Cases from 2018 include criminal investigations, trials, and notable events that occurred during the year. Whether they involved new charges, breakthroughs in cold cases, high-profile trials, or tragic incidents that captured national attention, the cases documented here reflect the state of the criminal justice system in 2018. CaseSleuth provides detailed, chronological coverage of each case with timelines, evidence breakdowns, profiles of key people involved, and links to primary sources and media coverage.
3 cases found
On August 13, 2018, Christopher Lee Watts murdered his pregnant wife, Shanann Watts, and their two young daughters, Bella (age 4) and Celeste (age 3), at the family's home in Frederick, Colorado, before disposing of their bodies at a remote oil work site operated by his employer, Anadarko Petroleum. After initially denying involvement and making a televised plea for his family's return, Watts confessed to the killings on August 15, 2018, and was arrested. On November 6, 2018, he pleaded guilty to nine counts including five counts of first-degree murder under a plea agreement that spared him the death penalty, and on November 19, 2018, he was sentenced to three consecutive life terms plus 84 years without the possibility of parole.
InfoWars host Alex Jones was found liable for defamation after years of claiming the Sandy Hook shooting was a hoax. Courts awarded nearly $1.5 billion to victims' families in 2022.
On February 14, 2018, 19-year-old Nikolas Cruz opened fire at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, killing 17 people and wounding 17 others. It was one of the deadliest school shootings in U.S. history and sparked a nationwide gun control movement.