Father calls for new search in Powell case; more warrants unsealed

Father calls for new search in Powell case; more warrants unsealed


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WEST VALLEY CITY — Now that the active police investigation into the disappearance of Susan Cox Powell is over, her father has a new idea about where to look for her body.

Chuck Cox said late Friday he believes his daughter might be found somewhere along Interstate 84 between Tremonton and Pendleton, Ore. — a route he suspects was possibly taken by his son-in-law Josh Powell and Michael Powell, the man's brother.

"It seems like one area that we have not been focused on in the past," Cox said.

Susan Powell has been missing since December 2009 when she disappeared from her West Valley home and is presumed dead. Cox and police believe her husband Josh Powell killed her. Investigators this week said they believe Michael Powell had "intimate involvement" in her disappearance.

Josh Powell committed suicide in February of 2012 after murdering their two young sons. Michael Powell killed himself a year later in February of this year.

When he was alive, Josh told investigators and the media he went camping in Simpson Springs. Police combed that area thoroughly and found nothing.

Chuck Cox said late Friday he believes his daughter might be found somewhere along Interstate 84 between Tremonton and Pendleton, Ore. — a route he suspects was possibly taken by his son-in-law Josh Powell and Michael Powell, the man's brother shortly after Susan Powell disappeared.
Chuck Cox said late Friday he believes his daughter might be found somewhere along Interstate 84 between Tremonton and Pendleton, Ore. — a route he suspects was possibly taken by his son-in-law Josh Powell and Michael Powell, the man's brother shortly after Susan Powell disappeared.

"At the time when Josh said that, one of the things that stuck out in my mind was: if he's telling me to look south, I ought to be looking north. But where north?" Cox said.

Josh rented a car and logged over 800 miles on Dec. 8, 2009, the day after Susan was reported missing. Newly released documents show Michael Powell had disposed of his vehicle. Cadaver dogs detected human decomposition in the car.

Somewhere between Pendleton, Ore., and Tremonton, Utah, Cox believes Susan's body was dumped. He plans to search this area next week with a private investigator, but he needs the public's help.

"The people who live out there, they know the areas and what roads were plowed at the time, what might be accessible, where to look," he said.

Organizing his own search after West Valley police have officially called an end to the investigation into Susan's disappearance may seem like a fruitless task, but Cox says there's one thing that keeps him going: He's a father who needs to find his daughter.

"We can't concentrate on the rest of things until this is over, and this isn't over for us yet," he said. "It will never be the same, but if we can at least find her and put her to rest with her boys, that would be an ending of sorts and we could probably move on with other things."

Deseret News:

Also Friday, a judge unsealed several warrants used in the West Valley Police Department's search Susan Powell. The ruling came as a result of a motion filed by KSL News and the Deseret News in 3rd District Court.

The warrants show that within the first few days of the investigation into Susan's disappearance, Josh was giving "contradictory and unreasonable" answers to investigator's questions.

"For the first 36 hours after his wife has disappeared, J. Powell never inquires about her welfare, never asks what police are doing to locate her, never offers any help or assistance to law enforcement," a search warrant states.

Other warrants show West Valley police in 2011 requested wiretaps on phones belonging to Josh and his father, Steven Powell, and then tried to get them to talk about Susan's disappearance.

The documents unsealed Friday come in addition to the tens of thousands of pages of police reports released Monday.

Contributing: Pat Reavy

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