Lights & Sirens

UPDATED: Stained comforter, kids’ toys and clothes found in Powell storage unit

Pierce County sheriff’s investigators found a comforter stained with blood inside a storage unit rented by Josh Powell but further tests are needed to know what kind of blood it is and who it belonged to.

“None of that can be answered with what we’ve done (so far),” Pierce County sheriff’s spokesman Ed Troyer said.

The stain on the gray-blue-pink comforter had some properties of blood. It’s been turned over to West Valley City police.

“They will determine if it is relative to their case,” Troyer said.

Investigators also found kids’ blocks, toys, clothes and picture frames in the storage …

Surveillance photo of Josh Powell released

The Pierce County Sheriff’s Department has released a surveillance photo of Josh Powell taken the day before he set fire to his Graham-area rental home, killing himself and his two young sons.

Search warrants have revealed that Powell, 36, withdrew $7,000 from the bank last Saturday.

Investigators have said the move, along with others, showed that Powell was planning to blow up his house and kill his sons. Powell also purchased gasoline, gave away his sons’ clothes and toys and sent emails and left voicemails, saying goodbye and telling relatives what to do with his money and how to …

Tree to be planted Saturday in honor of Charlie and Braden Powell

A dogwood tree will be planted Saturday at Carson Elementary School in remembrance of Charlie and Braden Powell.

Mark and Sarah Lane, whose two daughters attended school with Charlie, said they considered placing flowers at a makeshift memorial but settled on something more permanent.

The white-flowering tree, which was donated by Alpine Nursery, will be planted in front of the school, 8615 184th St E, at 4:30 p.m. Saturday. The public is invited.

“We chose a white tree because it signifies purity and innocence,” Mark Lane said.

A plaque reading “Through the life of this tree grows the

…

Paper at recycling center to be search in Powell investigation

Pierce County sheriff’s investigators have roped off part of a Graham recycling center after receiving a tip that Josh Powell threw some paper away there before he ignited a deadly house fire Sunday.

“We are just following up on a tip,” sheriff’s spokesman Ed Troyer said. “We are not looking for anything specific.”

Detectives have been following up on tips and tracking down Powell’s movements in the days and hours before he killed himself and his sons, 7-year-old Charlie and 5-year-old Braden, at his Graham-area rental home Sunday. The boys had gone to the home for a scheduled visit.

Detectives …

Spiritual ceremony rescheduled to Feb. 18 for Powell boys

Associated Ministries will hold a Moment of Blessing ceremony next week at the what’s left of the home where the two Powell brothers were killed.

The brief, spiritual ceremony for Charlie and Braden Powell will begin at 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 18, at the house, 8119 189th St. Court E.

Charlie, 7, and Braden, 5, were killed Sunday in a violent explosion at their father’s Graham-area home. They’d gone to the home for a scheduled, supervised visit.

Investigators say their father, 36-year-old Josh Powell, struck his sons with a hatchet and then intentionally set the house on fire. All three …

UPDATED: Man, cat killed in house fire in Summit area

UPDATED at 12:30 p.m.

A 70-year-old man and family cat were killed this morning in a house fire in the Summit area of Pierce County.

Firefighters found the man’s body just inside the front door of his home in the 5900 block of 48th Avenue East, Central Pierce Fire & Rescue spokeswoman Stephanie Glass said. They were initially concerned the man’s wife also might be inside the burning two-story home but discovered she’d left for work.

A neighbor spotted the fire around 7:30 a.m., Glass said. By the time firefighters arrived, the blue house was engulfed in flames.

“The house …

Facebook effort launched to block Westboro Baptist picket

NorthWest Music Scene has launched a Facebook effort to keep a notoriously anti-gay church from picketing the funeral service for two young brothers killed Sunday in a violent house fire.

“We will be out in full force to help create a buffer so this memorial can take place peacefully,” the group wrote on the “Keep Westboro Church away from Powell Memorial” Facebook page.

Charlie, 7, and Braden, 5, Powell were killed Sunday during a scheduled visit with their father, Josh Powell. A funeral service for the brothers is scheduled to begin Saturday at 11 a.m. at Life Center …

Bake sale to be held Friday to raise funds for the Cox family

The Silver Creek neighborhood community will be holding a bake sale Friday to raise money for Charlie and Braden Powell’s grandparents.

Treats can be purchased from 4-8 p.m. Friday at the Graham Fire Department, 10012 187th St. E, Puyallup.

Deputies seize cell phone of Josh Powell’s sister

Pierce County sheriff’s detectives confiscated the cell phone of Josh Powell’s sister after she refused to give emails and voicemails he left for her before he killed his sons Sunday, newly filed court records show.

Alina Powell called 911 on Sunday to report she’s received four emails and a message from her brother that made her concerned for his safety. Detectives contacted her later in the day and requested copies.

“During the interview, Alina became upset and refused to allow Det. Sanders to copy the emails and refused to provide the phone to Det. Sanders,” the search warrant states.

The …

UPDATED: Makeshift memorial for Powell boys moved

One of our reporters reports that the makeshift memorial in front of Carson Elementary School has been moved.

Some items have been taken inside; others have been taken to a covered area.

The memorial sprung up Sunday within hours of the deaths of Charlie and Braden Powell. Seven-year-old Charlie was a first-grade student at Carson Elementary in South Hill.

Community members and friends of the boys had been leaving stuffed animals, balloons, paper signs and candles outside the school in the days since.

Meanwhile, the Silver Creek neighborhood community plans to plant a tree in honor of the boys at …