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U.S.

Josh Powell's father won't cooperate with law enforcement officials

By NewsCore
Published | Updated
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In this Aug. 23, 2011 file photo, Josh Powell, husband of missing Utah woman Susan Cox Powell, walks to a court hearing in Tacoma, Wash. (AP)

TACOMA, Wash. – Josh Powell's father has filed court papers saying he will not cooperate with investigations being conducted by law enforcement agencies, The Salt Lake Tribune reported Wednesday.

Steven Powell, whose son killed himself and his two children earlier this month, is currently jailed as he awaits trial on voyeurism and child pornography charges. He filed a notice in Pierce County Superior Court Tuesday, saying he does not want to speak with the FBI, Utah law enforcement or West Valley City police.

In the one-page filing, Powell asserted his right to remain silent and said he "does not wish to discuss or make statements of any kind regarding any subject matter, including, but not limited to, statements pertaining to any alleged or suspected criminal activity."

Josh Powell was a person of interest in the 2009 disappearance of his wife, Susan Powell, though he had always maintained she disappeared after he took his two young sons on a midnight camping trip in freezing weather in the Utah desert. Earlier this month, police named Steven Powell a person of interest in the case, saying he may have information on Susan Powell's disappearance.

Meanwhile, authorities said Monday that Josh Powell did not live at the Graham, Wash., house where he killed himself and his two sons. Instead, the home was a ruse designed to mislead authorities so that he could be granted supervised visits with his sons, Pierce County sheriff's detectives told area residents at a public meeting, The Tacoma News Tribune reported.

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

The boys were killed Feb. 5 in what authorities have called a murder-suicide arson. Shortly after a social worker arrived with the children for a court-ordered visit, Josh Powell allegedly doused the house with gas, attacked his sons with a hatchet and set off the deadly explosion.