Chuck Cox, father of Susan Cox Powell and grandfather of Charlie and Braden Powell, spoke with reporters at his home today. Cox said he was worried what might happen if the boys had been living with their father Josh Powell full time.

Chuck and Judy Cox had been caring for the boys since September, and their father – by court order – received supervised visits with the children.

“The act he did was a cowardly act, a desperate act,” Chuck Cox said. “We had no idea (it was) going to end this way for those boys.”

He said Powell didn’t display affection to the boys. Instead, Chuck Cox said, Powell regarded his sons as possessions.

“They were his property,” Cox said. “He wanted them back.”

Judy Cox said the two boys had enjoyed playing with their cousin Sunday. After a little tussle over toys was resolved she said, the kids hugged and resumed their play.

When it came time to leave, she said, the boys told her, “We don’t want to go see Daddy.”

Read a longer interview with the Coxes here.