Caseworker: Josh Powell said he had 'surprise' for son

The caseworker who brought Josh Powell’s two young boys to his home Sunday before Powell blew up the home, killing himself and the boys, told ABC News on Thursday that Powell said he had a “big surprise” for the boys.

Elizabeth Griffin Hall had supervised the visits for about three months.

She said that from the moment she brought 7-year-old Charlie and 5-year-old Braden to the door Sunday, something was not right. She said Powell gave her a sheepish look as the kids ran inside and he slammed the door in her face.

“As soon as the door closed, I heard him say, ‘Charlie, I’ve got a big surprise for you' … then I heard Braden cry out,” Griffin Hall said.

She said she thought Braden had hurt his foot, which was sore from a previous injury. She told Powell through the door she could help, but said she heard nothing in response.

“I had been ringing the doorbell and pounding on the door, and too much time had gone by and I could smell the gas, so I went back to my car to get my phone,” she said.

Minutes later, after a call to 911 and during a call to her supervisor, the house burst into flames and exploded.

Griffin Hall has been dealing with grief from the incident ever since, she said.

“I did everything I was supposed to do,” she said. “I did everything right and the boys are still dead.”

In an effort to explain how the boys’ deaths could have happened, Griffin Hall said she thought Josh Powell was evil.

Her final quote summed up her feelings.

“The world lost two beautiful boys to a monster,” she said.