MINNEAPOLIS -- One of Josh Powell’s siblings apparently committed suicide Monday.
Michael C. Powell, 30, jumped from a multistory parking garage in downtown Minneapolis near his residence, officials say.
He jumped from the multistory Centre Village about 2:25 p.m. Monday, said Minneapolis Police Sgt. Steve McCarty. He plunged to a sidewalk next to the building and died immediately.
The University of Minnesota confirmed Powell was a graduate student there, working on a doctoral degree in cognitive science.
Powell, who grew up in South Hill, was a strong supporter of his older brother Josh, who killed himself and his two sons in a house fire he intentionally set in Graham just over a year ago.
Josh Powell was also the only person of interest in the disappearance of his wife, Susan Cox Powell, who was last at the couples’ home in West Valley City in Utah.
Michael also stood by his father, Steven, who is currently serving a prison sentence for voyeurism in Monroe. He will be released this May.
Most recently, Michael, his siblings and mother have been in a legal battle with Chuck and Judy Cox over millions of dollars in insurance policies for Susan Cox and sons Charlie, 7 and Braden, 5.
Months before his death, Josh Powell changed his policy to list Michael as the primary beneficiary.
In the event of Michael’s death, the money was to be split between his father and Michael’s sister, Alina Powell.
The insurance company, New York Life, filed the court action. It wants a federal judge to decide if the changes Josh Powell made to the policies were valid.
Michael had an aspiration for politics, and once ran to be state representative of District 2 in Washington and once served as a Democratic Delegate for President Barack Obama, according to his profile on VoteWA.com.
He served in the U.S. Army until he was honorably discharged in 2007 and also worked at a Kroger warehouse in Puyallup.
Comments