Blast in home kills dad, sons
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GRAHAM, Wash. -- The long, bizarre case of a Utah wife missing for two years took a horrific turn Sunday when a powerful house explosion killed the woman's husband and his two young sons, moments after the boys arrived for a visit that was supposed to be supervised by a social worker.
Authorities say the husband, Josh Powell, blew the house up on purpose.
The Child Protective Services worker brought the two boys to Mr. Powell's home, and Mr. Powell let his sons inside -- but then blocked the social worker from entering, Graham Fire and Rescue Chief Gary Franz told The Associated Press.
The social worker called her supervisors to report that she could smell gas, and moments later the home exploded.
Sgt. Ed Troyer, Pierce County sheriff's spokesman, said emails Mr. Powell sent authorities seemed to confirm that he planned the deadly blast. Jeffrey Bassett, who represented Mr. Powell in the custody case, said he received a three-word email from his client just minutes before Mr. Powell and the two boys died. It said, "I'm sorry, goodbye."
Mr. Powell was under investigation in the disappearance of his wife, Susan, 28, from their West Valley City, Utah, home in December 2009. He claimed he had taken the boys on a midnight excursion in freezing temperatures when she vanished.
The children, 5 and 7, had been living with Ms. Powell's parents since Mr. Powell's father, Steven, was arrested on child porn and voyeurism charges last fall. On Wednesday, a judge had denied an attempt by Mr. Powell to regain custody, saying she wouldn't consider returning the two boys to their father until he underwent a psycho-sexual evaluation.
PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- An audiotape of Malcolm X addressing a crowd in Providence -- whose audience included Richard Holbrooke, who would become a leading American diplomat -- has been found in Brown University archives.
First Published February 6, 2012 12:00 am
