Fire kills husband of missing US woman, 2 sons
Source: Agencies |
February 7, 2012, Tuesday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
JOSH Powell's note was simple and short, a farewell to the world after two years of being scrutinized in the media, hammered by police and questioned by judges, prosecutors and social workers, living his life under a microscope since the day his wife vanished.
Minutes before he set fire to his home, killing himself and his two young sons days after he was denied custody and ordered to undergo a psycho-sexual evaluation, Powell sent an email to his attorney.
"I'm sorry, goodbye," the Utah man wrote.
The Sunday blaze at Powell's home brought yet another twist in the very public scandal that began when Susan Powell vanished in 2009.
A social worker brought the two boys to Josh Powell's home on Sunday for what was to be a supervised visit, and Powell let his sons inside but then blocked the social worker from entering.
The social worker called her supervisors to report that she could smell gas. Moments later, the home burst into flames.
Pierce County sheriff's spokesman Sargeant Ed Troyer said emails Powell sent just prior to the explosion that authorities were made aware of seemed to confirm that Powell planned the deadly blast.
Susan Powell, the 28-year-old mother of two, was reported missing on December 7, 2009.
Authorities in the couple's hometown of West Valley City in Utah quickly turned their attention to Josh Powell. He repeatedly denied any involvement in her disappearance.
About a month later, police spent 12 days in the Utah desert looking for clues, and Josh Powell and his father, Steven, quickly disappeared from the limelight.
On Sunday, the lawyer for Susan Powell's parents said the children had started talking to their grandparents about the night their mother vanished.
"The oldest boy talked about that they went camping and that Mommy was in the trunk," said attorney Steve Downing, whose clients had custody of the children. "Mom and Dad got out of the car and Mom disappeared."
The children, 5-year-old Braden and 7-year-old Charles, were ordered by a judge to then go live with Susan's parents as the parallel cases were investigated.
Sargeant Mike Powell of the West Valley City Police Department in Utah said it was too soon to say how Josh Powell's death may impact their probe.
Minutes before he set fire to his home, killing himself and his two young sons days after he was denied custody and ordered to undergo a psycho-sexual evaluation, Powell sent an email to his attorney.
"I'm sorry, goodbye," the Utah man wrote.
The Sunday blaze at Powell's home brought yet another twist in the very public scandal that began when Susan Powell vanished in 2009.
A social worker brought the two boys to Josh Powell's home on Sunday for what was to be a supervised visit, and Powell let his sons inside but then blocked the social worker from entering.
The social worker called her supervisors to report that she could smell gas. Moments later, the home burst into flames.
Pierce County sheriff's spokesman Sargeant Ed Troyer said emails Powell sent just prior to the explosion that authorities were made aware of seemed to confirm that Powell planned the deadly blast.
Susan Powell, the 28-year-old mother of two, was reported missing on December 7, 2009.
Authorities in the couple's hometown of West Valley City in Utah quickly turned their attention to Josh Powell. He repeatedly denied any involvement in her disappearance.
About a month later, police spent 12 days in the Utah desert looking for clues, and Josh Powell and his father, Steven, quickly disappeared from the limelight.
On Sunday, the lawyer for Susan Powell's parents said the children had started talking to their grandparents about the night their mother vanished.
"The oldest boy talked about that they went camping and that Mommy was in the trunk," said attorney Steve Downing, whose clients had custody of the children. "Mom and Dad got out of the car and Mom disappeared."
The children, 5-year-old Braden and 7-year-old Charles, were ordered by a judge to then go live with Susan's parents as the parallel cases were investigated.
Sargeant Mike Powell of the West Valley City Police Department in Utah said it was too soon to say how Josh Powell's death may impact their probe.
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