Susan Powell's Brother-in-Law 'Heavily Involved' in Disappearance, Police Say
Authorities officially close active investigation into case
Police revealed a new suspect in the disappearance of Susan Powell: Michael C. Powell, Susan's brother-in-law. Authorities believe that Michael and his brother, Josh, worked together to kill and dispose of Susan's body, even though they have no hard evidence.
Michael became a strong suspect after Josh killed himself and his two children in 2011. Police lost one of their best leads when Josh died and began to focus on Michael. Unfortunately, he killed himself a few months ago, effectively taking any information he may have had with him. The only surviving member who may know anything is Michael and Josh's father, who has been in prison.
"The question is, where did he put her and will we find her before she does die?" Susan's father, Chuck Cox, wrote in an email to Utah authorities back in 2009. Cox believed that Josh poisoned Susan, then took her away from the couple's home.
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"One possibility is that she is still alive, but we need to find her before she does die; if the poison was not a fatal dose, she may… be found," Cox wrote.
Unfortunately, Susan has not been found, even after investigators resumed their search based on new leads and information last week. Police said in a press conference yesterday that they believed Michael was involved, in part, because he left his vehicle at an Oregon junkyard just weeks after Susan disappeared.
Authorities searched the vehicle but came up empty-handed. They then searched the nearby forest, hoping to find Susan's body, but again they came up with nothing. They have officially closed the investigation into Susan's disappearance, leaving her family devastated and searching for answers. Not only have they lost their daughter, they lost their two grandsons at the hands of their son-in-law.
"We have searched high and low for what happened to Susan Cox Powell. What happened to Susan that night?" West Valley Mayor Mike Winder asked at the press conference.
