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SALT LAKE CITY -- A year after her disappearance, much of the focus on a missing West Valley mother is playing out on social media.
West Valley police say they are "still actively investigating" Susan Powell's disappearance under suspicious circumstances from her West Valley City home.
Related:
Loved ones remember Susan Powell on anniversary of disappearance
Susan Cox Powell was last seen one year ago today. Family and friends are trying to remain hopeful she will someday be found as they reflect on a tragically trying 12 months.This weekend, a posting by Powell's father-in-law painted a new possibility that Susan Powell may have run off with a man who disappeared from the St. George area at around the same time. Powell's family, though, called the claims preposterous.
Postings on one Facebook page dedicated to Powell today contained well wishes for her family, and commitments by friends that they will continue to try to find her.
Pete Codella, CEO of Codella Marketing, sees social media as an increasingly important tool in cases like Powell's. "The word spread so fast in social media," he said, "unlike it could with phone calls or mailing people or even e-mail."
Codella said more than 500 million people are active on Facebook, making it a great place to go to post or to receive information.
But there's a caution as well. "The same caution that I tell people when you watch TV," he said. "You can't believe everything that you see, or hear or read on the Internet. You have to get information yourself."
Codella said social media has turned many people into "citizen journalists" but he says the ethics of journalism are not always there.
E-mail: mgiauque@ksl.com
