By NBC News and msnbc.com news services
Emergency call logs show that nearly eight minutes elapsed between when a caseworker called 911 to report that Josh Powell's children were in danger and when sheriff's deputies were dispatched, and it took another 14 minutes for a deputy to get to the home.
The Associated Press obtained the logs Wednesday night under a public records request.
Recently released audio tapes of the 911 calls raised questions about the dispatch center's handling of the caseworker's calls, which detailed that Powell, the husband of a missing Utah woman, had locked her out of the house during what was supposed to be a supervised visit with his two young sons.
Minutes later, Powell torched the home, killing all three.
The recordings showed that the officer who took her call at the 911 center?engaged in nearly seven minutes of questioning that ended with him saying he didn't know how long it would be before a deputy could respond.
The audio didn't make clear when the deputy was dispatched. The logs show that apparently happened about a minute after the call ended.
It wasn't known if a quicker response could have saved the boys, who had also been attacked with a hatchet.
Social worker's 911 call released in Powell murder-suicide
It took almost two minutes from the start of the call for the dispatcher to learn Powell's address and more than three minutes to understand that?caseworker??Elizabeth Griffin-Hall?was there to supervise a child custody visit. Near the end of the call, she asked how long before officers could get there.
"I don't know, ma'am," he said. "We have to respond to emergency life-threatening situations first."
She responded: "This could be life-threatening ... I'm afraid for their lives!"?
The agency that runs the call center said it would review the matter and start a disciplinary investigation if necessary.
The call from Griffin-Hall went to a communications officer at the Law Enforcement Support Center in Tacoma, NBC station KING 5 of?Seattle reported. Here is part of their exchange:
"I'm on a supervised visitation for a court ordered visit, and something really weird has happened,? she says.
The?officer needs the address. Elizabeth struggles to find it.
One minute, 24 seconds in: "But I think I need help right away ? he's on very short leash with DSHS and CPS has been involved and this is the craziest thing ... he looked right at me and closed the door.?
For the second time, Griffin-Hall identifies the man as Josh Powell. She's heard the kids crying. Less than?two minutes have gone by. She sounds calm, but concerned.
"And I'd like to pull out of the driveway because I smell gasoline and he won't let me in," she said.
Officials: Powell children had head and neck wounds
The next minute is a confused exchange between Elizabeth and the?officer. He asks whose house it is. He doesn't seem to understand what she means by a supervised visit. He doesn't recognize who Powell is.
????
Three minutes in, the situation is becoming clearer, but there is?still no sense of urgency.
"Okay, so you're supposed to be there to supervise Josh Powell's visit with the children?"
"Yes ... that's correct ... and he's the husband of missing Susan Powell, this is a high-profile case.?
The?officer?asks again for his name -- how to spell it, what he was wearing.
Griffin-Hall's been on the 911 call over six minutes -- she's still not sure when help will arrive.
Griffin-Hall: "Okay, how long will it be?
Officer: "I don't know ma?am ... they have to respond to life-threatening emergencies ... life-threatening situations first."
Griffin-Hall: "Well this could be life-threatening!"
She hangs up and a short time later, the house erupts into flames. She calls again as she hears fire engines approaching.
?And he blew up the house and the kids!? she said.
Officer: "The kids and the father were in the house?"
Griffin-Hall: "Yes!"
This article contains reporting from The Associated Press and NBC station KING 5 of Seattle.
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