Unthinkable Tragedy: Police Believe Utah Man Killed Wife, Then His Sons, Then Himself

The haunting tale of Susan Powell is one of heartbreak, unanswered questions, and unimaginable tragedy. The young Utah mother vanished in December 2009, leaving behind a husband with a suspicious alibi, two young sons, and a family desperate for answers. What followed was a chain of events so horrifying, it has captivated and shaken the nation for over a decade.

A Night That Raised Red Flags

On the evening of Dec. 6, 2009, Susan Powell was last seen at home after attending church with her family earlier that day. Her husband, Josh Powell, claimed he took their young sons, Charlie and Braden, on a late-night camping trip in Utah’s frigid West Desert, leaving Susan behind because she was tired.

This bizarre story immediately raised red flags among Susan’s friends and family. “Susan would never let her boys go out in freezing weather in the middle of the night,” her best friend, Kiirsi Hellewell, told ABC News. Adding to the suspicion, Josh returned home the following day but made no effort to report Susan missing.

A Family in Crisis

Behind the disappearance lay a marriage in turmoil. Susan had confided in friends about her deteriorating relationship with Josh, who had grown controlling and emotionally distant. She detailed these struggles in a handwritten will, found later in a safety deposit box, where she chillingly wrote, “If I die, it may not be an accident.”

Police also learned that Josh had taken out a $1 million life insurance policy on Susan and attempted to withdraw money from her retirement account - just days after she disappeared.

The Evidence That Wasn’t Enough

Despite growing suspicions, investigators faced a critical challenge: a lack of direct evidence tying Josh to Susan’s disappearance. When police searched the Powell home, they found no signs of a struggle. Josh’s meticulous cleaning efforts - including washing piles of towels and scrubbing his minivan - were suspicious, but they didn’t provide enough proof.

Then, there was the account from 4-year-old Charlie. When questioned by police, he said, “Mommy was in the van but didn’t come back with us,” referencing the camping trip, according to ABC News. Yet, as a young child, his statements were deemed unreliable. Without a body or forensic evidence, authorities felt their hands were tied. They labeled Josh as a person of interest, but couldn’t name him as a suspect and arrest him.

Dark Secrets Emerge

After Susan’s disappearance, Josh moved with his sons into his father Steven Powell’s home in Washington. This move unearthed shocking details about the Powell family. Steven had an obsessive fixation on Susan, keeping secret, perverted recordings of her and explicit diaries documenting frightening thoughts about her.

Police eventually arrested Steven for voyeurism and possession of child pornography after uncovering disturbing materials in a raid on his home. Josh remained a free man at this time but was labeled as a “subject” in the child pornography investigation.

A Tragic Ending

After his father’s arrest, Josh lost custody of his sons after investigators found cartoon pornography on his computer. The boys were placed with Susan’s parents, Chuck and Judy Cox, and Josh was granted supervised visits.

On Feb. 5, 2012, during one such visit, Josh locked out the state caseworker, attacked his sons, and set his house on fire with gasoline. The explosion killed Josh and the boys, leaving the Cox family shattered.

A Legacy of Questions and Advocacy

Authorities believe Josh murdered Susan to stop her from divorcing him. Detective Ellis Maxwell told ABC News, “If he can’t have her, nobody will.” Despite years of searches, including in Utah’s West Desert, Susan’s body has never been found.

In 2020, the Cox family won a $32 million wrongful death lawsuit against Washington State for negligence in Josh’s supervised visits. Chuck Cox vowed to use the money to help domestic violence survivors.

Susan Powell’s case remains unsolved, but her story serves as a tragic reminder of the dangers lurking behind closed doors. If you have any information about her disappearance, please contact local authorities.

References: Where is Susan Powell? Her disappearance, young sons’ horrific deaths haunt family | Susan Cox Powell remembered on 14-year mark of her disappearance