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 )

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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)


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  • Stevebo wrote...
    I'm sorry that he committed suicide.
    February 13, 2013 9:00 am
    It's definitely another tragedy in what seems a long line of tragedies related to this case.

    It's also disheartening to read some of the insensitive and ignorant comments from some of the posters here on this topic.

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Lessmith50 wrote...
    Stevebo
    February 13, 2013 12:56 pm
    Insensitive? Like i said I would bet my life that this coward could not stand the pressure of lying to everyone. I would bet my life that guy was involved 100% in the murder of his sister in law. Either he was directly involved or he knew where the body is. His own sister thinks he knew more than he told. His own flesh and blood did not believe him. No he is a coward all the way. Insensitive? No this world is better of with that ticking time bomb checking himself out.
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  • HLC wrote...
    I'm not sure. Was Josh Powell ever officially considered a person of interest?
    February 13, 2013 11:05 am
    I know he was being looked at but was he officially listed as such?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • John wrote...
    He was the family member wanting the 1.5 MM life insurance policy
    February 13, 2013 12:01 pm
    on his brother and nephews. This entire family has an appalling stench.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • kurtthekraut wrote...
    Buh-Bye
    February 13, 2013 12:43 pm
    Good to see that blood-line fading away.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • dexterjibs wrote...
    not "officially" a person of interest?
    February 13, 2013 5:23 pm
    that is an incredibly ignorant commenbt. Of course he was a person of interest. All arrows pointed towards Josh Powell. The utah authorities just screwed the pooch investigating this.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }