapists from North Range Behavioral Health to help his staff. Further disgust and outrage came from the public after authorities released additional disturbing details earlier this year based on subsequent interviews conducted with Watts.And those details has been haunting not only the public, but the people close to the investigation. Coder then set the ground rules about why the officers were there and assured Watts he wasn't still under investigation. Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), This changed all of us: A year after Watts murders shook Colorado, investigators on the case continue grappling with trauma, Pueblo County deputies shoot, kill man after shots fired near elementary school, Colorado food banks brace for surge in demand as pandemic-era boost to SNAP benefits ends, Three Summit School District staffers and a former employee face failure to report child abuse investigation, Six California men indicted in theft of $1.1M in construction equipment across Colorados Front Range, Christopher Watts murder investigation timeline, learned the exact horrific manner of how he murdered his wife and children, Use this map to locate resources by county in Colorado, A report by the U.S. Department of Justice released in April, Sheriff: Armed suspect in barricade incident in El Paso County is shot, hospitalized. And while he at first denied having anything to do with their disappearance and even at one point claimed Shanann killed his daughters before he killed her, he lateradmitted to slaying them all. Dont look down that aisle, theres a family, shell say. Dave Baumhover inside of the. It wasnt just the Watts case that caused his PTSD, Baumhover said. E-mail. It kept pulling me in.. Burial. He explained how he smothered the girls individually, how 4-year-old Bella had to watch her little sister die. jbaumhover@lyonsfilter.com. Baumhovers flashbacks started soon after returning from Wisconsin, where he interviewed Christopher Watts in prison and learned the exact horrific manner of how he murdered his wife and children. Its dangerous to watch television or go online. It was just a calling, he said. ET) on Monday. Colorado lawmakers want to make prison phone calls free so families dont have to choose. Through counseling, Lee said she was able to process her grief. Hannah Bernhard. This is not an issue that is new, said Shannon Scully, manager of criminal justice and advocacy at the National Alliance on Mental Illness. Facebook gives people the power. She scheduled a therapy appointment for 8 a.m. the following Monday. David Allen Baumhover (Dave Allen Baumhover) Age 80+ Location Carroll, IA Monitor View Cell Phone Number View Background Report Phone Numbers Landlines (2) (712) 792-3758 (712) 792-0731 Cell Phones Premium Primary Whitepages Primary Numbers Quickly identify the best number Higher confidence data Available with Premium ( ) - View Cell Phone Numbers In the meantime, the counselor asked her to start writing down what would trigger her crying. The tanks had to be drained so that the girls could be removed, a process that disturbed several people on scene. Mike was born on September 13, 1955 in Lake City, IA, and he was the son of David and Irene (Hoffman) Baumhover. 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