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SALT LAKE CITY — The family of Susan Cox Powell said Tuesday that they were closer than ever to finding the body of the missing West Valley City mother.
Susan's father and sister, Chuck Cox and Denise Cox Olsen, left their homes in Washington Monday to begin their own search for her after the West Valley City Police Department said they were no longer actively investigating the case. The FBI is still investigating the Dec. 7, 2009, disappearance of Susan Powell.
The two headed to Pendleton and La Grand, Ore. They have hired two private investigators, who are helping the Coxes investigate areas previously untouched by searchers.
"We've been really looking for a needle in a haystack for the last few years and now we finally got a place, an area, a smaller haystack we can search right now," Cox Olsen said.
Feeling that they are close to finding Susan, they plan to cover a 400-mile stretch along I-84 from Oregon to Utah.
The spent the past two days in Pendleton, Ore., where Susan's brother-in-law Michael sold his car to a salvage yard. He had it towed there, after his car broke down near Baker City. DNA evidence was found in the trunk of the car, but it did not match Susan's profile.
Related:
West Valley City photos, documents relating to the Susan Powell case
The West Valley City Police Department released several documents relating to the Susan Powell case. The following is a list of all the documents and photos released."The cadaver dogs hitting on his brother, Michael Powell's car, that's a huge break for us," Cox Olsen said.
Her theory is that Josh Powell drove a rental car to meet his brother. They moved Susan's body into Michael's car, then got rid of it somewhere along I-84.
"They slipped by not destroying the car, and it gives us more of an idea of where they might have taken her," Cox Olsen said.
She and her father are handing out fliers and talking to people, in hopes someone will remember seeing the brothers or their cars together.
"We're really counting on the people who've been around and know the area and have been here for a while," Cox Olsen said. "They know the land, they know the people, they know what belongs and what doesn't."
She said not knowing what happened to Susan is taking its toll.
"Closure for me will be reuniting Susan's remains with her boys and laying her to rest with her boys," Cox Olsen said.
She said if they feel inclined to search an area, they will. But for now, they're just handing out fliers. Denise and her father hope to be in Salt Lake City Wednesday or Thursday.
