Family Court Crisis: Rewarding a Killer Visitation for Charlie and Braden Powell ends in Murder

On Sunday, Charlie 7 and Braden 5, the children of missing Utah mother Susan Cox ,were murdered. The children were blown up in an explosion during a court ordered visitation with a dangerous psychopath.

Susan vanished on December 6, 2009 from her Utah home.  If you recall Josh Powell had suddenly, taken the children then ages 2 and 4; camping in freezing temperature at midnight.  When interviewed Susan was reported missing, the case covered by the media just prior to securing an attorney, Josh said he didn't know where his wife was and she just left.  In the days following, Josh would say she left with another man. He would be the only person named by police in the case.

As in each one of these intimate partner missing homicide cases, the last person to see their wife or girlfriend, is almost always the person responsible for making them vanish. The pattern of conduct in this case prior to Susan vanishing, then afterwards, is significant, and often overlooked by law enforcement.  Josh Powell was allowed to leave the state of Utah moving  into his father's home with the two young boys.

Many experts of across the country, Reporter Isabelle Zehnder, Statement Analysis Expert Peter Hyatt, Attorney Anne Bremner, Legal commentator and defense Attorney Holly Hughes, among others, discussed the imminent danger to the boys lives.  At one time or another we predicted if the legal system didn't remove the children, they would be murdered. Last week permanent placement of the boys was given to Susan's parents Chuck and Judy Cox.  Josh Powell by a judge was given supervised visitation like a prize for being the biological father. What was this judge thinking? Powell posed a threat to his own children's lives.

The murders of Charlie and Braden's were by all accounts preventable.

The family of Susan Cox requires not only prayers, but the promise that on the blood of their grandchildren, the epidemic and ignorance in the family courts across the country will do more than award murder's visitation and custody of children, especially when their mothers are missing intimate partner homicide victims!

Let's also remember Susan Cox is still missing and she requires our attention to be found.


The Murder Of Susan Powell's Two Young Boys At The Hands Of Their Father by Diane Fanning
http://www.forbes.com/sites/crime/2012/02/05/the-murder-of-susan-powells-two-young-boys-by-the-hands-of-their-father/

West Valley City Police issues statement re Josh Powell's double murder-suicide by Reporter Isabelle Zehnder: http://www.examiner.com/missing-persons-in-national/west-valley-city-police-issue-statement-re-josh-powell-s-double-murder-suicide

Obsession Leads to Murder?
http://murphymilanojournal.blogspot.com/2011/08/susan-powell-case-obsession-leads-to.html


Revenge of Josh Powell: Murder Suicide
http://seamusoriley.blogspot.com/2012/02/murder-suicide.html

Susan Cox (Powell) Father-In-Law-Arrested: Children Removed

On December 6, 2009, Susan Cox (Powell) vanished from her Utah home. Her estranged husband, Josh, was allowed to leave the State of Utah with their two boys, then ages 2 and 4, moving in with his father, Steven Powell, in Washington.

In November of 2010, Steven Powell, along with his son Josh, broke their silence, a month shy of the one year anniversary of Susan Cox's (Powell) disappearance. The interview was laced with both men's words, screaming, in my opinion, answers.

Over the summer came a break in the case as both father and son sat down with ABC's Night-Line for an extensive interview. The result of that began, in my opinion, the unraveling of the world of the Powells. The father-in-law's remarks sparked a long awaited investigation at the Steven Powell residence. FBI agents and investigators took computer hard drives and other evidence from the home.

Late Thursday, Steven Powell, who many believe has direct knowledge in Susan Cox's (Powell) disappearance, was taken into police custody and charged with multiple counts, including child pornography. The boys, Susan's children, now ages 4 and 6 were removed from the home and taken into protective custody. Susan's parents went to court in hopes of gaining custody of her two sons.

In court today, there were two hearings, one as it relates to the children, the other for Steven Powell's bond hearing where bail was set at $200,000.

If Steven Powell remains in jail, will Josh Powell, who depends on his father, finally crack? Will the children be able to provide important insight for investigators about their mother?

Let's hope and pray the current search efforts for Susan Cox are successful!

On a side note: Curious if the jail cell Steven Powell is occupying has room for one more, occupant?

Latest on the case from journalist, Isabelle Zehnder:

http://www.examiner.com/missing-persons-in-national/steve-powell-arrested-former-friend-shocked-charges-involve-children

Statement Analyst, Peter Hyatt:

http://seamusoriley.blogspot.com/2011/09/chuck-cox-seeks-to-save-children.html

http://murphymilanojournal.blogspot.com/2011/07/susan-powells-killer-plays-game-of.html

http://murphymilanojournal.blogspot.com/2011/08/susan-powell-case-obsession-leads-to.html

http://murphymilanojournal.blogspot.com/2010/11/susan-powell-to-be-chewed-up-like.html

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Susan Murphy Milano is a staff member of the Institute for Relational Harm Reduction and Public Pathology Education. She is a specialist with intimate partner violence cases and prevention strategies and high risk cases and available for personal consultations through the Institute. She is also part of the team atManagement Resources Limited of New York.

Susan is the author of "Time's Up: A Guide on How to Leave and Survive Abusive and Stalking Relationships,"Moving out, Moving on, and Defending Out Lives. Susan is the host ofThe Susan Murphy Milano Show, "Time'sUp!" . She is a regular contributor to the nationally syndicated "The Roth Show" with Dr Laurie Roth and a co-host on Crime Wire.