Nightly News   |  February 11, 2012

Hundreds mourn slain Powell brothers

Two young boys who died in a murder-suicide at the hands of their father, Josh Powell, are remembered at a memorial service. NBC's Miguel Almaguer reports.

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This content comes from Closed Captioning that was broadcast along with this program.

>>> we turn to the horrific tragedy in washington state that's captured the attention of so many. there was a funeral today for the two young boys murdered by his own father when he burned their house to the ground. we get the story tonight.

>> reporter: family, friends and strangers filled the pews. more than a thousand gathered to say good-bye to 7-year-old charlie and 5-year-old braden . brothers who shared a single casket, fondly remembered today.

>> in our class, charlie was known as the little scientist. he loved rocks, sticks, leaves and bugs. braden had an enthusiasm for life and took pleasure in everything.

>> reporter: the service for charlie and braden came nearly a week after they lost their lives in a place where they should have been safe.

>> he blew up the house and the kids!

>> reporter: last sunday, they were killed in a house fire set by their father who also died. the social worker who brought charlie and braden for the supervised visit said powell locked the boys out, said i have a surprise for you to the boys, and then torched the home. she called 911.

>> they have to respond to emergency, life-threatening situations first.

>> reporter: a deputy wouldn't be dispatched for eight minutes.

>> i just wish i had understood better what -- what the circumstances were. and the lethal quality of this call, and all of the dangerous potential that was there.

>> reporter: named a person of interest in wife susan's 2009 disappearance, josh powell was never charged with the crime. this week, detectives removed a blood stained comforter from the storage shed, potential evidence against a man who police say likely killed his wife.

>> this is the item that obviously has got everybody's attention.

>> reporter: with susan powell 's disappearance unsolved, today her parents buried her children.

>> we thank you for your support. we know that they're with their mother.

>> reporter: charlie and braden who lost their mom and were murdered by their dad, leaving the world as they lived it