Husband of missing Utah mother attends Wash. vigil


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WEST VALLEY CITY -- A Utah man considered a person of interest in the disappearance of his wife was among more than 60 people who attended a vigil for her Sunday night in her parents' hometown in Washington state.

Meanwhile, Susan Powell's friends and neighbors held another vigil for her in West Valley City.

"We have not given up, and we will not give up until Susan comes home," said Kiirsi Hellewell, Susan's best friend.

Susan Powell's friends and neighbors gather at the Utah vigil Sunday night
Susan Powell's friends and neighbors gather at the Utah vigil Sunday night

Susan's husband Josh suddenly left Utah over the weekend. Although he's been called a person of interest by police, Josh Powell is legally free to leave the state.

He told friends he just wanted to get away from the media attention, but he missed an outpouring of support here for his missing wife.

They came with candles and messages of support promising prayers and hymns around the world.

"We join Susan's family and friends at this moment in Puyallup, Washington to light a candle of hope for Susan," Hellewell said.

In many places they promised to sing Susan's favorite hymn, "Silent Night." Mixed in with all the songs and prayers was an undercurrent of worry about whether the case will ever be resolved.

Husband of missing Utah mother attends Wash. vigil

"We ask Father that hearts may be softened, that whoever may know what has happened to her may have the courage to step forward and speak up," said James Hofheins, coordinator of the Susan Powell Friends and Family Facebook page.

Josh Powell evidently left Utah either Friday or Saturday and traveled to Washington to stay with his father. Friday and Sunday, a KSL news camera captured scenes of large items being removed from his home by friends or relatives.

One neighbor spoke with him by phone just before the vigil.

"He just told me he needed to get away from all the press and publicity. He wants to keep his kids away from it," said John Hellewell.

Husband of missing Utah mother attends Wash. vigil

Powell also said he'd been fired from his software job.

Hellewell said, "He just made a comment to me that he wasn't going to be able to pay any more of his bills because he doesn't have any money now."

Neighbors were surprised he had left Utah so suddenly.

"I don't know what his motives are. Maybe he just wanted to be with his family for a while but that was surprising to me," Kiirsi Hellewell said. "His story is already strange. It's already something that's hard to believe, so the whole circumstances around that are strange."

At the Utah vigil, suspicions were set aside as dozens of people hoped to make a difference with prayer and song.

"I just hope wherever she is that she's safe and that she knows how much everyone loves her," said friend Rachel Marini.

The Washington vigil was held at a church near the homes of Josh's father and Susan's parents. Besides Josh Powell, the event was attended by Susan's grandparents, parents and siblings.

Police said his distance from Utah will make it more difficult to speak with him, but they do not have him under surveillance.

Police also said there were no new developments in the investigation.

E-mail: hollenhorst@ksl.com

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