Who is Susan Powell?
Susan Marie Powell, born on October 16, 1981, was an American woman who went missing in West Valley City, Utah. Her disappearance, presumed murder, and the events that followed gained national media attention. Susan's husband, Joshua Powell, was considered a person of interest in the investigation into her disappearance, but he was never charged.
On February 5, 2012, Joshua killed himself and their two sons, Charles Joshua Powell and Braden Timothy Powell, in a murder-suicide. This happened after custody of the children had been awarded to Susan's parents, Judy and Charles Cox. On May 21, 2013, the West Valley City police stopped their active investigation into Susan's disappearance, concluding that Joshua had murdered her and that his brother, Michael, who also committed suicide in February 2013 after suspicion grew around him, had helped him conceal her body. Since then, there have been several attempts to legally declare Susan as dead.
What Happened to Susan Powell?
Susan Cox Powell disappeared on December 6, 2009, and was later presumed dead. Her husband, Josh, claimed that he and their two sons had gone on a camping trip during the night while Susan slept, but when she failed to show up for work and was nowhere to be found, police began to investigate. A wet spot on the couch and blood on the floor with both Susan's and an unknown male's DNA raised suspicion, and Josh's alibi was doubted.
Susan's friends and diaries revealed that she was unhappy and fearful in her eight-year marriage to Josh. She had expressed concern about her children being left with him and had handwritten a will excluding him. Josh moved the boys back to Washington a month after Susan disappeared, which was considered unusual behavior for someone with a missing spouse, leading investigators to suspect he was involved in her disappearance.
Susan's father-in-law, Stephen Powell, had an unhealthy obsession with her and was later arrested for voyeurism and child pornography. Josh was also investigated for possession of child pornography, and temporary custody of the boys was granted to Susan's father, Chuck Cox. During a supervised visit with Josh, he barricaded himself inside his home with their sons and set the house on fire, resulting in his own and the boys' deaths. Susan's disappearance remains unsolved.
