Where is Susan Powell?

The Powell family in happier times

If past is prologue then Susan Powell is in desperate trouble. A failing marriage, a sudden and baffling disappearance, a diffident alibi from a distant and uncooperative husband, all ingredients of past cases that came to no good end.

Relatives of the 28 year old maintain that she is not the sort to simply flee an unrewarding relationship, abandoning her young children, her job and her friends, and fail even to let her parents know where she is. Yet she has been missing for two weeks now, and no one has heard from her.

Susan’s husband Joshua was the last person to see her, as she was getting ready for bed in the couple’s West Valley City, Utah home. According to him, he had the sudden idea to take the kids camping, though it was after midnight with temperatures below freezing.

The missing woman’s father, Charles Cox, doesn’t buy that story: “The idea that she was sleeping or getting ready for bed at 12:30 AM and [her husband] said ‘I’m leaving with the boys to go camping’…I don’t think so. No way.” Susan would not have allowed him to take the boys, ages 1 and 4, out in that kind of weather, Cox maintained.

Susan did not show up for work at a Wells Fargo bank the following Monday, December 7. Joshua also neither showed up or called in to his job that day. When police arrived at the home, their first impression was that the entire family was missing. They did find Susan’s purse, cell phone and automobile, all items she presumably would have taken if she had simply decided to leave home for awhile.

When Joshua did return home, neighbors report, he did not seem alarmed that his wife was missing, telling one that the police would take care of it. He had a dubious explanation for missing work Monday- he told a local news reporter that he had lost track of time and thought it was Sunday when he returned from the camping trip. As to the spontaneity of the trip, Joshua told the CBS affiliate: “Lots of times I just go camping with my boys. Just overnight. We do s’mores and stuff.”

Recently, Joshua left Utah for Washington state, to the consternation of those still searching for his wife. He stated that he merely wanted to spend the holidays with his relatives. Susan’s parents also live in Washington, and Joshua showed up at a candlelight vigil they held for their daughter. Reportedly, Joshua and Susan’s parents did not speak to each other.

Though the authorities have not placed any restrictions on Joshua Powell’s movements, they have labeled him a ‘person of interest’ in Susan’s disappearance. They have also called him ‘uncooperative’ in the investigation, and claimed an interview with him left them with more questions than answers.

If there is evidence of foul play, police have not yet found it. Yet this investigation is hardly finished and authorities will certainly have more questions for Joshua Powell.