1:46 p.m. EST – Josh Powell, person of interest in the disapperace of his wife Susan Powell is reportedly packing up and moving his family to Washington state.  Josh has been staying in Puyallup, Washington with his family over the holidays, and has apparently made the decision to be with his family.  I can confirm at this hour, Josh is in Utah, and his children are with his family back in Washington.  The family mini-van is inside the Powell family garage at this time, and I can tell you that Josh has reached out to friends, neighbors and church friends to help him move this weekend.  Investigators have served multiple serach warrants on the Powell home, one for the family vehicle, and one to retreive Josh Powell’s DNA.  Police say they are still awaiting  DNA results from the crime lab on evidence seized from the warrants. While the family van was being searched, investigators told me Josh rented a car, and drove for several hundred miles.  They do not know where he went, and they are working to figure out where he went during that time.

Since Susan’s disapperance, friends have come forward anoymously to give police copies of e-mails ils and information to help police figure out the relationship between Susan and her husband.On Monday, Susan’s friends and family launched a 72 hour media blitz to help find the missing mom.  The goal of the blitz was to get as much attention and coverage for Susan Powell who went missing on December 7, 2009 from her home in Utah.  I spoke with investigators, and they feel the push is worked – they have in fact received new leads on this case.The effort targeted facebook, twitter, and youtube to get the word out about this missing mom.  Right now, there are more than 36,000 members for the “Friends and Family of Susan Powell” facebook page.  Monday morning, the site only had 17,000.  Josh Powell, Susan’s husband, is not a suspect at this time, but he is a person of interest.  Although Josh is not considered a suspect, I am also told that he is not cooperating with the investigation at all, and will not answer specifics about his wife’s disappearance. 

Friends of Susan told me that she loved to do acts of kindness to help others.  Susan worked 4 – 10 hour days and had off Tuesday’s and Wednesday’s to spend with her children.  On those days, she would often visit a close friend in a wheelchair, and give her a pedicure, she would bake bread for others, or pick a pumpkin from her garden and make someone a pie.  She was always giving and doing for those around her.  Over the Christmas holiday, Susan’s friends asked the public to do acts of kindness for others, and many responded with the things they were inspired to do.  Some gave families a Christmas, other volunteered at homeless shelters, and in many cases there were multiple days of kindness, not just one.

BACKGROUND:

Assistant Chief Black says there’s enough circumstantial evidence to indicate that this is uncharacteristic of Susan to just disappear, and they are exploring the possibility that foul play could be involved.  They don’t want to treat this case early on that Susan just up and walked away, they want to take all accounts into play in case this turns into a criminal investigation in the end.“We wish he (Josh) would be more of a partner with us to help find his wife, and to have an extensive interview with us about a number of other questions,” says Assistant Chief Black.  It’s been nearly impossible to verify the husband’s alibi that he was camping with his children the night his wife went missing, because the area where Josh says he went is vast, desert and mountain terrain.  Unfortunately, several snowstorms have come and gone through the area since.

On Monday, December 14, 2009, I spoke to West Valley City Assistant Police Chief Black, and he went into the detail the timeline surrounding Susan’s disappearance.  So far, this is what we have since Susan was last seen on evening of December 6th into the early morning hours of December 7, 2009. 

Sunday, December 6, 2009:  According to the Assistant Chief, Susan was at home this evening, and had a friend over for dinner.  She went to bed, and was last seen by her husband Josh around 12:30 a.m. sleeping.  Her husband, told investigators he took his children, ages 2 and 4, camping after his wife went to sleep.  There was snow on the ground, and it was extremely cold.  Susan and Josh were both due at work first thing in the morning.

Monday, December 7, 2009:  Authorities say Susan and Josh do not show up for work, and her children were not dropped off at daycare. Susan’s family was notified and they called police.  At that point, investigators made entry into their home to check their welfare.  When investigators went inside the house, they realized no one was there.  Assistant Chief Black says the officers backed out, and obtained a search warrant to come back in.

Monday, December 7, 2009:  Around 5 p.m., authorities say Josh arrives back at home with both of his children.  He is questioned by investigators, but according to Assistant Chief Black, “he did not offer an explanation as to where his wife was.”  Josh only told investigators he last saw his wife at 12:30 a.m.

Tuesday, December 8, 2009:  Police confirm in the evening hours, Josh rented a car in Salt Lake City and drove for hundreds of miles.  There is a period of time when cops cannot account for Josh’s whereabouts.

Wednesday, December 9, 2009: Police served a search warrant on the home, and took out items that belong to the family.

Monday, December 14, 2009:  Josh Powell hired a defense attorney in Utah.

Wednesday, December 16, 2009:  Josh Powell is named a “person of interest” by police, and he submits a DNA sample to investigators.

Assistant Chief Black told me investigators could not find a camp site, there was snow on the ground at the time she disappeared, and the family could have gone camping anywhere from 100 miles of their home.  He emphasized a camp site has not been located. At this time, Josh Powell is NOT considered a person of interest in Susan’s disappearance, or a suspect in this case.  Investigators say they want to speak to him again, and they want to question other people as well.  Please help give Susan’s family the answers they so desperately need. 

If you have any information, please call police:  (801) 840-4000

Tags: josh powell, leaving utah, missing mom, moves to washington, search warrants, susan powell

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