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Susan Powell, seen in this undated photo, disappeared from the Salt Lake City area in Dec. 2009.
The tragic saga of a woman who disappeared two years ago in Utah and her husband who later killed himself and their two young sons in Washington State continued to unfold this week with even more puzzling details.
Adding yet another wrinkle to the story, the Salt Lake Tribune learned Tuesday that Josh Powell’s father, Steven Powell, called in sick to work for two days a day after his daughter-in-law Susan Powell disappeared in Dec. 2009. He worked for the Washington State Correctional Industries at the time, selling furniture made by inmates.
The days Steven Powell took off coincide with when Josh Powell rented a Ford Focus and drove it 800 miles before returning it, the Salt Lake Tribune reported.
West Valley City police in Utah would not comment on the absence, but said investigators believe Steven Powell may have had a role in the disappearance, KING 5 TV in Seattle reported. Susan Powell's body has not been found.
At the time of the disappearance, Josh Powell told police officers that she had run off from a midnight family camping trip. He later moved their two young sons to Washington State, where his father lives.
Then, in early February, during a supervised visit with his sons in Puyallup, Wash., near Tacoma, Josh Powell hacked at them with a hatchet and blew up their home. All three died.
Cops: Josh Powell murder-suicide house was sham set up for social worker visits
Details started pouring out: Susan Powell had written a letter to family and friends, which she had stored at a bank near their home, warning that if she died, it might not have been an accident. Blood was found in the family home. A search warrant revealed that Josh Powell had given police his wife’s cell phone with the memory card removed. The children had started to talk to people about their mother, but then had been promptly shut up by their father.
Steven Powell is currently serving a sentence for possession of child pornography and for secretly videotaping women and girls. He has not cooperated with police in this investigation.
Newly unsealed documents tied to the disappearance of Utah mother Susan Powell have many people questioning why charges were never filed against the woman's husband, Josh Powell, who later killed himself and the couple's young sons. NBC's Miguel Almaguer reports.
Last week, Mark Lindquist, the Pierce County prosecutor in Washington State, said that he did not believe that Steven Powell was involved, according to KING 5. He did, however, say that he would have charged Josh Powell with murder given the evidence that has come out in the last two months.
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The more we learn, the worse it gets. Why, oh why didn't the police act on the information and evidence?
Because what we are learning is slanted to enrage the public when there is little merit to the info.
True. But according to the chief of police in West Valley City just two days ago there was an insignificant amount and no telling when or how it got there.
Certainly deflates the headlines doesn't it? Calling in sick is "skipping work"?
He has not been charged with anything other than: "Steven Powell is currently serving a sentence for possession of child pornography and for secretly videotaping women and girls. He has not cooperated with police in this investigation." Is it still too early to make assumptions?
No, it isn't. The acorn didn't fall far from the tree and I believe that the tree help plant one of the acorns.
Yeppp. It is real easy to do some Monday morning quarterbacking on this matter.
However, there is a big question about why the police in Uduh were not just a little more proactive. Another very irritating part of this is the State of Washington laws that allowed such a visit. I''ll bet there will be some changes in those policies and procedures...
One thing for sure...More likely than not, there is a segment of society who will want to have an up close and personal experience with Mr. Powell upon his release from jail. He might not survive for very long. In fact, his life is probably worth a plug nickel.
He will probably need to see a chiropractor frequently, to help with the crick in his neck from constantly looking over his shoulder every place he goes.
Hmmmm...let's see. Son takes 2 toddlers camping in -20 degree weather. Father has naked photos of daughter-in-law in his possession. Father missing from work for 2 days when daughter-in-law goes missing. A rented vehicle has 800 miles put on the odometer. One of the toddlers, now older, says "Mommies in the mine." Then the misunderstood son bludgeons his sons and kills himself.
Yeah, the father and son are just misunderstood innocent victims of media hyperbole. (sarc)
How about the young sons are victims of a failed justice system and a severely dysfunctional, psychotic family.
I just want to know why Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson didn't get involved
Washington State and Utah like most states do not involved themselves with issues involving domestic or child abuse. These states may have token laws on the books but the state tend to ignore these situations even if they result in death. Their image is more important than the lives of their citizens and "saving" tax dollars is always paramount.
The Mormons are a joke. They are just another gangster organization, always shaking down their sheeple for their stuff. If Utah really cared about families, they would have stepped in. But Mormons are all about the money and image. This is what a Mitt Romney administration would be like.
FedupwithFed
Simple. Because there weren't enough cameras around to make it worth their time.
Is it so hard to put two and two together?
Two innocent kids are dead and their mother's body has never been found. Josh Powell claimed he took his little boys camping late on a Sunday night in freezing weather, and his wife just vanished from the house on foot.
Susan Powell told others about her creepy father-in-law, and she had enough fear for her safety to write a letter and put it into a safety deposit box. She told Josh's sister that Steven had suggested she let them 'share' her.
Anyone who has seen the interview of Steven Powell where he describes his daughter-in-law Susan as 'constantly coming on to him'-- and him saying he wished he had taken advantage of it-- should be able to assess what kind of man he is. I hope that's not the norm anywhere!
This case shouldn't be tried in the media. It should be tried in court. Steven Powell should never walk the streets again. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that Josh Powell murdered his wife and he probably had the help of his father to do it.
I hope everyone is clear that Josh Powell murdered his kids.
I agree, where are the two creeps Al and Jesse? They are around when it involves blacks and only blacks and they love to rile things up and that is all they do. As far as this creep who killed his wife and two little boys, the cops screwed up big time. How dare they leave these little boys with this sick POS even if CPS was there when he did have visits with them, they didn't do enouigh. I hope the Dad gets his too, that whole family are sick bastards.
My guess is the entire force is inept. Camping in the freezing cold?That is enough to verify that he was involved.I would like to know what moron let this psycopath have visits with the boys, that person should be charged with the kids deaths.
There are no BLACK people involved in this case,why would Al Sharptounge or Jesse Jockstrap be there?
I have never forgotten that interview! It was so creepy and insulting to Susan and her family. It should be shown again so anyone with doubts that the crazy father- in - law was involved can reconsider. The more that comes out about this case, the more damaging it is to the State of Utah. Anyone thinking of moving there should think seriously about whether they'd ever need law enforcement and plan on not having any when things go bad. This case, plus what we've heard about polygamists and child abuse, does zero for its reputation.
Say what you want about Sharpton and Jackson, but bear in mind that they, at least, connect with their constituents, their demographic, their brothers and sisters, and stand with them when something happens or goes wrong in their "community." Where are our white constituents? Where are our white leaders? Where are our white pastors? They don't exist because we Caucasians don't have a sense of brotherhood/sisterhood, and we don't have a sense of community or relationship to one another. Put them down all you want, but they stand, shout and deliver when it comes to the people they represent and who serve as their brothers and sisters in kind. Maybe we should wise up and come together instead of living every day for the sole purpose of eating our own young, tearing one another apart, arguing over semantics and politics when we're all in the same damn boat. In our case, that boat would be the Titanic, and we're so busy rearranging the deck chairs that we fail to see we're sinking. Yeah, we need a hero. Who amongst us will stand up FOR us?
Ozzi - You are a bigot and an idiot. Have you ever met a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints? Just curious.
The police "think" he "might" have something to do with this????? Wow. And I'm just a public school teacher! Don't these "professionals" have to have a degree of some kind? Come on now...
@the thinker-318752
Just cause he called in sick doesn't mean he was actually sick. It's possible he helped dispose of Susan's body or may have even helped kill her.
Just like Trayvon and Zimmerman? No double standard there huh Kaybee?
"Where are our white constituents? Where are our white leaders? Where are our white pastors?"
We can't have them.... THAT WOULD BE RACIST!
Sick twisted people. Murder, pedophilia, suicide ect. Why am I not suprised...
I'm not sure I get your point, Fedup.
An investigation into the shooting of Trayvon Martin was going nowhere until the media and the public got involved and started asking questions.
It's too bad more questions weren't raised by the media and the public in the Powell case. Two little boys might still be alive and their mother's killer might have been brought to justice.
When the police fail to do the job they are paid to do, we should all be grateful for the media and the attention they bring to unsolved murders.
It is not the business of the media or the public to try a suspect for murder. It is the job of the police and the courts. They need to get their act together and do what they are paid to do.
It's terribly sad that some of you seem to be defending these pieces of crap. Anything to start an argument on Newsvine.
I would volunteer, but I can't because I'm not rich. The sound of my voice, in a sea of many will never be heard amongst the din. Our system was set up so anyone could run for office, but the sleazy politicians of today have subtly changed this. If you're not a member of the 1% club then you don't get to play at the government sponsored playground. Instead all you get to do is sit at home and bitch and moan about how defunct our government is to your TV, family and friends. I would love to be able to go to congress and show them how to fix what they broke, but (sigh) will never get the chance because I am not rich...so depressing.
It took police TWO YEARS to figure out that this guy called in sick during the time of her disappearance? How long has he been a suspect in this murder?
A public school teacher ought to know a little bit more about the law, the Constitution, and how our system works. I taught my kids about the Bill of Rights and the three branches of government from the time they were seven or eight. Presidential election years were a great teaching moment since they are so exciting. Kids are capable of understanding the basics, and anybody teaching them has the responsibility to educate themselves first.
In the first place, police and attorneys must always say things like "alleged" or "we think" or they may blow the whole case. They will not make a premature arrest even when they are very sure they knew who did it because of two Constitutional rights: double jeopardy and the right to a speedy trial. Unless the defendant waives the later, he or she must be tried within a certain length of time as defined by each state. But if you put that person on trial before you have enough solid evidence, they may well be acquitted, and can never again be tried for that crime, not even if they were to make a full conviction the next day. So they cannot rush into things or go by vague assumptions. If the police acted in ways uninformced citizens wanted them too, a lot more people would literally get away with murder. It's best to trust that the professionals in the criminal justice system know what their doing MOST of the time, at least.
Even Lil' Wayne hates Al Sharpton, for the exact reason that he only stands up for african americans, instead of just americans.
But seriously, this seems like a LOT of evidence against the pervy father. :( I wonder what else they know that they aren't sharing with the public to make them think he wasn't involved, if anything?
"Where are our white constituents? Where are our white leaders? Where are our white pastors?"
They are most likely at WORK, unlike the social parasites sharpton and jacksuuuuuuuuuuunnnnn.
@The Sentinel,
Forgive me for asking, as I'm only asking & not attacking but, are we reading the same article? Where does it say this?
"Father has naked photos of daughter-in-law in his possession."
"One of the toddlers, now older, says "Mommies in the mine.""
I'm just looking for clarification.
Because collectivism isn't healthy and it breeds racism. I'm white but I don't give a rat's ass if someone else is white. I'm not going to treat other white people favorably because they're white. I'm not going to stand up for white people solely because they're white and I shouldn't. Frankly that would be pretty stupid.
Tonee - I never said he was sick. My point was that he called work and thus negated the "skipping" part. "Skipping" work connotes an unexcused absence regardless of how lame the excuse appears to be. But this "new evidence" has just come to light after two years after the incident. Also, re-read the article. The police in Seattle stated they didn't believe that "dad" was involved in the murder. This suggests to me that they have investigated his whereabouts during the "skipped" work period. Otherwise they would not have made such a definite statement.
The Sentinel -
No. He took them camping in 20 degree weather. Only 40 degrees difference.
Wrong again. Father has daughter-in-law face photoshopped onto pictures of some naked woman.
Father absent from work for two days...
By my collapsed earlier post it seems that there are many that agree with my comments but one member of "the community" feels I got too close to the truth.
Some people can't resists turning every story some sort of comment on racism. As if dragging Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson into this story somehow makes the point that those two are racial instigators. ummm, I'm thinking that tactic really, really backfired here. Morons.
The only thing I have to say, is that those two precious little boys were failed by our justice system.
If it looks like a duck, sounds like a duck, walks like a duck...... With all of the evidence, and a healthy dose of common sense, this is probably just what it looks like. Those poor little boys - at least they are under God's protection now.
And don't start whining about circumstantial evidence. Admissible circumstantial evidence holds as much weight in a court of law as direct and physical. It's the law.
fedup...or for that matter...has Obama come out and made a statement yet?
It's probably too late now but why didn't the police have the rented car gone over with a fine tooth comb.
sparklystar, did you or any news reporter ask him about the case? that was a dumb question.
Csh,
Circumstantial, only admissible in a civil court, not a criminal court.
Although I am not from the "Show Me State" at this point, I would want to see the Law Degrees from these astute Prosecutors and delve into their backgrounds and work records. Anything fake can be had from China. Maybe their Law Degrees came from there by FedEx.............
Ozzi-502718, you're suspended for a week for violating #1 and #5 of the Code of Honor.
Don't smear all followers of a religion, don't attack your fellow Viners.
Why do the a--holes keep bringing up Jackson and Sharpton? What has that to do with this story?
Your racism is showing.
Better to ask where the white leadership is in this.
Regardless, all a--holes who are making this story political or race related, STFU and stick to the story. Two innocent kids and one lady lost their lives to these twisted SOB's. Josh is a cowardly, murderous bastard and his dad should be put to death immediately for his and his son's sins.
Thank you!
Since Tyler has 2 B a professional, I'll say it 4 him:
@Ozzy,
♪♫ It's peanut butter jelly time! Peanut butter jelly time!
Peanut butter jelly time! Peanut butter jelly time!
Wee-oh! Wee-oh! Wee-oh! Wee-oh!
Now there U go! There U go!
There U go! There U go! ♪♫
;-) 4 Tyler
FedupwithFed: You know why. And you're right.
HEY TYLER
"The Mormons are a joke.
Ozzi-502718, you're suspended for a week for violating #1 and #5 of the Code of Honor.
Don't smear all followers of a religion, don't attack your fellow Viners."
Really? I've seen atheists bashed time and time again, so are you saying it is OK because they don't follow any BS relgions? Or are you going to ban me for 'bashing' all religions?
Like it or not, it is like this in every state because all must follow the Bill of Rights. To charge prematurely is to risk losing the case. I understand that we all want SOMEBODY to pay for the deaths of those children, but there isn't enough evidence to charge the father-in-law yet unless the police have additional information they aren't releasing, probably for good reasons. Be patient, for crying out loud.
If you want instant "justice", move to some place like China or Iran.
the punisher....as president, Mr. Obama could very easily have answered any questions about this case very diplomatically, such as "let our judicial system do its job and not try this case in the media". Doesn't matter if he was asked or not, he like the rest of us, has no idea what really went down and it is his job to be sure the country in not divided on issues; tough job, but someone has to do it.
BTW...there is no such thing as a dumb question, only a dumb answer....your answer to my question proves who the dumb one is here.
Two white men commit one of the thousands of white-on-white crimes committed daily in this country and 1) black people are somehow to blame (Sharpton and Jackson) and 2) Rush Limbaugh and other self-professed "white leaders" are silent and nowhere to be found. Of course.
What about any of this spells "innocent?" That guy was guilty as all get out and now he doesn't have to face the consequences.
He's facing it in Hell. That's a better punishment than anyone here could have given him. And it will last him an eternity. Those little boys are in heaven, with their mom. How it should be in this case.
rujoking ... you're right. God Knows and He is the ultimate judge.
But He has never released us from working hard to improve ourselves and our existence since expelling us from Eden. It's not enough to wait complacently.
Whatever makes you feel better.
If I remember all those worthless mornings in Sunday school class until I was old enough to realize BAPTIST are NUTS! A bible (written by someone) describes HELL as being a lake of fire and constant torture and pain. So what you're saying is... God is with them after death and helping them to enjoy their peace in heaven.... But those two little boys were not good enough for God to protect them from their own personal devil, and hell right here on earth?
"Hell" would not be a good enough punishment.... Nothing is... But I would have sure like to have seen someone at least make an effort to have seen to it that a punishment was handed out.. Instead of just relying on some AFTER life place that May or May not be real. Hanging is REAL.... Disembowelment is real... Stoning is real... Letting the community have their way with his sorry Jaw Bone of and Ass is real.... Hell??? Im not sure about that one.
I think HELL is just a place parents and preachers use to scare people in to doing whatever they want them to do. And should never be used as a way to give people a relief from violence. "oh let him go, God and the Devil will get him in the end"... Such Crap!
The truth will set you free, but the enemy will still try to find chains to bind you with.
Always be diligent.
Put on the armor of God everyday. For the beast is as a roaring lion going to and fro throughout the earth seeking whom he may devour. The enemy hates the children of God, whom he refers to as dirt people because we were made from the dust of the earth.
I have just as much proof that he is with Santa and the kids with the easter bunny.
Talk about closing the barn door after....Law enforcement is so hog tied because of the relatively few "bad" cops that railroaded people, that without a real hot "smoking gun", no one will charge a "person of interest".
...and two young boys are dead.
I truly hope the investigators and prosecutors have trouble sleeping and looking in the mirror, and I hope the "father" meets his "intended" while in prison!
"He's facing it in Hell. That's a better punishment than anyone here could have given him."
If it was me, not waiting for hell, punishing him now, cause I can see it and feel it. besides only 1/3 of the population believes in hell anyways.
First off- @the thinker- No, you don't. There are written testimonials from hundreds of prophets and apostles throughout the ages speaking of the afterlife/Heaven (and Hell, for that matter), and that isn't just in the Judeo-Christian philosophical arena. In court, testimony is counted as evidence. What do you have? A disdain for religion? Psst- your hatred and ignorance are showing.
Now, as to Josh Powell's punishment- I would much rather that the police had been a little quicker on the uptake and arrested him before he had the chance to kill his kids.
That being said, what would the state of Utah have done with him if they'd tried and convicted him in a court of law? It's possible he might have avoided the death penalty, at least for a few years, but I don't think that would have made this nut-ball suffer. If he'd received life in prison he probably would've been laughing about killing his wife and avoiding his own death.
Utah does have the death penalty (sadly, I think I recall them doing away with the firing squad :/), and they could've sentenced him to death. This would take years and several automatic appeals. I think he is where he should be. It is extraordinarily unfortunate that he had to snuff out the lives of his boys getting there.
So, Punisher, what else would they have done? Are you just upset that you don't personally get to throw the switch, or jab the needle in his arm?
And just because only 1/3 of the population believe in something doesn't mean it doesn't exist. (Hey, look at Obamacare! Only a 1/3 of the population wanted it, it got passed anyway, and it's pretty close to Hell.)
That poor lovely young woman and mom and what a tragic ending for them all. That coward of a father-in-law definitely had a hand in her disappearance and demise. Blessings to her family....
You just don't get it, do you? The Bill of Rights has been around for over two centuries and it protects us all from false arrest and false imprisonment. Parents who kill children in suicide-murder mode usually do so when other people have no clue they are going to do it. So it is virtually never preventable. The cops know what they're doing, in all likelihood. When and if there's enough evidence to convict the grandfather, he'll be charged. In the meantime, he's safely in prison.
It's hard to understand why law enforcement didn't take action with all of this evidence. It certainly seems they bear a large share of responsibility in the deaths of Susan Powell's sons.
You are absolutely correct. I think that the grandparents should get a good lawyer to sue law enforcement for failing to act on the evidence that demonstrated Josh Powell's murder of the two grandchildren WAS FORESEEABLE GIVEN THE TOTALITY OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF SUSAN POWELL"S MURDER AND HISTORY OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. It is clear that law enforcement in West Valley Utah is full of dumb country bumpkins who LACK COMMON SENSE and committed negligence in this case that resulted in the deaths of two entirely innocent children. Although the grandparents do not appear to be out for any gain, they should retain a good lawyer to teach the moron law enforcement agents and the criminally-behaving Mormons in Utah a lesson.
There are no good lawyers and the justice system does not have common sense! It will go on for years and costs thousands of dollars, maybe hundreds of thousands of dollars to prove what everyone already has figured out and Josh Powell has already told by killing himself and his sons, unfortunately.
Government always gets a pass on domestic abuse. That's why marriage has gone down the crapper. No protections.
There was not enough evidence, what was there was all circumstansial, and Powell could not have been forcedto testify against himself, and seems like the kids were too scared to tell anyone if they actually knew anything about it. Now it seems if anything happened too her, Powell's father may have been the one to cover it up while JP whisked the kids out of the house and drove far enough away and was dumb enough to use "camping" in the freezing cold as his alibi, which I think is what tipped the police and Susan's family off in the first place that there was something very wrong before they found the letter. Hindsight is 20/20. But there was not enough to go on to put him in jail for good when it first all unfolded and she disappeared. I'm sickened and sad that he felt he had to take his two boys with him but I'm certainly glad that if he didn't face trial and prison, at least he had the decency to take himself out of the world.
What would this action accomplish? Would it bring Susan back? Would it bring those two little ones back?
You see you are a part of the problems plaguing America today. A society more prone to litigation than any other in the entire world. A society with no sense of personal responsibility anymore. A society so wrapped up in their own greed they would sue their best friend for an honest and unintentional mistake if they thought the dollar signs were big enough. A society which feels they are owed or are entitled to something just because they breathe.
Stop being part of the problem and be part of the solution!
He chose to take his sons with him. Why should they have gone?
See my post 1.25. The police and the prosecutor knew what they were doing. It was SOP (standard operating procedure). They were probably close to an arrest and it's likely Josh thought so too. If anyone is to blame it's the family court judge who ordered visits at the father's home rather than the CPS office or some public place. But then, hindsight is 20/20, and he appeared to be a caring father until that tragic day. When will people understand that we don't live in a perfect world full of perfect people? We do have a very good system that usually manages to balance Constitutional rights and punishing the guilty. Outrage is easy, but imagine if you or a loved one were falsely accused of a serious crime and you would change your mind in a heartbeat. We should all thank God for inspiring the Founding Fathers to come up with the Bill of Rights.
"He chose to take his sons with him. Why should they have gone?"
I know what you mean.
He may have had some warped idea that if he did this, he and his sons would all "be together" in the next life. Most of us doubt they will be. But we have to accept that these things do happen, even when parents have custody and they have no legal troubles. Sometimes people just go nuts, which nobody can foresee especially if they live hundreds of miles away. There was such a tragedy in my own family involving my uncle, aunt, and two little cousins. My father had to go and identify the bodies. That was over 40 years ago, and I had to get over it eventually, but I'm sure such things have happened throughout human history. Is it really any more tragic than when an entire family dies in a car crash, for example?
Realist, you sound pathetic. While there are a lot of frivolous law suits there are a lot of justified law suits that hold someone responsible for their actions or incompetence. Law enforcement is rarely held responsible for their actions. Police are rarely prosecuted for killing an unarmed person and other misdeeds. The justice system lets them serve with impunity. A lawsuit is sometimes the only way they can be held accountable. There have been some recent court cases where it was ruled the police have no duty or obligation to protect someone. They can stand by and watch someone get attacked or even killed and they aren't required to do anything according to the courts.
You sound like you need some help.
I can somewhat understand why law enforcement didn't act, because the district attorneys must have evidence in order to charge someone and get a guilty verdict. What I definitely don't understand, is why the sleaze son still had child visitation rights. If the jurisdiction had sought more to protect these children until the guy was proven to be not guilty of murder, then they would still be alive today. They are not bound by the same rules as the courts are, and their number one responsibility is protecting the children.
I rest my case. Are you an attorney, work for one, or have one in the family?
I guess the same question goes for this comment as well. Are you a licensed medical care provider or psychiatrist, work for one, or have one in the family?
One has to wonder what kind of training these local police have. THIS should be investigated since we have many cases where the local police botch a case due to poor investigative techniques. Who's training these keystone cops and why isn't the training better?
If the cops didn't have enough to arrest him, they had enough to have a pretty good idea that this guy was dangerous. Cops have a lot of tools at their disposal and the very least they could have done is make sure those boys were safe until they DID have enough to arrest him. Everyone in the world let those boys down. Heartbreaking.
With the exception of their grandparents who fought hard to gain custody and won. And then the state decides to let those boys have visitation at a private home versus a public plate. Too heartbreaking for words. I just hope they are with their mother now.
Mormon Cops who are Mormon Elders protect Mormons who protect each other...
in the end it will EQUIVOCATION by Mormons protecting Mormon MEN
at the price of a woman & 2 children .
Bigot
Yes.....EXCEPT.....Josh Powell is not a Mormon! Neither is his father. So...now what?
Maybe, they didn't have probable cause for an arrest, but they certainly had enough to protect those innocent kids that lost their lives to a jerk with a cause. He was angry at the kids for learning that they spoke the truth, so he axed them in the neck--not to kill them, but to paralyze them, so they would know that they were dying in that fire. Takes a real @sshole to do that to your own children.
I don't think Josh was so much concerned that his kids were going to leak info to the law as he wanted absolute control to the end. If he couldn't have the kids, no one is going to have them. He was a cold calculated sociopath murderer and ended the lives of three innocent people. May they RIP.
That's why government is worthless.
First of all, why did Josh leave Utah to go to Washington. I would have thought the law enforcement would have told him to not leave the state, but he did anyway, even if he was or was not a person of interest. It is so sad to see all of this coming out after the fact. Very disappointing that the justice system failed those two little boys. Shame on them.
Josh Powell and his father Steven were Mormons who had fallen away from their church.
My take on Susan's parents is that they have an attitude of 'it was God's will', so I don't expect them to push for justice in this case.
@kaybeetoys What type of justice could heal the wound that Josh Powell left on Susan's family? There is nothing that can bring back Susan or her boys. It will take a very strong person to move on after this terrible legacy Josh left. At this point one has to believe in God just to get by day after day.
"Cops have a lot of tools at their disposal and the very least they could have done is make sure those boys were safe until they DID have enough to arrest him."
Not to be insensitive, but if cops used all their resources for every case, that may potentially turn out like this, people would be pissed at the hike in taxes to cover such expenses and a lot of people would be caught in such a program even if there are any hint or remote opinions that implicate such.
It isn't the job of the cops to "protect kids" with no actual evidence of abuse or neglect. There was no such evidence in this case. If they DO suspect this, their responsibility is to contact CPS and wait there until a caseworker arrived.
I don't think that there is enough left of Susan Powell to identify, sadly. I suspect Josh Powell did a good job of disposing of her remains.
Jean -
Agree ... They will ever find any remains of Susan. A SICKO like Josh Powell, who could slash his own little sons with an axe ?? incomprehensible .... he would have had no problem dismembering his wife after killing her !!!
waterboard the POS's Dad until he squeals
I am somewhat ashamed to say that this was my first thought as well.....couldn't we just torture him until he tells what he knows about where THEY dumped her remains??? I continue to be so sad for the grandparents.
They should have waterboarded Casey Anthony too............another misjustice in this crazy world.
The problem with torture is...wait for it...they will tell you anything they think you want to hear or know to make the torture stop!
This is why torture DOES NOT work. Any other questions? Ignorance is truly bliss.
I agree with 1000% !!!!!!!
but torture makes us feel better realist. common.
Seriously...they just now found this out??? How long has she been missing? This is ridiculous, kind of looks like they got lazy and didn't check everything out..
Steven Powell needs to do us a favor and kill himself too. What a pervet!
Steven Powell doesn't believe he did anything wrong. Steven Powell manipulated Josh Powell into all of this.
Steven Powell is the best reason for the death penalty.
Ozzi
Since you want him killed (and the 7 people who agree with you) are you volunteering to give him the injection? Are you willing to have his blood on your hands and conscience? If not then give it a rest. If so then you are no better than he is.
The death penalty is not a fair and just punishment because humans are not perfect and innocent lives have been taken. Most notably the life of George Junius Stinney Jr. (October 21, 1929 – June 16, 1944). At the age of 14 he is the youngest person executed in the United States in the 20th century.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Stinney
The death penalty needs to be abolished.
Why don't you conservative jerks just shut up & go to hell!!! This is America! We can do anything we want! We don't have to answer to anybody! If we want to do it...we just do it! I make almost 55k per year on food stamps, welfare, social security disability, & all of the other social programs that I can apply for. And IDIOTS LIKE YOU go to work every day to pay your taxes so I can get all of the "benefits". That's what they're there for right? We don't want to hear your "ideas"...so just keep paying your taxes "like good Americans" & the rest of us progressives will keep getting our "benefit" checks! I will vote for Obama again in 2012!
..........OBAMA IN 2012..........
say nay, where did that come from?
Gee, maybe we should all be like say nay and live on the government dole! Oh, wait! Then no one would be paying taxes because no one would be working, and so there would be no government dole, and no government! THAT'S WHY COMMUNISM DOESN'T WORK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
say nay, you aren't part of the problem, you are the problem.
Oh, and what does that have to do with anything on this thread? Maybe you should be investigated for Campaign Finance Fraud. You're probably using a computer paid for by the government to promote a specific candidate. It would be a shame if you lost all your "funding" and had to get a job.
"And then the story exploded."
I've never seen such a repulsive, inappropriate line in a news article. Stay classy.
When did the house blow up? It burned but it didn't explode.
My thoughts, as well, Eugene. Extremely inappropriate.
Must we continue to see pictures of those beautiful boys with the sicko that murdered them??? He doesn't deserve the terms "father" or "husband" attached to his name.
Eugene,
My thoughts exactly. Sometimes a play on words can be clever, but in this case it was disgusting & disrespectful.
I totally agree! When I read that I was disgusted, that paragraph was highly inappropriate. There are so many other ways it could have been worded to get the point across without being gross or insensitive. Isolde Raftery, you should be ashamed of yourself! Go back to journalism school and get yourself a thesaurus!
Exactly the comment I was going to make. Truly distasteful comment in the article.
Looks like everyone's in agreement on that one. I can't believe that needlessly sensational, pointless sentence made it past the editor's desk. Protip for Ms. Raftery: when in doubt, leave the puns out (especially when they're stupid and/or cliche, and double especially in a story about a man who murdered his young children).
WTG everyone.
Looks like the story was updated and that horrible line edited out although in regards to the thinker's comment in 9.1, that line has remained and a different photo now including Susan with the boys has replaced the first one. josh should be edited out of all photos.
This entire police investigation was botched in every way. I agree with akabusyness - the police could have prevented these deaths but didn't, which makes them indirect and unintended accomplices. And how is it that they are just now reporting Steven Powell's sick days that happens to correspond with her disappearance. And I'm sorry, but no one puts 800 miles on a rental car for a one-night camping trip.
Sure, hindsight is 20/20, but what more did the cops need to make an arrest?
It appears those cops are just as stupid as the ones in Greenwich, Connecticut, and I understand there is only one prerequisite to joining that force, and that is the ability to be able to sleep standing up.
Domestic abuse and murder is not a priority for law enforcement. Often times, members of law enforcement tends to have domestic issues themselves so they sympathize with perpetrators.
That's why marriage is really dropping off. Too many people are terrified of being locked into an abusive relationship and forced poverty.
Is the rate of domestic abuse (particularly unreported by victims) still highest among families with a member who works for law enforcement?
Coulda, woulda, shoulda. Those boys "coulda" been saved.
But to save the boys would have meant exposing a fellow Mormon as a KILLER,
and that would reflect badly on the "church" or cult
so they kept everything quiet...
Religious extremism ANYWHERE is DANGEROUS
Utah is no different that Syria, innocent people die at the hands of extremists period !
Dude....stop with the Mormon crap. Steven Powell was not a Mormon!!!! Most people who live in Utah are NOT Mormons. Do some research instead of spewing hate!
tg is right Mister....First, it starts with religion and soon progresses to politics and bigotry. Get over yourself. This has nothing do with either.
What part of Brigham Young and 60% of the population do you not understand? Utah's religion is still predominately Mormon.
You just want to bury your head behind "tolerance" and excuse the system for encouraging silence.
You are just as guilty for promoting domestic abuse as these organizations are.
It is ironic that when the party is not Muslim we are told to downplay the religious aspect. Hear me, I am not to say that religion played a part in this but no one has named the murderer of Susan Powell a terrorist either....and again it's because no suspects are Muslim in this case. And I am also to say yes, there are Muslim murderers, however don't automatically use the word terrorist when an Islamic name is mentioned. Peace to the world.
Josh and Steven Powell were Mormons who had fallen away from the church. Susan Powell was also a Mormon from a Mormon family.
Susan Powell and the children are gone because josh was a psychotic killer. No one was killed in the name of any cause, including a religion. There's the difference.
I didn't say that Josh Powell killed his family because he was a Mormon.
But he was a Mormon, and you do not have any evidence to prove he wasn't influenced in some by by his religion either.
Religious mania and sexual perversion are two of the main triggers of psychotic behavior.
Sorry, kaybeetoys for any confusion. The post wasn't for you, it was for Cheryl Haque. We posted about the same time. I should have clarified that.
But...since you brought it up, is there evidence to prove that he was influenced, especially if they were all non-practicing. Honestly, I had no idea what, if any, religious affiliations this family had.
From everything that I've read, josh's father was a degenerate sicko and it sounds like he must have passed his "sicko values" on to the son.
Any stats on your last statement??? First time I've heard that one.
Kaybee- You may try dragging out the old chestnut about pornography being linked to serial murder because it seems that back in the old days all the serial killers seemed to have a magazine stashed somewhere. While I am not advocating pornography, or its consumption by the public, it is almost ubiquitous and there are probably millions of people who view/use pornography these days. We don't have millions of serial killers on our hands, do we? That old myth has been debunked. If you have other evidence, please share.
As to religious mania, I don't have any data or studies on that handy, but I grew up in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I served a two year mission. I know the doctrine pretty well. That being said, there is nothing in the teachings of the church that tells anyone to kill, especially not one's own family. There is specific direction to treat your family well, and any abuse (physical, sexual, emotional or psychological) can, and usually does, result in disciplinary action (ie. disfellowship or excommunication).
Any other questions?
Who wrote this? A first year journalism major? Where was the editor? First, the line "and then the story exploded" has got to be the most distasteful, disrespectful thing written so far about this case. Second, Steven Powell, father to triple murderer Josh Powell is not serving a sentence for anything. He is in police custody, unable to post bail on multiple charges including voyeurism, including photos of Susan Powell and possession of child porn. His trial hasn't started yet. This story is particularly agonizing because I live not to far from the Cox family and to the jail where Steven Powell is being held. This case was botched on many levels. Maybe there was nothing the authorities could have done to save Susan, but there was plenty they could have and should have done to protect those precious children. I really hope the authorities learn from this, change policies and enact protections so that no other children should be placed in such danger again.
MSN gets worse by the day. I think the only qualification to write for this sorry excuse for--I can't even call it journalism--an information site is that you are breathing and require less than minimum wage.
Isolde Raftery went to Barnard. Nice to see the Ivies are sooooo into writing.
Pfft.
Then go find a media that tells you nothing but what you will swallow !
Every time I read an article like this, it makes me furious. Now that everyone in the family has been killed by Josh Powell, they are finally discovering things that should have been discovered within the first few weeks after this woman's disappearance. It's like they are living in Backward Land out there. The longer the victims are dead, the closer they are to solving the case. The saddest thing is that nothing can ever bring back that poor woman and her children.
The story says a newspaper just found out on Tuesday that Steven Powell had called off of work. The police may have known about this long ago. Good detective work sometimes involves not releasing all of the known details surrounding a criminal investigation. Calling off of work in itself isn't a crime and it may have no connection to the disappearance of Susan Powell.
Trek...He didn't kill his father...and if there is anyone on Earth that doesn't deserve to suck air, it would be his perverted father.
They new this guy had pictures of his daughter-in-law, the missing and presumed murdered one, so why so long to uncover the info that might point to his having an actual role in her death? Did they ask for an alibi at any point prior to this new revelation? Every new piece of info or event that happens in this case makes law enforcement look more inept, so maybe someone needs to look into that and start providing a clear, truthful picture. At the very least other s could learn from their mistakes.
roy...I agree. I would think that checking work records and phone calls would be one of the first places to start. Esspecially, if there were no activity on checking accounts or reliable witnesses that saw the victim for a week or so. Why is this just coming out now? That horse is long gone and the barn door was blown off its hinges--with two innocent little boys inside. Wow....
I always did enjoy my midnight camping trips in the middle of December. Nothing better then packing up the car at midnight to go do a magical midnight camp...Doesn't everyone do it? Seriously who the freak goes camping.
Seriously! Not only in December at midnight, but with two little boys on a Sunday night. Hey kids, lets set up our tent here on this mountain of snow...this was a great plan. He should be featured on America's dumbest criminals, but instead he falls under the category of never being caught.
shoulda woulda coulda...R I G H T!
Whacked out whackazoids, all.
Yea Buddy This is what the repressive society creates , Monsters! When all the energy is bottled up with no release and the prevalent attitudes are sick you make people into the animals that are taking children, women and others just use them...
What!? Society created no such thing. If anything, Steve Powell created that monster Josh Powell. Whatever repression he had he could have done something about it. There is ABSOLUTELY no excuse for the animal to have done what he did. None.
So he drove 400 miles met up with his father and gave him the corpse (or left it in a place he would know to find it) and then dear old dad got rid of the body.
With the dad being absent from work for two days, his refusal to cooperate and his recent conviction how can they rule him out as an accomplice?
Go back to where they lived in the past that had water ways .caves ,lots of wooded area .with in 400 miles of the place they lived . Some one should have seen the buzzards circling .Dad propably buried her .I think the writer who thought the father met half way and took charge of the body is perhaps on too something . To be raised by suck a sick o and do nothing about his father and run to him when he was in trouble . They had to have a sick relationship .And living in Utah did not help women have no rights there and are not respected they are breeders .If they are in Mormon community .
Have you ever lived in utah? mormons have the largest womens group in the world. they were one of the first states to give women the right to vote. im female and a mormon and don't feel any discrimination i'm also 45 single and have no children. my aunt was the first woman Dr in utah. her medical school was paid for by Brigham Young.
@ Faye- You couldn't be more wrong about women in Utah. Have you ever lived there? Are you a Mormon? Or is your comment based on hatred and/or misunderstanding?
Perhaps you've confused the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints with the polygamist sects that also live in Utah that broke from the church many years ago. The members of the LDS church (Mormons) do not practice polygamy, and haven't since the late 1800s.
Most of the women that belong to the church do choose to be stay at home mothers, but it is their choice, based on the council of the prophet. This is not to limit their lives, but to promote the family values that are so lacking in the world today. A mother is the primary caregiver and nurturer of her family. Mainstream society today tells us that it should be the job of a daycare worker and the state through the schools. It is still a personal choice, and there are still women who choose to work, as well.
I commented earlier about the church's doctrine on abuse (#11.10) and the treatment of families by the fathers, specifically. What Josh and Steven Powell did to their families (and others) has nothing to do with the Church. It has everything to do with the fact that they are human, and as such, imperfect and fallible (and prone to being sickos, as you put it).
Xpider,
Thanks for pointing out that the Church of Latter Day Saints is NOT part of the polygamous, wife beating, fundamentalist groups that we hear so much about. I am not Mormon, but from what I've heard from those who are, Mormon families are usually stable, pro-family, and are law abiding people. It's unfair to repeatedly lump them with the Warren Jeffs of the world, who are so often the ones who practice polygamy, arranged marriage, have under-age brides, and are abusive.
Also, as someone else said, it's not religion that makes someone psychotic, it's the psychotics who are often religious fanatics (and many times sexually perverse).
Gesshhh, this is as badd as that Las Vegas Murder of that Showgirl Dancer who was chopped up and stored in tubs in a vacant house, whatever happened to that story ??? Not 1 word on the outcome of that , wonder why ???
I think they arrested her boyfriend, also a dancer.
Definately, this family is pretty and that has something to do with all the attention. Also the family dynamics are fascinating this makes for a good story. Most people are attracted to semi-decent appearing people and they ignore drug and sex addicts. Our neighbor died of a very fishy drug overdose but no one cared. He was a druggie.
"this family is pretty and that has something to do with all the attention"
Am I the only 1 2 notice:
Ugly girls never get bumped off.............
It is so difficult to understand that after the Utah cops found Susan Powells letter stating that if she was missing or dead that her husband Josh probably killed her, and that wasn't enough to put some restraints on his liberties. Such as ,"this case is under investigation, don't leave town." Take the two children away from him for foster care in Utah . This whole stupid story should make some of the police and social authorities 'ashamed of themselves". If they were being scrutinized for job performance they would surely fail. Taxpayers and caring individuals in our society need to demand better.... By God I'm not satisfied. Our society is becoming a more and more difficult one to survive in because of economics alone. We sure don't need to compound our problems with people of broken morals and authorities who can't stop them. Make people be responsible. Be nice to people when you can. We need to work together. I am NOT a Pollyanna, I'm just wanting something that works , we all have to demand better for our society because we deserve it. Don't put up with ----- and demand civility and kindness.
Authorities who won't stop them not can't.
A corrupt public of murders, liars & thieves being monitored by the keystone cops, thugs with badges & guns! The media probably suppresses the vast majority of all this sickness everywhere around us every single hour! The fraudulence is profoundly inherent. Too many comments, not enough sense. Too many missed Vacation Bible School classes! Oh well...have a nice day, anyway!
Vacation Bible School?
*facepalm*
This story is so dam sad....I feel for everyone Involved.
It's obvious to me that Josh Powel was a sick creep and his children should have been kept as far away from him as possible. The writing was on the wall as far as Im concerned. Powel comes across as unstabile....and should have not been trusted at any level....especially with his children.
The police work here is not Impressive Im afraid...If there would have been a more "proactive" Investagation....these childern would most likely still be alive.
Steven Powell Is obviously a sick pervert or pedifile want a be....some nasty genes In that family tree. Oh btw...Isn't calling In sick and skiping work amount to the same thing. How many people here have called In sick when they really were not sick? I know I have many times over the years.
I guess the only thing I can hope for Is that the remains are found and the parents can give there daughter a proper burial. If the bones can be found... Im sure with the DNA technology they have today they can be 100% certain that those remains are Indeed Susan Powells.
May the mother and her two children RIP
I don't understand if the children starting saying "Mommy was in the trunk, and then she was gone..." why on earth would social services allow the two kids to visit their father after this compelling evidence? And now there are two innocent lives taken all because Social Services didn't feel the need to keep them away from their deranged father...sick, sick, sick...what is wrong with this stupid liberal society?
Had to giggle your talking about a sick pervert but you have a picture of boobs as your picture..lol .seriously not as bad as the perversion possibly going on in this home, but first impression of you is a pervert also...just saying.
Mike J. ....Are you serious with the boob picture...you are a complete loser & you have no respect for women. Do you see women posting penis pictures? Get over it and show a little respect for women. This is not the place for posting sexual pictures. Perhaps you should call Josh's father....you are alike in that respect.
Hilarious!!! I was thinking the same thing! Wishful thinking for you dude........
Ditto Get a grip and cover those boobs. Who are you trying to impress?
This is all very sad. My heart goes out to the mother's parents. They will never be the same.
Now, now. Maybe we shouldn't be too hard on Mike Josephenie..............
Maybe he just had them "installed" and wants to show off where he wasted $15 Grand. (extreme sarcasm)
Boobs are awesome, only prudes like American women would be offended.
Are you people serious??...most men like boobs...just In case you didnt get the memo. To say that Im no better or similar to a sick bastard who looks at naked kids and takes pictures of women without there knowledge Is just plain Ignorant.
Im thinking some old biddies or very unatractive/homely/miserable women sitting around there sewing circle are just jealous of the healthy young lady In my avatar. These are the same people who will roll there eyes when they see a beautiful women In a short skirt for example....or whisper In there equally unatractive friends ear..."what a little whore" Well maybe If you would get off your fat ass's and stay away from the drive thru window at your local Micky D's...will maybe you wouldnt be so miserable
As far as this place... MSNBC.com...not being the place for such pictures?? why? because you dont approve of a picture of covered breast? To compare the picture of covered breast to a picture of a penis...WOW..unbelievable
This Is a tragic story about two young childern and there mother loosing there life due to a sick @!$%#er and a lazy law Inforcement agency. If there's any losers here.. It's those people who cant handle seeing something that one would see everyday out and about In public....while shopping .. having lunch or just walking down the street. I guess now you can bitch about the word "@!$%#....talk about a bunch of loser cry babies. Grow up ForFSake.
But I dont want to Intentionally offend anyone here...so I will change my avatar. Maybe a cute little kitten..or a bouquet of flowers. Thats It..Im going go with the flowers....covering some huge luscious melons...you guys like fruit right? ;) ;)
There is a huge difference between liking boobs, and taking pictures of little girls and women without their consent. BIG HUGE DIFFERENCE.
I have to say, that is a nice looking rack, mike...
Oh, and Im a girl, still like the rack.
And I agree with the post directly above mine.
Don't sweat it, girls. The next thing we'll hear from Mike Josephenie is:
"You all are just jealous 'cuz my polyester nightmares look better on me than your silk dresses look on YOU!"
(almost falls out of her chair laughing)
Oh boy, I couldn't even type that with a straight face. LOL Why? Well I won't speak for anyone HERE but around me, I seem to be the only straight, natural (NOT cut up by a plastic surgeon) woman left who doesn't think it's beneath me to put on a dress when my beau takes me out.
Ok, nevermind. lol
Thank you "Wowed by the force". It Is Indeed refreshing to see people such as yourself use there Intellect vs there silly and child like emotions.
Good for you.:)
I have to say, Mike, when I read the posts complaining about the boobs, I fully expected to see- BOOBS! Not boobs covered with a bra or bathing suit top. I don't find it offensive or perverse. It's certainly a far cry from pedophilia. Seems like a bit of an overreaction from a few.
BTW, I'm a 60 year old woman, I do believe women (and everyone else) deserve to be treated with respect. I just didn't find anything disrespectful about your avatar.
I agree with you 100% Katherine... women..and everyone else do deserve respect...absolutely.
Thanks for having a open mind.:)
GOOD GRIEF !!! And to think that people in Hollywood make millions writing scripts for TV shows and movies. How could anyone think up a more unbelievably agonizing tale? Truth is indeed stranger than fiction.
Hollywood doesn't make this stuff up. Writers go to the newspapers to get their stories and then create a "mishmash" of several stories to create the script. A scriptwriter just needs to be able to write dialogue to make the story flow.
No one in Hollywood would ever touch the Powell story unless they can create a happier ending for Susan and the boys.
Have you heard of cable? They did the Martha Stewart story...they'll do his too eventually...Sad.
Anything for money. Very depressing.
She ran off with her boyfriend, it happens all the time!
Yeah-Ask Drew Petersen.