Social Worker Pleaded on 911 Call: Powell 'Exploded the House'

(NewsCore) - The social worker who brought the young sons of Josh Powell to see him for a supervised visit begged authorities for help after he slammed the door in her face, before ringing back screaming that he had "exploded the house," frantic 911 calls reveal.

Authorities believe that Powell -- the husband of missing Utah woman Susan Powell -- hacked his two sons Charlie, seven, and Braden, five, in the head and neck with a hatchet before setting off an explosion at his locked home in Graham, about 25 miles (40 kilometers) southeast of Tacoma.

All three died in the blast, which took place just after 12:30pm local time Sunday.

Newly-released 911 calls reveal how social worker Elizabeth Griffin-Hall told authorities Josh Powell had taken the children into the house but refused to let her in, adding that she was "afraid for their lives."

"I'm really shocked, and I could hear one of the kids crying, and he still won't let me in," she tells the operator. "… I'd like to pull out of the driveway because I smell gasoline, and he won't let me in."

After being told by the dispatcher that authorities had to, "respond to emergencies, life-threatening situations first," Griffin-Hall replies, frantically, "This could be life-threatening!"

"He was in court on Wednesday and he didn't get his kids back and this is really ... I'm afraid for their lives," she adds.

In a second call she screams, "He exploded the house. He exploded the house."

"People are saying there is not somebody here, but there's a couple of boys, five and seven, he has supervised visitation and he blew up the house and the kids," she says.

When asked if Powell might have set the fire intentionally, Griffin-Hall replies, "Yes."

Authorities also released 911 calls from relatives and acquaintances, who had received farewell messages from Josh Powell before the explosion, and witnesses to the fire.

Powell, who was a person of interest in the disappearance of his wife Susan Powell, lost custody of his two sons to his maternal grandparents after his father Steven, who he shared a home with, was jailed on voyeurism and child porn charges.

Susan Powell, was last seen on Dec. 7, 2009 when Josh Powell said he left their home in West Valley City, Utah, to take their two sons, then aged two and four, camping in freezing conditions.