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CACHE COUNTY -- The search for Susan Powell continues, but the newest effort doesn't involve police.
Four friends in Cache County came up with the idea to organize a search for Susan on April 10 in the West Desert. They say hoping for Susan's safe return isn't enough. They want to do something that could bring her home.
"Only good can come from this," says Shawn Sorensen.
Sorensen doesn't know Susan Powell; neither does Joanne Bentley. But Susan's disappearance is still personal to them.
• Dec. 7 - The day Susan Powell was reported missing
• Dec. 9 - Police call disappearance of Susan Powell suspicious
• Dec. 12 - Family of missing woman's husband speaks
• Dec. 16 - Josh Powell named person of interest
• Dec. 17 - 2nd search warrant served at Powell home
• Dec. 20 - Josh Powell attends Wash. vigil
• Jan. 3, 2010 - Friends of missing Utah mom launch Web media blitz
• Jan. 4 - Social media blitz kick off
• Jan. 9 - Josh Powell packs up West Valley City house
• Jan. 27 - Family, friends put up ribbon display at Powell WVC home
• Feb. 5 - Friends plan ‘Week of Service' in honor of Susan Powell
• Feb. 15 - Family accuses missing woman's husband of abuse
• March 1 - Susan Powell's family, former cop question new website
• March 6 - Vigils mark 3-month anniversary of Susan Powell's disappearance
• March 9 - Witnesses say they saw Josh Powell at a strip club just hours after Susan Powell was reported missing.
"I would hate to be in that situation, personally, where I'd lost my child and didn't know what happened to them," Bentley says. "That sense of anguish and unfinished business would be terrible."
The two friends from Cache County are part of a small group organizing a search for Susan in the West Desert next month.
They plan to start in the Simpson Springs area, south of Tooele. Susan's husband, Josh Powell, told police that's where he took their boys camping when Susan disappeared.
"That area is huge. I mean, it is literally huge," Soresen says. "No cell phone service out there. It's massive."
In teams, volunteers will walk the area in a grid pattern. Each team will have a GPS to keep track of areas they cover. Organizers say they just want to look for clues. They have hope Susan is still alive.
"Why not bring them all together and eliminate the only area that is in question?" Sorenen says. "If we search that area, then at least we covered basically the only area that we can think of she may be in, and that's some closure there for people."
When Susan disappeared in December, police searched the area. Organizers say they had limited resources. They say, with spring around the corner, the weather will also be in their favor.
"It's easy to say you don't know exactly where she could be and do nothing, and apathy is our worst enemy at this point," Bentley says. "We want people to be encouraged and to know that even if we find nothing, that is a significant finding."
West Valley Police say they have thoroughly searched the area. They say teams of trained detectives spent thousands of hours searching by ground, air and below ground.
Police plan to contact organizers to let them know of the risks of searching and what to do if they find anything suspicious.
Volunteers will be asked to sign a waiver form, and Sorensen is asking only those 16 and older in good health to take part.
Details of how people can be involved in the search will be posted on Facebook at the Friends and Family of Susan Powell page.
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Story compiled with contribuitons from Randall Jeppesen and Sandra Yi.
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