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A website launched late last week by the family of Josh Powell — which leveled child abuse allegations against the parents of missing West Valley City mother Susan Powell — was unavailable Tuesday and listed as "disabled."
The website claimed Chuck and Judy Cox, who have temporary custody of their daughter's two sons, either abused the boys or allowed them to come to harm.
Those allegations were countered Monday by an attorney for the Cox family, who said the boys were "in a safe and loving home with their maternal grandparents."
Titled "4thekidzz" at http://sites.google.com/site/4thekidzz/, the website also accused the West Valley City Police Department of incompetence in handling the case of Susan Powell, who was reported missing on Dec. 7, 2009.
A note from Google states the site was taken down for "violations of our Terms of Service." Site administrators did not respond to an inquiry about the nature of the violations.
The author of the website's content is Michael C. Powell, who is Josh Powell's brother.
Labeled "a message from the Powell family," the information on the website was dated Jan. 27 — just days prior to a Wednesday custody hearing regarding the boys in Washington state.
Michael C. Powell alleges the boys — now 7 and 5 years old — were unattended as they stuffed mud in electrical sockets, and that the younger child suffered a concussion and foot injury while in the Coxes' care.
Anne Bremner, an attorney representing Chuck and Judy Cox, denied the Powells' claims, saying in an email, " ... the children are safe, well-placed, loved and well."
Michael C. Powell also wrote on the website that police have overlooked leads in the case, including the possibility that missing Utahn Steven Koecher is involved in Susan Powell's disappearance. A West Valley City police spokesman has declined to comment on the allegations lodged against the department.
By Tuesday evening, the Powells had set up another website, http://bit.ly/AxVf6F, restating the claims that Josh Powell's sons were in danger in the care of the Coxes.
A Superior Court judge in Washington in October granted temporary custody of the boys to the Coxes after child-protection workers removed them from the care of their father. A judge has granted Josh Powell supervised visits with his sons. The custody case is up for review Wednesday.
Josh Powell — who moved from Utah to Puyallup, Wash., in January 2010 — has said he knows nothing of his wife's fate.
Denise Cox, Susan Powell's sister, said her nephews are doing well in the care of her parents. She said the "4thekidzz" website mischaracterizes what was a simple accident at home, and that her parents promptly sought medical attention.
Twitter: @mrogers_trib —
Susan Powell case
Susan Powell disappeared on Dec. 6, 2009, from her West Valley City home and was reported missing the following day. Her husband, Josh Powell, has said he took his young sons on a late-night camping trip to Simpson Springs in Tooele County and when he returned his wife was gone.
Josh Powell gave two interviews to West Valley City police shortly after the disappearance but has not spoken to them since. Josh Powell and his sons moved to Puyallup, Wash., to live with his father weeks after the disappearance.
West Valley City police searched deserts near Ely, Nev., and near Utah's Topaz Mountain, but discovered no evidence of the woman's remains.
Police have so far named only Josh Powell as a person of interest in his wife's case, though they say others are being considered.