SUSAN POWELL - 28 yo (2009) - Stockton (SW of Salt Lake City) UT

Judge to make decision in custody battle for Susan Powell's sons


Jared Preusz
fox13now.com
11:51 a.m. MDT, September 28, 2011

PIERCE COUNTY, Washington—
A judge is expected to rule on who will get custody of the two sons of missing West Valley City woman Susan Cox Powell at a hearing now under way in Washington State.

On Tuesday, the judge granted temporary custody of the children to Susan's parents, Chuck and Judy Cox, while she decides whether the boys should stay with the grandparents or return to their father Josh Powell. Josh is now the subject of a child pornography and voyeurism investigation that has already ensnared his father.

Steven Powell was arrested Friday and is now in the Pierce County Jail. Charging documents say Steven used a telephoto lens to videotape and photograph young girls and women at area parks and even in his own neighborhood. Police say they have thousands of disturbing images including pictures of Susan Cox Powell, after seizing computers from the Powell's home on August 25.

Police are investigating if Josh helped his father obtain the images or if he knew anything about it at all. Josh’s sons were put in foster homes after the arrest of Steven Powell. Following the ruling Tuesday, the children were placed with the Cox family.

Josh has been defiant in claiming he is an excellent father, that he had nothing to do with his wife Susan's disappearance and deserves to keep his two sons. Josh is pleading with the judge to let the children return home.

"Your honor, I have had nothing to do with any kind of illegal pornography,” said Josh. “I never received any indication that my father would have a problem with pornography in particular illegal pornography. There's never been any indication."

Josh also stated that the children are not at risk and they've never been exposed to pornography of any kind. He also made it clear that his family would not be posting bail for his father and if Steven Powell somehow managed to return home, he would take the boys and stay at a hotel.

Chuck Cox continues to fire away at Josh through his attorney, claiming that Josh will be charged for the disappearance of Susan. The attorney also maintains that Josh's two boys should not be in the home Josh shares with his father, Steven Powell.

http://www.fox13now.com/news/kstu-children-placed-with-parents-of-missing-utah-mom-20110927,0,3983820.story

Husband of missing Utah mom not getting kids back

Published: September 28, 2011


TACOMA, Wash. (AP) — The husband of a missing Utah woman is temporarily losing the right to care for his children after officials questioned Wednesday whether he is responsible for his wife's disappearance.

Judge Kathryn Nelson said there is reasonable cause to believe the two boys cannot be safely returned to the home of Josh Powell, so she ordered that the kids will temporarily stay with Susan Powell's parents, Chuck and Judy Cox. Josh Powell will have visitation rights.
Powell is a person of interest in his wife's disappearance, but he has not been charged and insists he did nothing wrong. John Long, an assistant attorney general, described during Wednesday's hearing a variety of concerns he has about Josh Powell, including that he has been uncooperative with law enforcement.
"It leads the state to believe that he is responsible for her disappearance," Long said.
Another of the concerns that Long raised was that the children had been living in the home of Steve Powell, Josh Powell's father, who was charged this month with voyeurism and possessing child pornography. Josh Powell said he wasn't aware of any illegal pornography and said there were no signs that it was in the home.
More details emerged Wednesday about Steve Powell's past in a 1992 divorce case from Spokane County. Case documents reviewed by The Associated Press show Steve Powell's ex-wife accused him of keeping pornography, damaging his children's respect for marriage and inappropriately discussing sex issues with the kids. Powell was charged this month with child pornography and voyeurism after authorities investigating the disappearance of Susan Powell searched his home in Puyallup.
Terri Powell wrote in the divorce papers that Steve Powell talked of teaching his children about birth control methods when they were as young as 9 years old. Terri's sister, Becky Mulcahy, wrote in the documents that Steve Powell told her that he had shown his youngest children books about sexual intercourse when they were 6 and 8 years old.
Terri Powell said her husband viewed people as animals and that they should be able to have sex with anyone at any time. She recalled a conversation in which Josh referred to a girl his brother, Johnny, liked. "All she is good for is her body, right Dad?" Terri recalled Josh saying.
"Yeah, that's right," Steve Powell replied, according to the declaration.
Terri Powell also said Steve Powell kept hardcore pornography in the home and that he visited pornography shops.
Jennifer Graves, Josh Powell's sister, said in an interview with The Associated Press that she broke off ties with her father in part because of his problems with sex and pornography. She recalled going on a business trip with her father when she was about 11 years old and that he viewed a pornographic video while she was with him.
"Looking back, I wonder if he was willing to do that with a 10-12 year girl — his daughter — in the room, what else would he be willing to do?" she said.
Steve Powell has pleaded not guilty to 14 charges of voyeurism and one of possession of child pornography. He remains jailed on $200,000 bail. Prosecutors said that for at least a decade, he had been secretly filming women, including Susan Powell, and that he shot footage of two young neighbor girls as they took baths and sat on the toilet.
In Wednesday's court hearing, Josh Powell advocated without an attorney that it was in the best interest of the children for him to keep caring for them. He also opposed the judge's decision to place them in the care of his in-laws, who have been openly critical of him.
Powell reiterated his statement that he had nothing to do with his wife's disappearance and wants her back safely. He continues to wear his wedding ring. Powell has said he took his boys, then 2 and 4, on a late night camping trip in freezing temperatures the day his wife disappeared from their West Valley City, Utah, home.


Read more: http://newsok.com/husband-of-missing-utah-mom-not-getting-kids-back/article/feed/301614#ixzz1ZLYgq900

PUYALLUP, Washington (ABC 4 News) - For the first time since her
daughter-in-law Susan Powell vanished 22 months ago, we're hearing from
Josh Powell's mother, Terri Powell.

Weighing in on the custody
battle over her grandsons, 6-year old Charlie and 4-year old Braden
Powell, Terri Powell is saying Josh is a good dad.

In a two page
typed declaration submitted to Superior Court in Tacoma, Washington,
Terri wrote, "Josh is a loving and very engaged father in the care of
his sons."

"I have been relieved and pleased to note how very
well Charlie and Braden are doing, despite the trauma and sadness of
missing their beloved mother."

Terri Powell also singles out
praise for her adult daughter, Alina. She wrote that Alina has been
filling the void left by the boy's missing mother, "She has lovingly and
kindly cared for the kids when Josh is at work."

Still, Terri
admits she had had limited contact with Josh and the boys in the last
couple years. Within a month of Susan's disappearance in December of
2009, Josh Powell moved from West Valley to Puyallup, Washington to live
with his father, Steve. "Except for a brief personal visit with them
last year," Terri wrote, "My contact with them since they moved to
Washington has been by phone."

Terri Powell is divorced from Steve Powell for several years and is living with her daughter Jennifer Graves in West Jordan.

The
declaration is a striking contrast to what Jennifer Graves has said.
Jennifer has repeatedly stated she believes her brother, Josh, is
responsible for his Susan's disappearance.

In response to her
mother's statement, Jennifer Graves said only, "Any comments my mom made
in support of Josh's parenting abilities are her opinions."

Terri
Powell's declaration will be considered by a Washington state judge
next month when the custody battle over the two boys resume next month.
For now, the court has allowed Charlie and Braden to stay with their
maternal grandparents, Chuck and Judy Cox.
http://www.abc4.com/mostpopular/story/Mom-says-Josh-Powell-is-a-good-father/5Q67Aaf0LkGmLaR6TXCglA.cspx

SALT LAKE CITY — The father-in-law of a missing Utah mother is set to appear in a Washington state courtroom.

Steven Powell is charged with 14 counts of voyeurism
and one count of possessing child pornography. He remained held in the
Pierce County Jail.

The 61-year-old Powell was set to appear Tuesday as part of the case against him. He has pleaded not guilty.

Authorities accuse him of secretly videotaping children
and women, including his daughter-in-law Susan Powell. She has been
missing since 2009.

Steven Powell's son, Josh Powell, is the only named person of interest in her disappearance.

Last month, a Tacoma, Washington judge removed Powell's
two children from the home he shared with his father. They are
temporarily in the custody of Susan Powell's parents.
http://www.therepublic.com/view/story/7d07a915762f4dcfbf4cd0548c1eb6d3/UT--Missing-Mom-Utah/

TACOMA, Wash. — The child pornography and voyeurism trial for the
father-in-law of missing Utah mother Susan Powell has been delayed until
next March.

Steve Powell was arrested last month after investigators who searched
his Puyallup home said they found more than 1,000 images of women who
had been videotaped without their consent, including Susan. He also was
charged with child pornography for images he allegedly took of young
neighbor girls in the bathtub and on the toilet.

Powell has pleaded not guilty and is being held on $200,000 bail.

He did not appear at a pretrial hearing Thursday where his trial was delayed from next month to March 20.

Susan Powell disappeared from her home in West Valley City, Utah, in
late 2009. Her husband, Josh Powell, is the only publicly identified
person-of-interest in the case.
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2016626468_apwamissingmomutah.html

Custody hearing for Powell boys postponed

First published Nov 14 2011 06:00PM

Updated 8 hours ago

A Washington state custody
hearing for the children of missing West Valley City mother Susan
Powell has been postponed until January.

A Pierce County Superior Court judge on
Tuesday was supposed to hear an update in the custody case involving the
children, ages 6 and 4. A judge last month granted temporary custody of
the boys to Susan Powell’s parents, Chuck and Judy Cox, after
Washington child-protection workers removed them from the care of their
father, Joshua Powell.

"The hearing has been canceled due to a legal
agreement," said the Coxes in a statement posted on the Friends and
Family of Susan Cox Powell Facebook page Monday. "The children remain in
state custody most likely through January. The grandparents welcome
additional time with the boys."

The Coxes have also asked the court to
appoint a guardian ad litem, an attorney who would represent the
interests of the boys alone in court proceedings. The Coxes stated in
their request that the children were having some difficulties with the
custody situation.

The children had been living with their father since their mother’s disappearance on Dec. 7, 2009.

Police have so far named only Josh Powell as a
person of interest in his wife’s case, though they say others are being
considered.
In January 2010 Josh Powell moved from Utah to the Puyallup, Wash., home of his father, Steve Powell.

But Steve Powell was arrested Sept. 22 on
allegations of voyeurism and child pornography. Police have said they
are investigating who else living in the home may have known of Steve
Powell’s activities.



Josh Powell has said he knows nothing about
his wife’s disappearance or his father’s alleged crimes. A judge granted
him weekly three-hour visits with his sons.
http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/news/52915605-78/powell-custody-court-coxes.html.csp

It's been nearly two years since Susan Powell disappeared, but her father says her two young sons are coping well.


In September, Susan's parents, Charles and Judy Cox, gained custody of Charlie Powell, 6, and Braden Powell, 4. The decision came after the discovery that their father Josh Powell was under investigation for child pornography and continues to be a person of interest in the ongoing investigation into Susan's December 2009 disappearance.


According to court documents, Charles Cox noted that the boys
were seeing both a counselor and a therapist who was working with them
"on a number of issues," the Deseret News reports.


While Cox said in his court filing that his grandsons have been
going to birthday parties, carving pumpkins, catching bugs and looking
for frogs since moving into his home, it appears one of the boys is
"somewhat reluctant" to work with the therapist.


Although the boy is doing well in school, Cox said he was "having nightmares" and was "afraid of the dark."


While the court allows Josh to see his sons for three hours on
Sundays, Cox attests that the boys return from those visits "obstinate
and more openly defiant than normal."


Cox also filed a motion requesting a copy of Josh's psychological evaluation, which he was ordered to undergo by the court.
http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20546144,00.html

As Utah authorities work to solve the
mysterious disappearance of Susan Cox Powell, Washington officials are
focused on another unresolved problem: what’s best for her two young
sons.

For now, Charlie, 6, and Braden, 4, are
living with Chuck and Judy Cox, their maternal grandparents, in
Puyallup, Wash. But where they will live permanently depends on the
outcome of two court cases.

A Jan. 19 review hearing is set in the child
welfare action brought by the state’s Division of Children and Family
Services. A judge will then review how the boys are doing; what progress
their father, Josh Powell, has made in addressing safety concerns; and
whether any new services are needed.

“Everything is on the table at those review
hearings,” said John Long, senior counsel in the Washington Attorney
General’s Office.

Filings in that case are confidential, but
according to a document filed as part of the second court case — a
custody petition filed by the Coxes — Josh Powell recently signed an
agreed dependency order that eliminates the need for a trial. That order
likely spells out alternative plans for the boys’ future, including
what their father must do to get them back.

In their case, Cox asked the court in
mid-November to appoint a guardian ad litem, who represents children’s
interests in court proceedings, so a custody investigation may begin. He
also asked that they be allowed to review Josh Powell’s psychological
evaluation.

Pierce County Sheriff’s deputies removed the
boys from the Puyallup, Wash., home they shared with their father,
grandfather Steve Powell and other relatives on Sept. 22. That same day,
Steve Powell was arrested on charges of voyeurism and possession of
child pornography; he remains in jail.

After five days in a foster home, the state
temporarily placed the boys with the Coxes. During a shelter hearing on
Sept. 28, Judge Kathryn J. Nelson ordered that the children remain in
state custody and with the Coxes, citing the allegations against Steve
Powell and the ongoing investigation of their mother’s disappearance. To
date, no charges have been filed against Josh Powell in either matter,
and he has denied involvement in both his wife’s disappearance and his
father’s activities.
During the September hearing, Josh Powell
described himself as a “superior” parent who has worked hard to create a
loving, stable home and keep his sons engaged in numerous activities.
That claim was supported by affidavits from his mother, three siblings,
family friends and a local pastor, who all described the boys as happy,
well-adjusted and vibrant children despite missing their mother.

Since then, Joshua Powell has had three-hour
weekly, supervised visits with his sons. In his recently filed
affidavit, Chuck Cox said the boys return from those visits “obstinate
and more openly defiant than normal.”

“We have simply tried to accommodate and
quickly get a handle over the boys’ attitudes and tempers after visits,”
Chuck Cox said in the affidavit.

He described the older boy as “somewhat
depressed” and “somewhat reluctant” to work with a therapist who visits
their home weekly. Cox also said the boy complained on one occasion that
“we don’t do anything.” Since the boys moved into their home, Cox said
they have engaged in such activities as “playing in the field, catching
bugs, looking for frogs, going to see Reptile Man, playing with cousins,
attending birthday parties” and visiting a local zoo.

Lisa Kelly, a University of Washington Law
School professor and director of its Children and Youth Advocacy Clinic,
said it is not unusual for children to have an adjustment after visits
with a parent.

“It is just something that is disconcerting to children for any number of reasons,” said Kelly, from missing a parent to being upset at having to spend time with them.

http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/news/53029746-78/powell-cox-court-josh.html.csp

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/print/705395497/Josh-Powell-says-sons-in-middle-of-very-hostile-war.html

PUYALLUP, Wash. — Almost two years to the day that his wife went missing, Josh Powell filed a declaration in court as part of an ongoing custody battle over the couple's two children alleging harm and "ongoing trauma."

"By being with the Coxes, my sons are caught in the middle of a very hostile war of words and emotions," Powell wrote in a signed declaration filed in a Pierce County court Wednesday.

He called the Cox family's treatment of his children "reckless," indicative of "an irrational vendetta against me," and said it is "sapping my sons' happiness and sense of security."

In September, a Washington judge gave temporary custody of Josh and Susan Cox Powell 's two sons, ages 4 and 6, to Susan's parents, Chuck and Judy Cox. The decision came following the arrest of Josh Powell's father, Stephen Powell, on voyeurism and child porn charges and in light of the ongoing investigation into the disappearance of Susan Powell.

The boys had been living with Josh Powell at his father's home in Washington since Jan. 2010. Susan Powell was last seen at the family's home on Dec. 6, 2009. Josh Powell has been named a person of interest in her disappearance because police say he has not cooperated with them.

There has been no secret made of the contention between the two families, which came to a head in August when a judge issued a restraining order that required Josh Powell and Chuck Cox to stay at least 500 feet away from each other.

Now, Josh Powell is alleging that his father-in-law is releasing sensitive medical information about the children to the public, using the children to try and obtain information and photos from Josh Powell and is turning the boys against him, even going so far as to teach them to call Josh Powell "Josh" as opposed to "Daddy."

"As their natural father, I am the most important person in my sons' lives and they are acting out because they feel attacked as the Coxes make diligent efforts to destroy our bonds with one another," Josh Powell wrote.

He said the negative attitude he believes is in the Cox home is causing stress in the lives of his children. He wrote that his 6-year-old has been complaining of nightmares and that the boys are "apparently angry" because they can't live with him.

"My sons' exposure to the Coxes' ongoing attitude and behavior is causing the boys a great deal of unnecessary trauma," the declaration states.

Josh Powell writes that his in-laws are trying to suppress information that is in his wife's childhood journals by way of a lawsuit and protective order. He states that they took these measures "because of the Coxes' own embarrassment over the experiences Susan describes while she was living in their household as a child."

"But Susan's journals should be reviewed because they are relevant to whether my sons are emotionally, sexually and physically safe in the Cox house," he wrote. "As a child, my wife suffered all manner of abuse by her parents and she has never healed from the scars."

He said the Coxes have manipulated the media and are trying to "totally control a media message" about him and his wife. This message, Josh Powell states, is harming his children and conceals the abuse Susan supposedly underwent that led to "anorexia, drug experimentation, and almost a complete lack of self-esteem …"

Josh Powell says he is a fit parent and has always been "a loving and devoted father." He asked the court to place the children with a neutral caretaker and stay all legal proceedings on the Coxes' third party action, which Josh Powell writes is secondary to an ongoing dependency action involving him and his sons.

Chuck and Judy Cox have been advised by the court to not speak publicly about the case, but attorney Ann Bremner, who is representing them in connection with the journal issue, said the couple has been providing "a safe and loving home for the boys."

"Chuck and Judy have abided by the court's directive that they not speak publicly about the children and are doing what's in the best interest of the children," she said Wednesday.

Attorney Steve Downing, who represent the Coxes in the custody issue, could not be reached for comment.

PUYALLUP, Wash. — While Susan Cox Powell's parents
are under a court mandated gag order and can't speak with
the media, Susan's sister is not.

Denise Cox said Thursday she's glad her nephews are safe,
and she can't wait until Josh Powell is charged for what
she believes he did to her sister.

"We don't miss that chance to remind them of their mom,
because they were 2 and 4 when she went missing and I
don't want them to forget her," Denise said, describing
the time she spends with Susan's two young sons.

Denise also wears a necklace with a wolf on it every day
around her neck. It's a daily reminder that her little
sister is still missing.



Josh and Susan Powell with their two young boys, who have since
been temporarily living with Susan's parents in Puyallup, Wash. Susan
Powell has been missing since December of 2009. (Photo: Courtesy Cox family)

Susan's two young sons are currently in the care of the
women's parents, Chuck and Judy Cox. Their father, Josh
Powell, lost custody last year after his father, Steven Powell, whom he was living
with, was arrested on charges of voyeurism and child porn.

Denise believes Josh was also involved. "I know he's not
innocent in this," she said. "I know he knew all that."

Josh has been fighting to regain custody of his boys. A
custody review hearing was scheduled for Thursday to see
if he had met all of the judge's demands. But a massive
storm crippled western Washington state and cancelled court.

Denise says the boys are exactly where they belong.
"They're doing so well with my parents, and it's nice
because I can actually see them whenever I want," she
said. "And for those two years, he kept them from us. It hurt."

Denise says her sister and Josh had had marital problems
for years before she vanished — that Josh was
manipulative and physically violent toward Susan.

"(Susan) called me crying and said that he had pushed her
and she was scared," Denise recalled. She says she told
Susan to "take the boys, go somewhere and I'll come get
you, and she didn't. She wouldn't do it."

Denise believes Josh is responsible for her sister's disappearance.

"Quit being a little girl," she said. "Fess up to what you
did to my sister and turn yourself in and help us out. Let us have some closure."

http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=18938940&autostart=y

A judge has ruled that the children of missing Utah mother Susan Powell must remain in the custody of her parents.

The judge also says she won't consider returning the two boys to their father, Josh Powell, until he undergoes a psycho-sexual evaluation.

The children have been living with her parents since Josh Powell's father Steven was arrested on child porn and voyeurism charges last fall.

On Wednesday, Pierce County Superior Court Judge Kathryn Nelson agreed to the evaluation as a safety precaution.

Nelson had noted the "extreme child porn" found in the Puyallup, Wash., home where Josh was living with the two boys and his father. Josh Powell's lawyer argued that no questionable images had been proven to belong to his client.

Susan Powell vanished in December 2009. Josh Powell has been named a person of interest but denies involvement in her disappearance.


Read more: http://tdn.com/news/national/judge-denies-custody-to-josh-powell/article_2943ba23-7ccc-5537-a01f-a4625d4ee115.html#ixzz1lEMb5xiE

Sunday, Feb. 05, 2012

Blast kills husband and 2 young sons of missing Utah woman
The Associated Press

GRAHAM, Wash. -- Officials say an explosion at a Washington state home has killed Josh Powell, the husband of a missing Utah woman, plus their two young sons.

Graham Fire and Rescue Chief Gary Franz tells The Associated Press that explosion occurred moments after a Child Protective Services worker brought the two boys to the home for a supervised visit.

He says Powell let the boys in the house, then blocked the social worker from entering. The social worker called her supervisors to report that she could smell gas, and the home exploded.

Read more here: http://www.bnd.com/2012/02/05/2046248/blast-kills-husband-of-missing.html#storylink=cpy

OMG what a POS coward. He killed those precious boys along with himself. That is so tragic. Wish he'd just done himself in and left the boys alone. Now we know for sure that those children should not have been in his custody. Now he has killed them and we all know he killed their mother. I feel bad for Susan's family.

He proved everyone right. He was a POS unfit to parent the children of the woman her murdered. Not even human enough to allow those boys to grow up and have a life. What a sad, sad tale, from beginning to the end.

My heart goes out to Susan's parents, the heartbroken grandparents of these precious boys.

Josh Powell, sons believed dead in explosion at Graham home

by KING 5 News
NWCN.com

Posted on February 5, 2012 at 1:31 PM
Updated today at 3:10 PM

GRAHAM, Wash. – Fire officials say three bodies have been found after an explosion and fire at the home of Josh Powell, whose wife Susan remains missing.

Pierce County Sheriff's officials say the bodies are believed to be Josh Powell and his two children.

Graham Deputy Fire Chief Gary Franz said the explosion occurred moments after a Child Protective Services worker brought the two boys to the home for a supervised visit.

He said Powell let the boys in the house, then blocked the social worker from entering. The social worker called her supervisors to report that she could smell gas, and the home exploded.

Firefighters quickly knocked down the fire and discovered the bodies. The home was completely destroyed.

A lawyer for Josh Powell told the Associated Press he received a three-word email from his client just minutes before the explosion. It said, "I'm sorry, goodbye."

Attorney Jeffrey Bassett said the email arrived at 12:05 p.m. Sunday, but he didn't see it until two hours later, when others informed him of the blast.

Officials said it appeared that an accelerant was used.

“This is pure evil. This was not a tragedy. This is the murder of two young children," said Paul Pastor, Pierce Co. Sheriff.

On Wednesday, a Washington judge ruled that the children must remain in the custody of Susan Powell's parents. The judge further said she won't consider returning the two boys to their father until he undergoes a psycho-sexual evaluation.

Powell has been attempting to regain custody.

The children have been living with Chuck and Judy Cox since Josh Powell's father Steven was arrested on child porn and voyeurism charges last fall.

The judge continued Powell's twice weekly supervised visits with the boys.

Susan Powell vanished in December 2009 at age 28.

This news makes me feel like I just got kicked in the stomach. This is Horrific. I hope he continues to burn in eternal hell. I pray for Susan's family and friends. These boys should've never been bought to this bastard's house. Im glad the social worker is not hurt, cause she was just doing her job.



BURN IN HELL JOSH!!!



As for these little Angels, may they RIP in the arms of their beloved mother....

Tears, that's exactly how it made me feel. I'm still reeling from the shock. I just can't believe it.

I just can't comprehend such evil.

Those of us who have followed this case from the start have always known that this asshat was a whack-a-doodle-do BUT I never thought he would go to this extreme.

Now Susan's remains may never be found as he was the only one who knew where he put her corpse. I am certain that the guilt was like a millstone around his neck and that he saw this as his escape...BUT why did he have to take the young boys out with him? I suppose he saw this as a way that they would all be reunited, in death. Sorry... the family went up while he will be dancing with the devil for all time.

The two young sons of Susan Powell had started talking to their grandparents about things they remembered from the night their mother vanished before they were killed themselves in an alleged murder-suicide orchestrated by their father, the lawyer for Susan Powell's parents said.



Josh Powell, who was a person of interest in his wife's 2009 disappearance, left behind a simple and short, a farewell to the world after two years of being scrutinized in the media, hammered by police and questioned by judges, prosecutors and social workers, living his life under a microscope since the day his wife vanished.



"I'm sorry, goodbye," Powell wrote in an email to his attorney just minutes before authorities say he set fire to his home, killing himself and his two young sons days after he was denied custody and ordered to undergo a psycho-sexual evaluation.



The Sunday blaze at Powell's home brought yet another twist in the very public scandal that began when Susan Powell vanished in 2009. The case had since spiraled into a salacious saga of finger-pointing and accusations of sex and lies — and now the unthinkable loss of two young lives caught in the crossfire.



Josh Powell, kids die in alleged murder-suicide
Did authorities do enough to protect Powell boys?
Video: Helicopter footage of explosion scene (KIRO)



On Sunday, the lawyer for Susan Powell's parents, Chuck and Judy Cox, told the AP the children recently had started talking to their grandparents about their mother's disappearance.



"They were beginning to verbalize more," said attorney Steve Downing, whose clients had custody of the children. "The oldest boy talked about that they went camping and that Mommy was in the trunk. Mom and Dad got out of the car and Mom disappeared."



A social worker brought the two boys, 5-year-old Braden and 7-year-old Charles, to Josh Powell's home Sunday for what was to be a supervised visit. They rushed toward the home, leaving the social worker behind. By the time she got to the door, Powell had let his sons in but locked her out, Graham Fire and Rescue Chief Gary Franz told The Associated Press.

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-201_162-57372054/lawyer-powell-boy-spoke-of-mommy-in-the-trunk/

Susan Cox Powell's friend shares her reaction to the death of Powell boys
Meredith Forrest Kulwicki

11:42 a.m. MST, February 6, 2012


SALT LAKE CITY — Fox 13 spoke with Kiirsi Hellewell, Susan Cox Powell's friend, on Monday morning.

She shared her reaction to the news that Josh Powell had killed his two sons and himself in Washington State on Sunday. Hellewell said she is experiencing feelings very similar to those she had when Susan was first reported missing in 2009.

"First I hoped that it was just a horrible rumor, because I was told by local reporters... I called Susan's father right away," said Hellewell. She said she believes Powell "just wanted to do anything he could to get the control and the power back over those boys and to hurt people that love them as much as possible."

Hellewell also spoke about how much she believes the police know from their investigation of Josh Powell as a person of interest in the disappearance of his wife, Susan Cox Powell.

"I think there is a whole lot that the police have not shared. They have kept a lot quiet. They have told us over and over again we wish we could tell you what we are doing, but we can't for the sake of the investigation we have to be quiet for now," said Hellewell. "But they have told us When everything comes out people are going to be absolutely shocked."

She also shared her thoughts on how police will continue with the investigation into Susan Cox Powell's disappearance. "I think it's a lot harder with him gone, but I think the police chief said last night, he wasn't cooperating anyway. So they had to do their work without him. So that hasn't really changed. But I fully believe that Josh's father knows what happened and I think there may have been others involved who also know."

"It just seems to me he has got to be involved," Hellwell said about Powell's father, Steve Powell.

http://www.fox13now.com/news/local/kstu-susan-cox-powells-friend-shares-her-reaction-to-death-of-powell-boys-20120206,0,3577741.story

Susan Powell's Dad: Our Worst Fears Came True

By Howard Breuer
Monday February 06, 2012 03:00 PM EST

Chuck Cox says that the family told anybody who would listen: It was only a matter of time before his son-in-law Josh Powell killed himself and his two boys.

On Sunday, those worst fears were realized when Josh, long a person of interest in the disappearance of wife Susan Powell, blew up his Tacoma, Wash.-area house in what is being characterized as a double-murder suicide.

"We stated our fear many times, that if he was feeling desperate, that he would possibly kill himself and the boys, that this kind of thing could happen," Susan's father Chuck tells PEOPLE. "If he felt there was no way out, that he wouldn't let anyone else have them. They were possessions to him."

As Josh tangled with Susan's relatives over the boys, Charlie, 7, and Branden, 5, Cox says he relayed his concerns to his attorney, to the court, to the county sheriff, to family services officials.

"They were all aware of our fears – that he would take a cowardly way out," says Cox.

Powell, who had denied wrongdoing in his wife's disappearance, had been fighting to regain custody of their boys, who were being cared for by their maternal grandparents.

A judge had recently ordered Powell, whose father is the subject of a child pornography case, to undergo a psychosexual evaluation, according to reports.

http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20567726,00.html

Live press conference (Josh Powell) at 3:00 MT

http://www.fox13now.com/live/

TomTerrific0420 wrote:Those of us who have followed this case from the start have always known that this asshat was a whack-a-doodle-do BUT I never thought he would go to this extreme.

Now Susan's remains may never be found as he was the only one who knew where he put her corpse. I am certain that the guilt was like a millstone around his neck and that he saw this as his escape...BUT why did he have to take the young boys out with him? I suppose he saw this as a way that they would all be reunited, in death. Sorry... the family went up while he will be dancing with the devil for all time.

Tom, I'm sorry, I have to disagree with you about "the guilt was like a millstone....". I don't think he felt guilt at all; how could even look his children in the eyes or stand to be around them knowing he'd taken their mother's life if he felt guilt? If he was truly remorseful he'd want his sons to be a comfort to Susan's parents. If he felt guilty he'd have taken his own life, not the children's lives too. The boys were pawns and he sacrificed them to win. Just MHO of course.

Having heard some of the commentary on the NG show tonight I have fine-tuned my opinion and I appreciate your input, bug.
JP was a control freak and with the boys starting to talk and LE and Social Services closing in, this was his final act of control.
Nonetheless, he also heinously hacked the boys in the neck with an axe before lighting the suicide fire. Cowardly.

Police: Josh Powell donated boys' toys, other items before murdering them

'It's not fair everybody has been taken away from our family,' Susan Powell's sister says

After Powell's father, Steven Powell, was arrested in September and charged with voyeurism and possession of child pornography, Josh Powell began renting the Graham home in October from owners Patrick and Necia Small.

"My concern was who he was. But I figured they had not convicted the man. He was due a second chance," Necia Small said Monday. "Our main concern (now) is the family."

Sunday night at Charlie's school, Emma L. Carson Elementary, classmates, friends and people who had never met the young boy lit candles, left stuffed toy animals and posted signs like, "Our hearts go out to Charlie and Braden," during a candlelight vigil.

"It's tragic. I can't even imagine killing your own kids," said Miah Dollente, whose 6-year-old daughter, Faith, was one of Charlie's classmates. "Who does that? I don't understand it."

"It's not real yet," Cox said of the boys' deaths.

"Our family is in shock," she said. "Everything in the house reminds you (of the boys). … I'm still thinking I'll see the boys tomorrow."

Cox talked about how Charlie wanted to get a new aquarium for his birthday and how she expected to walk into her father's home and see the boys fighting over a stuffed animal like any other day.

"It's not fair that everybody has been taken away from our family," she said of both the boys and her sister, Susan Cox Powell, who has been missing since 2009.

Three police officers were visible at Emma L. Carson Elementary Monday morning as parents dropped off their children.

"It's very sad here," said Karen Hansen, executive director of communications for the Puyallup School District. "The district feels very bad about this tragedy."

Teachers and staff at the school, where Charlie attended first grade, were offered counseling before school began Monday. They were also given a list of ideas about how best to address the sensitive topic with students.

A handout suggested telling students: "I have sad news to report. Yesterday, Charlie Powell, one of our fist grade students, died in a terrible tragedy. He was a nice friendly young man and our Carson family will miss him."

Hansen said guidance counselors were also present and teachers planned to be "very vigilant" about watching children for any signs that may warrant help.

The fire happened Sunday shortly after the boys were brought over to Josh Powell's house, 8119 189th Street Court East, for one of their bi-weekly supervised three-hour visits. It was the first supervised visit since a judge ruled Wednesday that their maternal grandparents Chuck and Judy Cox would continue to have temporary custody of the boys.

Snipped. This is page one of 4.

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/700222687/Police-Josh-Powell-donated-boys-toys-other-items-before-murdering-them.html?pg=2