The parents of Susan Cox Powell, the missing Utah mother of two, have started to comb through her father-in-law's former home in Washington state, where they have found not only tragic reminders of the past but also potential clues to her disappearance.
Bike helmets meant to protect two small heads, a beloved children's book, computer files and articles of clothing were among the items recovered over Memorial Day weekend from Steven Powell's former residence.
Advertisement
"To the Powells, those things appear to be nothing more than junk," said author Gregg Olsen, who visited the house with the family. "It indicates just how much they really cared about the boys and their mother."
Steven Powell, the father of Susan Powell's husband, Josh Powell, hasn't lived at the residence since 2011. He was arrested that year on several counts of voyeurism after police found inappropriate photos of young women and girls from the neighborhood in his home.
Two victims of the voyeurism recently purchased the home and have permitted the Cox family to go through it.
Advertisement
The Cox family told HuffPost that among the items of interest they found is a box that contains computer-coding files. The family said they hope the files might contain information that could help the FBI get at files on a heavily encrypted computer previously owned by Josh Powell, as investigation agents have been struggling to access those for several years.
PHOTOS FROM INSIDE THE HOUSE: (Story continues below)
Steven Powell's Former Home
Not every item is considered a potential clue. Children's toys and articles of Susan Powell's clothing are simply painful reminders for the missing woman's family.
"It is sickening to see so many reminders of Susan and her boys left behind by Steven Powell's family," Olsen told The Huffington Post.
Susan Cox Powell has been missing since Dec. 7, 2009, when she failed to show up for her job as a stock broker at Wells Fargo Financial in West Valley City, Utah. She was 28. Her husband told police he had been camping with their two children, then ages 2 and 4, and had last seen his wife around midnight.
Suspicious of Josh Powell's story, investigators named him a "person of interest" in his wife's disappearance, and he moved into his father's Puyallup, Washington, home.
Advertisement
Josh Powell's children were removed from his care after Steven Powell's arrest and placed with Susan Powell's parents. The two families waged a bitter custody battle through February 2012, when Josh Powell killed himself and the two children in a house fire.
Josh Powell's brother, Michael, committed suicide a year later.
While police have said they do not believe Steven Powell was directly involved with Susan's disappearance, they do suspect he may know more about it than he has let on, the Associated Press reported.
According to Olsen, Susan Powell's family plans to conduct a thorough search of the premises to see if she is buried there. In the coming weeks, a network of volunteers, including trained dog handlers, will comb the 3,200-square foot house and the surrounding property.
"I don't know if we'll find her here or not, but I know I have to continue the search, and this house has never been searched by dogs," said Susan Powell's father, Chuck Cox.
It's Another Trump-Biden Showdown — And We Need Your Help
The Future Of Democracy Is At Stake
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
Your Loyalty Means The World To Us
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
The 2024 election is heating up, and women's rights, health care, voting rights, and the very future of democracy are all at stake. Donald Trump will face Joe Biden in the most consequential vote of our time. And HuffPost will be there, covering every twist and turn. America's future hangs in the balance. Would you consider contributing to support our journalism and keep it free for all during this critical season?
HuffPost believes news should be accessible to everyone, regardless of their ability to pay for it. We rely on readers like you to help fund our work. Any contribution you can make — even as little as $2 — goes directly toward supporting the impactful journalism that we will continue to produce this year. Thank you for being part of our story.
It's official: Donald Trump will face Joe Biden this fall in the presidential election. As we face the most consequential presidential election of our time, HuffPost is committed to bringing you up-to-date, accurate news about the 2024 race. While other outlets have retreated behind paywalls, you can trust our news will stay free.
But we can't do it without your help. Reader funding is one of the key ways we support our newsroom. Would you consider making a donation to help fund our news during this critical time? Your contributions are vital to supporting a free press.
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. Would you consider becoming a regular HuffPost contributor?
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. If circumstances have changed since you last contributed, we hope you'll consider contributing to HuffPost once more.