GRAHAM, Wash. - Days after a judge ruled against him in a child custody hearing, a father and his two young sons were killed Sunday when police said he intentionally blew up a house with all three inside - a tragic ending to a bizarre case that began more than two years ago when the man's wife went mysteriously missing in Utah.

A social worker brought the two boys to Josh Powell's home for what was to be a supervised visit, and Powell let his sons inside - but then blocked the social worker from entering, Graham Fire and Rescue Chief Gary Franz told The Associated Press.

Sgt. Ed Troyer, Pierce County sheriff's spokesman, said emails that Powell sent authorities seemed to confirm that Powell planned the deadly blast.