Graham, Wash. - Authorities announced Thursday that Josh Powell had images on his computer that depicted incest. On Sunday, he killed himself and his two sons in an intentional explosion and fire in his home.
Josh was the spouse of missing Utah woman, Susan Powell.
He lost custody of his children in Sept. 2011 after his father, Steve Powell, whom he lived with at the time, was arrested on charges involving child pornography. Josh had subsequently rented a home of his own, but was denied custody of the boys on Feb. 1, 2012. According to The Seattle Times, he was ordered to undergo an “intensive psychosexual evaluation” due to the “incestuous” images discovered on his computer prior to the court considering his custody request. The evaluation was also slated to include a polygraph examination.
Josh and Susan's two sons had been living with her parents, Chuck and Judy Cox.
On Feb. 5 at around 12:45 p.m. PT, a case worker, Elizabeth Griffin-Hall, brought Josh's sons to his home for a supervised visit. She claims that after they arrived he blocked the door and would not let her enter, after which an explosion took place destroying the home. Griffin-Hall was not physically harmed.
To see the witness photos of Josh Powell's home in flames after massive explosion, click here.
The Pierce County Medical Examiner announced that the two children – Charles, 7, and Braden, 5 – sustained chops on their necks with a small ax or hatchet and were killed by carbon monoxide poisoning before the home went up in flames.
Josh, who had been the only person of interest in his wife’s disappearance, alleged that the December 2009 night his wife vanished, he and his two young sons – then ages 2 and 4 – were on a camping trip in freezing cold temperatures in the remote Tooele County, Ut. desert area at around midnight. He claims they slept in a minivan and when they returned home the next day, Susan, 28, was gone.
To see more photos of Susan, click here.
Josh rented a car two days later and drove hundreds of miles in the vehicle – offering no viable explanation to police. Only a month later, he packed up his children and moved from his Utah home to the Puyallup, Washington area, moving in with his father.
Steve Powell pleaded guilty to 14 charges of voyeurism and one count of possession of child pornography and remains behind bars on $200,000 bail. Authorities allege he had been surreptitiously filming women – including Susan – and also claim he took video of two young neighbor girls as they used the toilet and bathed.
Steve is now a person of interest in Susan's case, according to multiple media reports.
To read the charging document against Steve Powell, click here.
To see photos regarding Susan's case, click here.
Anyone with information regarding Susan Powell's whereabouts or her disappearance is urged to call the West Valley City Police Dept. at 801-840-4000.
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