OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) — Josh Powell’s in-laws say Washington’s child protection system is flawed.
Chuck and Judy Cox said Thursday that they are hoping to see changes to better ensure safety of child involved in custody cases. The Cox family had cared for Powell’s two young boys until he killed the children and himself in a fire earlier this month.
Chuck Cox is supporting several changes to the system, including more rights for grandparents, restrictions on private home visitations and less of a focus on trying to reunify children with their biological parents.
He and attorneys are also backing a bill that would prohibit a child custody award to a murder suspect. Powell’s wife, Susan, has been missing since 2009 but Utah authorities never publicly labeled her disappearance as a murder. Investigators also never called Powell a suspect.
