Documents: Susan Cox Powell's blood found near couch at her house
»Play Video
SEATTLE -- Susan Cox Powell's blood was found on the tile floor near a sofa in the couple's house in Utah, according to a search warrant unsealed on Friday.
The documents were unsealed in connection with a Washington state case against the missing woman’s father-in-law, Steven Powell. Steven Powell was arrested last year and charged with voyeurism and possession of depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct.
When police first entered the Utah home after Susan Cox Powell was reported missing, two fans were setup to blow air on the sofa. The woman's husband, Josh Powell, told investigators that he had just cleaned the sofa at his wife’s request.
The document also revealed Susan Cox Powell, in a hand-written letter she had placed in a safe deposit box, stated Josh had "threatened to destroy her if they get divorced." In the letter titled "Last will and testament for Susan Powell," she wrote that if she were to die, it may not be an accident, even if it looks like one.
Susan Cox Powell had sole access to this safe deposit box, investigators said. Those close to the couple told detectives the woman and her husband were having marital and financial problems, and there had been talk of divorce.
A friend who saw Susan Cox Powell just hours before she disappeared told investigators Susan Cox Powell had grown tired after eating a meal prepared by her husband on Sunday, Dec. 6, 2009, the warrant said. Susan Cox Powell went to bed, said the friend and dinner guest, and Josh Powell prepared to take his boys sledding.
That was the last time she saw Susan Cox Powell alive, the friend said. The woman was declared missing the following day after she failed to show up at work.
Josh Powell had also missed work that Monday, after having gone camping with his boys, then 2 and 4, the night before in freezing temperatures. The man later said he had mistakenly thought the day was Sunday, and added he knew nothing about his wife's whereabouts, only that she should have been at work.
Investigators later found Susan Cox Powell's cellphone in the center console of Josh Powell's car. The phone did not contain a sim card, detectives said, and Josh Powell said he did not know why the phone was in his car. Susan Cox Powell's purse, which contained her ID and credit cards, was found, undisturbed, in the bedroom of their home.
An acquaintance of Josh Powell told police he often talked about how he liked to go camping in the west desert of Utah. The area is "so full of mine shafts, tunnels that are very unstable so you could dispose of someone and no one would ever search for the body," the document said.
Investigators have searched parts of the west desert, and have not found any sign of the missing woman. Josh Powell was the only suspect in her presumed murder, but maintained his innocence.
Detectives later learned Josh Powell, after being interviewed by police, checked out a rental car. The rental company's records indicated Josh Powell had traveled some 800 miles before returning the car. It was not known exactly where he had gone in the car; however, cell phone records indicate he had traveled near Tremonton, Utah, investigators said.
After his wife’s disappearance, Josh Powell invoked power of attorney and emptied Susan Cox Powell’s IRA accounts. He also moved with the boys to his father’s home in Puyallup, Wash., but Steve Powell was arrested and charged with voyeurism and child pornography last September. The boys were placed with Susan Powell's parents for their safety.
On Feb. 5 - a few days after incestuous images found on his computer prompted a judge to order him to undergo a psycho-sexual evaluation - Josh Powell locked a social worker out of his rental house, attacked the boys with a hatchet and then ignited the home in an explosive, gas-fueled inferno. The social worker was not injured.
Pierce County Prosecutor Mark Lindquist said Friday that had the case happened in his jurisdiction, he would've charged Josh Powell with her murder.
"There is direct evidence. There is circumstantial evidence. There is motive," he said. "There is everything but the body."
Pierce County sheriff's spokesman Ed Troyer said his detectives would have arrested Powell "a long time ago" if this had been their case. He said a detective in Washington state was aware of the details gathered and local authorities had been anticipating that Utah investigators would pursue an arrest.
"Obviously, it's frustrating," Troyer said. "We were always waiting for the phone call to go arrest him."
Susan Powell's father, Chuck Cox, wants to know why Josh Powell wasn't in jail.
"If he'd been in jail, our grandchildren would still be alive," he said.
The documents were unsealed in connection with a Washington state case against the missing woman’s father-in-law, Steven Powell. Steven Powell was arrested last year and charged with voyeurism and possession of depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct.
When police first entered the Utah home after Susan Cox Powell was reported missing, two fans were setup to blow air on the sofa. The woman's husband, Josh Powell, told investigators that he had just cleaned the sofa at his wife’s request.
The document also revealed Susan Cox Powell, in a hand-written letter she had placed in a safe deposit box, stated Josh had "threatened to destroy her if they get divorced." In the letter titled "Last will and testament for Susan Powell," she wrote that if she were to die, it may not be an accident, even if it looks like one.
Susan Cox Powell had sole access to this safe deposit box, investigators said. Those close to the couple told detectives the woman and her husband were having marital and financial problems, and there had been talk of divorce.
A friend who saw Susan Cox Powell just hours before she disappeared told investigators Susan Cox Powell had grown tired after eating a meal prepared by her husband on Sunday, Dec. 6, 2009, the warrant said. Susan Cox Powell went to bed, said the friend and dinner guest, and Josh Powell prepared to take his boys sledding.
That was the last time she saw Susan Cox Powell alive, the friend said. The woman was declared missing the following day after she failed to show up at work.
Josh Powell had also missed work that Monday, after having gone camping with his boys, then 2 and 4, the night before in freezing temperatures. The man later said he had mistakenly thought the day was Sunday, and added he knew nothing about his wife's whereabouts, only that she should have been at work.
Investigators later found Susan Cox Powell's cellphone in the center console of Josh Powell's car. The phone did not contain a sim card, detectives said, and Josh Powell said he did not know why the phone was in his car. Susan Cox Powell's purse, which contained her ID and credit cards, was found, undisturbed, in the bedroom of their home.
An acquaintance of Josh Powell told police he often talked about how he liked to go camping in the west desert of Utah. The area is "so full of mine shafts, tunnels that are very unstable so you could dispose of someone and no one would ever search for the body," the document said.
Investigators have searched parts of the west desert, and have not found any sign of the missing woman. Josh Powell was the only suspect in her presumed murder, but maintained his innocence.
Detectives later learned Josh Powell, after being interviewed by police, checked out a rental car. The rental company's records indicated Josh Powell had traveled some 800 miles before returning the car. It was not known exactly where he had gone in the car; however, cell phone records indicate he had traveled near Tremonton, Utah, investigators said.
After his wife’s disappearance, Josh Powell invoked power of attorney and emptied Susan Cox Powell’s IRA accounts. He also moved with the boys to his father’s home in Puyallup, Wash., but Steve Powell was arrested and charged with voyeurism and child pornography last September. The boys were placed with Susan Powell's parents for their safety.
On Feb. 5 - a few days after incestuous images found on his computer prompted a judge to order him to undergo a psycho-sexual evaluation - Josh Powell locked a social worker out of his rental house, attacked the boys with a hatchet and then ignited the home in an explosive, gas-fueled inferno. The social worker was not injured.
Pierce County Prosecutor Mark Lindquist said Friday that had the case happened in his jurisdiction, he would've charged Josh Powell with her murder.
"There is direct evidence. There is circumstantial evidence. There is motive," he said. "There is everything but the body."
Pierce County sheriff's spokesman Ed Troyer said his detectives would have arrested Powell "a long time ago" if this had been their case. He said a detective in Washington state was aware of the details gathered and local authorities had been anticipating that Utah investigators would pursue an arrest.
"Obviously, it's frustrating," Troyer said. "We were always waiting for the phone call to go arrest him."
Susan Powell's father, Chuck Cox, wants to know why Josh Powell wasn't in jail.
"If he'd been in jail, our grandchildren would still be alive," he said.
