Crimestoppers buys cemetery plots next to Powell boys
TACOMA, Wash. -- After learning that Josh Powell's family may seek to bury near his murdered sons, Pierce County Crimestoppers purchased the burial plots on either side of the plot where the two boys are buried, the Pierce County Sheriff's Department announced Wednesday.
"Just to make sure that no plaques or no mention of Josh or he or anybody are around those boys that doesn't deserve to be or need to be," said department spokesman Ed Troyer. "We think that is a place people are going to go -- they're going to be hurting for years and years and years around here and we didn't want any chance of Josh being there."
The move came shortly after Josh Powell's surviving relatives said they wanted him buried at the same cemetery as the two sons he killed, the city manager in Puyallup said.
Powell's relatives visited the public Woodbine Cemetery and selected a plot just up a hill from the boys, about 80 to 100 feet away, City Manager Ralph Dannenberg told The Associated Press.
The grave, which is in clear view of the boys' plot, has already been dug and was covered with plywood Wednesday. The Powells haven't paid for it yet, and any sale is being put on hold because the parents of Powell's missing wife have promised legal action, Dannenberg said.
"We don't have any rules or procedures regarding refusing plots to anyone," Dannenberg said. "We're going to wait to see what the outcome is in court."
Powell was a suspect in Susan Powell's 2009 disappearance from their home in West Valley City, Utah. He attacked his 7- and 5-year-old sons with a hatchet and exploded his house, killing himself and the two boys on Feb. 5.
The boys were laid to rest at Woodbine on Saturday and the Coxes hope to bury Susan Powell there too if her remains are ever found. Troyer said Crimestoppers would allow Susan Powell's family to use the plots as they saw fit, and if Crimestoppers raises money beyond the cost of the plots, any extra could be spent on memorials.
Attorney Anne Bremner, who represents Susan Powell's parents, Charles and Judy Cox, said she will seek a temporary restraining order to block Josh Powell from being buried there.
"For him to be buried near those kids is just unthinkable," Bremner said. "For God's sake, for them to lose Susan first, and then the boys, and now this? Just give these people a break."
Chuck Cox said it was unbelievable anyone would think burying Josh there was acceptable. "I just hope it goes away quickly, it's not right," he said.
The Pierce County Sheriff agreed.
"It's Disgusting that a murder suspect would be buried next to his victims," Paul Pastor wrote on the department's Twitter account.
Troyer said they might not be able to keep Josh Powell out of the cemetery because the family wants them there per court order, "but we definitely keep him away from being next to him or look like they're buried together."
Troyer says they hope to make Charlie and Braden's gravesite a fitting memorial for the boys.
"We're going to get some other money together to put some nice plaques on either side so there will be room there for families and other people that want to go there, and they'll never have to worry about seeing Josh Powell's name or him buried near those boys," Troyer said.
Crimestoppers is taking donations to help pay for the plots.
"Anybody who donates, even if it's a few dollars, we'd like the community to feel part of this," Troyer said. "Even though we stated it at Crimestoppers today, if we raise all the money back... and it becomes owned by the community, we'll make sure everybody knows that and we'll make it a really nice spot for that family to go to."
Powell's sister Alina did not return an email from The Associated Press seeking comment.
"Just to make sure that no plaques or no mention of Josh or he or anybody are around those boys that doesn't deserve to be or need to be," said department spokesman Ed Troyer. "We think that is a place people are going to go -- they're going to be hurting for years and years and years around here and we didn't want any chance of Josh being there."
The move came shortly after Josh Powell's surviving relatives said they wanted him buried at the same cemetery as the two sons he killed, the city manager in Puyallup said.
Powell's relatives visited the public Woodbine Cemetery and selected a plot just up a hill from the boys, about 80 to 100 feet away, City Manager Ralph Dannenberg told The Associated Press.
The grave, which is in clear view of the boys' plot, has already been dug and was covered with plywood Wednesday. The Powells haven't paid for it yet, and any sale is being put on hold because the parents of Powell's missing wife have promised legal action, Dannenberg said.
"We don't have any rules or procedures regarding refusing plots to anyone," Dannenberg said. "We're going to wait to see what the outcome is in court."
Powell was a suspect in Susan Powell's 2009 disappearance from their home in West Valley City, Utah. He attacked his 7- and 5-year-old sons with a hatchet and exploded his house, killing himself and the two boys on Feb. 5.
The boys were laid to rest at Woodbine on Saturday and the Coxes hope to bury Susan Powell there too if her remains are ever found. Troyer said Crimestoppers would allow Susan Powell's family to use the plots as they saw fit, and if Crimestoppers raises money beyond the cost of the plots, any extra could be spent on memorials.
Attorney Anne Bremner, who represents Susan Powell's parents, Charles and Judy Cox, said she will seek a temporary restraining order to block Josh Powell from being buried there.
"For him to be buried near those kids is just unthinkable," Bremner said. "For God's sake, for them to lose Susan first, and then the boys, and now this? Just give these people a break."
Chuck Cox said it was unbelievable anyone would think burying Josh there was acceptable. "I just hope it goes away quickly, it's not right," he said.
The Pierce County Sheriff agreed.
"It's Disgusting that a murder suspect would be buried next to his victims," Paul Pastor wrote on the department's Twitter account.
Troyer said they might not be able to keep Josh Powell out of the cemetery because the family wants them there per court order, "but we definitely keep him away from being next to him or look like they're buried together."
Troyer says they hope to make Charlie and Braden's gravesite a fitting memorial for the boys.
"We're going to get some other money together to put some nice plaques on either side so there will be room there for families and other people that want to go there, and they'll never have to worry about seeing Josh Powell's name or him buried near those boys," Troyer said.
Crimestoppers is taking donations to help pay for the plots.
"Anybody who donates, even if it's a few dollars, we'd like the community to feel part of this," Troyer said. "Even though we stated it at Crimestoppers today, if we raise all the money back... and it becomes owned by the community, we'll make sure everybody knows that and we'll make it a really nice spot for that family to go to."
Powell's sister Alina did not return an email from The Associated Press seeking comment.
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