158 replies to this topic

[Lori Davis]

http://www.deseretne...lley-woman.html

Police seek missing West Valley woman
Published: Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2009 5:01 p.m. MST



WEST VALLEY CITY — Police are looking for a West Valley woman who hasn't been seen since Sunday.

Investigators issued a statewide attempt-to-locate bulletin Monday for Josh Powell, his wife Susan, and the couple's two children, said West Valley Police Capt. Tom McLachlan.

Susan Powell's family reported her missing on Sunday night, and neither she nor her husband went to work Monday, police said. They hadn't called their employers, either, to say they wouldn't be in to work.

McLachlan said officers have since located Josh Powell and the children, but they have yet to find Susan Powell. Josh Powell is being interviewed by detectives, the captain said, declining to say whether authorities suspect foul play.

"We're looking at it across the whole spectrum," he said. "Could it be that she has taken off on her own? It possibly could. Could it be something else? It possibly could. We just don't have enough to nail it down one way or another."

Susan Powell was last seen at her home, 6254 W. Sarah Circle. She is 5 feet 4 inches tall and weighs about 130 pounds, with brown hair and blue eyes. Anyone with information on her whereabouts is asked to call the West Valley Police Department at 801-840-4000.

[Lori Davis]

                                                                                                                                        XX
http://www.sltrib.com/news/ci_13954018

West Valley City police looking for missing woman
By Jason Bergreen
The Salt Lake Tribune
Updated: 12/08/2009 05:28:07 PM MST

Susan Powell, 28, of West Valley City, was last seen at her home Sunday. Police are looking for a missing West Valley City woman who was last seen at her home on Sunday.

Capt. Tom McLachlan said Susan and Joshua Powell and their kids were reported missing by family members Monday. Joshua Powell and his 4- and 1-year-old kids were later found uninjured, but McLachlan said he wasn't sure if they were located or returned home.

Read more at link above.

Anyone with information about her whereabouts is asked to call West Valley City Police at 801-840-4000.

[Denise Harrison]

                                                                                                                                      XX
http://www.sltrib.com/news/ci_13967860

West Valley police: Missing woman's case turning 'suspicious'

By Bob Mims
The Salt Lake Tribune
Updated: 12/10/2009 08:07:02 AM MST

The case of a missing West Valley City woman is taking on "suspicious" overtones as clues to her whereabouts remained few five days after her disappearance, police say.

Susan Powell, 28, was last seen Sunday at her home and was reported missing by her relatives the next day. Early Wednesday evening, detectives served a search warrant on the home and removed several unspecified items, West Valley Police Capt. Tom McLachlan said Thursday.

"It's still officially a missing person case, but it has become suspicious.

Read more at link above.

Anyone with information should call West Valley City Police at 801-840-4000.

[Lori Davis]

http://www.ksl.com/?...148&sid=8986844

Police may have 'areas' to check in missing woman case
December 10th, 2009 @ 3:44pm

WEST VALLEY CITY -- Police said Thursday they may have some "areas" to check as they follow-up on the case of a missing West Valley woman.

West Valley police Capt. Tom McLachlan said those areas are based on statements made by Susan Powell's husband, Josh Powell. Still, McLachlan declined to elaborate on what or where the areas are.

"The thing that doesn't add up is Susan is still missing," McLachlan said. "We don't know where she's at, and there's been no contact with her family or friends."

Now Josh Powell's story may be coming under scrutiny. McLachlan said the idea of Josh taking his toddler and 4-year-old camping in very cold whether during the disappearance raises questions, but he said Josh has been cooperative with police.

Forensics teams, meanwhile, are going over what was taken from the home during a warrant search.

"We have seized several items," McLachlan said. "I'm not going to get real specific about what items, but to process forensically to see if that can shed any light on the situation."

Josh and Susan Powell and their boys McLachlan said Susan and Josh's children have now been interviewed, although he admitted it was a difficult process.

"You have to be very cognizant that they may be tying two different situations together in one," he said.

Police are also continuing to interview Susan's family and friends, looking for any clues as to where she might be.

Meanwhile, friends of Susan distributed fliers Thursday with Susan's picture and description.

Tami Allen used to live in Susan's neighborhood and brought fliers to her work. She was spreading the word about Susan's disappearance to all her tenants at the storage facility where she works.

Allen said doing this makes her feel like she's helping in some way.

"Obviously, it breaks my heart. I think about it all day, every day," Allen said. "I just keep wondering what happened to her, and I just want her home safe."

Susan Powell is 5 feet 4 inches tall and weighs about 130 pounds, with brown hair and blue eyes. If anyone has any information about her whereabouts, you're asked to call the West Valley Police Department at 801-840-4000.

[Lori Davis]

http://www.examiner....band-questioned

Utah woman Susan Powell missing, husband questioned

December 12, 12:38 PM
Lake County Crime Examiner
W. Scott Bowlin

Utah resident Susan Powell was reported missing Monday, December 9 after relatives told police they had not heard from the Powell family. They also reported Susan failed to show up for her job as a stockbroker at Wells Fargo Financial.

Authorities have since questioned her husband and searched a desert area where he said he took the couple's two young children, ages 2 and 4, camping the weekend that she disappeared.

Police Capt. Tom McLachlan said Friday afternoon that Powell’s disappearance is “highly suspicious.” He also noted that there were around 30 detectives following leads in the case. Investigators tried to verify Josh Powell's story, but couldn't because snow had covered the spot along The Pony Express Trail where he said he took the children.

McLachlan said she hasn't contacted anyone since her disappearance. Her parents say she wouldn't have left her two young sons and husband on her own accord.

Susan Powell's purse and cell phone were in the home when it was searched, according to police.

[Lori Davis]

http://www.examiner....e-is-suspicious

Susan Powell missing Utah mom; police say case is suspicious
December 12, 9:27 AM
Salt Lake City Headlines Examiner
Marci Stone

Missing Utah mom, Susan Powell has been missing since Monday, and 30 detectives have been searching for her. Susan Powell, 28 went missing a week ago. Friends and family have not heard from Powell, and many believe the case is highly suspicious, including the police.

West Valley City Police Captain Tom McLachlan, “It’s still a missing person case. It's highly suspicious," McLachlan said Friday. "We are putting practically every detective we have on this case."

Susan Powell’s husband, Josh said that he took their two children (ages 2 and 4) camping last weekend and returned Monday night. Temperatures were extremely cold in Utah last weekend...in the low teens.

The police received a call from relatives about the missing family.  The police tried to verify Josh Powell's story, but snow had covered the Pony Express Trail area where Powell said they were. Josh would not speak to the media until Thursday night, when he made a tearful plea and said that they missed Susan and wanted her back.

"This is a really difficult time for the family," said Shelby Gifford, a friend who the family and spokeswoman. "They've been really comforted by all of the support. That's something to hang on to right now, and they're very grateful for that."

A candlelight vigil was held Thursday night for Susan Powell in West Valley City.

The police found Susan Powell's purse and cell phone in the home.  The family called the police on Monday when Susan Powell didn't show up at her job. No one has heard from Susan since she disappeared, and her parents said would never leave the two children and husband on her own.

[Lori Davis]

http://www.abc4.com/...kHSDG2YxgQ.cspx

Family of a missing West Valley mom wants speculation to stop
Reported by: Kerry Kinsey
Last Update: 12/12/2009 at7:06 pm 

WEST VALLEY CITY, Utah (ABC 4 NEWS)- In a park in West Valley Josh Powell doesn't utter a word as his brother-in-law Kirk Graves holds a press conference to set the record straight. Graves said,” There's been so much speculation that we need to put it to rest.”

Put to rest the rumors that Powell had something to do with the disappearance of his wife Susan. Powell told investigators that he last saw his wife late Sunday evening. He said that he left her home and went camping with his two young sons in a snowstorm along the Pony Express Trail.

Powell's brother-in-law gets a little testy, as he is asked why Josh could not speak up for himself. Graves said,” We are into one of those questions that we don't feel comfortable answering. In fact I probably need to cut off the interview if we continue in that direction.”

West Valley police are calling Powell’s disappearance "highly suspicious." Susan's father flew into Salt Lake Friday night from Seattle and said Josh's story raises concerns. Charles Cox said,” I do not think the children were probably in any danger. But, the idea is kind of odd to me.”

Graves said,” The amount of speculation has been amazing. And most of it has tried to portray Josh in a negative light. There is every possibility that Susan is no longer in the state of Utah.”

And why has Josh only talked with his father-in law once since Susan went missing? Graves said,” I don't have an answer for you.” What kind of marriage did Josh and Susan have? Graves said,” Josh and Susan's relationship has been very well recently. They ugh, I'll stop there”

Before the press conference, Graves released this prepared statement.

It is hard to know how to start a discussion like this. There are so many emotions and so few facts. Forgive me, as this is very difficult.

We love and miss Susan so much. We are still hoping and praying that Susan will return to us. We feel a unity in this hope, as a family and as a community. We are so grateful for the love and support and help we are receiving.

Thank you to the police who jumped right in even before we were able to get Susan classified as a missing person, and have guided us through this whole process. They have been very kind and helpful. Their diligence has been appreciated more than they can know.

Thank you to all of our friends and neighbors and even people we don’t know, who have joined together on Susan’s behalf. The outpouring of love and support has been wonderful, and we are hopeful that support will continue until we find Susan.

Thank you to the media for sharing our situation and keeping this in front of people so that the awareness is as high as possible. Not having experienced anything like this it’s been very difficult to know what to say and who to talk to.

We want to be as open as possible, and at the same time keep some semblance of normalcy in the day to day lives of our children and family. As a part of our family, her disappearance has left us in shock. You cannot know the heartache her family is feeling at this time.

Our primary concern at this time is finding Susan. Finding her, and returning her to her husband and children, finding her for the sake of her parents, just having her home. We continue to have hope that she will be returned to us safely. Susan we love you and miss you and are working and praying for your safe return.

Again, thank you everybody. Please do not let up in all your efforts.

[Lori Davis]

http://www.newser.co...-of-fliers.html

Missing Utah mom's family prays for her safe return as volunteers hand out thousands of fliers  

By BROCK VERGAKIS | Associated Press |
12/12/2009

Friends and family of a 28-year-old mother who disappeared nearly a week ago are fasting and praying for her safe return as volunteers post thousands of fliers with her image on it.

Susan Powell was reported missing Monday under what police are calling suspicious circumstances. A prayer service attended by about 100 people was held for her Saturday in West Valley City.

Since she was reported missing, authorities have questioned her husband and searched a desert area where he said he took the couple's two young children, ages 2 and 4, camping early Monday morning in freezing conditions.

Josh Powell returned Monday night, after police had already received a call from relatives who had not heard from the Powell family.

He declined to answer questions from The Associated Press on Saturday.

"I can't say anything," he said following the prayer service.

Meanwhile, Susan Powell's father, Charles Cox, flew in from Puyallup, Wash., south of Seattle, on Friday to aid in the search. He spent Saturday morning granting dozens of interviews to media outlets around the country in an effort to keep his daughter's name and picture in the news.

While Cox and Josh Powell shared a brief hug before the prayer service began, Cox said the only conversation he's had with him since his daughter was reported missing was on Tuesday.

Cox didn't attend a news conference Saturday organized by Josh Powell's brother-in-law, Kirk Graves, in which Graves said Josh Powell's side of the family is still hopeful Susan will come home. Cox said he's concerned too much attention is being placed on Josh Powell.

"I'm kind of concerned that all the focus is on him at the present. I mean he's told his story _ believable or not _ and I don't see him as capable of harming her," Cox said. "And the more time spent on him, the less time there is looking at other possibilities."

About 30 detectives have been assigned to find out what happened to Susan Powell. West Valley City Police Capt. Tom McLachlan says police haven't been able to verify Josh Powell's story because snow had covered the spot along The Pony Express Trail where he said he took the children.

Complicating the search for Susan Powell, McLachlan said police don't have a description of the clothing she was wearing when Josh Powell last saw her about 12:30 a.m. Monday.

Susan Powell's friend, Kiirsi Hellewell, said she saw her Sunday afternoon walking home from church, which Josh Powell did not attend.

JoVonna Owings said she had dinner with the couple and their children around 4 p.m. and that Susan Powell was wearing a long-sleeve black shirt and black pants.

Hellewell described her friend as a "girly girl" who liked to get dressed up when she went out with friends and make blankets for friends at church.

While Hellewell described the couple as spontaneous, she said the winter camping trip seemed out-of-character.

"They might go camping, but they would not do it in the winter, they would not do it in the middle of night and they wouldn't do it when they were expected at work the next day," she said.

[Lori Davis]

http://www.ksl.com/i...148&sid=9011381

Family of missing woman's husband speaks; friends hand out posters
December 12th, 2009 @ 6:00pm
By Alex Cabrero

WEST VALLEY CITY -- Friends and family of a missing West Valley City woman held a church prayer service Saturday afternoon.

It's now been five days since 28-year-old Susan Powell was reported missing.

Powell's husband, Josh, and their 2- and 4-year-old sons were at the service. Afterwards, Josh Powell didn't want to say a word or answer a question about his missing wife, but his brother-in-law did.

"We continue to hope she will be returned to us safely," said Kirk Graves.

With Josh standing next to him, Graves thanked the West Valley City Police Department, family, friends and complete strangers for helping them. He also said all the speculation about Josh somehow being involved in his wife's disappearance is upsetting.

"I think it's pointless. I think maybe worse than pointless. I think it's destructive and damaging to what's going on," said Graves. "There has been so much speculation that we just need to put it to rest."

Some of that speculation comes from Josh's story he told to investigators. He claims he took his young sons camping in the freezing cold of the West Desert on the night Susan disappeared from their West Valley home.

Josh Powell, Susan's husband Graves said he understands how some could look at that story, but says his brother-in-law is just as hurt as anyone about his wife's disappearance. "I can tell you the pain he feels is real. I could feel it," said Graves.

Meanwhile, Powell's family and friends have been going to malls and parking lots throughout the Salt Lake Valley to post and hand out missing person flyers.

"We want to get everyone to see her face and hopefully someone recognizes her. We don't know where to search, so flyers are the best way," said Tami Allen, a friend of Susan Powell's who goes to the same church ward.

"It amazes me what people are willing to do and take so much time out of their daily schedules to go and help out," said Allen. "She's an awesome lady and it's so sad and we don't know who would've done it."

As for the Powell children, the family said they're doing their best to keep them occupied and to shelter them from the situation. "Kids are very intuitive. You can see the stress," said Graves.

Susan Powell Investigators searched the Simpson Springs area of the West Desert Friday. Simpson Springs is a location off the Pony Express Trail where Josh Powell told police he went camping. Investigators didn't find anything, and a spokesperson with the West Valley Police Department said there are no updates.

When asked if Josh Powell had been to the scene to help police, Graves said he didn't know. Even with Powell standing next to him, Graves said there are some things his brother-in-law doesn't want to talk about.

"Josh is just here mostly to let everybody know that he's here and that he cares," said Graves. "What little detail facts I have, the police have asked us to not be open with them, to kind of keep quiet on what little we know that isn't well published. Our next step is to make sure everybody stays focused on Susan."

West Valley City Police Capt. Tom McLachlan said police don't have a description of the clothing Susan was wearing when her husband last saw her early Monday.

Susan Powell's friend, Kiirsi Hellewell, said she saw her Sunday afternoon walking home from church, which Josh Powell did not attend. JoVonna Owings said she had dinner with the couple and their children around 4 p.m. and that Susan Powell was wearing a long-sleeve black shirt and black pants.

About 30 detectives have been assigned to the case.

[Lori Davis]

http://www.ktvb.com/...l/79169902.html

Utah mom missing for full week; clues are few
Posted on December 13, 2009 at 1:04 PM

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Police had little to go on Sunday in the search for a Utah woman who hasn't been seen for a full week.

Twenty-eight-year-old Susan Powell was reported missing from a Salt Lake City suburb in a case that police call suspicious.

She left behind two children and a husband who says he doesn't know what happened to her.

West Valley City Police Capt. Tom McLachlan says at least eight detectives worked the case Sunday, fielding any tips or leads they can get from the family or friends.

Detectives are appealing for the public's help.

They plan to conduct another interview early this week with husband Josh Powell, who told police he left his wife and took his boys, ages 2 and 4, on a camping trip around midnight Dec. 6 in subfreezing temperatures.

[Jenn]

http://www.deseretne...wells-boys.html

Holiday is looking bleak for Susan Powell's boys

By Marjorie Cortez
Deseret News Published: Tuesday, Dec. 15, 2009 12:03 a.m. MST


Josh Powell, whose wife, Susan, has been missing for more than a week, has hired a high-profile defense attorney.

Hiring legal counsel is not indicative of a person's innocence or guilt. It means that in missing person cases, police investigate people closest to the victim first and then they expand the circle. West Valley detectives, who plan to ask Josh Powell more questions in connection with their investigation, won't comment on what they know so far.

But what we do know about this case is plenty strange. Josh Powell told police that he took his sons, ages 2 and 4, on a camping trip around midnight Dec. 6 in subfreezing temperatures.

I don't know the Powells but I do know what it's like to live with toddlers. Any whiff of discomfort and you're going to hear about it in a big way.

"I'm cold!"

"I'm hungry!"

"I want to go home!"

Once one child starts up, it's like a contagion of whining is released in the back seat of the station wagon. Soon after comes the crying.

Not only has it been bitterly cold lately (40 degrees feels downright balmy now, doesn't it?), it's been snowing to the point that police cannot confirm or disprove whether Josh Powell camped in the van with his boys in Utah's west desert.
Story continues below

Then there's the story in Monday's Deseret News about two fans that were blowing on a wet spot on the living room carpet of the Powell home. Police noticed the fans and the carpet when they broke into the home for a welfare check, according to Susan Powell's father, Charles Cox.

Again, in a home with toddlers, it's not too unusual to have to spot-clean a carpet. It happens with greater frequency if you have a pet. In that case, it's something that could be readily explained.

It is yet another of several unanswered questions in connection with Susan Powell's disappearance.

Friends and neighbors say that Powell was a good mother who would never leave her children

Close friend and neighbor Kiirsi Hellewell describes Susan Powell as "very outgoing, very friendly, an instant friend to everyone."

Susan Powell, she said, is "fearless."

"If she had any way to contact somebody, she would," Hellewell added. "She's not the kind to go and hide. She's not scared of anything."

Neighbors also said Powell had spoken openly about seeking a divorce from her husband. One neighbor has been quoted as saying Powell was trying to save money to leave her husband.

When something like this happens, I try to imagine what my neighbors might say about me or what I might say about one of them. I know of them what they want me to know. I don't know for a certainty what goes on their homes any more than they know what happens in mine.

I'm not saying these neighbors' accounts are inaccurate, but I also know that outward appearances are sometimes misleading. An exasperated acquaintance once told me that the next time I saw her, she would have filed for divorce from her husband. The next time I saw her, she didn't even remember saying those words. They're still together.

As Christmas approaches, my thoughts turn to the Powells' little boys. When most little kids' thoughts are trained on what Santa will leave them under the tree Christmas Eve, these children are shouldering a heavy burden. Their mother is missing. What will the holidays be like for them when they don't know where their mother is?

Someone knows what happened to Susan Powell. For the sake of those little boys, they need to tell the police.

[Jenn]

http://abcnews.go.co...tory?id=9326774

Husband of Missing Mom Susan Powell Lawyers Up
Susan Powell, 28, Feared Dead After Disappearing Dec. 7

By LISA FLETCHER, LEE FERRAN and SARAH NETTER Dec. 14, 2009

The husband of Utah mom Susan Powell who has been missing for a week has hired a prominent criminal defense attorney.

Susan Powell's husband will be interviewed a second time by Utah police.

The office of attorney Scott Williams confirmed for ABC News today that he is now representing Joshua Powell, Susan Powell's husband. Williams is a leading criminal attorney in the area and his recent clients include Wanda Barzee, who has pleaded guilty in the 2002 kidnapping of Elizabeth Smart.

Police said they have inteviewed Joshua Powell about his wife's disappearance. He was not described as a suspect or person of interest, but police said they had more questions for him and were expected to interview him again this week.

Williams' office did not say when the husband would be interviewed by police.

Williams was retained a week after Susan Powelll disappeared and police admit they are clueless as to what happened to her.

"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 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."

Susan Powell's Father: Couple Had Marital Problems

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.

[Jenn]

http://www.ksl.com/i...148&sid=9050899

Police call husband 'person of interest' in missing woman case

December 16th, 2009 @ 9:21am

WEST VALLEY CITY -- The husband of a missing West Valley City woman now is being called a person of interest in the case, that's according to West Valley City Assistant Police Chief Craig Black.

Josh Powell met with police late Tuesday and answered some "basic questions" about his wife, 28-year-old Susan Powell, who has been missing since Dec. 7.

Detectives had expressed frustration that he was hindering the investigation after he did not show up for an interview Monday, on the advice of his attorney, Scott C. Williams. Williams told the Salt Lake Tribune he needed time to gather information so he could advise his client.

Capt. Tom McLachlan, with the West Valley City Police Department, told the Tribune that investigators took DNA samples from Josh Powell and several other people related to the case on Tuesday. He said Josh Powell is not considered a suspect in the case.

Susan Powell was reported missing Dec. 7 when she didn't show up to work and her children weren't dropped off at day care. Josh Powell told police he took his two boys camping in the west desert around 12:30 a.m. that day and returned in the evening.

[Lori Davis]

http://www.theskicha...sing-Utah-woman

Police tell TV stations to keep footage of husband of missing Utah woman

Friday, Dec 18, 2009 @ 16:53:30 PM
Written by Alexa KonstandFONT SIZE

Police that are investigating the case of missing Utah woman Susan Powell are asking Salt Lake City area news stations to keep the footage they have of her husband, Joshua Powell.  Officials did not disclose exactly why they have asked this, but the hope is that something in the footage could explain what happened to Susan.  As TSC reported earlier, Joshua's story to police of where he was when she disappeared is a little "fishy" and he is now a "person of interest" in the case.  Susan disappeared from her home in West Valley City 11 days ago and police returned to the home Thursday with a second search warrant.

[Lori Davis]

http://www.timeslead...12-19-2009.html

Police suspicions upset family
The son of a missing woman backs his father’s story of a camping trip.
MANUEL VALDES and JENNIFER DOBNER Associated Press Writers
December 19

PUYALLUP, Wash. — At a tearful news conference, the family of a missing Utah woman expressed sadness that police have grown increasingly suspicious of her husband as the criminal investigation wears on.

Susan Powell, a 28-year-old mother of two young children, was reported missing Dec. 7 when she didn’t show up for her stockbroker job at a bank. She was last seen a day earlier.

What had been a missing persons case for several days has now turned into a criminal investigation with foul play suspected.

Eight members of Susan Powell’s family were present at Thursday’s news conference in Washington state, where her parents live.

As family friend and spokeswoman Shelby Gifford spoke about Powell’s life, several members broke down in tears and embraced each other.

Her husband, Josh Powell, is not a suspect, but authorities have dubbed him a person of interest, saying he has demonstrated a frustrating lack of cooperation that has only increased their suspicion of him. Police suspect foul play.

Josh Powell has said he went camping with the couple’s boys, ages 2 and 4, in freezing temperatures in the middle of the night Dec. 7 and returned in the evening.

West Valley City Police Capt. Tom McLachlan on Thursday said the 4-year-old boy was interviewed within “a day or two” after his mother was reported missing. The son told police his family went camping — an event his father has said coincided with her disappearance.

[Jenn]

http://today.msnbc.m...ay-today_people

Friend: Missing Utah mom was mulling divorce
‘She talked of escaping, but there’s no way she would have left her boys’

By Mike Celizic TODAYshow.com contributor
Dec 21, 2009

A woman who has known a missing Utah woman and her husband since the couple were married eight years ago is not surprised that Josh Powell has been named a person of interest in his wife Susan’s disappearance, saying that his increasingly controlling behavior had put the couple’s marriage on the rocks.

“His story just doesn’t add up,” Rachel Marini told TODAY’s Ann Curry Monday from her home in American Fork, Utah. “I think it was only a matter of time before it came to this.”

It has been two weeks since Josh Powell told police he took the couple’s two boys on a late-night camping trip, leaving Susan behind in their suburban Salt Lake City home. When he came home, she wasn’t there, he told police.

Since then, Josh has hired a prominent local defense attorney and has not responded to police efforts to interview him further. Last week, he took sons Charlie, 4, and Raden, 2, back to his parents’ home in Puyallup, Wash., for the holidays. On Sunday evening, he attended a prayer vigil for Susan with his older son but did not acknowledge his wife’s parents, Chuck and Judy Cox, who stood just a dozen or so feet away from him.

Marini said that behavior seemed strange. “Her parents are hurting just as much as he is. I would have hoped that he would have been comforting to them, as I know they would have been to him,” she said.

Debts and deterioration
Marini said that what had been a happy marriage began to deteriorate several years ago when the Powells moved from Washington to Utah. The couple had financial difficulties and filed for bankruptcy in 2007, citing nearly $200,000 in debts.

“Josh became more and more controlling, and it was harder for her to remain herself, or remain the happy person that she was,” Marini said.

“Josh was very controlling. He controlled everything in their marriage, from the money that Susan spent to what groceries she could buy to what she could eat. There was a lot of fighting and belittling on his part. It just reduced her to a very unhappy and different person than she was when he first met her,” Marini told Curry.

Marini said that Susan had spoken about her unhappiness and had even discussed leaving her husband. But, she said, it’s unthinkable that her friend would have gone without her children.

“Susan talked many times about escaping her unhappy marriage, but there’s no way she would have left her boys,” Marini said.

Credible story?
Police have focused on Josh’s account that he decided to go camping near midnight on Sunday, Dec. 6. He said he went to a park in the desert west of Salt Lake City, despite sub-freezing temperatures and a snowstorm moving in. He and the boys slept in the family van, he said.

Police have said that Josh was vague about the exact location of his campsite. An overnight snowstorm also eradicated tracks and made it impossible for police to check Josh’s story.

When the children didn’t show up at day care and Susan didn’t go to work, concerned friends called police, who broke into the house. They reportedly found Susan’s purse and cell phone. In the living room, fans were trained on a wet spot on the carpet

Curry asked Marini whether Josh’s story about an impromptu camping trip is credible.

“I don’t know, but I do know that if he had told Susan, ‘Hey, I’m going to take the boys out camping, and it’s 10 degrees out, it’s a blizzard, and we have school the next day,’ she would have said, ‘No way,’ and she wouldn’t have let him,” Marini said.

[Lori Davis]

http://www.examiner....lideshow-photos

Susan Powell case: Husband of missing Utah woman attends candlelight vigil (slideshow, photos)
December 21, 4:01 PM
Crime Examiner
Cindy Adams

Josh Powell, the husband of Susan Powell, stands with supporters after a candle light vigil for his wife at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Puyallup, Wash., Sunday Dec. 20, 2009. (AP Photo)On Sunday, a candlelight vigil (see slideshow below) was held for missing Utah woman, Susan Powell. Many were surprised to see her husband at the gathering, since he has been named a person of interest regarding her disappearance.

Powell, 34, did not speak to media at vigil, which was held at the LDS Church ward chapel attended by Chuck and Judy Cox, Susan’s parents, according to the Salt Lake City Tribune. The Cox’s walked past Powell, but did not speak to him.

Powell alleges he took his two young sons—ages 2 and 4—on a camping trip in freezing cold temperatures at around midnight on the evening of Dec. 6. He alleges they slept in a minivan and that when they returned home the next day, Susan, 28, was gone.

Powell initially failed to attend a police interview, but subsequently submitted samples of DNA to police. Authorities have named Powell as a person of interest in the case.

Susan’s family held an emotional press conference on Thursday hoping the public can assist them in finding their missing loved one. The family also noted it is not surprised that police are focusing on Josh in their investigation.

Anyone with information regarding Susan Powell's whereabouts or her disappearance is urged to call the West Valley City Police Dept. at 801-840-4000.

[Lori Davis]

http://www.deseretne...urned-over.html

Friends turn over e-mails sent by Susan Powell

By Pat Reavy
Deseret News
Published: Tuesday, Dec. 22, 2009 5:37 p.m. MST

WEST VALLEY CITY — E-mails sent last year by Susan Powell to friends told of marriage struggles between her and her husband to the point that she seemed to be in fear of him.

Several of her friends, who wished to remain anonymous, confirmed to the Deseret News that they had turned over e-mails to police that she sent them in June and July of 2008, the point when all friends agreed the Powells' marriage was at its worst.

One friend confirmed that in one of the e-mails, Susan Powell said she was afraid Josh Powell might kidnap her two boys, divorce her or worse.

The friend said Susan Powell had talked to her one day about something she had written and left in her desk at work.

"She had mentioned about writing something so that no one would ever think she committed suicide. She said it would be so her boys would know that she would never kill herself, because she would never leave her boys alone," the friend said.

"I didn't really know the context in which she was talking. I didn't even know what to say to that."

The friend said that was the only time Susan Powell brought up that topic.

West Valley police on Tuesday declined to talk about any potential evidence in the case. Other friends had reported earlier that a notebook Susan Powell kept in her desk at work at Wells Fargo was among the items seized by police.

The notebook, according to one source, detailed threats allegedly made about a year ago against her.

Susan Powell has been missing 15 days as of Tuesday. She was last seen Dec. 6. A cloud of suspicion has hovered over Josh Powell since her disappearance. Police have called him a person of interest, but they have not called him a suspect. The case is still classified as a missing person investigation, but with suspicious and criminal overtones.

For Susan Powell's friends and family, a red flag to them that foul play is likely involved is that she never would have left her two young boys, ages 2 and 4.

"She wouldn't even go visiting teaching for an hour without the boys," one friend said.

Susan Powell remained active in her LDS ward, even after her husband stopped going to church, according to friends. She was in the Relief Society and recently had accepted a new calling prior to her disappearance.

Friends say 2008 was a tough year for the Powells' marriage. They confirmed previous reports that Josh Powell was very controlling and that his wife had confided with a few friends that she was considering whether to leave him.

[Lori Davis]

http://www.nwcn.com/...e-79943172.html

Police look into rental car in Utah missing mom case

by Associated Press
Posted on December 22, 2009 at 3:50 PM

SALT LAKE CITY - Police said Tuesday that they want to question the husband of a missing Utah woman about a car he allegedly rented that was driven hundreds of miles following his wife's disappearance.

"It was rented in Joshua Powell's name, and there were several hundred miles put on it," West Valley City Police Capt. Tom McLachlan said. "The company that rents the car has said there is no stored GPS data that would indicate where it was taken."

Powell's wife, Susan, was last seen on Dec. 7. He told police he left her at home about 12:30 a.m. that day to go winter camping on the Pony Express trail west of Salt Lake City with their sons, ages 4 and 2, in freezing temperatures.

Susan Powell was reported missing the same day when she failed to show up for her job as stockbroker for Wells Fargo Bank and her children were not dropped off at day care.

Police said the case is still a missing persons investigation, but have twice searched the family home and a minivan and have labeled Josh Powell as a "person of interest." Police have not said what, if anything, has been taken from the Powell home or van.

McLachlan said Joshua Powell rented the car during the 24-hour period that his van was in police custody, about two days after his wife was reported missing.

McLachlan declined to say specifically how many miles were added to the rental car's odometer and acknowledged that while police know the car was rented by Powell, they can only speculate about whether he was the person who used it. He said he didn't know what type of car was rented and declined to name the rental company.

Scott Williams, Josh Powell's attorney, told The Associated Press on Tuesday that he has no information about the rental car. Josh Powell traveled to Washington state over the weekend with the children to be with family for the Christmas holiday, Williams has said.

McLachlan has said Josh Powell has provided police with only vague information about his camping trip, but acknowledged that the 4-year-old boy confirmed the outing in an interview with police.

"We have an open, standing request to talk to him, whenever he wants to come in for an interview," McLachlan said. "At this point he's refusing to do so through his attorney."

Williams disputed that characterization and said Josh Powell has answered all questions from police. He also said Powell has provided police with a DNA sample.

On Monday, police announced a $10,000 reward being offered by an anonymous donor for information that helps them locate Susan Powell.

Anyone with information regarding Susan Powell's whereabouts or her disappearance is urged to call the West Valley City Police Dept. at 801-840-4000.