Posted on 02/15/2012 4:52:57 PM PST by marsh-mellow
A sheriff and his sergeant in Washington state have bought burial plots next to Josh Powell's boys in order to block family members from burying him next to them, according to a media report Wednesday.
"The bottom line is, Josh Powell will not be near those two boys," Pierce County Sheriff's Sgt. Ed Troyer said in an interview with a Seattle-area radio program called the Ron and Don Show.
(Excerpt) Read more at usnews.msnbc.msn.com ...
I understand the sentiment but I’m not at all certain that I’m cool with police interference with private burial arrangements.
I agree. I understand the sentiment, but really, in my opinion this amounts to tilting at windmills. What happens with the bodies probably doesn’t matter to the children anymore, they’re in a far better place now.
I know some people are really preoccupied with what happens to bodies, plots, etc. after burial, but I really don’t feel it matters. But hey, I suppose I could be wrong. Maybe the egyptians were on to something...or something.
Not sure how they interfered - they are buying burial plots. Would be nice though if these cops are on the young side, and are still around when the boys’ maternal grandparents pass on, and those adjacent plots just might come up for sale.
I heard on the local news that the two boys were so close in life, they buried them in the same casket.
Considering these policemen lives have been “interfered” with, leaving them with horrendous nightmares for life of what they experienced due to that fiends actions - I think they deserve a say.
they couldn’t do anything to protect the boys in life, maybe this will help a tiny bit in symbolically protecting them in death.
Until we have walked in their shoes, maybe we shouldn’t be ‘cool’ in any sort of judgment?
I don’t think it is about the boys - but the relatives (and now the community) that loved the boys. If somehow their killer was able to get himself buried alongside them.
I’m sure one of the plots will be used for the mother when she is found.
It’s not even the symbolism that disturbs me, it’s the police interference in a very private matter that in no way pertains to the law or their jurisdiction, that disturbs me.
I might moderate somewhat on that if these plots were not purchased in any official capacity, but by these two acting as private citizens.
It’s still a little much. Dead and gone is dead and gone. The boys are, as you say, in a better place. The disposition of their earthly remains is not a concern of theirs.
Gravesites are largely for the living, to visit and remember. Having the man who killed them right there would be disturbing, yes. It’s for the family to work out. Outsiders really should butt out, imho.
“...in symbolically protecting them in death.”
Nice thought. And a nice gesture on the part of the cops.
Bury him next to bin Laden - plenty of room.
If the gentlemen bought them as private citizens, that’s fine with me.
I understand the sentiment of not wanting the father who murdered those two boys buried alongside them. I just don’t like the idea of outsiders interfering to prevent it (law enforcement in particular), if that’s what the family wants. He was, after all, their father, but he killed them. Being back in the public eye can’t be helping matters as far as those surviving family members left to contend with the aftermath.
Suffice it to say, this is already notorious enough that Josh Powell’s grave being vandalized is a possibility no matter where it ends up, if the location is known. Not that I would approve of that, either. Horrendous as they were, his sins are between him and God now. Leave his remains alone, lest you lower yourself to his level in life.
As a matter of principle, I oppose the notion that we as strangers should interfere in the private burial issues of a family, for whatever reason.
As a matter of conservative principle, I oppose the notion that the public peace officers should be interfering in the private burial issues of a family.
As a practical matter — the dead are dead. None will care. The living are the ones who suffer — and what did the parents of Josh do to deserve punishment by the police? Is it their fault their son committed atrocities? Should their wishes be thwarted because of what their son did?
I should have added — if there is a dispute between two sets of grandparents, the father’s and the mother’s, and the police action is to aide the mother’s grandparents, to prevent the father’s grandparents from burying their son next to the boys where the mother’s grandparents will have to see it and remember, that would be a different issue — becuase that would be part of the private matter within the family.
But I haven’t read anywhere else where there is such a dispute. And if there isn’t, there is simply the family of the father, mother, and boys.
It’s also symbolic interference by a governmental agency.
You may begin to think differently once they begin buying up your families burial sites.
Don’t think it can’t be done, it’s already been proven that it can.
His father is unusual, or so it has been reported. I suspect that might be the story behind the story.
According to the article, they used Crimestoppers funds to pay for the plots. They clearly are not acting as private citizens.
Josh Powell set up sham residence to mislead authorities before killing sons, self, officials said.
Detectives said they believe Powell passed the abandoned home off as his so that he could be granted supervised visits with his sons, Charlie, 7, and Braden, 5.
“He set it up like a rental place, with pictures of the family,” Sgt. Denny Wood said at the meeting, the newspaper reports.
“I think it was staged so when CPS (Child Protective Services) came, it would look like a loving family,” he said.
Maybe they should just piss on Josh Powell’s body?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.