Josh Powell will not be buried next to the two children he allegedly killed, thanks to law enforcement officers and an anti-crime group in Washington state that bought the adjacent burial spots. Now, an attorney representing the children's grandparents is attempting to block Powell from being buried in any plot in the same cemetery as his children.
"For anyone to even think about burying this murderer alongside his young victims is unthinkable," Seattle attorney and legal analyst Anne Bremner told The Huffington Post.
Bremner represents Charles and Judy Cox, the grandparents of Powell's children. The Coxs are the parents of Powell's missing wife, Susan Powell. Josh Powell is the primary suspect in his wife's 2009 disappearance. Her whereabouts remain a mystery.
Authorities say Josh Powell snatched his two boys, Charlie, 7, and Braden, 5, from a social worker who delivered them for a supervised visit on Feb. 5. He then locked them in his house and allegedly attacked them.
"He took an axe to them ... after saying, 'I have a surprise for you,'" Bremner said.
After the alleged attack, a fire engulfed the home. Powell and his children were killed in a gas-fueled explosion.
The controversy over Josh Powell's burial began earlier this week when his sister reportedly attempted to purchase a plot for her brother next to the children he allegedly murdered. That plan, however, was derailed when two police officers and Crime Stoppers Tacoma-Pierce County purchased the two burial plots beside the boys.
"It's disgusting that a murder suspect would be buried next to his victims," said Pierce County Sheriff Paul Pastor.
Pastor and Sgt. Ed Troyer combined their own money with funds from Crime Stoppers to purchase the two plots at Woodbine Cemetery.
"This would keep that which is unacceptable from taking place," Pastor said in an interview on the Ron and Don Show on Seattle's 97.3 KIRO FM.
With the plots next to the two boys unavailable, Powell's relatives have selected a plot about 25 feet from the boys, City Manager Ralph Dannenberg told The Associated Press.
Bremner is asking a judge for a temporary restraining order to block Josh Powell from being buried at the same cemetery as his children.
Dannenberg said the sale of the plot to Powell's relatives is now on hold, pending the judge's ruling.
"We're going to wait to see what the outcome is in court," Dannenberg told the AP.
SUSAN POWELL CASE PHOTOS: (Article Continues Below)
Josh And Susan Powell
Charles Cox is outraged by the situation. He told CNN he hopes it "goes away quickly."
Bremner agreed.
"Just when you think this case can't get any worse, it does," Bremner told HuffPost.
Crime Stoppers Tacoma-Pierce County is asking for donations to help cover the costs of the plots, as well as the purchase of two memorial plaques for the children. Anyone interested in donating can send a check or cash donation to Crime Stoppers of Tacoma-Pierce County at 6824 19th St. W. #139, University Place, WA 98466.