What Happened to Susan Powell? Was She Found?
by Rubaditsha | Updated May 02, 2023
Who is Susan Powell?
Susan Marie Powell, born on October 16, 1981, was an American woman who went missing in West Valley City, Utah. Her disappearance, presumed murder, and the events that followed gained national media attention. Susan's husband, Joshua Powell, was considered a person of interest in the investigation into her disappearance, but he was never charged.
On February 5, 2012, Joshua killed himself and their two sons, Charles Joshua Powell and Braden Timothy Powell, in a murder-suicide. This happened after custody of the children had been awarded to Susan's parents, Judy and Charles Cox. On May 21, 2013, the West Valley City police stopped their active investigation into Susan's disappearance, concluding that Joshua had murdered her and that his brother, Michael, who also committed suicide in February 2013 after suspicion grew around him, had helped him conceal her body. Since then, there have been several attempts to legally declare Susan as dead.
What Happened to Susan Powell?
Susan Cox Powell disappeared on December 6, 2009, and was later presumed dead. Her husband, Josh, claimed that he and their two sons had gone on a camping trip during the night while Susan slept, but when she failed to show up for work and was nowhere to be found, police began to investigate. A wet spot on the couch and blood on the floor with both Susan's and an unknown male's DNA raised suspicion, and Josh's alibi was doubted.
Susan's friends and diaries revealed that she was unhappy and fearful in her eight-year marriage to Josh. She had expressed concern about her children being left with him and had handwritten a will excluding him. Josh moved the boys back to Washington a month after Susan disappeared, which was considered unusual behavior for someone with a missing spouse, leading investigators to suspect he was involved in her disappearance.
Susan's father-in-law, Stephen Powell, had an unhealthy obsession with her and was later arrested for voyeurism and child pornography. Josh was also investigated for possession of child pornography, and temporary custody of the boys was granted to Susan's father, Chuck Cox. During a supervised visit with Josh, he barricaded himself inside his home with their sons and set the house on fire, resulting in his own and the boys' deaths. Susan's disappearance remains unsolved.
Was Susan Powell Found?
Susan Cox Powell disappeared on December 6, 2009, and was later presumed dead. Her husband, Josh, claimed that he and their two sons had gone on a camping trip during the night while Susan slept, but when she failed to show up for work and was nowhere to be found, police began to investigate. A wet spot on the couch and blood on the floor with both Susan's and an unknown male's DNA raised suspicion, and Josh's alibi was doubted.
Susan's friends and diaries revealed that she was unhappy and fearful in her eight-year marriage to Josh. She had expressed concern about her children being left with him and had handwritten a will excluding him. Josh moved the boys back to Washington a month after Susan disappeared, which was considered unusual behavior for someone with a missing spouse, leading investigators to suspect he was involved in her disappearance.
Susan's father-in-law, Stephen Powell, had an unhealthy obsession with her and was later arrested for voyeurism and child pornography. Josh was also investigated for possession of child pornography, and temporary custody of the boys was granted to Susan's father, Chuck Cox. During a supervised visit with Josh, he barricaded himself inside his home with their sons and set the house on fire, resulting in his own and the boys' deaths. Susan's disappearance remains unsolved.
When did Susan Powell go Missing?
Susan Powell was first reported missing in December 2009 when the family was living in Utah. Her husband, Josh Powell, claimed that he had gone on a camping trip in the middle of the night with their sons, but Susan's friend, Kiirsi Hellewell, did not believe his story.
The police named Josh Powell a "person of interest" about one week after Susan disappeared. The couple's son, Charlie, said they all went on a camping trip, including Susan, which differed from Josh's story that Susan stayed behind because she was tired.
The investigation led to the discovery of Susan's safe deposit box, which contained a handwritten will that explained how "bad her marriage had become and that Josh Powell had taken out a $1 million life insurance policy on her." The note continued by stating, "If I die, it may not be an accident." To this day, Susan Powell's body has never been found, and the details of what happened to her remain a mystery.
Susan Powell Kids
Susan Powell had two sons, Charlie and Braden Powell. They were seven and five years old, respectively, at the time of their deaths. The boys were in the care of their father, Josh Powell, at the time of their deaths. Powell attacked the boys with a hatchet before pouring gasoline throughout the house and setting it on fire, which ultimately caused their deaths due to carbon monoxide poisoning.
Evidence suggested that Powell planned to kill his sons and had even given away some of their belongings before their visit. The boys were in the care of Chuck and Judy Cox, Susan's parents, after her disappearance. They were devastated by the loss of their daughter and had hoped to give her sons a good life.
Susan Powell Murder
In February 2012, during a supervised visit between Joshua Powell and his two sons, Charlie and Braden, social worker Elizabeth Griffin Hall called 911 after Joshua refused to let her in and grabbed the boys. Soon after, an explosion occurred at Joshua's house, resulting in the deaths of Joshua and his two sons. The authorities treated the case as a double murder-suicide, believing that Joshua deliberately caused the explosion.
When Steven Powell, Susan's father-in-law, was informed of the incident, he did not seem upset but was angry with the authorities who informed him. Two weeks later, Steven invoked his Fifth Amendment right not to answer questions about Susan's disappearance. Many people, including Susan's family, believe that Steven knew what happened to her. In May 2012, Steven was convicted of voyeurism charges.
The investigation confirmed that the explosion had been planned deliberately. Joshua and the boys died of carbon monoxide poisoning, but they also had significant chopping injuries on their head and neck. A hatchet was found near Joshua's body, and investigators believe that he attacked the boys with it before being overcome by smoke and fumes.
Investigators found two five-gallon cans of gasoline on the premises, and evidence showed that gasoline had been spread throughout the house. Before the incident, Joshua had emailed friends and relatives, saying goodbye and instructing them on how to find his money and turn off his utilities. Records showed that he had donated his children's toys and books to local charities and withdrawn $7,000 from his bank account.
Joshua named his brother Michael as the main beneficiary of his life insurance policy. Charlie and Braden are buried at Woodbine Cemetery, where there is also a memorial for their mother. Joshua's remains were cremated.
What Happened to Susan Powell:FAQs
Susan Marie Powell (née Cox) is an American missing person from West Valley City, Utah, whose disappearance and presumed murder, as well as the subsequent investigation and events, garnered national media attention.
Susan's husband Joshua was named a person of interest in the investigation into her disappearance but was never charged.
On February 5, 2012, Joshua killed himself and their two young sons, Charles Joshua Powell and Braden Timothy Powell, in a murder–suicide after custody of the boys had been awarded to Susan's parents, Judy and Charles Cox.
Susan Powell was first reported missing in December 2009 when the family was living in Utah. Her husband, Josh Powell, claimed that he had gone on a camping trip in the middle of the night with their sons, but Susan's friend, Kiirsi Hellewell, did not believe his story.
The police named Josh Powell a "person of interest" about one week after Susan disappeared. The couple's son, Charlie, said they all went on a camping trip, including Susan, which differed from Josh's story that Susan stayed behind because she was tired.