Disappearance of Susan Powell

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The Powells lived in West Valley City when Susan disappeared in 2009. Josh Powell killed himself and their children in Graham in 2012.

Susan Cox Powell, last seen on December 6, 2009, was an American woman from West Valley City, Utah whose disappearance garnered national attention. Due to her long absence and the suspicious circumstances surrounding her disappearance, she is presumed to be dead. Significant public scrutiny focused on her husband, Josh Powell, who was named by police a person of interest. Although there was considerable suspicion and circumstantial evidence, and Josh was largely uncooperative in answering questions from law enforcement, Josh was never named as a suspect or charged with a crime in the investigation.

Josh's father, Steven Powell, was very close to Josh and, according to his journal, was sexually obsessed with Susan.[1] He has been confirmed privately to be a person of interest, though he has never been formally named or charged in connection with Susan's case.[2] Steven was allegedly seen with Josh hiking in the Topaz mountains three months before Susan Powell disappeared.[3]

Many questions have been raised regarding any involvement Steven had in Susan's disappearance.[4] Phone records show Steven conversed with Josh by phone shortly after noon on December 6, 2009, the day before Susan disappeared.[5] Steven's estranged daughter Jennifer Graves claims that it was unlikely that Steven could have been in Utah on December 6, 2009; Jennifer called Steven's home on December 7, 2009 and heard Steven in the background while talking to sister Alina on the phone.[6] However, Steven's whereabouts in subsequent days is still in question. Steven called in sick for two days beginning December 8, 2009, one day after Susan was reported missing.[7]

There was some initial confusion that the sick days corresponded to days Steven told a coworker[8] he was planning on going camping with Josh and the children.[7] However, it was later revealed by attorney Ann Bremner that the camping trip appeared to have happened in late November 2009.[5] The sick days did coincide with Josh renting a car on December 8, 2009[9] at 10:30 p.m.[5] and returning it on December 10, 2009 at roughly 7 p.m. after driving it over 800 miles.[7][10] During this time, Josh activated a new cellphone in Tremonton, Utah, which is roughly 83 miles north of his home in West Valley, Utah.[9]

In late 2011 Josh lost custody of the couple's two young children shortly after Steven, who was living with Josh and the children, was arrested on voyeurism and child pornography charges. During a supervised visit with his children on February 5, 2012, Josh locked out the social worker, took a hatchet to his children, and killed himself and his children by setting his home on fire, using gasoline as an accelerant. Susan Powell's missing persons case was closed in May 2013. She is presumed dead at the hands of her husband.[11]

Steven Powell, who was convicted of voyeurism and sentenced to two and a half years in prison on June 15, 2012, has invoked the Fifth Amendment on Susan's case. Susan's father and many others believe that Steven has knowledge of Susan's fate and that circumstantial evidence points to him having played important roles in planning and assisting in the disappearance.[8] Steven may have been assisting in a cover-up by promoting implausible theories and cover stories to mislead authorities and the media.[12]

Family Histories[edit source | editbeta]

Steven Powell was born in Portland, Oregon in 1950. Steven was said to be a strong negative influence on Josh Powell, husband of Susan. The News Tribune of Tacoma, Washington concluded in an editorial that "Steve is far more than a common voyeur; his sense of sexual entitlement and contempt for women contributed to homicides in two generations of Powells. It is a testament to how much ruin one man can visit on his own family." [13]

Powell and Cox family trees[edit source | editbeta]

 
 
 
 Steven Powell
 
 Terri Powell
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Chuck Cox
 
 Judy Cox
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Alina Powell
 
 Jennifer Graves
 
 John Powell
 
 Michael Powell
 
 Josh Powell
 
 Susan Cox Powell
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Charlie Powell
 
 Braden Powell

Marriage[edit source | editbeta]

Josh and Susan were married April 2001 at the Portland Oregon Temple. They moved into an apartment together near Susan's parents, Chuck and Judy Cox, who had reservations about Josh but relented when Susan insisted she wanted to marry him.[14] Susan Powell worked as a cosmetologist and embraced being a homemaker, gardening, learning to can, baking bread and crocheting.

Susan was dismayed that Josh stopped attending church by 2006. She believed he was influenced by his father Steven who was "infecting Josh with his poison" of anti-Mormon beliefs.[15]

The couple struggled financially as Joshua Powell racked up more than $200,000 in debts including credit card, furniture, and student loans and filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in 2007.[16] By January 2008, Susan was working at Wells Fargo Investments in Salt Lake City.

In 2012, an anonymous Utah woman reported that she saw Josh and his father Steven in the Topaz mountains. They were conspicuous because they were not dressed for the outdoors, seemed to have an unusual agenda, and were obviously not looking for crystals like most hikers who go there.[17]

Disappearance[edit source | editbeta]

The morning of Sunday, December 6, 2009, Susan (then 28 years old) and her two sons attended church services at the Hunter 36th LDS Ward / stake building.

At first, the entire Powell family — Susan, Josh Powell, and their sons Charlie and Braden (ages 4 and 2) — were reported missing on Monday, December 7, 2009, by family members.[18] Josh Powell's mother and sister went looking for the family at their home in West Valley City, a suburb of Salt Lake City, shortly after being informed that the children had not been dropped off at daycare that morning. They called the police when they failed to make contact with Josh and Susan. The police broke into the home, fearing that they might be victims of carbon monoxide poisoning. They found no one inside.[19]

Later that day, at about 5 pm, Josh Powell returned home with the two children but without Susan. He asserted that he left his sleeping wife at their home at about 12:30 am on December 7, to take the children on a camping trip on that snowy[20] night to Simpson Springs Campground in western Utah.[19][21] Susan Powell did not show up at her job at Wells Fargo Financial on December 7; her purse, cell phone, and car all were left behind at home; and she never contacted the police or anyone else.[22]

Investigation[edit source | editbeta]

Police and neighbors labeled Susan's disappearance "suspicious" and authorities began investigating.[23] Authorities searched the Powell home on December 9, removing some items.[21] Among the findings during the investigation were traces of Susan's blood on the floor of the home, life insurance policies on Susan for US$1.5 million, and a handwritten letter from Susan describing a turbulent marriage and expressing that she feared for her life.[24] Documents released in 2013 indicate that DNA testing on blood found in the home in 2009 did not match either Josh Powell or Charles Cox who were tested at the same time indicating the blood came from an "unknown male contributor." [25]

Police interviewed Josh Powell and their 4-year-old son, Charlie.[26] The child confirmed that the camping trip Josh described took place;[27] however, unlike his father he stated that Susan had gone with them and she did not return.[24] Weeks after her disappearance, a teacher reported that Charlie said his mother was dead.[24] The parents of Susan Powell said that while at daycare several months after Susan's disappearance, Braden drew a picture of a van with three people in it, and told caregivers that "Mommy was in the trunk."[28]

West Valley City Police Captain Tom McLachlan initially told the media that authorities planned to re-question Josh Powell.[29] Police also subpoenaed all footage and interviews, aired and unaired, of Josh Powell from local television stations.[30] By December 24, the police considered Josh Powell to be a person of interest in the investigation.[31] On December 14, Josh Powell retained an attorney in connection with the investigation,[21] and police said that he grew increasingly uncooperative with the investigation.[27][32]

On December 28, 2009, the search warrants in Susan Cox Powell's case were sealed by a judge.[33][dead link]

Developments in 2010–2011[edit source | editbeta]

In January 2010, Josh Powell moved to Puyallup, Washington, where he occupied a home with his sons and father, Steve Powell,[21][34] and indicated that he would rent the house in Utah.[35] It was reported that he returned to his hometown of Puyallup after he had lost his job.[36]

In early 2010, the website SusanPowell.org was established. Described as "the official website of Susan Powell," the site's anonymous entries describe Josh as a loving father and grieving husband who was the subject of a smear campaign by members of Susan's family, his sister Jennifer Graves, and the LDS Church to which Josh and Susan belonged.[37] Additional pages on the site suggest that Susan's disappearance might be connected to the disappearance of Utahan Steven Koecher, an erstwhile Salt Lake Tribune contributor who vanished the same week as Susan.[38] According to Salt Lake City news sources, the website was "widely believed to be written by Josh and his father".[39]

In late 2010, Josh and Steven Powell claimed that Susan had abandoned her family due to mental illness, and also that she had left with another man. Susan's family rejected these claims as being unsupported by any evidence.[34]

The Facebook page for Susan Cox Powell was taken down for technical and identity-verification reasons on January 30–31, 2010. The page was subsequently re-established, and had over 45,000 members as of early 2010.[40][41]

On September 14, 2011, Utah authorities discovered what they believed might have been a grave site and human remains while searching Topaz Mountain, a desert area near Nephi, Utah that Josh had frequented as a campsite.[27] Excavation of the Topaz Mountain site found no human remains. There were signs of recent soil disturbance and shoveling, but after digging a few feet down police were unable to find any remains, in spite of careful sifting of the soil. Federal anthropologists also ruled out the possibility of the site being an ancient burial ground. Police continued to examine the site for a time, but offered no explanation as to why they previously announced the finding of remains, when none had actually been confirmed yet. Authorities said they were following a scent detected by their sniffer dogs.[42]

Relationships between and within the Powell and Cox families had become increasingly hostile. After a police raid on their home in 2011, both Josh Powell and his father Steve spoke to major news outlets regarding journals that Susan had allegedly written, and about the relationship between Steve Powell and Susan. Steve Powell claimed that he and Susan had been falling in love prior to her disappearance, and he cited the content of the journals (written when Susan was a teen) as evidence to support his theory that she was mentally unstable and could have run away with another man. On September 23, 2011, a judge issued a permanent injunction forbidding Josh and Steven Powell from publishing any material from Susan's journals, ordering the pair to either return or destroy any journals already published.[43]

On September 22, 2011, Steve Powell was arrested on charges of voyeurism and child pornography. Police say he had secretly videotaped numerous women and young girls, including Susan Powell. John Long, assistant Attorney General for Washington, said that Josh Powell was a "subject" in the child porn investigation.[44] A friend of Steven Powell claimed that Steven was preoccupied with pornography and "was hung up on [Susan] sexually, it seemed."[45] After Susan's disappearance, the friend reported Steven's apparent obsession with Susan to police.[45]

Chuck Cox (Susan Cox Powell's father) filed for custody of the children the day after Steve Powell was arrested. A Washington court eventually granted Cox temporary custody of the children.[46] The court said that Josh would have to move out of his father's home if he wanted to regain custody of his children, so he rented a house in Graham, Washington. However, authorities later alleged that he had never actually moved into that house, that he merely made it appear that he had satisfied the court's instructions while he continued to reside at his father's home.[20]

In late September 2011, Josh Powell's sister, Jennifer Graves, stated that she believes Josh was "responsible for his wife's disappearance".[47] His other sister, Alina, had been suspicious of him as well, however she later withdrew her suspicions and felt that he had been unduly harassed by the investigation.[48]

By the end of September 2011, West Valley City had spent more than half a million dollars on the case. On September 28, 2011, Mayor Mike Winder indicated that he felt that the case was worth the expense. He said that "we feel that we are getting to that tipping point where we have more hot evidence than we have had in the past two years" and that the case was moving forward.[49]

In December 2011, Dateline NBC aired an interview with Josh Powell, to mark the second anniversary of Susan's disappearance. Josh declared that he was innocent of any wrongdoing.[50]

Death of Josh Powell and sons[edit source | editbeta]

On February 5, 2012, a social worker called 911 after bringing Braden and Charlie Powell to a supervised visit at their father's house in Graham, Washington. The woman, who was supposed to monitor the visit between Josh Powell and his children, said he grabbed the children and would not let her in the door.[51] Soon thereafter, the house exploded, killing Josh and the two children. Local authorities treated the case as a double murder-suicide,[52] saying that the act appeared to have been deliberate.[53]

When authorities notified Steven Powell who was in jail, he "didn't seem very upset by the news, but was angry towards authorities who notified him" [54] Two weeks later, Steven invoked his Fifth Amendment right to not answer questions about the Susan Powell case. Chuck Cox and others have stated they believe that Steven Powell knows what actually happened to Susan.[55] Steven Powell was convicted of voyeurism charges in May 2012 in a trial which largely skirted the issue of Susan's case.[56]

After a relatively brief investigation, officials confirmed that the explosion had been deliberately planned. The official cause of death for Josh and the two boys was determined to be carbon monoxide poisoning, though the coroner also noted that both children had significant chopping injuries on the head and neck. A hatchet was recovered near Josh's body, indicating that he had attacked the boys with it before being overwhelmed by smoke and fumes.[57] The fire investigation also found two five-gallon cans of gasoline on the premises, as well as evidence that gasoline had been spread throughout the house. Friends and relatives of Josh Powell told authorities that he had contacted them by email minutes before the incident to say "goodbye". Some of them, including his pastor, received instructions on finding his money and shutting off his utilities.[58] Records also showed that Josh had withdrawn $7,000 from his bank account and had donated his children's toys and books to local charities the day before the incident.[59]

The day after the explosion, officials released a statement saying that a comforter had been found in a storage unit Powell had been renting in Tacoma, Washington. The comforter reportedly had blood stains on it.

On February 8, 2012, authorities released recordings of the 911 calls from the social worker who had brought the children to the house. In the first call, the social worker stated that Josh had the children locked inside the home for ten minutes, that she was afraid for their safety, and that she smelled gas fumes. The dispatcher spent more than six minutes questioning the woman before sending a police deputy to the scene, saying "We have to respond to emergency life-threatening situations first."[60] The dispatcher's handling of the call prompted an investigation. Authorities agreed that there was little they could have done to save the boys, even if a deputy had been dispatched sooner.[61]

Aftermath[edit source | editbeta]

On May 29, 2012, Laura Ling hosted an "E! Investigates" television program on the "Powell Family Tragedy". It concluded that Josh was a deeply disturbed man who was most likely responsible for the deaths of his entire family, and who should have been stopped. It included an on-camera interview with Mr. James Manley who viewed images on Josh Powell’s computer which were disturbing. Kiirisi Hellewell related that “It had gotten so bad [financially] that their boys didn’t have enough food to eat. They were eating fruits and vegetables out of their garden and off their trees because Josh wouldn’t let her buy food and the boys were starting to have health problems". Another friend recalled that "Susan came to me and told me it became abusive physically. That he had shoved her and slapped her and tried to lock her out of the house." Susan's father Chuck Cox remembered that after Josh called his sister and she asked "where is Susan? What have you done? What’s going on?" and he hung up, she knew that Josh was "responsible for her disappearance and that he was lying about everything.” [62]

On May 21, 2013 Fox News announced Utah police close investigation into disappearance of Susan Powell

References[edit source | editbeta]

  1. ^ Steven Powell's journal reveals obsession with Susan Powell (May 7, 2012)
  2. ^ Father-in-law considered a 'person of interest' in Susan Powell disappearance
  3. ^ Utah woman says she saw Powell, father in mountains before Susan disappeared
  4. ^ Steven Powell was involved in daughter-in-law's disappearance, his family says
  5. ^ a b c Did Steven Powell help plot Susan's disappearance?
  6. ^ Doubt cast on new witness claim in Susan Powell case
  7. ^ a b c Cox attorney: Steve Powell went camping with Josh, boys
  8. ^ a b Former co-worker: Suspicions about Steven Powell's camping trip were aroused last year (April 6, 2012)
  9. ^ a b Unsealed warrants reveal new details against Josh Powell
  10. ^ Steve Powell skipped work a day after Susan disappeared
  11. ^ Johnson, Gene (May 7, 2012). "Parents of Susan Powell hoping for answers at voyeurism trial". KomoNews.com. Retrieved June 1, 2012. 
  12. ^ Parents of Susan Powell hoping for answers at voyeurism trial, by Gene Johnson, Associated Press, May 7, 2012
  13. ^ Steven Powell: A case study in family destruction
  14. ^ Josh Powell’s lasting identity: murderer
  15. ^ Desperately Seeking Susan Powell: A Best Friend's Quest; By JEANETTE MOSES; Time ;Feb. 10, 2012
  16. ^ Susan Powell case: Police take DNA from missing West Valley City woman's husband BY BROOKE ADAMS AND SHEENA MCFARLAND; THE SALT LAKE TRIBUNE; DECEMBER 16, 2009
  17. ^ Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2012 Utah woman says she saw Powell, father in mountains before Susan disappeared
  18. ^ Bergreen, Jason (December 8, 2011). "West Valley City police looking for missing woman". The Salt Lake Tribune. 
  19. ^ a b "Detailed timeline of events surrounding Josh Powell, Susan Cox Powell". Deseret News. February 5, 2011. 
  20. ^ a b Merryman, Kathleen (February 14, 2012). "Investigators: Josh Powell used house in Graham area as ruse". The News Tribune. 
  21. ^ a b c d "Timeline of Susan Powell's disappearance". Fox 13. [dead link]
  22. ^ "Desperate Search for Missing Mom in Utah". CBS News. December 12, 2009. 
  23. ^ Morgan, Emiley (December 11, 2009). "West Valley police, neighbors call Susan Powell's disappearance 'suspicious'". Deseret News. 
  24. ^ a b c "Court documents: Susan Powell's blood, hand-written note expressing fear were found in Utah home". MSNBC. Associated Press. March 30, 2012. 
  25. ^ "West Valley City photos, documents relating to the Susan Powell case". KSL. May 23, 2013. 
  26. ^ "Utah Mom's Disappearance 'Suspicious,' Police Say". Fox News. December 11, 2009. 
  27. ^ a b c Dobner, Jennifer (September 14, 2011). "Police: Humans remains found in search for mom". Yahoo News. Associated Press. Retrieved September 14, 2011. 
  28. ^ "Josh Powell, sons died of carbon monoxide poisoning". MyNorthwest.com. February 7, 2012. 
  29. ^ "Police to Question Husband of Missing Utah Mom Again". Fox News. December 14, 2009. 
  30. ^ Carlisle, Nathan (December 19, 2009). "Missing mom case: Cops subpoena TV interviews with Susan Powell's husband". Salt Late Tribune. 
  31. ^ Reavy, Pat (December 24, 2009). "Powell took his time getting home, neighbor says". Deseret News. Retrieved February 5, 2012. 
  32. ^ Fletcher, Lisa; Netter, Sarah (December 16, 2009). "Husband Named Person of Interest in Susan Powell Disappearance". ABC News. Retrieved February 7, 2012. 
  33. ^ "Warrants in Missing Utah Mom Case Sealed". Fox 13 KSTU. December 28, 2009. Retrieved February 7, 2012. 
  34. ^ a b Winch, Graham (February 7, 2012). "Timeline: The Powell family saga". HLNTV.com. Retrieved February 7, 2012. 
  35. ^ Carlson, Brian (March 1, 2010). "Josh Powell returns to Utah". KTVX. Retrieved February 5, 2012. 
  36. ^ Whitehurst, Lindsay (January 11, 2010). "Powell keeps mum, continues packing to leave Utah". Salt Lake City Tribune. Retrieved February 5, 2012. 
  37. ^ Anonymous "Mormons mobilize against Susan Powell and family"
  38. ^ Anonymous, "Parallel disappearances Utah: Steven Koecher and Susan Powell", dated December 4, 2010, URL retrieved February 7, 2012.
  39. ^ Hunsaker, Brent (June 2, 2010). "Josh Powell leaving Mormonism". ABC 4 News. 
  40. ^ "Facebook page of missing mom disappears". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. January 30, 2010. 
  41. ^ "Powell Facebook page back online". ABC 4 News. February 1, 2010. "It disappeared over the weekend, but as of Monday morning, Susan Powell's Facebook page, which now boasts 45,000 members is back up and running." 
  42. ^ "Police: '50–50' Chance Powell's Remains Could Be Found". KIRO-TV. September 16, 2011. 
  43. ^ Curry, Colleen (September 23, 2011). "Susan Powell's Dad-in-Law Took Naked Photos of Young Girls: Police". ABC News. Retrieved September 25, 2011. 
  44. ^ Silverman, Stephen M. (September 28, 2011). "Josh Powell Now Subject of Child-Porn Investigation". People.com. Retrieved October 5, 2011. 
  45. ^ a b Nudd, Tim (September 26, 2011). "Susan Powell's Father-in-Law Was Obsessed With Her, Says Friend". People.com. Retrieved October 5, 2011. 
  46. ^ Adams, Brooke (2011). "Photo of Powell ‘noose’; More porn allegations emerge". Salt Lake Tribune, September 29, 2011; URL accessed October 5, 2011.
  47. ^ KOMO Staff (2011). "Sister: Children should be kept away from Josh Powell", September 28, 2011; URL retrieved October 5, 2011.
  48. ^ Boudreau, Abbie; Curry, Colleen (February 9, 2012). "Josh Powell Was Victim, His Sister Claims". ABC News. 
  49. ^ "Susan Powell case is at a "tipping point"". ABC News 4. September 28, 2011. Retrieved September 29, 2011. 
  50. ^ "Josh Powell appears on 'Dateline NBC' Friday". KSL.com. December 9, 2011. 
  51. ^ MyNorthwest.com staff (February 8, 2012). "Chilling 911 calls from Powell home explosion released". MyNorthwest.com. Retrieved February 8, 2012. 
  52. ^ "3 die in Powell home explosion, family says". KSL.com. February 5, 2012. Retrieved February 5, 2012. 
  53. ^ Associated Press (February 6, 2012). "US father Josh Powell blows himself up with two young children". The Guardian (London). Retrieved February 6, 2012. "[...] police said he appeared to intentionally blow up a house with all three inside [...] Ed Troyer, the county sheriff's spokesman, said emails that Powell sent authorities seemed to confirm that Powell planned the deadly blast. Troyer didn't elaborate on the contents of the emails, but said they make police believe "this is intentional, this is planned"." 
  54. ^ "Blast Kills Missing Woman's Husband, 2 Sons (PHOTOS)". Huffington Post. February 5, 2012. 
  55. ^ http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/headlines/2012/02/steven-powell-takes-the-fifth-on-susan-cox-disappearance/ Josh Powell’s Dad Takes Fifth on Susan Powell Disappearance Feb 15, 2012
  56. ^ Steve Powell convicted of voyeurism charges
  57. ^ KOMO Staff & news services (February 6, 2012). http://www.komonews.com/news/local/Autu-138825199.html. Retrieved February 6, 2012. "Seven-year-old Charles Powell and 5-year-old Braden Powell died of carbon monoxide poisoning, but an autopsy also showed that both boys were attacked by a hatchet, according to the Pierce County Medical Examiner. [...] While it wasn't the official cause-of death, the medical examiner's report showed that both boys had significant "chopping injuries" to the head and neck."  Missing or empty |title= (help)
  58. ^ KOMO Staff & news services (February 6, 2012). http://www.komonews.com/news/local/Autu-138825199.html. Retrieved February 6, 2012. "[...] Troyer said that minutes before the fire, Powell sent emails to several people saying, "I'm sorry. Goodbye." To others, including his cousins and pastor, he sent longer emails, with instructions such as where to find his money and how to shut off his utilities."  Missing or empty |title= (help)
  59. ^ "Police piecing together timeline of Powell’s movements before explosion". kirotv.com. February 10, 2012. 
  60. ^ "In 911 call, social worker says Josh Powell had sons locked in home for 10 minutes". Washington Post. [dead link]
  61. ^ Johnson, Gene; Baker, Mike (February 8, 2012). "8 Minutes to Send Cops to Powell Home". ABC News. 
  62. ^ Laura Ling & 'E! Investigates' Bring Viewers Inside the Powell Family Tragedy On May 29

External links[edit source | editbeta]

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