Susan Powell -- Missing 12/7/09

I'm not shocked at all that Joshua Powell's a person of interest and not really being cooperative. He won't even tell police exactly where his alleged campsite was. The police have to play it cool, but I would call him their one and only suspect.

WEST VALLEY CITY — A notebook that Susan Powell kept in her desk at work, possibly containing information about her relationship with her husband, was among the items seized by investigators last week, several sources have told the Deseret News.

The notebook, according to one source, detailed threats allegedly made against the missing West Valley City woman about a year ago.

Powell has been missing since Dec. 6. Police have not ruled out the possibility of foul play but also do not have any evidence pointing them in any one direction. Her husband, Josh Powell, meanwhile, has remained the focus of media and public scrutiny.

Police confirmed Wednesday that they now consider Powell a "person of interest" in the case.

"We don't have any solid evidence at this time that a crime has been committed, but there is circumstantial evidence that foul play cannot be ruled out," West Valley Assistant Police Chief Craig Black said.

Black said Josh Powell was not the only person of interest. Black declined to discuss who the others were in the case.

"We're not focused in on one person at this point," he said.
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Black is quick to point out, however, that a person of interest is not the same as a suspect. As an example, he said that a neighbor who might offer important information about the case would be considered a "person of interest." Everyone else who has been labeled as person of interest, besides Powell, however, has been forthcoming with information, he said.

Powell was interviewed by police late Tuesday and submitted to a search warrant to collect DNA.

Despite voluntarily showing up for an interview, police say he is still not being completely forthcoming, refusing to answer specific detailed questions such as exactly where he was camping the night of Dec. 6 and whether his wife had any close friends with whom she might have confided.

Read more: http://www.deseretnews.com/article/705351936/Susan-Powell-notebook-seized-by-West-Valley-police-sources-say.html?pg=1

I cannot believe that Susan Powell's Father isn't suspicious of Josh Powell. Could he possibly be that naive? Josh's phony display of sadness when discussing his missing wife is extremely transparent.

(CBS) Authorities have upgraded their investigation into the disappearance of a Utah mother to a criminal probe and say her husband's "lack of cooperation" has made them increasingly suspicious of him.

Susan Powell, a 28-year-old mother of two young children, was reported missing Dec. 7, when she didn't show up for work. She was last seen a day earlier.

"Every lead we've been offered so far would leave us to believe this is out of character (for Susan) and thus suspect foul play is involved," West Valley City Asst. Police Chief Craig Black said Wednesday.

He said her husband, Josh Powell, has not been named a suspect, but investigators are highly interested in him.

"Josh's unusual lack of cooperation for a husband looking for his wife with the police department, you know, it certainly causes us to ask questions as to why would he do things to exclude the resources that we can bring to the table to find Susan," Black said.

"If you're the spouse of someone who goes missing under strange circumstances," says CBS News legal analyst Trent Copeland, "you really are the only person of interest at the initial time of the investigation."

Josh Powell said he went camping with their boys, ages 2 and 4, in subfreezing temperatures about 12:30 a.m. on Dec. 7 and returned in the evening. He says Susan Powell was alive, at home, when he left.

But Josh Powell has been uncooperative in providing any details that might explain what happened to his wife, Black said.

Among other things, Josh Powell hasn't specified where he went camping or where he was all day on Dec. 7, he said.

"That would be awesome if he would be willing to cooperate on that level and take us to his camp site," Black said.

Powell has told police he went camping in Simpson Springs on the historic Pony Express Trail in Utah's west desert - an area of thousands of square miles - that is now covered in snow.

Documents show Josh Powell filed for bankruptcy in recent years, with $200,000 in debt. And published reports suggest the couple had marital problems, with one friend telling the Salt Lake Tribune, "Susan did not want to give up on her marriage."

"It's not surprising," Copeland says, "that friends would now share this with the police and the police are now going to use that as part of their investigation."

Josh Powell did provide a DNA sample to police Tuesday, as did several other family members.

Josh Powell's attorney, Scott Williams, a defense attorney who often defends high-profile clients, described the DNA testing as routine in such cases.

Williams disputed allegations made by police that his client had been uncooperative.

"Despite our continued invitation to be contacted with questions we received no contact from the police today (Wednesday) and as to the nature of prior information, we have answered all questions posed to us since Monday morning," he said. "Josh continues to favor attention on finding Susan and has been cooperating and providing information to that end."

Black reiterated that Josh Powell has given them little information of value.

"Any reason as to why she would've disappeared either of her own accord or because of some type of other foul play, he has not been cooperative with that," he said.

Read more: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/12/17/earlyshow/main5989603.shtml


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Family members say they wouldn't be surprised if Joshua Powell gets arrested in the disappearance of his wife, missing Utah mom Susan Powell.

Utah police want more answers from Joshua Powell.

Relatives of Joshua Powell spoke out as police in West Valley City said they now believe foul play is a "likely possibility" in her disappearance. Police say they now consider Powell a person of interest in the case.

"I wouldn't be surprised if he gets arrested in the next seven days," Joshua Powell's brother-in-law Kirk Graves told ABC News. "Even if he's innocent, there's more than he's telling us."

West Valley City Assistant Chief Craig Black told "Good Morning America" today that it was a "likely possibility" that Susan Powell's disappearance involved foul play.

"Josh's reasons for not wanting to approach the police department or come and work with us in a little more forthcoming manner have kind of generated some controversy among the officers," Black said. '"And it's something that's been questioned by the community members who have been following the case."

Read more: http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/susan-powell-disappearance-relatives-expect-husband-arrested/story?id=9359781

Press conference is about to start on HLN (live)

The husband sure seems suspicious.

Police described Josh as a person of interest. A POI. I believe he is a murdering POS. Does he really expect that anyone would buy his dumb camping excuse. Tired of your mate..get rid of the mate..forget divorce...do the M for Murder.

It's sad that this kind of thing seems to be happening more & more. What is the hell is wrong with people? I can't believe that ANYONE would believe that he "forgot" that it was Sunday (instead of Saturday). I also can't believe that ANYONE would believe that he took two small children on a camping trip in 10 degree weather at MIDNIGHT! It doesn't even take common sense to disbelieve that one!

So LE confirmed that the eldest boy confirmed the Dad's story of rhe camping trip??? LE didn't question him until several days after Mom reported missing...I wonder If dad brainwashed him or had a serious father and son conversaton...He certainly had enough time to plant the seed of a coverup...Only time will tell...

But have they said when was the last time the oldest boy actually saw his mother? I'm thinking Dad could have killed Susan, the boys didn't know....they were asleep or told she was. Then he wakes them up for a surprise "camping trip". And he thought the camping trip would be his alibi, knowing the oldest could confirm they had been gone. A lame story at it's best, because no one in their right mind would leave the house for the wilderness in those conditions. Unless you'd just commited a murder and had a body in your trunk to dump somewhere along the way.

How many people do you know who have just gotten a new job, suddenly forget what day it is ~ and not show up for work? This man's "story" is ridiculous! Can he possibly be so stupid as to think that anyone would believe him? Is it arrogance or stupidity?

I agree that his story is totally ridiculous Book. I guess it's a toss up as to whether it's arrogance or stupidity.

WEST VALLEY CITY — Josh Powell has left Utah.

Neighbors reported to police that the husband of missing West Valley City woman Susan Powell went home to Washington state either Friday or Saturday.

Josh Powell, who has been labeled a person of interest in the disappearance case, is not required to check in with police or report his movements, West Valley Police Capt. Tom McLachlan said Sunday.

"He's free to come and go. … He's not required to tell us where he's at or where he's going or what he's going to do," he said. "We always have an open, standing invitation to have Joshua come in and talk to us."

McLachlan said he was not sure if detectives have been in touch with Powell since he left the state. Powell's father, like the parents of Susan Powell, lives in Puyallup, Wash. Josh Powell reportedly traveled with his two young sons to visit family for the holidays.

Read more: http://www.deseretnews.com/article/705352897/Husband-of-missing-woman-left-Utah.html

He doesn't seem too concerned about finding his missing wife. I wonder why.

"He's free to come and go", you can bet the are watching his every move.

It is too much of a coincidence that Susan's husband fixed eggs and pancakes for Susan for dinner on December 6. The friend who was visiting at the time said Susan went to bed after that, saying she was sick. That is the last she saw of Susan. So, did Susan's husband fix a lethal dinner for Susan? I won't give this creep any leeway, and I hope LE finds what caused that carpet stain.

Justice4all wrote:I agree that his story is totally ridiculous Book. I guess it's a toss up as to whether it's arrogance or stupidity.

Hi, J4A ~ I guess it's a combination of both arrogance & stupidity. His actions & behavior are most telling, in my opinion. His avoidance of talking to Susan's family raises a huge "red flag".

I read that Susan's father is former LE. I think he is trying to keep the lines of communication open in order to find his daughter. He knows if he turns against the husband it will be harder to get answers, he's a smart man, thinking through his pain. I hope they find her. I don't think she is alive but they need to figure out where he dumped her.

Good deduction, Dis...You're one smart cookie