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SALT LAKE CITY - The news of the tragic death of Josh Powell and his sons has affected people all over the nation. The sad story has broken hearts, incited anger and left people in shock all over the web. Everyone from friends, public officials to complete strangers have taken the time to make their voices heard online.
Many sounded off on the judicial system, claiming they believe more could have and should have been done.
"The news about Susan Powell's boys is just too much. When are we going to do more to protect our children? It's enough already!!" tweeted @ymlicano.
"The judge in this case has laws to follow. Supervised visits are common. But what I don't understand is whose brilliant idea was it to send a woman to Josh's home for a supervised visit alone? And, why was it not in a public place?" wrote Monica Allen Barraclough on Facebook. "Seems like there should have been more than one to supervise and I think a man should have been there too. He was already suspected in killing his wife! Hopefully there will be some answers to these questions. This is a sad, sad story and I really feel bad for the Cox family and the woman sent to supervise."
What an absolute tragedy occurred yesterday with Josh Powell killing those little children. My prayers go out to all the families affected.
–- Sen. Orrin Hatch, via Twitter
Utah Attorney General, Mark Shurtleff, even commented on the situation.
"Josh Powell malevolence is reminder that legal/criminal system can be inadequate. Hope lies in family, faith & community," tweeted Shurtleff.
The Utah AG wasn't the only politician to express sadness and shock online.
"What an absolute tragedy occurred yesterday with Josh Powell killing those little children," tweeted Utah Senator Orrin Hatch. "My prayers go out to all the families affected."
The news of the deaths hit close to home for many and sparked a great amount of anger and bitterness.
"What sick excuse for a man that thought nothing of destroying his wife and then destroying his children," wrote IChix on ksl.com's comment boards. "They deserved a full life that he selfishly stole from them. He was obviously a person that had a lot to hide. My heart breaks for the grandparents that were trying to do so much for their missing beloved daughter and grandchildren."
"Only the guilty do (something) like this!" commented Crystal Ramirez Mora on Facebook. "But why would you do that to your kids! My prayers and thoughts go to Mr. &.Mrs. Cox and Susan's family.... May God keep you strong."
"May God bless the Cox family," wrote Ann Carroll Gleave on ksl.com's Facebook page. "They seem to be good people who have faced much tragedy at the hands if a very sick man."
Often, when things like this happen people look for answers and often for someone to blame.
May God bless the Cox family. They seem to be good people who have faced much tragedy at the hands if a very sick man.
–-Ann Carroll Gleave, via ksl.com Facebook
"Sadly, there is a lesson for all of us to learn here. Obviously Josh Powell was not well and maybe he did kill his wife. However, we terrorized him with our comments, with our posts on websites, etc. I did it and many others did," wrote BeeReasonable on ksl.com's comment boards. "I can't help but feel that I must change. A person is innocent until proven guilty. We were all frustrated with how long it was taking to bring justice, but we did take it out on Josh.
"I'm not saying he didn't deserve it, but I am saying that we shouldn't have dished it out. In no way am I making an excuse for what he did. I am just saying that we should all look at ourselves and how we responded to this. Did we act appropriately? Did we allow the law to work its course or did we, in our own small ways, take justice into our own hands? The whole situation is sad."
Many pointed fingers, expressed anger and even guilt, but most just had broken hearts.
"So sad," Aleasha Barker Rhien wrote on Facebook. "I don't even have words to describe how sick this makes me."
"I became physically ill when I learned of Josh Powell's final cowardly act," wrote Sharppointy1 on the ksl.com comment boards. "My only consolation is that now the boys are with their Mom. My heart breaks for the Cox family; I cannot even fathom the agony they are in right now. May God hold them close under His sheltering wings."
