Transcript

The woman mysteriously disappeared and the unresolved case of Susan Powell

From Casefile True Crime · Episode page · Watch on YouTube

· 23 min · 3,733 words · 27 timestamped sections

This is the full, timestamped transcript of "The woman mysteriously disappeared and the unresolved case of Susan Powell", an episode of Casefile True Crime published December 22, 2024 (23 min, about 3,733 words). It mentions 23 people, works and ideas, including Josh Powell, Susan Cox Powell, December 6th 2009, February 5th 2012, West Valley City.

What this episode is about

The case of Susan Powell centers on her mysterious disappearance from her home in West Valley City, Utah, on December 6, 2009, with her husband, Josh Powell, emerging as the primary suspect amid unsettling evidence and a troubled family history. As investigators uncovered disturbing behaviors in Josh, the unfolding investigation revealed a complex narrative of betrayal and emotional turmoil, ultimately leading to shocking actions that would change the course of the case in 2012.

Key takeaways

  • In a chilling twist, Susan's own journal foreshadowed her fate—predicting danger long before it struck.
  • Josh Powell's history of dysfunction and obsession reveals how hidden traumas can manifest in dangerous behaviors.
  • The church community's support failed Susan; community ties can sometimes enable rather than protect the vulnerable.
  • Josh's bizarre camping story in freezing temperatures highlights how illogical narratives can unravel a suspect’s credibility.
  • Susan's case underscores the often-overlooked signs of domestic abuse, reminding us to listen closely to silent cries for help.

Who speaks in this episode?

What is discussed, and when

  1. – 5:00: West Valley City, Susan Cox Powell, Josh Powell, December 6th 2009
  2. – 10:00: Josh Powell, West Valley City, Utah, Charlie Powell
  3. – 15:00: Josh Powell, Steven Powell, February 5th 2012, Braden Powell
  4. – 20:00: Steven Powell, Josh Powell, West Valley City, Michael Powell
  5. – 23:14: Josh Powell, Chuck Cox, Washington Department of Social and Health Services, Jod Cox

Notable quotes from "The woman mysteriously disappeared and the unresolved case of Susan Powell"

  • Vanished from her home in West Valley City Utah leaving behind a trail of Suspicion her spouse Josh Powell seemed to be the most likely suspect given the family Affairs that…
    about Josh Powell · at
  • Cosmetologist and later worked for Wells Fargo Investments after relocating with her family she was raised in a family belonging to the Church of Jesus Christ of latterday…
    about Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints · at
  • For a brief period after their wedding which introduced complications due to Steven Powell's inappropriate behavior towards Susan as they settled into married life in West Valley City Utah the couple welcomed two sons Charles in January.
    about Steven Powell · at
  • Role in their Liv lives after the service they returned home to their residence in West Valley City Utah this day began like any other with no indications of the events that would soon unfold in the afternoon around 5:00 p.m.
    about December 6th 2009 · at
  • Claimed that he took Charlie and bradden's sledding after leaving Susan at home asleep he stated they went on a camping trip to Simpsons Springs campground in a remote area of Utah's West Desert around midnight this claim raised immediate.
    about Utah · at
  • Disappearance police conducted interviews with her eldest son Charlie Powell during the interview Charlie stated that Susan had gone camping with them but did not return home…
    about Charlie Powell · at
  • They attempted to navigate the investigation while ensuring the safety of the children involved on February 5th 2012 a supervised visit was schedule for Josh Powell and his two…
    about February 5th 2012 · at
  • Of his brother Josh and Josh's two sons Charlie and Braden prior to his suicide Michael had been questioned multiple times by police in 2012 after his abandoned Ford was…
    about Michael Powell · at

Who and what is mentioned in this episode?

People

  • Josh Powell — Person · Primary suspect / central figure in case narrative · 12 mentions · first at
    Husband of Susan Cox Powell and the main person of interest in her disappearance; later died in a murder-suicide that killed his two sons.
  • Susan Cox Powell — Person · Missing person / victim at center of case · 3 mentions · first at
    Her 2009 disappearance drives the entire episode; her prior writings and family dynamics are presented as key context for suspicion toward Josh and his family.
    Managed to evade charges until his shocking actions in 2012 changed everything Susan Marie Cox was born on October 16th 1981 in West Valley City Utah she was raised in a family…
  • Steven Powell — Person · Referenced family member; alleged harasser; investigated/arrested · 7 mentions · first at
    Josh’s father; described as obsessively fixated on Susan and later arrested for voyeurism/pornography-related offenses, intensifying suspicion around the family.
  • Charlie Powell — Person · Child witness / victim · 1 mention · first at
    Older son of Susan and Josh; his statements to police are cited, and he later died in the 2012 murder-suicide.
  • Braden Powell — Person · Child victim · 1 mention · first at
    Younger son of Susan and Josh; central to custody/visitation discussion and died in the 2012 murder-suicide.
    Disappearance police conducted interviews with her eldest son Charlie Powell during the interview Charlie stated that Susan had gone camping with them but did not return home…
  • Michael Powell — Person · Referenced potential accomplice / later decedent · 2 mentions · first at
    Josh’s brother; episode describes suspicion he helped dispose of Susan’s remains and notes his 2013 suicide.
  • Elizabeth Griffin Hall — Person · Referenced social worker / supervised-visit monitor · 1 mention · first at
    Supervised Josh’s visitation on Feb 5, 2012; locked out immediately before the fatal house fire, making her a key situational witness in the episode’s account.
    2012 a supervised visit was schedule for Josh Powell and his two sons Charlie and Braden with social worker Elizabeth Griffin Hall the visit took place at Josh's home in Graham…
  • Chuck Cox — Person · Referenced family member / advocate / litigant · 1 mention · first at
    Susan’s father; opposed Josh’s custody/visitation and later pursued estate control and legal actions described in the episode.
    Proceedings regarding Charlie and Braden Powell began too despite Susan's parents Chuck and jod Cox pleading against granting custody to Josh the state allowed him visitation…
  • Tarica Powell — Person · Referenced family member / early responder · 2 mentions · first at
    Josh’s mother; contacted by daycare and involved in initiating police contact when Susan and the family were unreachable.
    Unresponsive given the circumstances and their inability to reach anyone inside tarica and Jennifer decided to call the police their actions initiated a critical response from…
  • Jod Cox — Person · Referenced family member / custody advocate · 2 mentions · first at
    Susan’s mother (as referenced); joined Chuck Cox in opposing custody/visitation for Josh during proceedings described.
    Proceedings regarding Charlie and Braden Powell began too despite Susan's parents Chuck and jod Cox pleading against granting custody to Josh the state allowed him visitation…
  • Jennifer Graves — Person · Referenced family member / early responder · 1 mention · first at
    Josh’s sister; contacted by daycare and helped initiate the police response when the family could not be reached.
    Several attempts to contact Josh and Susan without success the daycare provider contacted Josh's mother tarica Powell and his sister Jennifer Graves alarmed by the situation…

Companies & orgs

  • Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints — Company · Affiliation · 1 mention · first at
    The religious organization Susan and her family were part of, influencing their community and lifestyle.
  • Washington Department of Social and Health Services — Company · Legal entity · 1 mention · first at
    The state agency involved in the custody and welfare decisions regarding Susan's children after her disappearance.
    The estate ensuring that Susan's assets would be managed in a manner consistent with her family's wishes the Cox family filed a lawsuit against Washington's Department of…
  • Wells Fargo Investments — Company · Employer · 1 mention · first at
    Susan Cox Powell's employer after relocating with her family, part of her professional background.
    Relatively warm and had a good attitude towards work and aspirations Susan pursued a career as a cosmetologist and later worked for Wells Fargo Investments after relocating…

Places & events

  • December 6th 2009 — Event · Key date · 1 mention · first at
    The date Susan Cox Powell was last seen alive, marking the beginning of her disappearance case.
  • February 5th 2012 — Event · Key date · 1 mention · first at
    The date of the tragic event where Josh Powell killed his two sons and himself during a supervised visit.
  • West Valley City — Place · Setting · 7 mentions · first at
    The city where Susan Cox Powell lived and disappeared, central to the case.
    Two sons Charlie and Braden that their local ward of the Church of Jesus Christ Latter Day Saints the family was known to be active members of the Church community which played…
  • Utah — Place · Setting · 1 mention · first at
    The state where Susan Cox Powell disappeared and where much of the investigation took place.
  • Seattle — Place · Setting · 2 mentions · first at
    The city where Josh Powell moved with his children after Susan's disappearance, complicating the investigation.
    Disappearance and raised questions about his intentions during this critical period to make matters worse Josh Powell took his sons Charlie and Braden and moved in with his…
  • Graham Washington — Place · Setting · 1 mention · first at
    The town where Josh Powell's home was located during the tragic event of February 5th, 2012.
    Josh Powell and his two sons Charlie and Braden with social worker Elizabeth Griffin Hall the visit took place at Josh's home in Graham Washington during the visits Josh locked…
  • LDS Church Institute — Place · Setting · 1 mention · first at
    The religious institution where Susan and Josh Powell met, marking the beginning of their relationship.
    During his teenage years indicating significant emotional distress Joshua met Susan Cox in 1999 while attending an LDS church Institute religion course in Tacoma Washington the…
  • Portland Oregon Temple — Place · Setting · 1 mention · first at
    The location where Susan and Josh Powell were married, significant to their personal history.
    Couple began dating shortly after and married in April 2001 at Portland Oregon Temple initially their married appeared stable however Financial struggle soon emerged as a…
  • Minneapolis Minnesota — Place · Setting · 1 mention · first at
    The location where Michael Powell committed suicide, adding another tragic layer to the case.
    To piece together the events leading up to Susan's disappearance on February 11th 2013 Michael Powell took his own life by jumping from the roof of a parking garage in…

Full transcript with timestamps

on December 6th 2009 Susan Cox Powell vanished from her home in West Valley City Utah leaving behind a trail of Suspicion her spouse Josh Powell seemed to be the most likely suspect given the family Affairs that were about to be revealed as well as the heartbreaking ending for all the parties involved it is imperative to note that the Susan pow case is more than a woman's disappearance it is a tale of betrayal leading to devastation as authorities began to unravel the truth they discovered troubling behaviors exhibited by Josh Powell who became a person of interest almost immediately despite mounting evidence against him Josh managed to evade charges until his shocking actions in 2012 changed everything Susan Marie Cox was born on October 16th 1981 in West Valley City Utah she was raised in a family that was relatively warm and had a good attitude towards work and aspirations Susan pursued a career as a

cosmetologist and later worked for Wells Fargo Investments after relocating with her family she was raised in a family belonging to the Church of Jesus Christ of latterday saints and this naturally shaped her beliefs and sociable nature Joshua Powell was born on January 20th 1976 in per alup Washington to Steven and tarica Powell his childhood was marked by dysfunction his parents divorced in the early 1990s due to Steven's Abus of behavior and disillusionment with the LVS Church reports indicated that Joshua exhibited troubling behaviors as a child including animal cruelty and threats of violence he attempted suicide at least once during his teenage years indicating significant emotional distress Joshua met Susan Cox in 1999 while attending an LDS church Institute religion course in Tacoma Washington the couple began dating shortly after and married in April 2001 at Portland Oregon Temple initially their married appeared

stable however Financial struggle soon emerged as a significant issue for the couple they lived with Joshua's father for a brief period after their wedding which introduced complications due to Steven Powell's inappropriate behavior towards Susan as they settled into married life in West Valley City Utah the couple welcomed two sons Charles in January 2005 and Braden in January 2007 despite these joyful additions to their family underlying tensions began to surface as Joshua's controlling Behavior became more pronounced the relationship between Susan and Steven became increasingly problematic as Steven develops an obsessive fixation on Susan he engaged in disturbing behaviors such as filming her without her consent and expressing inappropriate feelings towards her this Dynamic forced Joshua and Steven to move outs to distance themselves from Steven's advances however the tension within the family persisted reports

indicate that Steven would follow Susan around the house and invade her private y by spying on her while she used the bathroom or stealing personal items like underwear this environment contributed to the strain on Susan and Joshua's marriage as they struggled with financial issues and Joshua's reluctance to attend church service with his family in the Years leading up to her disappearance Susan documented her concerns about her marriage through journal entries and letters to friends she expressed fears regarding Josh's controlling behavior and noted threats he made about their future if she should in a letter dated June 28th 2008 she warned that if something happened to her it might not be an accident even if it appeared that way this documentation would serve as critical evidence in understanding the Dynamics of their relationship and the potential dangers Susan faced on December 6 2006 Susan Cox

Powell attended church services with her two sons Charlie and Braden that their local ward of the Church of Jesus Christ Latter Day Saints the family was known to be active members of the Church community which played a significant role in their Liv lives after the service they returned home to their residence in West Valley City Utah this day began like any other with no indications of the events that would soon unfold in the afternoon around 5:00 p.m. a neighbor visited the Powell house and observed Susan lying down for a nap after reportedly feeling unwell this visit marked the last known sighting of Susan by anyone outside her family after the neighbor left there was no further communication from Susan the timeline indicates that she was last seen alive shortly after this visit creating a gap that would later raise concerns among her family and friends when she failed to appear at work the following

day at approximately 2:29 p.m. on December 6th Susan made her last phone call to a friend this call did not raise any immediate alarms however it would later be noted as a significant point in the timeline of her disappearance the content of this call remains unclear but it was an ordinary conversation that did not indicate any distress or unusual circumstances this final communication would become critical in piecing together Susan's last known activities before she vanished later that evening Josh Powell claimed that he took Charlie and bradden's sledding after leaving Susan at home asleep he stated they went on a camping trip to Simpsons Springs campground in a remote area of Utah's West Desert around midnight this claim raised immediate suspicions due to the freezing temperatures that night and the impracticality of camping with young children under such conditions additionally neighbors reported seeing

Josh return around 8:30 p.m. which contradicted his timeline of events regarding the camping trip when police arrived at the Powell home later that evening they found Josh with Susan's cell phone in his vehicle and several items that would later be scrutinized during the investigation on the morning of December 7th 2009 Susan's absence was noted when she failed to drop off her son's Charlie and Braden at daycare the daycare provider became concerned after not being able to reach either parent after several attempts to contact Josh and Susan without success the daycare provider contacted Josh's mother tarica Powell and his sister Jennifer Graves alarmed by the situation they went to the Powell home to investigate upon arriving they found the house quiet and unresponsive given the circumstances and their inability to reach anyone inside tarica and Jennifer decided to call the police their actions initiated a

critical response from law enforcement as concerns grew that the family might be in danger the West Valley City police responded promptly to the call about the missing family upon arriving at the pow residence officers forced entry into the home due to concerns that the family may have been victims of carbon monoxide poisoning once inside they discovered signs of a struggle two box fans were blowing on a wet spot on the carpet which raised immediate suspicions about what had transpired in the home in addition to this unusual scene Susan's purse wallets and identification were found inside indicating she had not left volunt L the police noted these findings is critical evidence in their investigation the absence of Susan and any indication of where she might be heightened their concerns regarding her safety later that afternoon around 5:00 p.m. Josh Powell returned home with Charlie and Braden after claiming they

had been sledding upon his return he was greeted by police officers who were already investigating Susan's disappearance during this encounter officers discovered that Josh had Susan's cell phone in his vehicle with the SIM card removed the detail that raised further suspicion about his involvement in her disappearance additionally police found several items in his vehicle that would later be scrutinized during the investigation a generator blankets a gas canister and tarps these items were inconsistent with his claims of having taken the children sledding during questioning at the West Valley City Police Department later that evening Josh insisted he did not know where Susan was and maintained that she was at home when he left her for the camping trip however inconsistencies in his statements began to emerge as investigators probed deeper into his account of events following Susan's disappearance police conducted

interviews with her eldest son Charlie Powell during the interview Charlie stated that Susan had gone camping with them but did not return home this statement raised immediate concern among investigators regarding the accuracy of Josh's claims about their activities Josh's account was crucial as it provided insight into the family's Dynamics and suggested that Susan was indeed with them during the night of her disappearance investigators recognized the need to assess the reliability of Charlie's statement further given his young age and the potential influence of his father as part of the investigation law enforcement executed a search warrant of the PO residence on December 9th 2009 during this search they discovered blood evidence on the floor near a damp sofa where fans were blowing indicating an attempt to dry the area subsequent DNA analysis confirmed that one blood sample matched Susan's DNA

while another sample was identified as coming from an unknown male contributor another key piece of evidence foundering the search was Susan's letter in which she had expressed concerns over the marriage how there was no attraction between the couple rather just infighting this was the same letter where Susan had stated that if something were to happen to her it wouldn't be an accident her husband and his family would be responsible these pieces of evidence significantly shifted the focus of the investigation toward Josh Powell as it contradicted his narrative that Susan had simply vanished Without a Trace in the days following Susan's disappearance Josh Powell exhibited several behaviors that raised suspicions among investigators he withdrew large sums of money from Susan's retirement accounts using a Power of Attorney form and canceled her scheduled Chiropractic appointments additionally friends

reported that Josh had previously discussed methods of disposing of a body specifically mentioning abandoned Min shafts in Utah's West Desert as potential locations these actions and statements contributed to the growing belief among investigators that Josh may have been involved in Susan's disappearance and raised questions about his intentions during this critical period to make matters worse Josh Powell took his sons Charlie and Braden and moved in with his father Steven Powell in Seattle this Arrangement raised concerns due to Susan's previous warnings about Steven's inappropriate behavior and her desire to keep her children away from him despite these concerns Josh chose to live with step which further complicated the investigation into Susan's disappearance police suspected that Josh Powell's brother Michael may have helped dispose of Susan's remains after cadav dogs detected human decomposition in his

trunk investigators gathered evidence but were unable to definitively link Michael to Susan's Disappearance in 2013 Michael Powell committed suicide raising further questions about the family's involvement in the case following Susan's disappearance Steven Powell Josh's father conducted a smear campaign against her claiming she had run off with another man this Behavior Drew scrutiny from investigators who examined Steven's past and uncovered his obsession with Susan evidence revealed that Steven had engaged in inappropriate conduct toward her and had made several disturbing remarks about her after she went missing his actions contributed to the complex Dynamic surrounding the investigation into Susan's Disappearance in 2011 Steven Powell the father of Josh Powell was arrested for voyerism and possession of pornography the arrest stem from an investigation into Steven's inappropriate behavior following The

Disappearance of his daughter-in-law Susan law enforcement executed a search warrant at Steven's home in palop Washington where they discovered numerous images and videos of women taken without their consent among the material seized were explicit photographs of Susan which raised significant concerns about his obsession with her the evidence collected during the arrest reveal the disturbing pattern of behavior that included stalking and harassment this information brought renewed media attention to Susan's case and intensified scrutiny of the Powell family Dynamics investigators began to reassess Steven's potential involvement in Susan's disappearance considering his proximity to the family and his known fixation on her as details of the charges emerged concerns about the safety of Charlie and Braden intensified Susan had previously expressed fears about her children being around Steven

due to his past behavior following his arrest authorities faced pressure to ensure the boys were protected from any potential harm associated with their grandfather as police scrambled to locate any signs of Susan custody proceedings regarding Charlie and Braden Powell began too despite Susan's parents Chuck and jod Cox pleading against granting custody to Josh the state allowed him visitation rights concerns about Josh's Behavior and the circumstances surrounding Susan's disappearance did not prevent the court from permitting these visits following Steven Powell's arrest on child pornography charges in 2011 the situation changed significantly the state intervened and took custody of Charlie and Braden removing them from Josh's care due to the serious allegations against their grandfather and ongoing investigations into their mother's disappearance this decision was made in light of the potential risks to the

children's safety given the family Dynamics legal battles ensued over the custody of the children amid these developments Susan's parents sought to gain permanent custody arguing that Josh posed a threat to their grandchildren due to his association with Steven and his questionable behavior following Susan's disappearance the court proceedings highlighted the complexities of the case as investigators continued to gather evidence related to Susan's fate while also addressing the immediate welfare of Charlie and Braden throughout this period public interest in the case remained high with media coverage focusing on both the custody disputes and the unresolved questions surrounding Susan's disappearance the ongoing legal struggles underscored the chall challenges faced by law enforcement as they attempted to navigate the investigation while ensuring the safety of the children involved on February 5th

2012 a supervised visit was schedule for Josh Powell and his two sons Charlie and Braden with social worker Elizabeth Griffin Hall the visit took place at Josh's home in Graham Washington during the visits Josh locked Elizabeth out of the house shortly after she arrived this action raised immediate concerns regarding the safety of the children once outside Elizabeth Ed to gain entry but was unable to do so while she waited for law enforcement to arrive Josh set his house on fire using a flammable liquid the fire quickly engulfed the home and emergency responders were called to the scene tragically Charlie and Braden died from coverman oxide poisoning as a result of the fire investigators later found evidence syndicating that both children had sustained injuries suggesting that they were attacked before the fire was set a hatchet was recovered near Josh's body indicating that that he may have used it

to inflict these injuries authorities confirmed that the explosion was deliberate and treated the case as a double murder suicide local authorities reported the Josh's actions appeared premeditated as he had withdrawn several thousand from his bank account shortly before the incident and had contacted friends via email to say goodbye additionally he had donated his children's toys and books to local charities just a day prior following the incident investigators uncovered that two 5 gallon cans of gasoline had been found on the premises and along with evidence that gasoline had been spread throughout the house this discovery reinforced suspicions that Josh intended to destroy both himself and his children in a calculated act when authorities notified Steven Powell who was incarcerated at the time he reportedly did not seem very upset by the news but expressed anger towards those who had informed

him two weeks later Steven invoked his Fifth Amendment right to not answer questions regarding Susan's disappearance raising further suspicion about his knowledge of the events the incident prompted a thorough review of The Social Services involved in overseeing visits between Joshua and his children highlighting potential failures and safeguarding measures that could have prevented this tragedy following the tragic event involving Josh Powell and his two sons investigators delved into the circumstances that led to these drastic actions the aftermath revealed a complex interplay of legal pressures psychological evaluations and troubling family dynamics that contributed to a narrative suggesting that Josh may have felt cornered Josh was under significant legal scrutiny due to the ongoing investigation of duan's disappearance he faced custody battles concerning Charlie and Braden which added considerable

stress to a situation authorities had ordered him to undergo psychological evaluations as part of the custody proceedings reflecting concerns about his mental stability and parenting capabilities these evaluations aimed to assess his Fitness as a parents amid allegations of controlling behavior and potential involvement in Susan's disappearance they became critical in understanding a state of mind leading up to the incident the family Dynamics within the Powell household were troubling Josh's relationship with his father Steven Powell raised red flags due to Steven's inappropriate behavior and obsession with Susan investigators noted that Steven had conducted a smear campaign against Susan after her disappearance claiming she had run off with another man this hostile environment likely influenced Josh's action and mindset in the months leading up at the incident Josh engaged in suspicious

behavior that further alarmed investigators him withdrawing large sums of money from Susan's accounts and canceling her future appointments were enough to raise questions about his intentions as soon as he was given the power of attorney over Susan's assets he stopped cooperating with the law enforcement authorities and ran off to Seattle to spend Christmas with his kids to make matters worse he made statements about disposing of a body and mentioning abandoned Min shafts as potential locations for hiding remains this raised further suspicions regarding his involvement in Susan's disappearance following the incident investigators focused on all of these aspects leading up to the fire evidence suggested that he may have felt cornered by legal pressures and the impending loss of custody of his children Josh's suicide Left many questions unanswered regarding Susan's fate and the extent of family

involvement in her disappearance do you think Josh was responsible for Susan's disappearance alone or were any of his family members involved despite Josh's death law enforcement continued to investigate leads related to Susan's disappearance they examined evidence from Powell's home and surrounding areas but the absence of a body complicated the case nonetheless suspicion remained surrounding Josh and potentially other family members as investigators sought to piece together the events leading up to Susan's disappearance on February 11th 2013 Michael Powell took his own life by jumping from the roof of a parking garage in Minneapolis Minnesota this tragic event occurred approximately one year after the deaths of his brother Josh and Josh's two sons Charlie and Braden prior to his suicide Michael had been questioned multiple times by police in 2012 after his abandoned Ford was discovered at an

Oregon reckon yard authorities described him as evasive regarding the circumstances surrounding his vehicle following the deaths of Josh and the boys Utah authorities speculated that both Joshua and Michael were accomplices in the murder of Susan Powell investigators noted suspicious behaviors from both brothers during their inquiries into Susan's disappearance leading to ongoing speculation about their involvement Michael's death added another layer of complexity to the investigation leaving many questions unanswered regarding the family's role in Susan's Fate on July 1st 2013 the West Valley City Police officially closed their active investigation into Susan Powell's disappearance this decision followed extensive inquiries and the tragic deaths of Josh Powell and his two sons Charlie and Braden despite the closure the case remained a focal point of public interest and speculation as many

questions about Susan's fate lingered the police maintained that they believed Josh was involved in her disappearance but without evidence or a body the investigation could not proceed further in Fe February 2013 Manley who conducted psychological evaluations of Josh Powell for Washington authorities acknowledged his suspicions regarding Joshua's involvement in Susan's disappearance despite these concerns Manley did not include suspicions in His official reports because they were beyond the scope of his duties and because Josh had not been charged with any wrongdoings at that time in March 2015 Chuck Cox won a court battle against Tara and Alina Powell over the control of Susan's estate Tara and Alina sought to have Susan declared legally dead to collect life insurance benefits ultimately Chuck gained full control of the estate ensuring that Susan's assets would be managed in a manner consistent

with her family's wishes the Cox family filed a lawsuit against Washington's Department of Social and Health Services and its social workers alleging that they prioritized Joshua's potential rights over the safety of Charlie and Braden in 2015 a Federal Court ruled in favor of the defendants granting immunity to the social workers and finding dsh s not negligent however in 2019 an appeals court allowed claims of DSHS negligence to proceed to trial leading to a jury ruling that DSHS was negligent in awarding $98 million to the Estates of Charlie and Bron Powell following the tragic events surrounding Susan's estate the Cox family actively pressured lawmakers in Washington and Utah to pass legislation restricting visitation rights to parents under investigation for murder their advocacy effort aimed to enhance protections for children in similar situations reflecting their commitment to preventing future tragedies stemming

from inadequate oversight and custody cases do you think the court should stop parents from visiting their children if accused of murder despite the absence of Susan Powell's remains it is widely believed that she was murdered by her husband Joshua as of March 2018 there have been calls to declare her legally Dead with homicide as the cause in early 2022 a cave exploration crew searched a mine shaft in Utah for Susan's remains discovering rib bones and scraps of clothing however DNA tests confirmed that none belonged to her identifying them instead as animal remains additionally pants recovered tested positive for male DNA and efforts are ongoing to identify this individual the investigation into Susan's disappearance remains open-ended with no charges filed against Joshua due to his death in 2012 the case continues to prompt discussions about legal reforms aimed at protecting children in similar

situations so what do you guys think is Susan alive and if she was killed by her husbands what happened to her body where did they go

Questions about this episode

Who speaks in "The woman mysteriously disappeared and the unresolved case of Susan Powell"?

Susan Powell, Josh Powell, Steven Powell, Chuck Cox.

What is "The woman mysteriously disappeared and the unresolved case of Susan Powell" about?

The case of Susan Powell centers on her mysterious disappearance from her home in West Valley City, Utah, on December 6, 2009, with her husband, Josh Powell, emerging as the primary suspect amid unsettling evidence and a troubled family history. As investigators uncovered disturbing behaviors in Josh, the unfolding investigation revealed a complex narrative of betrayal and emotional turmoil,…

What is mentioned in this Casefile True Crime episode?

23 people, works and ideas are mentioned, including Josh Powell, Susan Cox Powell, December 6th 2009, February 5th 2012, West Valley City, Steven Powell. Each one on this page links to its own page with every episode that mentions it.

How long is "The woman mysteriously disappeared and the unresolved case of Susan Powell"?

The episode runs 23 min; the transcript is about 3,733 words in 27 timestamped sections.

More from Casefile True Crime

About this transcript: the episode's spoken words as captioned on YouTube, split into timestamped sections. Reclip.Me locates every person, work and idea in the text, keeps the time it is first named, and quotes the words around it verbatim. Last updated January 29, 2026.