Friends, family and others react to search for Susan Powell


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SALT LAKE CITY -- Family and friends of Susan Powell were anxiously waiting for the "significant" information police had said they would present in Ely, so when it didn't happen - it left many feeling frustrated.

Jennifer Graves, sister of Josh Powell, says it was like being on an emotional roller coaster while watching the press conference. She says she was waiting for the big announcement that perhaps Susan had been found or that there was a huge break in the case -- but then there was nothing.

"I was expecting more. I was definitely expecting more," she said.

A second media briefing is scheduled for 8 p.m. (MST).

Graves says police have not told her anything about what is happening with the search in Ely. She actually found out about it from a reporter. She says her family has no connection to Ely, and Susan never mentioned it.


It's been very hard to go through this process and I miss her. Seeing all the footage just brings it all back fresh, makes me miss her all over again.

–- Jennifer Graves


Watching the press brought back all the emotions from the past two years for Graves.

"It's been very hard to go through this process and I miss her. Seeing all the footage just brings it all back fresh, makes me miss her all over again," she said. "I was just sitting there crying while I was watching it."

Why police have approached the search so enigmatically is anybody's guess. According to Dave Lundberg, director of UtahDetective.com, police could have leads that turned out to be nothing, and had to save face at the media gathering. It is also possible that they are simply using the media to smoke out a suspect.

Susan's father, Chuck Cox, told KING-TV in Seattle Friday that he was "confused" by the police press conference.

"If you don't have anything, then you don't have anything," he said. "That's what's confusing. Maybe they do have something but why is it being revealed in this way? It's just kind of an odd thing."

He said he was happy to see that police are still working on the case and are dedicated to finding his daughter, but was disappointed by the information that was revealed.

"I was hoping to hear something, so I could say: 'This is what's going on' or have something we could react to," he said. "What it was, was not helpful to anybody at the moment."

Related:

Judy Cox, the missing woman's mother, said she went through a variety of emotions awaiting the news and hopes to hear more soon.

"We need closure," she said. "We need to find out the truth and I just really appreciate the police for not letting it become a cold case."

Graves says she is disappointed with today's press conference, and expected more from police, considering the fact that they bought all the media out to Ely.

Looking at a silver lining, she says at least today's press conference has once again brought the spotlight back to the case.

"It will bring a flood of new leads so that I guess we can be grateful for that," she said

Graves is hopeful that during the searches, police will find something that will provide a break in the case, or even closure to her family. But right now, she's waiting along with everyone else to see what happens.

Story written by [Shara Park](<mailto: spark@ksl.com>) with contributions from [Peter Samore](<mailto psamore@ksl.com>) and the ksl.com news team.

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