Josh Powell's brother kills himself in Minnesota

BY Brandi Kruse  on February 12, 2013 @ 3:12 pm (Updated: 1:07 pm - 2/13/13 )

powell.jpg
Michael Powell, 30, jumped off a parking garage in downtown Minneapolis Monday afternoon. He died on impact. (Photo: Facebook) | Zoom
The Powell family tragedy expanded to Minnesota Monday, where the brother-in-law of a missing Puyallup woman committed suicide.

The younger brother of Josh Powell jumped off the Centre Village Parking Ramp at 700 5th Ave. S. in downtown Minneapolis at roughly 2:25 p.m., according to a police report.

Michael Powell, 30, died on impact.

Homicide detectives there will wait to close the case until the medical examiner concludes their investigation, according to Minneapolis police Sgt. Steve McCarty.

Powell moved to Minneapolis in 2010, where he attended the University of Minnesota's Twin Cities Campus, according to the Salt Lake Tribune.

He was a vocal supporter of his brother, who was a person of interest in the December 2009 disappearance of his wife, Susan Cox Powell.

Josh Powell killed himself and the couple's two children, 7-year-old Charlie and 5-year-old Braden, in an explosion at his rental home in Graham, Wash., on Feb. 5, 2012.

Kiirsi Hellewell, a childhood friend of Susan Cox-Powell, told KSL Radio in Salt Lake City that she worries Michael Powell may have known something about Susan's disappearance.

"And now it's gone," she said.

Hellewell also extended her condolences to Jennifer Graves, the estranged sister of Michael and Josh Powell. Graves believed her brother had something to do with Susan's disappearance and planned to take custody of Charlie and Braden before they were killed.

"I felt so heartbroken for her, because they have been through so much," Hellewell said of Graves. "Even though she has been estranged from Michael for the last basically three years she still loved him, he is still her brother, she grew up with him and she's just got to be going through so much."

Jennifer, Josh and Michael's father, Steven Powell, is currently incarcerated in Pierce County, Wash., after being convicted of voyeurism charges in June 2012.

Brandi Kruse, KIRO Radio Reporter
Brandi Kruse is a reporter for KIRO Radio who is as spontaneous and adventurous in her free time as she is on the job. Brandi arrived at KIRO Radio in March 2011 and has already collected three regional Edward R. Murrow awards for her reporting.
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Comments (24)


  • Add A Comment

  • JMinIssaquah wrote...
    Let Steven Powell go to roof
    February 12, 2013 2:48 pm
    Let Steven Powell out long enough to go to top of a building so he can follow his son's footsteps...
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • sghouse wrote...
    Couldn't live with what he knew...
    February 12, 2013 2:53 pm
    There is still so much untold about this saga and this deviant family living right in the midst of suburbia.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • FuturesiteFilms wrote...
    Daddy did it
    February 12, 2013 3:00 pm
    It's been clear to me throughout this tragedy that the sicko father was somehow to blame for this weirdness, he probably abused both his sons, now look where we are.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • RobertK wrote...
    The first sentence is ridiculous
    February 12, 2013 4:07 pm
    What a stretch to include the presumed deceased woman in this losers familial description. The exercise is crass and illustrative of the sickness within the profession.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • CH wrote...
    wrong side of the family
    February 12, 2013 7:40 pm
    is checking out!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • shark75 wrote...
    The apple doesn't fall far from the tree
    February 12, 2013 7:59 pm
    or the other apple that fell from the tree....
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Tyrone DeVille wrote...
    SO WHAT ?
    February 12, 2013 10:48 pm
    Unfortunate that Amanda Knox did not join him!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Petrah wrote...
    Jumped?
    February 13, 2013 5:20 am
    Humpty Dumpty was pushed.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • dexterjibs wrote...
    sins of the father
    February 13, 2013 6:41 am
    have devastating effects on the rest of the family.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Lessmith50 wrote...
    What a loser family
    February 13, 2013 7:02 am
    Was this family inbred? Looks like the world is a better place without another coward loser gone. Adios CHUMP LOSER!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }