The Powell Family case is one of the most shocking in history. The victims of the case include Susan Cox Powell, who is presumed to be dead, and the investigation has been closed; her sons, Charlie and Braden, who were killed by their father, Joshua Powell.
On December 7, 2009, the entire Powell family, including Susan Cox Powell, her husband Joshua Powell, and their two sons, was reported missing by Joshua's mother, Terrica, and his estranged sister, Jennifer Graves.
Police quickly began their investigation but initially found nothing. While the investigation was ongoing, Joshua Powell finally returned home later that day with his two children. He told the police that he had taken the kids on a camping trip to the Pony Express Trail in Utah.
As the investigation progressed, Joshua quickly became a person of interest in the case. Weeks after Susan Cox Powell went missing, Charlie, Joshua's elder son, told his teacher that his mother had died, prompting further scrutiny of Joshua.
During subsequent questioning, Joshua stopped cooperating and hired an attorney. He later moved to Puyallup, Washington, with his children to live with his father, Steven Powell.
On September 22, 2011, the case took another unexpected turn when Steven Powell was arrested on charges of child pornography and voyeurism. During the investigation, police found disturbing videos of Susan Cox Powell, captured by Steven Powell.
"There are some videos and pictures of Susan that were obviously taken without her consent or her knowledge. Somebody was hiding and taking or shooting through curtains and doors and taking pictures of her. We know even though he said that she was interested in him, we believe that’s all one big fantasy and she absolutely despised him," Pierce County Sheriff's Office's Ed Troyer said (via Oxygen.com).
Following Steven's arrest, Susan’s parents filed for custody of the children and were granted temporary custody.
Meanwhile, investigators continued to interrogate Joshua Powell about Susan's disappearance. Tragically, in February 2012, Joshua committed suicide. In May 2013, West Valley Police officially closed the investigation, believing that Joshua had likely killed his wife and disposed of her body with the help of his brother, Michael.
When was Susan Cox Powell last seen?
Susan Cox Powell was last seen at her home in Utah before she suddenly disappeared. On the morning of December 6, 2009, she attended church services with her children, Charles and Braden. Later that day, a neighbor visited their house and left around 5 p.m. Susan was last seen inside her home by someone outside the house.
However, her husband, Joshua Powell, saw Susan sleeping on the couch when he left for a camping trip with their sons shortly after midnight on December 7. However, Susan did not show up for work that day. When police investigated, they found her purse and wallet inside the house, while her cell phone was discovered in the family's Chrysler Town & Country minivan.
What happened to Susan Powell's children?
Susan Cox Powell's two sons, Charlie and Braden, were tragically murdered by her husband, Joshua Powell. The children were in the custody of Susan's parents, but Joshua was allowed to visit them under the supervision of a social worker.
On February 5, 2012, Elizabeth Griffin Hall visited Joshua's house with the children. However, Joshua refused to let her enter the house, pulling his sons inside and locking the door. Moments later, the house exploded, killing Joshua and both of the children.
Joshua sent a voice message to his sister before the incident, in which he stated that he couldn't live without his sons and said "goodbye" to everyone.
“I am not able to live without my sons and I’m not able to go on anymore. I’m sorry to everyone I’ve hurt. Goodbye," Joshua said (via Oxygen.com).
Charlie and Braden were later buried at Woodbine Cemetery.
Where can you watch The Disappearance of Susan Cox Powell?
Oxygen aired a two-episode series titled The Disappearance of Susan Cox Powell. The first episode, "If Something Happens to Me," aired on May 4, 2019, and was one hour and 27 minutes long. Its synopsis reads:
"Stephanie Bauer examines never-before-seen home video recordings that shed light on the dramatic events surrounding the disappearance of Susan Cox Powell."
The second episode, "A Family Affair," aired on May 5, 2019, and was one hour and 27 minutes long. Its synopsis reads:
"A young mother in Utah vanishes and the only suspect, her husband, acts suspiciously. Stephanie Bauer examines never-before-seen home video recordings that shed light on the dramatic events surrounding the disappearance of Susan Cox Powell."
It has been years since Susan Cox Powell went missing. She is now presumed dead, but the mystery behind her disappearance remains unsolved.
By subscribing to the platform, you can watch both episodes of The Disappearance of Susan Cox Powell on Oxygen.com.
