Josh Powell Suicide Murder Of Sons

[KevinG]

http://www.cnn.com/2012/02/05/us/washington-powell-explosion/index.html

(CNN) -- Two children and another person were killed early Sunday afternoon in an explosion at the Washington state home of Josh Powell, whose wife went missing more than two years ago, a local fire official said.

Graham, Washington, Fire and Rescue Deputy Chief Gary Franz said it is possible that they will locate Powell's body inside the home.

He said that authorities are "deducing" that the two young victims are likely the children of Powell and his missing wife, Susan Powell-Cox. Firefighters also located a third body, Franz said.

The fire department first heard of the explosion in nearby Puyallup around 12:45 p.m. (3:45 p.m. ET), according to Franz. It was eventually determined that the home belonged to Powell.

Franz said a case worker had brought Powell's two boys to the residence for a visit.

As the children got close to the door, Powell got them inside but prevented the case worker from getting in as well, according to the deputy chief.

The case worker reported smelling something similar to gas, said Franz. About two minutes later, as she was calling her supervisor, the house exploded.

While the once "large fire" had abated by around 2 p.m., Franz said that authorities were still working to "get the fire completely extinguished."

The unstable condition of the gutted residence was hindering firefighters' efforts, as there are concerns the house could collapse, Franz said.

"We do not believe there are any other victims," he said, besides the three located thus far.

Jeffrey Basset, a Washington lawyer who has been representing Powell, said that Powell had entered a motion to have custody of his two children. The court denied that claim this week, according to Basset.

Powell has said that he last saw his wife Susan Powell-Cox on a cold December night in 2009.

That night, he said that he and his two sons -- then ages 2 and 4 -- left after midnight to go camping in below-freezing weather in a desert area in Tooele County, Utah. Powell-Cox's sister eventually reported the mother, who would now be 29 years old, as missing.

A month later, Powell and his children moved to the state of Washington.

While there have been no arrests or charges filed related to his wife's appearance, Josh Powell has been identified as the lone "person of interest," according to Sgt. Mike Powell -- no relation to Josh or Susan Powell -- with the West Valley City, Utah, police.

The woman has not been found.

Since September 2011, Josh Powell has been engaged in ongoing custody battle with his wife's parents Judith and Charles Cox, according to Washington state court records.

Prior to this event there were internet murmurings that Josh was given an ultimatum by his wife to "get active or face divorce" and that he was under investigation for child pornography.

[ERayR]

http://www.cnn.com/2...sion/index.html

Prior to this event there were internet murmurings that Josh was given an ultimatum by his wife to "get active or face divorce" and that he was under investigation for child pornography.

I can see where this is going.

[CQUIRK]

Wasn't Josh Powell and his father quite critical of the Church?

[MorningStar]

My best friend works at the boys' school. It's so heartbreaking.

[Duncan]

My best friend works at the boys' school. It's so heartbreaking.

do you know if he served a mission?

[MorningStar]

If Josh did? I don't know. She steered clear of him and was very unhappy when he moved into the neighborhood.

[Duncan]

If Josh did? I don't know. She steered clear of him and was very unhappy when he moved into the neighborhood.

the gossip goose had honked and I had heard he served where I am at but I don't know for sure for sure

[Calm]

Jeffrey Basset, a Washington lawyer who has been representing Powell, said that Powell had entered a motion to have custody of his two children. The court denied that claim this week, according to Basset.

I was under the impression that he wasn't denied custody, but it was still pending. The judge wanted a psychosexual evaluation of Powell, most likely due to porn found in his house (on the news that I saw this, they didn't say it was child porn, makes even greater sense if so).

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/705398538/Josh-Powell-to-undergo-psychosexual-evaluation-2-boys-will-remain-with-grandparents.html

Part of the evaluation would have included a lie detector test. Perhaps he felt he couldn't beat it.

This is so tragic.

[Avatar4321]

I watched a show, i think it was Disappeared or something, but they did indicate that there was child porn found, though I think it was on the fathers computers, not necessarily on Josh's.

[Storm Rider]

Correct, it was the father's computer and not Josh's. Created quite the problem for both of them. Such an incredibly sad story for all concerned. It really does not matter if it was guilt, desperation, or or abject feelings of defeat, a untold generations have been lost from these two families.

[frankenstein]

What does not serving a mission or inactivity with the events tbat have occurred.

Every bishop I have had, which is about 6, did not serve missions. In fact two of the bishops would tell us of their drinking days. My current EQP met his wife while he was sloppy drunk in a bar.

[Calm]

I suspect Duncan is just curious about his background in the Church.

[Bill “Papa” Lee]

I can see where this is going.

I can as well from a number f angles.

[Duncan]

I suspect Duncan is just curious about his background in the Church.

yes, there was a rumour he had served a mission here so just curious!

[Storm Rider]

I can see where this is going.

Where is it going? I just want to make sure if it has arrived yet.

[scooby]

As I understand it, the psycho-sexual analysis wasn't requested due to the child voyeurism pictures found on the father's computer, it was requested due to unspecified pictures found on Josh's computer from several years ago, which one article seemed to suggest were child related, but not necessarily illegal child porn.

[sjdawg]

the gossip goose had honked and I had heard he served where I am at but I don't know for sure for sure

I think I heard that too but I can't recall the source. It may have been in the newspapers sometime over the past two years. Very sad story all around.

[Calm]

And unlikely to resolve anything for Susan's parents as I don't see him leaving a note confessing.

And his dad will now continue to live as a suspect as well most likely.

[KevinG]

I can see where this is going.

My reason for posting this without much comment was because there were plenty of blogs speculating that these events were the fruits of his wife insisting on his reactivation or these events were the fruits of his apostacy.

I'm not sure one mans sins and the escalation of events can be blamed on either.

I didn't want the first thread here on the subject to be based on either "blame" theory.

The news articles I read said Josh himself was under investigation for the child pornography and that is why the boys were in state custody.

Tragic all the way around.

[ERayR]

My reason for posting this without much comment was because there were plenty of blogs speculating that these events were the fruits of his wife insisting on his reactivation or these events were the fruits of his apostacy.

I was certain that it would go directly to his wife insisting on his reactivation. Looks like I was in error.

[KevinG]

I was certain that it would go directly to his wife insisting on his reactivation. Looks like I was in error.

You were not wrong, a couple of blogs did do that. Whatever you do don't read the comments section on these!

[Calm]

Let me just say with this latest news about how he killed his sons that while I hope eventually he repents, I also hope it takes awhile for him to get there so he suffers and suffers horribly.

I am not a vengeful person...I don't remember ever feeling this way about someone before, but it twists my guts knowing what he did making those boys suffer while claiming to love them. There is just something so very very wrong about it.

[MorningStar]

His cousin makes me want to vomit! He's complaining to the FBI that Josh was cyberbullied over the last couple years and thinks this could have been prevented. Don't kill your wife and then maybe people won't bother you! This had nothing to do with cyberbullying. He knew it wouldn't be long before he joined his dad in jail and he wanted revenge against his in-laws.

[Calm]

I heard the cyberbulling claim as well. There are ways an adult can limit their exposure to such stuff. It is not like he was forced to read email or even have a computer.

How many other people who have been cyberbullied end up killing their nearest and dearest in such a horrific way? The choice of violence was his and his alone.

[KevinG]

I heard the cyberbulling claim as well. There are ways an adult can limit their exposure to such stuff. It is not like he was forced to read email or even have a computer.

How many other people who have been cyberbullied end up killing their nearest and dearest in such a horrific way? The choice of violence was his and his alone.

As the pieces of the puzzle come together it appears as if his selfish desires overrode any desire to honor God and family. Ultimately it is this he will have to repent of if he is ever to receive forgiveness for his acts. We all struggle with sin and selfishness but few people allow it to escalate to such horrific proportions.