‘I’m Sorry, Goodbye’: Police Say Father Intentionally Blew Up House With 2 Sons Inside, Killing All 3
- Posted on February 5, 2012 at 10:44pm by
Christopher Santarelli
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(The Blaze/AP) — Days after a judge ruled against him in a child custody hearing, a father and his two young sons were killed Sunday when police said he intentionally blew up a house with all three inside – a tragic ending to a bizarre case that began more than two years ago when the man’s wife went mysteriously missing in Utah.
A social worker brought the two boys to Josh Powell’s home for what was to be a supervised visit, and Powell let his sons inside – but then blocked the social worker from entering, Graham Fire and Rescue Chief Gary Franz told The Associated Press.
The social worker called her supervisors to report that she could smell gas, and moments later the home exploded.
Sgt. Ed Troyer, Pierce County sheriff’s spokesman, said emails that Powell sent authorities seemed to confirm that Powell planned the deadly blast. Troyer didn’t elaborate on the contents of the emails, but said they make police believe “this is intentional, this is planned…this is a double murder-suicide.”
Authorities were removing three bodies from the home Sunday evening as fire crews and police continued to search the rubble. Troyer said it appeared some sort of accelerant was used to make the house burn faster.
Jeffrey Bassett, who represented Powell in the custody case, said he received a brief email from his client just minutes before Powell and the two boys died. It said, “I’m sorry, goodbye.”
The email arrived at 12:05 p.m. Sunday, about 10 minutes before the explosion, but he didn’t see it until two hours later, when others told him Josh and the boys had been killed. He said he knew Josh was upset after being ordered to undergo a psycho-sexual evaluation recently, but he didn’t see this coming.
Powell was under investigation in the disappearance of his 28-year-old wife Susan from their West Valley City, Utah, home in December 2009. He claimed he had taken the boys on a midnight excursion in freezing temperatures when she vanished.
The children, 5-year-old Braden and 7-year-old Charles, had been living with Susan Powell‘s parents since Josh Powell’s father, Steven, was arrested on child porn and voyeurism charges last fall. There were no accusations concerning Steven Powell and his grandchildren. Troyer said Steven Powell was put on suicide watch in custody after he was told of the deadly blast.
“Steve Powell didn’t seem very upset by the news, but was angry towards authorities who notified him,” Troyer said.
On Wednesday, a judge had denied an attempt by Josh Powell to regain custody, saying she wouldn’t consider returning the two boys to their father until he underwent a psycho-sexual evaluation. A psychologist recommended the evaluation based on undisclosed materials Utah police discovered on Josh Powell’s computer in 2009.
Sherry Hill, a spokeswoman for the state Department of Social and Health Services, said the social worker who was with the children was not a Child Protective Services employee but a contract worker with a private agency that supervises visits for the state.
“The visit supervisor for this particular agency had taken the children to the home. When she does that, she sits through the visit and might take notes on her observations,” Hill said. “She pulled up in the car, and the kids ran out ahead of her. He closed the door and locked it. She wasn’t able to get in, and that’s when she smelled gas.”
Lawyer Steve Downing, who represented Susan Powell’s parents, Chuck and Judy Cox, in the custody fight, said: “It’s the most horrifying thing you can imagine happening …The Coxes are absolutely devastated. They were always very fearful of him doing something like this, and he did it.”
Bassett said he represented Powell free of charge because “every parent deserves the right to an attorney.” Powell called or emailed him at least once a day, and often more than that, and in their conversations “he never once admitted doing anything regarding Susan. In fact, he denied it.”
Sgt. Mike Powell of the West Valley City Police Department in Utah, which is handling the investigation into Susan Powell’s disappearance, said it was too soon to say how Josh Powell’s death may impact their probe.
“Quite frankly, this has obviously quickly unfolded up in Washington and we’re obviously just working through the details ourselves here,” said Powell, who is not related to the family.
Kirk Graves, 39, of West Jordan, Utah, whose wife is Josh Powell’s sister, said they were stunned by the news.
“We never contemplated the idea he would do something like this. You just don’t expect it from a father,” he said. “His world was falling apart around him and he was going to lose his boys and get arrested for Susan’s disappearance. He’s a narcissist and he has no love for anyone but himself.
The day of the hearing last Wednesday, Josh Powell submitted a six-page affidavit attesting to his love of the boys and his competence as a caregiver and insisting that it was time for the boys to come home.
“For over four months already, my interactions with my sons and many other aspects of my character have been investigated and documented by CPS,” he wrote. “I have proven myself as a fit and loving father who provides a stable home even in the face of great adversity. … It is time for my sons to come home.”
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Comments (117)
TEARS FOR AMERICA
Posted on February 6, 2012 at 7:34amThe children were sacrificed to a dad full of himself and are we surprised-a government agency failing, again. Why were not the children protected at all costs? That man should not have been allowed to have those children in his home, he should have had to go to to them, period. There were too many questions.
Report Post »rose-ellen
Posted on February 6, 2012 at 9:30amAnother typical american unleashing the real spirit of americanism.[how dare i not be allowed to murder whoever i feel like murdering?how dare I be thwarted ever! While we demonize the rest of the world ,we ourselves lie with every breadth as we scheme and carry out our seething vengence the moment we’re exposed .
Report Post »stone2016
Posted on February 6, 2012 at 10:21amDenying in-home supervised visits to their father whom the government has not yet proved in court did anything illegal enough to send to prison is probably not the road we want to go down. Was he an evil dude? Yes. Did he deserve those kids? No. Did he murder his wife? Yes. Can we allow our government to do whatever it feels is necessary without proof in court? I guess you think yes. All those that actually believe in freedom say no.
Bad things happen. Evil things happen. You will only guarantee the occurance of bad and evil things if you rely on the government to protect us and children “at all costs”. Do we need to assign a full secret service detail to every child? Of course there would still be an oportunity for a member of the secret service detail to be compromised, so how do we protect these children “at all costs”? I mean besides your crystal ball that can see and prevent these types of things from happening all together.
Report Post »LWFriend
Posted on February 6, 2012 at 11:26amstone2016: tears for america was saying the agency should’ve had HIM go to his kids, NOT deny visitations so there would have been NO constitutional problems here. they screwed UP horribly with devastating consequences and why anyone would be shocked is beyond my comprehension!
i went through problems with my ex and our children where my ex had to go to a secure place to spend time with our children. i dropped them off, he showed up & they were supervised the entire time! it can be done & i for one am thankful my country does things this way!!
Report Post »LWFriend
Posted on February 6, 2012 at 11:29amshoot, sorry, my COUNTY not country… i am terribly upset about this, i am so damn sick of these people who are suppose to protect failing with awful consequences!
Report Post »krenshau
Posted on February 6, 2012 at 12:51pm@rose-ellen, speak for yourself. You might have some dormant evil desire to do harm, but I don’t and I think most people do not. You project your hypocrisy on others. Change yourself before you charge others with your own problems.
Report Post »thegrassroots
Posted on February 6, 2012 at 12:59pmNOW it’s coming out that those little guys were beginning to talk about their Mom being in the trunk when they went on that strange “camping trip.” Not only that, the attorney KNEW what they were saying.
That information alone should have required that they be protected from the monstor who happened to be their father.
Time and Time Again, Children Are Being Harmed By The Failures Of Those Who Are Allegedly In The Business Of Protecting Them. Their father was being “protected” more than they were.
My heart goes out to their grandparents. They have lost so much and they tried so hard to protect their grandsons. Lord Jesus Have Mercy! Comfort Them With Your Constant Presence and Your Peace!
Report Post »THX-1138
Posted on February 6, 2012 at 1:25pm@rose-ellen
Seek professional help. You are deeply disturbed.
Report Post »Taquoshi
Posted on February 6, 2012 at 3:25pmI can understand the man killing himself either to get away from the pending murder charge or in despondence over losing his kids, but why, oh, why do parents murder their children?
Oh yeah, and to Rose-Ellen – Muslims in the Middle East also can freely murder family members they feel bring dishonor to the family, so you might want to get a reality grip and stop blaming America for this.
Report Post »stone2016
Posted on February 7, 2012 at 11:49amI really don’t care what “tears for america” thinks of the situation. I’ve seen the abuses of the system in its current state. Say goodbye to father’s rights if we have a knee jerk reaction every time an investigation is going on. My bro-in-law had his children taken when falsely accused and now the state is sueing him to pay for the foster care that they forced while investigating him. Imagine all the innocent fathers that will be denied having their children in their home because we think the government system is suppose to accurately predict evil actions 100% of the time or error on the side of an evil act will occur.
Have you ever been subject to visitation of your children in a court? Because it’s not much of a visit, it’s really just an extension of the investigation the court is conducting.
It’s pretty sad that this is interpreted as a “failure of the system” and not the evil actions of an evil man. Reliance on the government to protect our children from these types of things is a slippery slope many of you probably don’t want to go down once you take two seconds to think. Stop relying on emotional reactions to do your thinking.
Report Post »GulfPeg
Posted on February 6, 2012 at 5:57amUnbelievable! These poor boys and the “missing” mother never stood a chance with Josh, or the paternal grandfather!
Report Post »Helaman
Posted on February 6, 2012 at 11:13amUnbelievable! Josh and these poor boys never stood a chance with DSS or our Government! All the while the real murderer of the mom is still out there. Remember that little phase in our constitution called Due Process? Or do we just conveniently ignore because the ends justify the means.
Report Post »Chuck Stein
Posted on February 6, 2012 at 1:37pm@ Helaman
Report Post »I have read a lot of your posts in this thread. I understand that Utah authorities can act in an outrageous manner (the name “Parker Jensen” comes to mind). Some of your posts, however, lead me to conclude that is has been you and not your ex-wife who is troubled. Your nearby post is an example. I am sorry for your troubles. Help is available. Please seek it out. Peace.
Helaman
Posted on February 7, 2012 at 12:32am@Chuck – Of course I am troubled. I tried to do what was right when my little boy cried uncontrollably and when I asked him what was wrong he cried, “I don’t want to go back to mommy, she hits me!” and when I take the children back to my sociopathic lesbian wife, my daughter holds my neck so tight that she wouldn‘t let go because she didn’t want to go with mom. I promised my daughter that it would be alright and I would see her again in a few days. My wife makes a lair out of me by kidnapping my children to Utah in violation of a court order and gets her DCFS friends in her hometown to help her and encourage her. Then a few years later I receive a court notice of a placement hearing for my children to be held in the state of Utah… one week after the hearing. And when I finally contact the court to challenge the hearing, the judge said that his rulings from the hearing stand and that included his order to take jurisdiction from California, which it had no right to do. So yes Chuck, I am troubled and that is why I am speaking up. I hope you never experience the hell I have been through.
Report Post »Chuck Stein
Posted on February 7, 2012 at 4:50pm@ Helaman
Report Post »How am I to beleive anything you say about your personal situation? All the information I have is through you. I know what you have said to excuse Josh Powell. Accordingly, anything you say is suspect. You are delusional as regards Josh Powell — that tells me that you could be delusional about other things.
cuzifit
Posted on February 6, 2012 at 4:15amStacked Deck at DSS,
Report Post »first off 95% of employees at DSS are women. I went to court 3 times and spent over $20,000 on lawyer fee’s to get my visitation rights enforced. I divorced my ex because I found her bed with some guy.( ps. did find out she’s been married twice since) The 4th time we went to court she wanted to leave the state with her new boyfiend, we went round and round for 6 months. I told the court, if she allowed to leave I’d never see my 2 boys again. I was right! They finally let her go, but she was to provide a new phone # and address within 72 hours of leaving the state. The phone # she provided was a disposable phone that lasted for a week. Never did get an address.I contacted DSS to get address, I was told that information was client confidentiallity, and I would need to get an attorney to pursue getting that information.Couldn’t afford any more lawyers. Haven’t seen my boys in 9 years now. Their mother did not allow them access to social media. My youngest turned 19 in Nov. and moved out of his mothers house. Found him on facebook. We have since been corresponding. He told me he thought I left because I didn’t love them. He was old enough now to tell him why I left his mother. He understands now. DSS couldn’t give me an address but they sure made sure that $1,600 a month in child support was never a day late! This guy may be guilty fo killing his wife, we’ll never know, But I can relate to his frustration with DSS.
burnteye86
Posted on February 6, 2012 at 4:28amSorry to hear about that. You are 100% correct about govt. sponsored child care. Here in SC they’re called DSS but Dept. of Social Services. Those people are heartless and cold. They have been investigated over and over. Something needs to be done about these agencies in order to properly protect children. They are a danger to children more than helpers. They destroy families.
Report Post »cuzifit
Posted on February 6, 2012 at 4:41amPS: When you visit DSS in Calif. they have litlle rooms the size of a very small closet’s and you talk through 3″ bullet proof glass. Real warm and fuzzy enviroment. The key to accomplishing anything at DSS was understanding the POWER these women can yeild over you.
Report Post »cuzifit
Posted on February 6, 2012 at 4:49amFather’s Rights at DSS are ignored! This needs to change and you should be able to do it without having to get an attorney. Right is right, wrong is wrong, that’s not to hard to figure out.
Report Post »Baddoggy
Posted on February 6, 2012 at 6:38amSo blowing up his kids was the answer? You sympathize with that POS? Please, when you get mad and want to kill someone, just kill yourself…Man up you @ussy.
Report Post »SwoonCraft
Posted on February 6, 2012 at 6:39amIt only cost me $24,000 but I won. My only regret is by the time it was done my son was in the 10th grade and requested to stay where he was to be with his friends for the remainder of HS and I honored his request. At the age of 25 he decided things weren’t working out to well and he came to live with me. He is now 27 and almost self supporting with a minimum wage job. Where as his younger sister who was in the 7th grade when she came to live with me will graduate from college in 3 months.
The only reason I tell this story is so other Dads can learn from my mistake. If you know your kids are in a bad situation move heaven and hell to get them out and don’t take no for an answer especially from a 16 year old who thinks he knows everything.
P.S. There is a special place in Hell for the women who tell their children their father doesn’t love them. When your kids grow up and learn the truth and they don’t call you for your birthday just remember it’s nobody’s fault but your own. Enjoy your solitude.
Report Post »expatinontariocanada
Posted on February 6, 2012 at 8:47amBaddoggy, me thinks you’re the POS on this one. Did you bother to read, can you read? All he said was he could relate. That’s called empathy. Maybe even compassion. No where did Cuzifit say or intimate that Powell did the right thing just that the State rides roughshod over dads. And I agree with that.
Report Post »COFemale
Posted on February 6, 2012 at 10:41amBefore you give this a guy a pass with DSS, his father was arrest for porn and porn was found just recently on Josh Powell’s computers, that is why he was losing permanent custody. He is a sexual deviant through and through and now the fact that he not only took his life because he DID kill his wife, but he took two innocent children with him. May guess Susan confronted him on this and threatened to leave and take the boys.
He is nothing but a COWARD. I am glad he is off this earth and on his way to the bowls of hell. However, those two innocent boys did not deserve this.
DSS and the courts failed those kids. Cops told the judge they feared for the children in Josh’s hands.
As far as your situation, I am not going to speculate. I am glad you have been able to connect with your son and I pray that you are telling him the whole truth.
Report Post »Helaman
Posted on February 6, 2012 at 11:07amWow, I totally understand how you feel. My wife did the same thing, accept against a court order. Hid the kids out and then got her friends in DCFS to illegally take them away from me. And during the divorce I discovered that her first husband went missing and found dead. After what I went through I have no doubt in my mind that she killed him. I guess I am lucky to still be alive. I can’t get over these people who say these unprovable bad things about Mr. Powell because he is dead now and must be guilty. All I can say is beware of Sociopaths and DCFS
Report Post »West Coast Patriot
Posted on February 6, 2012 at 12:03pmI can tell you from my sons experience with DSS, DHS, CPS or whatever it is called where you live. They are like Hitlers SS in the manner they do things. They violate fourth and fourteenth amendment rights continually. When I asked one of the supervisors about these violations of rights, she said they did not have to abide by Constitutional rights! This was one of the objectives of Communists to cause the destruction of America from within, to infliltrate our government agencies and run them in a socialistic way. “If you give up any essential liberty for the sake of temporary safety, you deserve neither liberty nor safety.” Ben Franklin
Report Post »Scottscobig
Posted on February 6, 2012 at 1:13pmDCFS and nearly all counselors/therapists are in the business of, on one hand, assisting people in evading responsibility; on the other hand wielding considerable illegitimate power unjustly.
There is a false sentiment out there that women are inherently more moral, etc. than men. And well, the fact that so many more of us are in prison than they might be evidence of that sentiment. But the evidence to the contrary is in the stories on this thread. We all have stories like this. And while that doesn’t excuse anything this father/husband may have done, the fact is, we don’t know what he did to his wife, if anything. A far as I know, our suspicions are as of yet unconfirmed on that count. The double murder suicide looks like a different matter. All I’m saying is, the pendulum has swung way too far to the side of favoring mothers over fathers without regard for the facts.
Report Post »kathystone
Posted on February 6, 2012 at 1:31amMy father is a pedophile. My mother knew he liked little boys but did nothing. In fact, she allowed him to convince the juvenile authorities we were a “loving christian home” so they would let young boys come live with us. My father and his buddies had a private club that provided boys to other men as well. It went on for 16 years. He divorced my mohter and he and his friends started a boys home. One of the boys was very brave and told his mom who believed him. This was in 1986. My dad plead guilty by reason of insanity. Here’s the scarry part. The judge let him off with 6 months in a mental facility because he had “helped” so many boys! He lives in Washington state now and is still picking young boys off the streets for his pleasure. ONe of his buddies got caught about 8 years ago. The damning evidence was the diaries containing the more than 35,000( YES THOUSAND!) acts of rape on young boys carried on by the “club”. You cn’t stop these men. They need to be put in jail for life or killed. I personally prefer the latter as they have stolen the lives of these young boys and can never replace thier innocence.
Report Post »Helaman
Posted on February 6, 2012 at 1:49amKathy, It is clear that there was evidence against your father and again the Authorities are to blame for not taking appropriate actions. But when one is accused in our society, most people want to believe the worst and automatically believe the person is guilty. In reading about Mr. Powell, they had no evidence and were fishing to find him guilty. Many people believe that the ends justifies the means, they don’t. This is still America and individuals are still innocent until proven guilty. I understand your feeling based on your experience, but not everyone is guilty, and I know that innocent people go to jail.
Report Post »Buster_Highman
Posted on February 6, 2012 at 2:59amWell, Helaman, I guess it’s now safe to say that this whack-job was indeed guilty of murdering and disposing of his wife, eh? You don‘t really believe it’s possible that he was innocent, do you?
Report Post »Captain Crunch
Posted on February 6, 2012 at 3:21am@Buster_Highman
Yes it’s very possible he had nothing to do with his wifes disappearance. And it’s also possible for a person to go totally off the deep end when they see the only thing they care about being taken away.
Report Post »I‘m not saying he didn’t have problems. But he deserves the benefit of the doubt as far as the wife goes, atliest until and unless some evidence to the contrary turns up. It’s a shame he felt he had to take the kids with with him in his madness.
Rational Man
Posted on February 6, 2012 at 3:28am@Helaman
The reason that the grandparents finally got custody of the two boys is because while authorites were searching through the dad’s stuff, they found some kind of child porn on his computer. Thats why he had to do supervised visitation. Which he shouldn’t have gotten either…..OBVIOUSLY!
Report Post »You are either grossly uninformed or a complele idiot. Or perhaps both!!!
Jenny Lind
Posted on February 6, 2012 at 8:16amMaybe I’m wrong, but didn’t the article say they wanted the test because of what they found on his FATHER”S computer- not his? I think the whole thing drove him nuts, as far as the kids “remembering” new things-bull pookie-sounds very grandparent coached to me, and I as a grandmother have faced the systen in California, so I get it. I could give you true examples of very subtle coaching, I do not buy what what was going on for a second. To many dad’s never see their kids or have peace again when the state gets involved. How he handeld it was 100% wrong, but I think he figured no matter what he did, they would keep his kids and this was his last straw. Whether or not he killed his wife or not, the grandparent’s constant vendetta contributed to his state of mind, so did the state, they bear some blame in this too-we never know when we push a person to far what they are capable of, and I really believe any more we have trial by computer and cell phone, not real trials where the people are innocent until proven guilty. I do not believe he was proven guilty or he would have been arrested, but he sure as hell was punished by all the above. So sorry he took the kids with him.
Report Post »rose-ellen
Posted on February 6, 2012 at 9:39amCaptainCrunch-by your criteria bin laden should also be given the benefit of the doubt.He simply overreacted to seeing his holy land used as a military base by a foreign country.so too the murder of dan perl-they simply over reacted to seeing their country shocked and awed by a superpower.Typical-when americans do it its humanized-when every one else does horrific acts they’re dehumanized. this guy was a typical sneaky american woman hater and hated the world cause they caught on that he was a perv.standard american story.
Report Post »COFemale
Posted on February 6, 2012 at 10:54amHelaman, it is people like you who are in the courts that cause situations like this. Oh, he looks so nice, he just couldn’t have killed his wife. Even lack of evidence can’t stop that gut feeling. I trust that more than lack of evidence. Unfortunately, we can’t convict on gut feelings. I knew from day one he killed his wife. Now that he lost custody because PORN was found on his computer, the judge denied full custody. What part of this does not scream, DANGER, DANGER WILL ROBINSON?
This judge had the foresight to deny full custody, but not to disallow the boys from home visitation. I mean what judge orders an psycho-sexual evaluation on the one hand and then allows the boys home visits; a Liberal judge that’s who.
The fact that you are defending this deviant makes me think you are just like him.
Report Post »COFemale
Posted on February 6, 2012 at 11:02amJenny-Lind: Since you so want to give this guy a pass and let me guess you are a Liberal Progressive.
“On Wednesday, a judge had denied an attempt by Josh Powell to regain custody, saying she wouldn’t consider returning the two boys to their father until he underwent a psycho-sexual evaluation. A psychologist recommended the evaluation based on undisclosed materials Utah police discovered on Josh Powell’s computer in 2009.”
READ THE LAST SENTENCE. “Undisclosed materials” to me means PORN like his dads. Thus the psycho-sexual evaluation? Are you this clueless. People like you disgust me.
Report Post »Helaman
Posted on February 6, 2012 at 11:29am@Cofemale – Who are you to pass judgement on me? I think you should look at yourself because it is people like you who create fear and panic to gain control. It is people like you who want to make everyone else guilty of what you you fear MIGHT be true. Ant there are others, including our Government, who unjustly use their powers for control. It is not people like me who are in the courts that cause situations like this. I have personally been wrongfully accused and have dealt with the wrath of DCFS. That is why I am standing up for what is right. I don’t want to trample our Constitutional Rights because you want to jump to a judgement that makes you feel all warm and fuzzy inside. While it is sad that the government drove Mr. Powell to this extreme action, clearly our government has responsibility for what happened. I hoipe you never end up on the other side against DCFS. They are pure evil.
Report Post »Jenny Lind
Posted on February 6, 2012 at 1:58pmCofemale, I have been on this blog from pretty near the beginning-your name came up recently, and I can tell because you made me laugh thinking I’m a liberal. Sorry kiddo, most times I’m right to Atilla the Hun. I have had experience, and that has made me sadder, but definately wiser by what I have gone through. I stand by my words-trial by computer and cell phone gives very few true justice anymore, and no one knows what has gone on for sure except he killed himself and his sons, which as I said was wrong. How he got there we can guess all we want-mine is from dealing with the very corrupt “children’s services” of california.
Report Post »Helaman
Posted on February 6, 2012 at 1:17amThis story is so sad. I can understand how Mr. Powell felt having his children ripped away from him and having the authorities try to manufacture charges against him. If you have never dealt with DCFS, then you can’t understand the injustices used by our government to break our families apart. This story reminds me of an incident in 2000 where a man drove his van up to the children’s court house in Los Angeles with signs to stay away because his car was full of explosives. I was in that court house that day fighting my own fight with DCFS and I won. However, this man in the van didn’t win the week before. He did what DCFS told him to do. They told him that if he wanted to see his kids again that he needed to be taking psychiatric medications, and then they told the judge that he was unfit because he was taking those drugs. So late that night, the police rushed his van when he fell asleep. He hung himself the next week in jail. I won that round in court that day, but later my wife kidnapped our kids to Utah and the DCFS in Utah were ruthless and did what they wanted, even if it was against the law. My lawyer even told me that the law didn’t matter, that DCFS was going to do what they wanted… and how right she was. I believe that the Authorities in Utah have a lot of explaining to do when they meet God.
Report Post »Gayle4Rce
Posted on February 6, 2012 at 1:30amSo, would you have blown you and your children to pieces? Sounds like the authorities didn’t do enough for these two boys who deserved so much better.
Report Post »CatB
Posted on February 6, 2012 at 1:31amYes they should have found a way to keep this father from ever being alone with the children in his own home…. this “man” is the only suspect in his wife’s disappearance (murder) she would have never left those boys .. like he tried to manufacture — saying she left of her own free will .. by taking them on a camping trip in the middle of the night in a blizzard (they were very young at the time).. they night she disappeared .. and a rug is missing from the home. Now her family will most likely never have closure ( I hate that word) for now not only is their daughter gone .. but her two sons also.
Report Post »Helaman
Posted on February 6, 2012 at 1:41amGayle, why do you want to put words in my mouth? I did not say that I would blow my children up, and I never have. I said this was a sad event. I am saying I understand how he felt. There are Authorities in Utah that don’t care about the truth, but about winning and they are actively destroying the family.
Report Post »Buster_Highman
Posted on February 6, 2012 at 3:03amHelaman, for you to sympathize with this child-murderer is sickening. I think YOU‘RE the one who’s gonna have some splainin’ to do when you meet The Almighty.
Report Post »nmontague
Posted on February 6, 2012 at 3:06amHindsight indicates that there were very good reasons to keep these kids away from their father. Im all for Father’s rights. But those children would still be alive if they werent allowed in his presence.
Report Post »Helaman
Posted on February 6, 2012 at 11:42am@Buster – And for you to support the violations of our Constitutional Rights is sickening. I don’t agree what Mr. Powell did to be right, I said that I understood why he did it. If you have never dealt with DCFS attacking you, then you will never understand. When my children were born my priorities in life changed. My children are the most important thing in my life. And as a Father, and one who has dealt with a sociopathic wife and DCFS, I understand. I have had the government threaten me by using my children… that is wrong. Innocent until proven guilty, but clearly you promote the the fear of predator panic without justification.
@Montaque – Hindsight doesn’t bring the kids back, and there may have been very good reasons to keep those kids away. But we don’t live in a country that promotes a mob-rule mentality. If he was guilty of all the heinous crimes everyone wants to suggest, then why wasn’t he arrested? I mean really? Putting him in jail would have been the perfect solution to keep him away from his kids. Clearly there was not any evidence to support arresting him, otherwise they would have.
Report Post »Sgt_Rock
Posted on February 6, 2012 at 1:02amHere’s my take, Powell was ordered to take a polygraph and a psycho-sexual evaluation. The poly would have showed deception and the psych would have revealed he had pedophile tendencies or proclivities. Both would exposed him and his Dad. I’m guessing his wife figured it out or caught him molesting the boys, hence he killed her. My bet isnDad either knew about it or helped. A narcissist like Powell would never let the system win. This was his sick victory.
Report Post »These people are out there folks, and there is no cure, rehab or 12 step program. Sexual deviance is not curable, not completely. Anyone who believes otherwise is living a fantasy. This is a sad, tragic example of another failure in the system that should have protected these children and the ignorant judges who insist on granting privileges to these monsters. This guy was time bomb and the cops knew it. But social workers never listen to the cops…to busy trying to coddle sex offenders and abusive parents…welcome to Washington, another liberal failure in the making.
NeoFan
Posted on February 6, 2012 at 1:27amI believe your right on the money Mr Rock. Well spoken.
Report Post »Helaman
Posted on February 6, 2012 at 1:35amSgt_Rock, Your post bothers me because you support the violation of Mr. Powell’s 5th amendment rights. You do this by suggesting that it is OK for the court to order him take a polygraph and a psycho-sexual evaluation. This is the same as asking him to testify against himself… but then it is even worse because the persons making the evaluations are paid for by the state and can interpret the tests in the State’s favor. They might as well put a gun to his head and have him sign a State prepared confession. It is sad that we no longer uphold our constitutional rights. I was raised to believe in our Country and our Constitution. I always believed a person is innocent until PROVEN GUILTY beyond a reasonable doubt. Today we live in a society where you are guilty until you prove yourself innocent. Clearly the information in this story indicates that the State was fishing, alleged allegations they could not prove, and then get the court to order him to essentially testify against himself. Furthermore, you are quick to judge Mr. Powell as a child molester. Unfortunately we live in a society where all someone has to do is accuse it and it must be true.
Report Post »nmontague
Posted on February 6, 2012 at 3:08amHe just killed his two children and himself. How much more evidence do you need to prove he is guilty?
Report Post »Captain Crunch
Posted on February 6, 2012 at 3:29am@nmontague
The murder suicide proves nothing. I certainly don’t want you or Buster_Highman to ever be on a jury if I’m accused of something. I’d take my chances with a three judge panel first.
Report Post »RepubliCorp
Posted on February 6, 2012 at 3:31amI t does prove *The State* = worthless
Report Post »Can we agree that is true?
chazzyok
Posted on February 6, 2012 at 4:59amI agree with you rock. I think you nailed it.
Helamans post after this has some good points. However, when you suspect something is wrong you must determine if you are correct before making decisions. If you don’t then the person could go on to hurt themselves or others.
Report Post »Baddoggy
Posted on February 6, 2012 at 6:42amThe problem is that the STATE is meddling in personal affairs of people. We need the Government out of peoples lives completely. Let the Church handle marrige and this crap would nevr happen.
Report Post »Red1492
Posted on February 6, 2012 at 11:29amRight on the money, Sgt. Also, the kids were starting to talk. They told the police and grandparents that “mommy” was in the trunk when they went camping but didn’t come home with them. I think we can safely say Powell not only murdered his children, but his wife. Anyone sympathizing with him is obviously capable of his behavior.
Report Post »Helaman
Posted on February 6, 2012 at 11:57am@Red – I don’t remember this point in this article about “mommy.“ And I disagree with your comment that ”anyone sympathizing with him is obviously capable of his behavior.” Clearly, if this man was evil, and the police believed he had done something wrong, as you said, then they should have arrested him and placed him in jail. Since they did not, one has to assume that they did not have enough evidence to prove him guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. I mean, the kids would be safe from Mr. Powell if he were in jail. And if the police knew he murdered mom, then I hold the authorities responsible for the murder of those boys.
Report Post »Sgt_Rock
Posted on February 6, 2012 at 3:46pm@Helaman, Nice handle dude, but you are no Prophet.
Report Post »Well, by the same token, your post bothers me. Your understanding of the 5th Amendment is off a little. First, it deals with criminal proceedings not civil. Family court in Washington is a civil court. He is protected by the 5th Ad, in that none of the findings in the civil case can be used in a criminal prosecution. A polygraph and Psycho-Sexual evaluation are used all of the time, nationwide, to determine a subjects fitness, especially sex offenders. Also, contrary to your paranoid ASSumption, the state uses non-governmental, unbiased therapists to conduct the evaluations. In the years I have been investigating these cases, I have NEVER seen a Psycho-Sexual evaluation tainted by biased results. The format of the test makes in nearly impossible. Your point that the standard of proof is “beyond a reasonable doubt” to prove guilt is correct in criminal proceedings, but there is also the obligation to protect the boys. Civil proceedings determine how that is to be done, and there was justification, based on his actions, his father’s actions and evidence procured by the state, via legal and legitimate search warrants, that obligated the State to protect those children until he was determined to be safe. Now, in order to arrest some one for a crime, police need “probable cause” and in this case there is a truck load. I’ll deal with that in a follow up post.
Helaman
Posted on February 7, 2012 at 12:46amHey Sarge, I don’t know what you are thinking, but I do not agree with you. Here is Mr. Powell who is a suspect in his Wife‘s murder and you don’t think DCFS isn’t compliant with the cops in trying to investigate the case for them? Furthermore, you don‘t believe that the judge’s ruling in a civil court has nothing to do with with assisting the police investigation? You say that evidence discovered the civil courts will never apply in a criminal proceeding? Where do you live… Fantasy Land? I can tell you from experience that this does happen. Maybe you have never seen any evaluations tainted by biased results, but the maybe the results were because they were what you wanted all along. I will pray for you so that you will never have to personally experience the injustice of DCFS and the children’s court. I hope they never believe the lies against you and take your children. I used to believe that the truth shall set you free. But now I believe that he who has the most money wins.
Report Post »Capsaicin
Posted on February 6, 2012 at 12:46amNot to pass judgement on them, but it‘s too bad he couldn’t have had is father over for a supervised visit…so he could enjoy the bar b que.
Report Post »At least the kids are with their mom now….finally.
Helaman
Posted on February 6, 2012 at 2:18amIf you’re not passing judgement, then what are you doing?
Report Post »Kathleen3
Posted on February 6, 2012 at 12:04amThese judges and attorneys must be held accountable. Considering the background of this man and his father why would anyone allow a child to enter his home?
Report Post »If the man were to be awarded supervised visits, they should have been held in a judge’s chambers or another designated location and this evil and sick man should not have been permitted to enter the room until after he passed through a scanner.
GeorgieJo
Posted on February 6, 2012 at 1:48amNO ONE in GOVT is held accountable anymore IF ever.
Look at Eric Holder.
In my county-an attorney keeps driving with multiple DUI’s,thrown in jail for a few days and back out “practicing law”
Report Post »America is becoming lame and broken.
stone2016
Posted on February 7, 2012 at 11:37amHolding the judges and attorneys responsible for murder is probably not the road you really want to go down. You will be faced with the same problem we have in medician when doctors run thousands of dollars of tests that are not needed because there is a chance that something else could possibly be wrong. Let’s not have knee jerk reactions and actually look at the problem. If a judge will be held accountable for everything a potential criminal might do, say goodbye to what is left of our judicial system.
Seems a lot of people on this site prefer the stance “Guilty until proven innocent.” That was the only stance that could have stopped this horrific evil act. Do we ensure that bad guys can’t do bad things by making sure they do not have the rights or freedom to do so? Then your rights and freedom will be compromised as well.
Report Post »LTinUT
Posted on February 6, 2012 at 12:01amIn my opinion, it is a triple murder-suicide. Now, we will likely never know what happened to Susan. Those boys are in the arms of Heavenly Father and their mom.
Report Post »NOT A CRAZY
Posted on February 5, 2012 at 11:42pmI feel bad for the grandparents. This selfish stupid bastard is screaming in Hell right now.
Report Post »RepubliCorp
Posted on February 6, 2012 at 3:36amOr laughing at us……. for relying on failed government
Report Post »madasblazes
Posted on February 6, 2012 at 4:53pmPlease pray for the comfort of these Grandparents.
Report Post »cyclops
Posted on February 5, 2012 at 11:41pmHis guilty conscience finally broke him. Very sad and unfortunate that two innocent children were trapped in his suicidal plot. Love and peace to the two innocent children and their families left behind…..
Report Post »rose-ellen
Posted on February 6, 2012 at 10:56amtrapped? They wern’t trapped-he wanted to murder them the way he wanted to murder his wife.Anytime he‘s wronged he’ll murder [he murdered his wife cause he hates women and he murdered his children cause they were dispensible pawns in his game to lash out at the world cause he‘s not a woman and he’s not an innocent young boy.he’s anti life as these sex perverts are.
Report Post »cyclops
Posted on February 6, 2012 at 12:06pmWell Rose,
I would consider having them coming into the house and closing the door (trapping them), not letting the social worker in and then blew up the house. Please read my post ponderingly…….
Report Post »Rational Man
Posted on February 5, 2012 at 11:37pmThe court and justice system failed these two kids and their grandparents about as bad as they possibly could. When I first heard this today, my jaw dropped and I almost got sick. The grandparents who have tried to get the kids away from that freak, must be crushed beyond discription. I can’t believe they gave that nut even supervised visitation.
Report Post »WHY THE HECK COULDN’T HE JUST KILL HIS SICK AZZ SELF AND LEAVE THE KIDS ALONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Rational Man
Posted on February 5, 2012 at 11:44pmWhat the heck is up with apologizing to your stinking lawyer and killing your kids!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Report Post »He liked his lawyer better than his kids?????????????????
If he wasn’t dead,….I’d kill him myself!!
Bonnieblue2A
Posted on February 5, 2012 at 11:29pmThoughts and prayers to the surviving family of those poor children this murderer took with him. So sad. I hate when those who wish to commit suicide decide to take innocent life with them.
Report Post »txwheels
Posted on February 5, 2012 at 11:26pmThe fact this was able to happen leaves me without words, but angry as hell!
Report Post »txwheels
Posted on February 5, 2012 at 11:24pmThe fact that this was able to happen leaves without words, but angry as hell!
Report Post »barber2
Posted on February 5, 2012 at 11:15pmHow vulnerable are children and the unborn. Adults have the right to live , to lie, and to be free to kill. Children have only the right to be their victims.
Report Post »LeadNotFollow
Posted on February 5, 2012 at 11:09pm…
Report Post »If this man had been in jail where he belonged (for the disappearance of his wife), those two kids would still be alive. The court system seems to give more rights to the perpetrators than to the victims.
Bonnieblue2A
Posted on February 5, 2012 at 11:30pmThis is exactly why it is refered to as the “criminal justice” system and not the “victim justice” system.
Report Post »UrbanCombatSurvivor
Posted on February 6, 2012 at 12:34amHave you ever heard the phrase “Innocent until PROVEN guilty?” It seems not…
Mark my words, there’s a LOT more to this story that will come out.
Report Post »nmontague
Posted on February 6, 2012 at 3:10amIn order to be in jail, the authorities would have had to have had a stronger case against him.
Report Post »whatthecrazy
Posted on February 5, 2012 at 11:08pmWhy cant people like this just kill themselves and leave these precious children alone?Only a sick demented person could do this to any body let alone a child.I believe he killed his wife so not so hard to believe he could do this .God bless thier souls and the people who suffer thier loss…………………
Report Post »CatB
Posted on February 5, 2012 at 11:07pmIf I recall correctly this is the “father” who took his sons on a camping trip during a blizzard (his allibi) and a rug in the family home was missing… Obviously he should NOT have had the boys .. not for a minute alone, and certainly not in his home. Social workers and courts fail the children again.
Report Post »Lambo
Posted on February 5, 2012 at 11:02pmwhat a loser! At least the boy’s can be with their mom.
Report Post »Stoic one
Posted on February 5, 2012 at 11:01pmMore aberrant behavior…Not to be confused with social/political actions.(ows groups)
Report Post »Mickeyd
Posted on February 5, 2012 at 10:58pmAgghhhh!! Washington state DSHS fails kids again! They alsofailed the Coxes. This is SO angrifying!!! They had better change their rules regarding supervised visits from here on out, b/c this was such a complete fail! arrrggghhh!
Report Post »nmontague
Posted on February 6, 2012 at 3:11amThey always do fail. That’s what we get for leaving government to do it.
Report Post »deeberj
Posted on February 6, 2012 at 2:55pmSupervised visits ought to be at an office set up for that. Not in the person’s home.
Report Post »Searchingforthelight
Posted on February 5, 2012 at 10:57pmThis truly brakes my heart. I had been praying for the police to be able to find his wife all last year.
Report Post »Polarized America
Posted on February 5, 2012 at 11:08pmI hope he left a note with directions to her remains, but narcissist rarely do the right thing
Report Post »R.I.P. to the victims
SpankDaMonkey
Posted on February 5, 2012 at 10:55pm.
Dear Satan,
If it would not be to much trouble, would you mind taking your time with this one?
Thank You and God Bless
Report Post »Lambo
Posted on February 5, 2012 at 11:50pmthank you should be enough, god bless is taking it too far…haha
Report Post »tothestars2
Posted on February 5, 2012 at 10:55pmAnd evil increased on the face of the earth. Sad times we “live” in.
Report Post »Helaman
Posted on February 6, 2012 at 2:11amAnd that evil was called Government… and it uses DCFS to break up families.
Report Post »nmontague
Posted on February 6, 2012 at 3:14amI disagree. Evil may have occured. But it didn’t increase. there is one less evil person in the world. If anything, it decreased in an extremely painful fashion.
And Helaman, that family was broken when Mom vanished while dad takes the children camping in the freezing cold for some “mysterious” reason. It was further broken when Dad blew up himself and his two children. The government had nothing to do with the atrocity other than failing to prevent it by keeping those kids away from that evil man
Report Post »Jenny Lind
Posted on February 6, 2012 at 8:17amHelamen, you are 100% correct.
Report Post »COFemale
Posted on February 6, 2012 at 11:10amOh my gosh, Helaman and Jenny Lind I pray to GOD you do not have kids or ever have kids. Neither of you deserve them. You are both just as much deviants as Josh Powell.
This is on Josh and Josh alone.
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