MYNORTHWEST BLOG

Latest developments in Josh Powell case

Feb 6, 2012, 12:58 PM | Updated: Feb 7, 2012, 8:45 am

The Sunday explosion at Josh 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.

“For every time you think there’s something strange in this case, something stranger occurs,” said Pierce County Sheriff’s spokesman Ed Troyer, in an appearance on 97.3 KIRO FM Seattle’s Morning News.

97.3 KIRO FM has heard from attorneys, law enforcement and others involved in the developing Powell case. Below are the latest details as investigators and authorities look into the most recent tragic turn of events.


Chuck and Judy Cox appear on Today Show

Chuck and Judy Cox, parents of missing woman Susan Cox Powell, and grandparents to the two young boys killed by thier father Josh Powell, appeared on the Today Show Tuesday morning.

“They were becoming more and more happy,” said Chuck Cox of his grandchildren in an appearance on the Today Show. “We’re missing them.”

Cox tells Today’s Ann Curry “We knew what he [Josh Powell] was capable of.”

Josh Powell left voicemail for family prior to igniting blaze

ABC News obtained what it says was a voicemail Powell left for his family members. In the recording played Tuesday on “Good Morning America” Powell also said he was calling to say goodbye and apologize.

“I’m sorry to everyone I’ve hurt,” he is heard saying. “Goodbye.” Listen to voicemail obtained by ABC News.

True-crime writer Ann Rule: Josh Powell among worst killers

Seattle true-crime writer Ann Rule, author of dozens of books detailing crimes of serial killers, and murderers who kill their family, tells 97.3 KIRO FM’s Tim Haeck that Josh Powell’s crimes are among the worst. Read full story.

Medical examiner determines causes of death

A Pierce County medical examiner determined the cause of death for Josh Powell’s two young sons was carbon monoxide poisoning.

Melissa Baker, investigator with medical examiner’s office determined the cause of death Monday evening, adding that Charles, 7 and Braden, 5, had chopping wounds on their necks. Read the full story here.

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Photos of Charlie and Braden, the room in the Cox house

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Brandi Kruse sees inside the home where Charles and Braden lived with their grandparents, and Chuck and Judy Cox, share recent family photos of the boys at home. See the gallery here.

Check and Judy Cox grieve for their grandsons

Chuck said they believed the boys would finally be safe in their custody. “We suspected that if he had the boys in his control, with him, living with him, and he felt the police were closing in on him, that he was capable of killing the children,” Chuck described to reporters outside his house. “But we thought we were safe because we had the children and his visits were supervised.” Ready the full story here.

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Gas used in home explosion

Fire crews have recovered two five gallon gas cans used to ignite a fire that killed Josh Powell and his two sons in a murder-suicide plot investigators say was planned well before a home explosion Sunday afternoon.

Pierce County Sheriff’s Sgt. Ed Troyer said it appears one of the cans was ignited in the center of the house near where the bodies of Powell and his sons, 5-year-old Braden and 7-year-old Charlie, were discovered. Read the full story

Nation reacts to Josh Powell murder-suicide

The tragic story has captured the attention of the entire country. Outside eyes are providing different perspectives as we learn more about ‘the how and the why’ of the Graham house explosion.

From ABC to Fox News, how is the national media examining the tragic deaths of Charles and Braden and the suicide of their father, Josh Powell? Read the full story

Sheriff: ‘It is inappropriate to blame everyone’

pastorPierce County Sheriff Paul Pastor didn’t soften his words when asked about the murders of two young boys and the suicide of their father Josh Powell. He said the case wasn’t a tragedy it was “an act of pure evil.”

News Chick Linda Thomas asked Sheriff Pastor to expand on that. Read what he wrote…

Josh Powell sent multiple emails before explosion

Pierce County Sheriff’s spokesman Ed Troyer tells 97.3 KIRO FM’s Ross and Burbank Show that authorities are working to recover three or four emails Josh Powell sent before setting fire to this home.

“Some of them are a little bit longer and more detailed,” said Troyer, adding that none so far offer any explanation. “They’re not going to be anything that explains why this happened, not so far.” Read the full story.

Listen to Det. Sgt. Ed Troyer on Ross and Burbank

Attorney: Susan Cox Powell’s sons had begun verbalizing details of her disappearance

The lawyer for Susan Cox Powell’s parents says the children had started talking to their grandparents about things they remembered from the night their mother vanished.

“They were beginning to verbalize more,” said attorney Steve Downing, whose clients, the parents of Susan Powell, Chuck and Judy Cox, 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.” Read the full story.

Prosecutor: Murder-suicide was Josh Powell’s confession

The answers to what actually happened to Susan Cox Powell may have vanished, along with her sons, in a home explosion officials say was planned by her husband Josh Powell. But the Pierce County Prosecutor says Powell’s guilt is certain.

“I don’t know what goes on in the mind of somebody as sick and evil as Josh Powell, but I do think it’s fair to call that a confession to the murder of Susan Powell,” said Pierce County Prosecutor Mark Lindquist. Read the full story.

Listen to Prosecutor: Murder-suicide was Josh Powell’s confession

Could Washington have done more to protect Powell boys?

State authorities can expect tough questions about whether more might have been done to protect a missing Utah woman’s two children, who died along with their father after authorities say he ignited his home in an inferno Sunday.

“It’s so hard to say that there are signs you should be aware of,” said Josh Powell’s attorney Jeffrey Bassett in an appearance on 97.3 KIRO FM. “Like any father he seemed to me to be very concerned about the welfare of his children. I would talk to him every day.” Read the full story.

Listen to Josh Powell’s attorney Jeffrey Bassett

People gather to remember Powell children

People gathered at candle-light memorials for the two sons of Josh Powell and Susan Cox in Puyallup and West Valley City, Utah, where the Powell’s lived when Susan was reported missing. View full photo gallery.

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Powell home a ‘haunting’ scene

97.3 KIRO FM reporter Brandi Kruse is one of the first reporters on the scene. Kruse tells 97.3 KIRO FM’s Ross and Burbank Show the Powell home was a ‘haunting’ scene.

Listen to Reporter Brandi Kruse describes scene at Powell home explosion

The AP releases photos from scene of the fatal explosion.

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Police: Josh Powell intentionally killed two sons in house explosion

A missing Puyallup woman’s two children, died along with their father after police say he ignited his home in an inferno Sunday. The fire at a home near Graham killed Josh Powell, the husband of a missing Puyallup woman, Susan Cox Powell, and their two young sons. Read the full story.

Timeline: Backstory in Powell case

susanpowellThis story dates back to Dec. 8, 2009 when Susan Powell went missing. Review full timeline of events.

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