Jan. 31, 2013
A bill called the Charlie-Braden Act barring custody to murder suspects will be heard by the Senate Law and Justice committee in Olympia Friday, in a public hearing. <http://www.leg.wa.gov/Senate/Committees/LAW/Pages/default.aspx>  The bill is named in honor of Charlie and Braden Powell, (Susan Cox Powell’s Sons) who were killed by their father in a murder-suicide in 2012.  Charlie and Braden’s Grandparents, Chuck and Judy Cox are among those expected to testify.

Senate Bill 5162<http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?bill=5162&year=2013>, prime-sponsored by Sen. Pam Roach, would prohibit child custody awards from being granted to suspects in murder investigations.    State Sen. Pam Roach (360) 786-7660

“To me, this really seems like common sense. If the police suspect that you killed someone, you shouldn’t be granted custody,” said Roach, R-Auburn. “It’s beyond unfortunate that this is a law that needs to exist.”  Expected to testify at the hearing are Chuck and Judy Cox, the grandparents of Charlie and Braden. The two have been outspoken about changes to the law that could prevent a similar occurrence.

For more information contact Jami Herring at (360) 786-7399 or jami.herring@leg.wa.govmailto:jami.herring@leg.wa.gov.

We invite all those interested to attend the hearing which begins at 8:00am.  We are grateful that Senator Roach has introduced this bill.  We fully support Senator Roach and the other sponsor’s efforts to give the courts the laws and tools needed to protect children.  We believe that this law will also act as a deterrent by preventing a spouse who may have used violence from benefiting from those acts, while increasing the safety of surviving children, and indirectly encouraging the full cooperation of a surviving spouse with police efforts.