Cops: House Josh Powell rigged to explode was "staged" to fool authorities

By: Casey Glynn
Topics: Daily Blotter

Josh Powell and his children; backdrop is the Graham, Wash. house where all three died in an explosion and fire on Feb. 5, 2012

(Credit: CBS)

(CBS) - Authorities say the house Josh Powell rigged to explode, killing himself and his sons in an alleged murder-suicide, was a sham set up to fool social workers, the Tacoma News Tribune reported on Tuesday.

Pictures: Missing Utah mother Susan Powell

Pierce County sheriff's detectives said at a public meeting Monday evening that Powell rented the Graham, Wash. house to use for supervised visits with the boys, according to the paper.

"He set it up like a rental place, with pictures of the family," Sgt. Denny Wood reportedly said. "I think it was staged so when CPS (Child Protective Services) came, it would look like a loving family."

According to the News Tribune, police say Powell had been planning the explosion since he failed to regain custody of his two sons at a February 1 court hearing.

Powell and his two sons were found dead in his home on Feb. 5. Powell reportedly attacked the boys with a hatchet, then set the home on fire. Investigators are still looking for the body of Powell's wife Susan, who went missing in 2009 in Utah. Josh Powell was a person of interest in her disappearance.

Complete coverage of the Susan Powell case on Crimesider

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by Kovacsmaster February 21, 2012 12:52 PM EST: It is extremely hard to imagine a parent doing this to their own
children, one can only imagine what the children would of grown up to be like. Good riddance to Josh Powell, very sad situation.; Reply to this comment


by ahendryx819 February 16, 2012 1:44 PM EST: Who's surprised by this??? Anyone who was following the case knew that he was a sociopath...; Reply to this comment


by andie52 February 16, 2012 8:09 AM EST: Again this goes back to Social Services. A real Social worker would have spotted that right away. Elizabeth Griffin-Hall is a "contracted care worker" for the Foster Care Resource Network

She was never trained as a Social Worker

The employees of Foster Care Resource Network are a dedicated group. They are all experienced foster or adoptive parents with many years in their respective communities and have the common goal of supporting; Reply to this comment


by ckp016c February 15, 2012 7:21 PM EST: All I have to say is if he wanted out then go ahead and take yourself out but leave those innocent children alone!; Reply to this comment

by bobinapples February 15, 2012 4:09 PM EST

The WHITE DEMON DEVIL IS A SICK ANIMAL PREDATOR BEAST.SHOOT THE WHITE CHILD PEDOPHILES.

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by IEtOut February 15, 2012 8:33 PM EST: Are your apples floating in rum?


by maxmoose February 16, 2012 12:13 PM EST: to IEtOut: that made me laugh out loud!

by techguyy February 15, 2012 3:11 PM EST

Right. All the cops have done a fantastic job with this case including finding the missing body, coming up with a motive, responding quickly when the social worker called, hounding the man until he was pretty much insane (remember, there is NO evidence that he did anything wrong at all, it's all circumstantial) should I go on? So now I'm supposed to believe the house was "staged"? What does that mean?

I'm not excusing what this man did, but honestly, the cops involved in this are probably the worst I've ever seen. They've got absolutely nothing but now 2 dead kids and a missing woman. What a shame.

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by littleleers February 15, 2012 5:00 PM EST: Techguyy. In order for Josh to be granted custody of the boys, he was told that he COULD NOT continue to live in his dad's house (Steve Powell, who is now in jail). Josh rented a house nearby and "set it up" to appear like a loving home. It was a stage house, much like one ready for a movie or a play....the play being when CPS showed up to check on the kids.

Josh Powell LIVED at his dad's house. That was strictly forbidden. Josh was an EVIL man. He was cunning, no doubt about it as he fooled everyone, didn't he? He had access to his children and enough time to plan their brutal murders. May there be justice in the afterlife and my Josh Powell feel the never ending fires of H*ll.