Were ‘incestuous' images on Powell’s computer alarming enough to prevent boys’ murders?

Inappropriate sexual images found on a computer in Josh Powell's Utah home two years ago have some questioning whether the images were alarming enough to prevent the murder of the two Powell boys.

  Ed Troyer of the Pierce County Sheriff's Office described the images on Thursday as incestuous, sexual and family-oriented in nature, but other officials argue it wouldn't have changed a thing.

The computer-generated depictions of incestuous parent-child relations came from authorities in Utah and were taken off a computer in Powell’s home two years ago.  Washington State Assistant Attorney General John Long saw them for the first time before a custody hearing last week.

“The importance of the images was to allow us to ask the court for a psycho-sexual evaluation,” said Long.

That evaluation was ordered, but psychologists who reviewed the images still recommended Powell be able to see his sons.

“I’m not sure that these inappropriate images would somehow relate to what Josh Powell eventually did. I just don't see the connection there. I mean we didn't have the indication that he would ever harm those kids,” said Long.

Steve Downing, a lawyer for the Cox family, said he did not know about those images until Thursday night even though he was on a list of people approved to see them.  Had he known, he said, he would have argued for more restrictive visitation, like conducting the meetings in a public place.

But the visitation was never modified and on Thursday the social worker who brought the boys to Powell’s house on Sunday spoke.

Elizabeth Griffin Hall told ABC’s 20/20 about those initial moments.

"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."

After smelling gasoline, she called 911 but the house burst into flames minutes later.

Griffin Hall believes she did everything she could.

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

On Friday, police are expected to release a timeline of what Powell was doing in the few days before he set the fire.