Brother of Josh Powell kills himself in Minnesota
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - A year after Josh Powell killed himself and his two sons in an explosive house fire in Washington state, his brother Michael has committed suicide.
Kiirsi Hellewell, a friend of Josh Powell's estranged sister, said he jumped to his death from a Minneapolis parking garage Monday. The Hennepin County medical examiner's office confirmed Wednesday the victim was 30-year-old Michael C. Powell.
Josh Powell was the prime suspect in the disappearance of his wife, Susan Powell, who vanished in Utah in 2009. The sensational case took an even more bizarre turn as Powell's father, Steve, went on national television and claimed he and Susan had been falling in love, and as Susan Powell's parents fought for custody of their grandchildren.
Josh Powell was living in Pierce County, Wash., on Feb. 5, 2012, when he locked a social worker out of his home, attacked his two young sons with a hatchet and set the house ablaze. Days earlier, a court had ordered that Powell undergo an intensive psycho-sexual evaluation as part of the custody dispute.
Michael Powell's suicide came a week after dozens of relatives and supporters gathered for a candlelight vigil to mark the anniversary of the boys' death.
Before his death, Michael Powell had been involved in a court fight with Susan's parents, Chuck and Judy Cox, over the proceeds of a life insurance policy Josh Powell took out on himself and the boys, 7-year-old Charlie and 5-year-old Braden.
Steve Powell is in prison after being convicted of voyeurism for secretly recording neighbor girls as they showered and used the bathroom.
Kiirsi Hellewell, a friend of Josh Powell's estranged sister, said he jumped to his death from a Minneapolis parking garage Monday. The Hennepin County medical examiner's office confirmed Wednesday the victim was 30-year-old Michael C. Powell.
Josh Powell was the prime suspect in the disappearance of his wife, Susan Powell, who vanished in Utah in 2009. The sensational case took an even more bizarre turn as Powell's father, Steve, went on national television and claimed he and Susan had been falling in love, and as Susan Powell's parents fought for custody of their grandchildren.
Josh Powell was living in Pierce County, Wash., on Feb. 5, 2012, when he locked a social worker out of his home, attacked his two young sons with a hatchet and set the house ablaze. Days earlier, a court had ordered that Powell undergo an intensive psycho-sexual evaluation as part of the custody dispute.
Michael Powell's suicide came a week after dozens of relatives and supporters gathered for a candlelight vigil to mark the anniversary of the boys' death.
Before his death, Michael Powell had been involved in a court fight with Susan's parents, Chuck and Judy Cox, over the proceeds of a life insurance policy Josh Powell took out on himself and the boys, 7-year-old Charlie and 5-year-old Braden.
Steve Powell is in prison after being convicted of voyeurism for secretly recording neighbor girls as they showered and used the bathroom.
why is it that everyone who Susan's parents go to court against, end up "killing themselves". i think maybe the investigation should turn against Susan's parents as this is just too odd. those people didn't have anything to lose but they "killed themselves" .... hhhmmmm
This must have been a nightmare family to grow up in! The father probably molested all the males, leaving the sister alone. That would explain why she seems to be the only sane one here! What's up with the mother? Is she that cowed and afraid, she says nothing about any of it!
And another dirt bag bites the dust.
Rest in peace Powell children, Â but Daddy? Â He's in Hell. Â Where he damn well belongs.
OK.....Now Steve Powells TURN!!!
The father should follow in his sons footsteps and save all of us taxpayers the cost of a trial. He is by no means innocent. My condolences to the Cox family for the loss of their beautiful daughter and grandsons!
I don't feel that the insurance company should pay anyone in Josh's death, he committed sucide. The Grandparents should have gotten something as the boys were staying there when killed, however, I don't think they should have gotten all the money. As to paying up for Susan, how do insurance companies usually pay for a missing person, or a murder that a husband does? Insurance companies get hurt in a lot cases due to outside circumstances and all of us eventually end up paying for it when they have to up the cost to cover expenses.
@yoda The life insurance money would not go "to the grandparents", it would go to the kids since they are the next of kin.  Since they are still minors, the grandparents would get the money to support the children, as it should. Â
The Powells are a sick family.
"Michael Powell had been involved in a court fight with Susan's parents, Chuck and Judy Cox, over the proceeds of a life insurance policy Josh Powell took out on himself and the boys, 7-year-old Charlie and 5-year-old Braden." Profiting off of your brother murdering his wife and children?! Good riddance.
This is an Ann Rule book waiting to happen.Â
 I hope that Michael's death doesn't mean daddy Powell is going to come after the Cox's for the life insurance.
Seems like this whole family is full of nutters on the male side.
Iâm sorry but all I can think of is; wow what a screwed up family.In fairness, the sister sounds like she has her head screwed on straight.
Another death we can lay at the feet of steve powell...may his useless life end soon so he can begin his travails in hell.
Thankfully, Michael took only his own life.Â
Would be nice to know what family, if any, he left behind rather than regurgitate Josh's final actions again in detail.
Thanks to all those horrible fathers and mothers, and their spouses who enable them, thanks for forcing your shortcomings onto the world. Pathetic, this news week has been gruesome... Happy Valentines Day everyone!
Another one bites the dust.Â
If only Josh would have been more respectful and popped himself off and leaved the kids out of it...
He knows all about Susan's murder and it finally got to him?
Karma
Boy....... what a Gene pool the Powell's created.
i see the Bible is wrong for it says God will not give you more burden than you can deal with. RIPÂ Michael C. Powell.
The bible is not wrong. And you are misquoting St. Paul. The actual quote is:
There has no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted above that you are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that you may be able to bear it.
@32jim2The verse I think you are referring to is:Â No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, that you may be able to endure it (1 Cor. 10:13 NASB).
That verse is written to believers and needs to be taken in context. It is in reference to temptation and says God will provide an escape. We all still have a sin nature, so we have to choose to take the escape or not. Josh Powel is responsible for his actions, and didn't have to kill anyone.
today, i want to listen to your opinions.
Father Powellâ¦..How is prison?
That poor man having a brother and a father like he had. May he RIP.
I would like to personally commend everybody for resisting the temptation to include "banning" anything or "Darwin" anything in your comments here this evening. Well done!
Carry on.
Everybody but you! Right?
Keep throbbin but you may want to do it in private.
Yet more wreckage from the lifestyle Steven Powell insisted upon living. There are reprecussions with bodies stacking up in this case. How he can even bear to live is beyond me, but since he only thinks of himself, no one elses well being is of concern to him.
Condolences to the mother of his children for the nightmare she has endured over the years and his sister who managed to make her own way successfully.
Very crazy family, the Dad did it the kids could not live with it, plus based on what they found on the dad's computer the kids probably grew up in a very dark place.
Okay, this family.. needs some help?Â
I bet all the high and mighty who post such hate would be the first ones to jump down someone throat for what is considered PC hate speech. Well take a look in the mirror.
@FED__UPÂ It is what it is
I have no idea if he was as whacked out as his brother and father or if he was just another victim in this family.Â
@The WA Mama I'll bet he was just horrified, really depressed and was going through crazy drama like none of us can ever imagine. I could see it being hard to live with yourself if your brother kills his wife, his two kids (your nephews) and himself... and Michael barely talked to his sister. Probably felt all alone and his mind lost control. A very sick family indeed.
@The WA Mama Those two concepts aren't mutually exclusive.Â
One more victim. Given the atmosphere he was very likely raised in, it's a miracle he didn't turn out like his brother.
What makes you think he didnt?
Was this the mentally disable brother who walks around naked? Is creepy poppa still in jail?
@Princess Thug No this was the (more) functional brother. I haven't seen anything in the news about the mentally challenged brother. There are two sisters in the family, one is estranged, maybe the other is caring for the remaining brother.Â
What is really sad is the people who make comments such as "Two down, one to go" or "That whole family is sick and twisted". How many of the people making those kind of comments even know the family? Specifically, how many actually know this brother, Michael or have any idea what he was or was not involved in? Maybe he wasn't involved in anything "sick and twisted" and just couldn't handle the negative comments he got from people anymore. Or maybe he was just really sad that his dad has turned out to have so many issues and his brother killed himself and his sons. Maybe we should all keep in mind that everyone in these news stories has family who grew up with them and loved them and are sad that things have turned out the way they have. You and I may think that nothing like this could ever happen in our family but there are thousands of relatives all over the country who thought the very same thing. Perhaps we should all have a little more compassion.Â
@justathought - awesome! So true - we never know the 'hell' that another person may be living.Â
here is some food for thought expecially for youse:Â If it LOOKS like a DUCK, and QUACKS like a DUCK.... then by God you can pretty well rest assured..........it IS a DUCK
@Rick4001CSÂ Josh Powell=duck. Steve Powell=duck. Michael Powell didn't look or quack like one, from all accounts. Being tragically related to sickos does not justify your petty bitterness towards him.
Interesting.... I wonder what happened on the insurance deal. I too heard the same information on the radio yesterday that he had defended his brother tell the "final episode". But, maybe he truly felt that Josh didn't kill Susan... I could see where a brother would want to believe that. Then of course, when it ended like it did, now the feelings of guilt, worthlessness, shame, etc. probably got worse and worse tell he did what he did, sadly. This has been an awful saga... mankind at it's worse.
Bad news MVDad. Michael both looked and quacked like the elusive Powell Duck.
http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865572996/Josh-Powells-brother-Michael-dies-after-jumping-to-his-death.html?pg=all
"Michael Powell supported his brother throughout the ordeal, flying to Utah to help Josh Powell move to Washington and launching a website accusing the Coxes of abuse and defending Josh Powell as a loving parent. A few months before his death, Josh Powell changed his life insurance policy to list Michael Powell and sister Alina as the primary beneficiaries.
Nine days after Josh Powell killed himself and his children, Michael and Alina Powell contacted New York Life Insurance about collecting on the policies for Josh and their nephews, worth an estimated $1.5 million to $2 million. The company questioned whether they should pay the beneficiaries listed by Josh Powell.
@justathought Compassion? Was there a commercial about that during the super blow? Then we don't know anything about that
@Lrry*x*K @justathought Was that a Freudian slip in the first sentence, or just a simple typo? :DÂ
@Lrry*x*K @justathought No, that was a jeep commercial. Sadly.
Well then I sure hope he didn't know anything that was crucial to Susan's disappearance.
@Zoso If he killed himself out of shame, and/or feeling guilty by association, hopefully he'd have left a note or some other help to police in recovering her remains, since that's about the only justice that can come at this point.Â