Susan Powell -- Missing 12/7/09

Utah Mom Susan Powell Feared Dead Week After Disappearance



By LISA FLETCHER, LEE FERRAN and SARAH NETTER

A week after Utah mom Susan Powell disappeared without a trace, police have few clues despite days of searching, hours of interviews and thousands of missing-person fliers.

"She's been gone for an entire week. I don't believe there can be any, very much hope left," a tearful Kiirsi Helliwell, Powell's best friend, told ABC News. "I'm trying to stay busy and not think about it. But I don't see how there's any way she can still be alive."

Powell, 28, was last seen Sunday night at her home in West Valley City and was reported missing by relatives the next day.

Powell's husband, Joshua Powell, and the couple's two boys, age 4 and 2, were also believed to be missing but returned home Monday afternoon. Joshua Powell said he decided Sunday night to take the children on a late-night camping trip.

The temperature that night was between 10 and 25 degrees with rain and snow.

"Lots of times I just go camping with my boys," Powell told a local CBS News' affiliate last week. "Just overnight. We do s'mores and stuff."

Joshua Powell told police that he last saw his wife around 12:30 a.m. before he and the boys left for their trip and that she didn't go along because she was feeling sick.

Yet Helliwell said she talked to Susan Powell on Sunday and she wasn't sick. Police told ABC News they were unable to verify Joshua Powell's camping trip because snow had covered the spot where he said they went.

The West Valley City Police found Susan Powell's purse and keys in her bedroom and say there was no sign of forced entry at the house.

"She would never leave her children, and she would never leave without contacting anybody," Helliwell said.

Joshua Powell has not been named a suspect or person of interest in the case, and Susan Powell's father, Charles Cox, criticized the speculation about his possible involvement.

"I don't see him as capable of harming her," Cox told the Salt Lake Tribune this weekend. "I'm kind of concerned that all the focus is on him."

Police officials interviewed Joshua Powell, as well as the couple's 4-year-old child, but walked away with more questions than answers, they told ABC News last week.

"He did give us a statement, and we're following up on all aspects of that statement," said Capt. Tom McLachlan, who called her disappearance "suspicious."

More than 100 people attended a prayer vigil for Powell over the weekend, and Joshua Powell was among the volunteers who passed out fliers to help the search this weekend, according to the Salt Lake Tribune.

Police said neither Susan nor Joshua Powell called into work Monday to explain their absences. The husband later said he had been confused about what day it was, according to a CBS News report.

Police are expected to interview Joshua Powell again early this week.

Cox said he still has a lot of questions, including why his son-in-law would take his two young children, ages 4 and 1, camping in a snowstorm.

There are no reports of domestic violence, but, Cox said, the couple had marital problems and were trying to work them out.

"They have had issues in the past … but they had been talking to each other and, according to my daughter, things were getting better," Cox said.

Police urge anyone with information regarding the case to call West Valley City Police at (801) 840-4000.

http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/susan-powell-missing-utah-mom-missing-week/story?id=9326774&page=1

I have a bad feeling about this. It kind of reminds me of the Stephen Grant case in Michigan.

Let's recap. Joshua Powell took his kids camping at 12:30 in the morning in 10-25 degree weather, his wife disappeared while he and the kids were gone, and he missed work because he forgot what day it was. I think I understand why he finally got a lawyer today.

Shades of Scott and Drew

I have a feeling this sick b@st@rd killed those boys' mommy! I'm glad she told someone that he was controlling, I bet she has said more, they just don't want to air any of her laundry just in case they are wrong about him. They're not wrong, he did it, I can feel it. POS I hope I am wrong!

The husband's story makes no sense. What about the wet spot on the carpet & the fans drying it? Why would this loving Mom suddenly leave her two small sons? Why would she leave her cell phone & keys?

Who dries their carpet with a fan anyway? Why not a towel? Unless he was expecting company and he just steamcleaned it. (sarcasm) There is no reason for her to leave her babies. She wouldn't on her own accord. According to her loved ones. Good to see you Book! Great Post! As Usual!

I'm almost positive she didn't leave on her own. Nothing in the world can convince me that it makes sense to take children that age camping at 12:30 in the morning in temperatures that cold. I feel that an arrest would have been made if blood or other DNA had been found where the wet spot was, so unfortunately I think his cleaning worked.

Brief summary on Today Show, also Susan's dad...So hubby lawyered up...wonder if he'll take a poly???

His story is ridiculous! He's a liar and he killed her. So so sad for her young children and her family. There is such a thing as DIVORCE.

Husband of Missing Utah Woman Hires Attorney

SALT LAKE CITY (Dec. 15) -- The husband of a 28-year-old woman who went missing a week ago without taking her purse or cell phone has retained an attorney.

Well-known Salt Lake City defense attorney Scott Williams said Monday he has been retained by Josh Powell, whose wife Susan Powell was reported missing Dec. 7.

Williams often represents high-profile defendants in criminal cases. Among his recent clients are Wanda Eileen Barzee, who has pleaded guilty to federal charges in the Elizabeth Smart kidnapping, and Christopher Jeppson, one of two men charged in the 1995 murder of Utah County teenager Kiplyn Davis.

Williams declined to say when he was retained and when Powell was going to be questioned again.

Susan Powell's father, Charles Cox, told CBS' "The Early Show" on Tuesday that he didn't think his son-in-law would do anything to hurt his daughter, and he understood why Josh Powell felt the need to hire an attorney.

Josh Powell told police last week that he left his wife and took his boys, ages 2 and 4, on a camping trip around 12:30 a.m. Dec. 7 in subfreezing temperatures.

On ABC's "Good Morning America" on Tuesday, Cox called his son-in-law's account of the camping trip "unusual but believable," but added, "I don't know what to think."

He also cautioned against focusing too much on Josh Powell so early in the investigation. "I just don't want to focus on him exclusively when actually there might be another explanation."

Cox also had a message for his daughter: "Don't give up hope. ... If there's any way we can find you, I know we will."

Authorities were notified the family was missing when neither Susan nor Josh reported to work and their children were not dropped off at day care Dec. 7. Police said Josh Powell told them that he and his children slept in a van and returned home about 5 p.m.

Police said they haven't been able to verify the camping trip because snow had covered the site: Simpson Springs on the historic Pony Express Trail in Utah's west desert.

West Valley City Police Capt. Tom McLachlan said the Powell home was locked when police arrived and they broke in, fearing the family had suffered from carbon monoxide poisoning. They found no signs of forced entry.

Cox, said police found a wet spot in the house being dried by two fans when they entered. McLachlan declined to comment.

McLachlan said 30 detectives have been working on the case, fielding dozens of tips and leads.

"Some of them appear to be relatively informative, and some of them are pretty wild," he said.

http://www.sphere.com/nation/article/josh-powell-husband-of-missing-utah-woman-susan-powell-hires-attorney/19281654

By Bob Mims

The Salt Lake Tribune

Joshua Powell, whose wife disappeared from their West Valley City home more than a week ago, is now refusing investigators' request for another interview, police confirmed Tuesday.

"He has refused to come in for additional questioning. I guess his attorney has advised him against it," West Valley City police Capt. Tom McLachlan said. "This is very disappointing to us and it is not helpful for this missing person investigation at all.

"We will attempt to negotiate through his attorney for another interview, but for now there are no plans for one," he added.

Powell had been called in for additional questioning Monday, but never showed up. He had met with police twice since his wife, Susan Powell, disappeared. McLachlan has said Joshua Powell is not considered a suspect.

Joshua Powell was the last person to see his wife, leaving her at the home in the wee hours of Dec. 7, when he took his two sons, ages 2 and 4, camping in Utah's west desert. He told police that when he returned home about 5 p.m. that Monday, he did not know where his wife was.

Joshua Powell retained attorney Scott C. Williams on Monday.

Susan Powell's father, Charles Cox, has said that he doesn't believe Joshua Powell had anything to do with his daughter's disappearance.

"Mister Cox's take on [Joshua Powell getting a lawyer] is that it does not prove any guilt," said Mike Gifford, a family friend, on Monday. "[Joshua] is maybe feeling he's in
over his head. ... He felt he needed someone to speak for him. "

Gifford encouraged the public to continue to focus on finding Susan Powell.

http://www.sltrib.com/ci_14000824

i would LOVE to believe the hubby in this case, BUT his story makes no sense to the rational human beings in this world.

These boys are so YOUNG, you wouldnt take them camping in the middle of the night, let alone in sub freezing temperatures. i would believe that if they were taking a long trip, they may leave at 1230am to avoid traffic and travel while the children were asleep, i do that myself, i perfer to drive at night. HOWEVER, they came back the very next day.

so to believe this husband, you would have to believe that they took possibly the shortest camping trip known to man. in the freezing cold. you would wake up your small children just to drive somewhere, put them in the tent to sleep for a few hours, wake them up and drive them home. .. seriously, couldnt he have at least come up with a more believable story??

i dont think simply hiring an attorney makes him guilty. his story does that all by itself. IMHO.

Dis wrote:Who dries their carpet with a fan anyway? Why not a towel? Unless he was expecting company and he just steamcleaned it. (sarcasm) There is no reason for her to leave her babies. She wouldn't on her own accord. According to her loved ones. Good to see you Book! Great Post! As Usual!

Hi, Dis! Thank you. It's good to see you too.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,580337,00.html

SALT LAKE CITY — Joshua Powell, whose wife disappeared from their West Valley City, Utah, home more than a week ago, is considered a person of interest in the disappearance of his wife, Susan Powell, said Assistant Police Chief Craig Black.

"We've been interested in what Josh has had to say all along," said Black.

Black said that detectives have met twice with Josh Powell. "He submitted to a search warrant and provided a DNA sample."

"I wouldn't characterize him (Joshua) as being cooperative."

Anybody shocked?

Hell no