Chris Watts Told Daughter 'Mommy's Sick' After She Saw Him Disposing of Wife's Dead Body

In a new interview, an attorney for Shanann Watts' family describes the last moments of her life

A lawyer for the family of slain Colorado mom Shanann Watts is speaking out on Dr. Phil — and sharing disturbing details of the day Chris Watts strangled his wife and smothered his two young daughters.

A pre-recorded interview with attorney Steven Lambert will appear on Tuesday’s episode of Dr. Phil. In a clip of the interview obtained by PEOPLE, he alleges that 4-year-old Bella walked in on her dad disposing of her mom’s body by wrapping it in a sheet.

“Bella walked in and asked, ‘What are you doing with Mommy?'” said Lambert.

According to Lambert, Watts told his daughter, “Mommy is sick, and we need to take her to the hospital to make her better.”

At some point after that conversation, Watts smothered Bella and her 3-year-old sister, Celeste. He then loaded their bodies into his truck and hid them on an oil work site where they were found three days later.

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In November, Watts pleaded guilty to all three killings. He is currently serving five life sentences without the possibility of parole.

Watts was having an affair with a co-worker at the time of the killings. Authorities have cited his desire for a “fresh start” with his mistress as his motive for the killings.

According to Lambert, the murder happened after an argument about the affair.

“In that fight, [Chris] essentially confessed to having an affair, that he wanted a divorce, that it was pretty much over between them,” Lambert told McGraw. “[Shanann] said something to the effect of, ‘Well, you’re not going to see the kids again.’ As a consequence of that conversation, he strangled her to death.”

A February 18 statement to PEOPLE from the Colorado Bureau of Investigation says that authorities “interviewed Christopher Watts for the purpose of developing further insight into the case. Watts provided investigators with additional information about the murders of Shanann, Bella, and Celeste during the interview.”

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The Watts family. Facebook

A spokeswoman from the Colorado Bureau of Investigation tells PEOPLE the office plans to release more information on the case Thursday, adding that the office was taken by surprise by the Dr. Phil interview.

A spokesperson for the Weld County District Attorney’s Office tells PEOPLE the office is not releasing any more information on the case.

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