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WEST VALLEY CITY -- The family of missing woman Susan Powell is following the advice and example of Ed Smart. He held regular news conferences during his daughter's disappearance to keep her name and face in the public eye.
But do those efforts provide police with useful information?
Members of both Susan and Josh Powell's families have been busy lately. They're trying to make sure Susan is not forgotten and ensure the search for the mother of two continues.
"It seems he's just doing everything possible to distance himself from memories of Susan," said Kirk Graves about his brother-in-law Josh Powell.
While Josh is hundreds of miles away in Washington state, Graves and his wife, Jennifer, are doing anything they can to keep Susan fresh on everyone's minds.
"You reach a point where it goes from a sprint to a marathon, and we feel like we're in a marathon," Grave said. "It's been very difficult."
They've gone from trying to stay neutral to openly criticizing Josh and his bizarre behavior.
Both the Graves and Susan's parents say Susan was a victim of emotional and physical abuse in her marriage. It's behavior they say Josh learned from his own father.
"What Josh grew up with was an environment of manipulating women to get what he wants," said Graves. "They were not valuable people, you don't have to treat your wife with respect, and when it came time for things to end, you just treated them however you felt like and got rid of them."
Powell and his father have repeatedly refused requests for interviews.
Graves says when Josh was 16, his parents went through a bitter divorce and Josh moved in with his father. He has now moved in with his father again -- this time with his two young children -- while the search for his missing wife continues in Utah.
Since Josh isn't doing anything to look for Susan, Graves said he and Susan's family are forming a foundation in her name, holding a news conference in Washington State.
Police say their efforts are appreciated.
"The more the public is aware of it, the better the opportunity for information to come in," said Capt. Tom McLachlan of the West Valley City Police Department.
"If there was one thing I would say to Josh right now, it would be just one question: ‘What do you know?' And because I think he knows a lot, if I could get an honest answer to that question, I think that everybody would appreciate an honest response," Graves said.
West Valley Police say they have not had any recent contact with Josh Powell.
E-mail: jstagg@ksl.com
