NEW YORK CITY — A private diary is turning into a public feud for the family of missing West Valley City mom Susan Cox Powell.

Last month, Powell's husband, Josh, and her father-in-law, Steve Powell, announced they would release her personal diaries in an attempt to prove she may have had the mindset to leave her husband and children for another man.

Since then, both men have talked publicly about what they say was her "promiscuous" nature.

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Allegations of unwanted advances from father-in-law surface in Susan Powell case

Some friends and family members say Susan Cox Powell told them about unwanted advances she had allegedly received from Steve Powell, her father-in-law.

"She's a many-dimensional person. Susan is a very flirtatious person when she wants to be. It's part of her personality," Josh Powell said.

"She was very flirtatious and sexual with people; there was a lot of titillation going on," Steve Powell said. "Sometimes, frankly, sometimes I wished that we had done a little bit more than we did."

Thursday morning on the Today Show, Susan Powell's father said the characterizations being put forth are untrue, and that instead of trying to explain why Susan may have left everyone should be focusing on finding out where she is now.

"I see these attacks as outrageous, cowardly, despicable and not believable in any way," Chuck Cox said. "I trust that the media and the public can see right through this. Basically he's trying to blame a victim, and my daughter is the victim here. She's the one missing. Please remember her face and please if anybody knows anything, I want them to come forward."

Cox also said releasing his daughter's diaries is a violation of her personal privacy.

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