Josh Powell's House Held an Awful Secret

on February 15, 2012 at 11:13 AM

josh powell's house The latest details about the Powell murder-suicide in Washington state were revealed at a public meeting held by fire and law enforcement officials to brief neighborhood residents about the harrowing tragedy that occurred right in their own backyard.

One of the most chilling revelations to come out was the fact that the house that Josh Powell showed social workers on his supervised visits -- the one he blew up last week -- was a complete sham. According to authorities, he staged it to look like a loving, family home complete with photographs of his family on the walls. But in reality it was a "fake home" meant to fool the social workers (which apparently it succeeded in doing).

Here's the secret about the home that's almost too awful to believe: Josh Powell didn't even live there!

Much discussion has been made about the fact that this horrific event has unfortunately given way to a lot of unnecessary finger-pointing at innocent people, including placing blame on the social worker who called 911 and the 911 dispatcher. But you've really got to wonder about all the neighborhood residents who said that not only had they never seen Josh Powell and the boys even though he had begun renting the home in 2011, but they thought the house was abandoned.

Is it possible to be so blind to something that's going on right in your own neighborhood?

Now, that's not to suggest more alert neighbors could have in any way prevented such a senseless tragedy -- I don't believe they could have in this instance. But one of two things happened here: Either these folks are some of the most oblivious, "mind-your-own-business" folks in America. Or Josh Powell was meticulous, calculated, not to mention evil enough to pull one over on everyone.

Everything I've read about the guy suggests the latter.

Are you surprised at all by the "fake home" revelation?

Image via KOMO Communities/YouTube

About the author Kim Conte

has shoes that make people stop her on the street and ask "Where did you get those?" but it doesn't work for taxi cabs as she was hit by one ... and lived to tell the tale. She has more freckles than Lohan but way less attitude. And she's a fierce cook with tons of recipes to share -- and wishes she could share some with Bourdain.

Filed Under: crime, death, in the news

Comments (9)

femaleMIKE

on Feb 15, 2012 at 11:20 AM

yes, i am surprised at this new revelation. Those poor kids had no chance. He was just quietly waiting for his opportunity to do this.

I hope the kids found peace with them mother in Heaven.

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Lorefield

on Feb 15, 2012 at 12:13 PM

Why would the neighbors notice? Even though you say you aren't blaming them, you kind of are...

I know that people want to point fingers since Powell is dead, and can't be held accountable, but he is where all the blame lies in this.

I live in a tiny resort area in the Great Lakes. Most of my neighbors winter in Florida and rent their homes out. I have no idea who is living near me at any given time besides the few other crazy people that try to survive the winters here :)

If something like this happened where I live, I would be completely shocked, but it would never occur to me that I should have noticed something was wrong.

PretaniVirago

on Feb 15, 2012 at 10:42 PM

Conclusion: that was one f'd up mofo...

scaryfairy81

on Feb 16, 2012 at 8:18 AM

The man killed his own children, nothing about him would surprise me at this point. He was a clearly sick, sick man.

Facebook comment from Aili McKeen

on Feb 20, 2012 at 3:53 PM

The building across the street from me is abandoned, but how would I know if someone was using it as a stage for fooling social workers? If anyone should have noticed, it should have been the landlord - who should have kept enough of an eye on the place to notice if the lawn wasn't mowed, at least. But it is said he only planned the fire for four days. To catch that in such a short amount of time? Next to impossible.

Nonmember comment from Joann

on Feb 23, 2012 at 12:49 PM

Laying blame on the neighbors is ridiculous. Think about what you are saying. What would they tell the cops? I don't think that anybody lives there? What do you think the cops would do? They won't even come out. That's why Jaycee Dugard remained a captive for so long, even when the cops are persuaded to come out, they don't do anything. Gee, a registered sex offender with tents in his yard and the neighbors say there are small children, and nothing happened. The courts and Wasington State Dept.of Social Services are to blame 100%. They should have not allowed any home visits, supervised or not. They obviously didin't bother to check whether the monster actually had a real home did they?

Nonmember comment from jim almy

on Feb 25, 2012 at 10:38 PM

Here's a more difficult question to ask and answer, one that I haven't seen discussed anywhere over the last two years of this tragic saga. I've raised three daughters who are now grown, mostly paired up, successful in their careers. If any of them went missing while with a husband or boyfriend under these circumstances he and I would soon have a conversation which would lead to a solution or the removal of that character from the equation. Where does it say that fathers are not responsible to some degree for their daughters even after they pick a husband. When beatings begin (notice the handwringing by various parents in the Kitsap Peninsula over how their daughters were treated by the loser who shot the state patrolman) fathers should step in, beaters should understand the consequences. Josh Powell's father-in-law could have ended this two years ago. His grandsons would still be alive and who knows how a Washington jury would have dealt with it. It's the kind of sacrifice I'd make for my daughters. And I hope I'm right to think most other fathers would also.

Facebook comment from Pamela Hobson

on Feb 27, 2012 at 12:15 AM

as for him only planning this 4 days in advance is crazy that animal was an animal for his whole life he knew for along time what he was doing and i truly believe this sad sad story will continue to become even sadder if thats possiable

Nonmember comment from Jeremy

on Apr 22, 2012 at 10:36 PM

I agree with you Jim. Being a father of a little girl myself, I would also have a "sit down" with my daughters husband if I found out he was beating her or their kids. If I found out he indeed was I would proceed to beat the crap out if him( all the while asking him how it feels to be beat himself) then call the police and tell them what has happened. I would die for my children just to protect them.