When Love Turns Deadly: 5 Husbands Who Killed Their Wives to Be with Their Mistresses

Marriage is built on trust and commitment, but for some, betrayal and obsession lead to unthinkable actions. 

In this blog post, we explore six chilling cases where husbands resorted to murder to escape their marriages and pursue relationships with their mistresses.

1) Chris Watts: Who is Chris Watts?

Chris Watts and his wife Shanann

In August 2018, Chris Watts murdered his pregnant wife, Shanann, and their two daughters, Bella (4) and Celeste (3), in Frederick, Colorado. 

He killed his wife and daughters to be with his mistress Nichole Kessinger. 

Nichol Kessinger was a coworker Chris met at the oil company where he had worked.  

He misled Kessinger into believing he was separated from Shanann.

As their romance deepened, Chris grew more distant from his family. 

Shanann, pregnant with their son Nico, suspected something was wrong.

She even confided in friends that Chris was acting strangely. 

Chris Watts in court

On August 14, 2018, Chris Watts strangled his wife.

After killing Shanann, Chris turned his attention to his daughters. 

In a calculated move, he smothered Bella and Celeste and drove their bodies to a remote oil field. 

He buried Shanann in a shallow grave and placed the girls' bodies in separate oil tanks on the oil field.  

Before his confession, Chris Watts initially pretended to be a worried husband and father.

He appeared on television pleading for them to return home.

Nichol Kessinger, horrified to learn the truth, cooperated with investigators.

She claimed she had no idea Chris Watts was still committed to his family. 

Chris is now serving five life sentences without parole. 

Chris Watts is reportedly living in fear, according to his former cellmate, as fellow inmates are said to be enraged by his crimes. 

Read more on that update here.

2) Scott Peterson: Who is Scott Peterson?

Scott Peterson and his wife Laci

Scott Peterson, a fertilizer salesman from Modesto, murdered his pregnant wife, Laci., to be with his mistress Amber Frey, a massage therapist. 

Scott and Amber met in late 2002 through a mutual friend. 

Amber was led to believe Scott was single, and he described himself as a man who had "lost" his wife. 

While Laci was preparing for the birth of their son, Connor, Scott was busy wining and dining with Amber.

On December 24, 2002, Laci, who was eight months pregnant, went missing. 

Scott told police he had gone fishing that morning at Berkeley Marina.

However his inconsistent statements and his behaviour generally towards his wifes disappearance raised suspicions . 

He avoided media interviews, seemed uninterested in search efforts, and even sold his wife’s car during the investigation.  

Scott Peterson's mugshot

As weeks passed, police discovered Scott’s affair with Amber Frey. 

Four months later, in April 2003, the bodies of Laci and her unborn son washed ashore near the same marina where Scott claimed he had been fishing. 

Prosecutors argued Scott killed Laci to escape marriage and fatherhood, enabling him to pursue a life with Amber.  

Amber, horrified to learn Scott was married, worked with authorities by recording their conversations. 

In November 2004, Scott was convicted of first-degree murder for Laci and second-degree murder for Connor. 

He was sentenced to death, though his sentence was later reduced to life without parole in 2021.  

Amber Frey, now an advocate for victims of domestic violence, has used her experience to shed light on the hidden dangers of toxic relationships.  

As of January 2024, the Los Angeles Innocence Project is investigating claims of his innocence, citing potential new evidence.

3) Chris Coleman: Who is Chris Coleman? 

Chris Coleman and his wife

In 2009, Chris Coleman committed a horrific crime that shocked Columbia, Illinois.

At the time, he was the head of security for televangelist Joyce Meyer.

Chris Coleman was married to Sheri Coleman and the father of two young boys, Garett (11) and Gavin (9). 

While Chris portrayed himself as a devout Christian and family man, he was leading a double life with his mistress, Tara Lintz.

She was a woman he had known since childhood.  

Chris’s affair with Tara intensified in 2008, and he began planning a future with her.

But his job at Joyce Meyer Ministries required him to adhere to strict moral standards.

A divorce would have jeopardized both his reputation and his employment. 

Instead of leaving his marriage, on May 5, 2009, Chris carried out his heinous plan.

Chris Coleman's mugshot

 

He strangled Sheri in her bed and then killed their two sons in their sleep. 

He staged the scene to look like a failed robbery. 

Chris Coleman then left the house and later pretended to discover the crime upon returning from the gym.

However, investigators quickly unraveled Chris’s lies. 

In 2011, Chris was convicted of three counts of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison without parole.

Read more about him here

4) Mark Jensen: Who is Mark Jensen?

Mark Jensen and his wife Julie Jensen.

Mark Jensen is a man from Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin, who was convicted in 2018 for the murder of his wife, Julie Jensen.

His sentence came 20 years after the sudden death of his wife in 1998. 

Julie and Mark had been married for over a decade and had two children together, but their relationship was far from perfect. 

In the years leading up to Julie's death, she had become increasingly fearful of her husband.

She claimed that he had been emotionally and verbally abusive. 

In fact, just days before her death, Julie had written a letter to a close friend, fearing for her safety. 

She had also told her family that if anything happened to her, they should look at Mark as the prime suspect.  

On December 3, 1998, Julie was found dead in her home, allegedly from poisoning. 

Mark initially told investigators that she had taken an overdose of antidepressants, but suspicions quickly arose. 

Julie’s autopsy revealed high levels of antifreeze in her system, a substance that Mark had access to due to his work. 

Further investigation revealed that Mark had been having an affair with a woman named Darlene.

She also lived in the area, and Mark had been planning to leave Julie for her.  

Mark Jensen in court after a decade after the murder of his wife

The breakthrough in the case came years later in 2007.

Authorities discovered voicemail messages Julie had left for investigators before her death. 

In the tape, Julie spoke about Mark's abusive behavior and her fears that he was planning to kill her to be with Darlene. 

She even explicitly mentioned her belief that Mark had been poisoning her over time.  

Despite the clear motive, it took over a decade for Mark Jensen to be convicted. 

The case was initially ruled a suicide, but after the discovery of the voicemails, the investigation was reopened. 

Mark was arrested in 2017 and charged with first-degree intentional homicide. 

In 2018, he was found guilty of murder and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.  

His secret affair and plan to inherit his wife’s life insurance money ultimately led to his conviction. 

5) Thomas Capano: Who is Thomas Capano?

Thomas Capano

Coming in at number 5 on our countdown is a case with a shocking twist: he killed his mistress in to save his marriage.

Thomas Capano was a former prominent attorney in Delaware.

He became infamous for the brutal murder of his lover, Anne Marie Fahey, in 1996. 

Thomas Capano was a married man with children.

He was married to his wife, Barbara, with whom he had four children.

However, he was having a secret affair with Anne Marie, a secretary to the governor of Delaware. 

When Anne Marie threatened to expose their relationship, Capano resorted to violence to keep his affair hidden.

When she started distancing herself and seeing others, Capano grew increasingly paranoid.

He feared that his secret would be exposed, which would ruin his marriage, career, and reputation.

The night of June 27, 1996, would be the last time Anne Marie was seen alive. 

Capano lured her to his home under the pretense of discussing their relationship. 

Once there, he shot her in the head. 

Afterward, he disposed of her body, using a boat to dump it into the Atlantic Ocean. 

Her body was never found, but her murder sparked a massive investigation.

Eventually, the police connected the dots and found evidence linking Thomas to her murder.

In 1999, Thomas Capano was arrested and charged with first-degree murder. 

He was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to death in 2000. 

However, he was later found dead in his cell.

Thomas Capano mugshot

In each of these tragic stories, betrayal and desperation led to irreversible consequences. 

While these men sought to escape their situations, their actions cost innocent lives and destroyed families. 

Murder is never the solution to problems in relationships and violence can never resolve conflict. 

It’s always better to consider walking away if you feel trapped in a relationship. 

You can also check out a list of 10 mothers who faked their children's illnesses, resulting in devastating consequences, including death. 

View the full list here.

Also feel free to read other true crime stories on popular and high-profile cases like the ones in this article