March 27th 2024.
Next on our list, we have the heart-wrenching case of Susan Powell, a mother of two who disappeared without a trace from her home in Utah during a snow storm back in 2009. The entire nation was left baffled and concerned as to what could have happened to her. But little did anyone know, the twists and turns that would follow in the months to come would reveal a shocking truth and ultimately lead to the tragic death of her two young sons.
Susan and her partner Josh had a whirlwind romance, getting engaged just six months after meeting in April 2001. She was only 20 and he was 25 at the time. The couple welcomed their two sons, Charlie and Braden, not long after. Susan's friends saw Josh as the "ideal husband" but it didn't take long for his true nature to surface. His "obsessions" and "odd" traits were revealed, with those close to him describing how he would jump from one topic to another, such as gardening or politics, and become fixated on it.
"He needed to be seen as an authority in that subject," a forensic psychologist noted in a new episode of Deadliest Families. Despite the initial love and admiration that Josh seemed to have for his wife, things began to change when Susan opened up about the fights and arguments they had over finances and the strain on their relationship. And when she suddenly disappeared, all fingers pointed towards Josh.
The police were alerted to the situation when Josh's mother, concerned about the snow storm and the lack of activity from the house, called them. Upon arriving, officers found that the doors were locked, the windows were covered, and there were no tire tracks leading out of the house. The family's minivan was also missing. As more evidence emerged, it became clear that this was not a planned trip.
Inside the house, Susan's purse was found with her wallet, credit card, and keys left behind. And oddly enough, a carpet cleaner was left out. What initially started off as a routine welfare check quickly turned into a missing persons investigation for four people. After nine long hours, Josh finally answered his phone and gave the police his version of events - that Susan had gone to bed and he had taken his children camping in the middle of a snowstorm at midnight. He also claimed that Susan had asked him to steam clean the sofas, which is why the carpet cleaner was out.
Susan's disappearance sent shockwaves throughout the community. Detectives urged Josh to come home, saying that there were "a lot of red flags" surrounding the case. But they had no solid evidence to tie him to kidnapping or murder. The situation took a darker turn when a note written by Susan was discovered buried in the house. It read, "If I die, it may not be an accident even if it looks like one." And to add to the suspicion, blood droplets were found next to a sofa that had been recently cleaned.
24 hours after Susan was reported missing, Josh was interviewed again by the police. He continued to insist that he didn't know where she was and claimed that he didn't consider himself a suspect. The police searched the area where Josh said he had taken the children camping but were unable to find any evidence of a fire that he claimed to have started by the road. Meanwhile, hundreds of people held vigils in Susan's honor, but Josh prevented his sons from interacting with the mourners. Two weeks later, Josh moved to live with his father in Washington, but he didn't bother checking in with the police for updates on his missing wife, even as they searched abandoned mines.
The evidence surrounding Susan's father-in-law, Steven, left the police in shock. Stories about his involvement in the case started to emerge, adding to the already complex and disturbing situation. No one could have predicted the fate of Susan and her two young sons, and the truth behind their disappearance was more chilling than anyone could have imagined.
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In 2009, a woman named Susan Powell disappeared without a trace during a snowstorm in Utah, leaving her two young sons behind. The months that followed were filled with twists and turns that no one could have predicted, ultimately leading to the tragic deaths of her two sons. Susan and her partner Josh had a whirlwind romance, getting engaged only six months after meeting each other. But despite appearing to be the ideal husband, Josh's true nature began to emerge, with his obsessions and odd behaviors causing concern among those who knew him.
Susan and Josh welcomed their two sons, Charlie and Braden, and everything seemed to be going well. However, Susan later revealed that they had been fighting over finances and the strains on their relationship. And then, she suddenly disappeared, leaving all suspicions on her husband. Police were notified by Josh's mother when she noticed that the whole family was not answering the door during a snowstorm. There were no tire tracks emerging from the house, the doors were locked and windows were covered, and she was unaware of any plans for the family to go anywhere.
As evidence began to emerge, it became clear that this was not a planned trip. Susan's purse was found in the house with her wallet, credit card, and keys left behind. In a bizarre twist, a carpet cleaner was also left out. What was supposed to be a routine welfare check turned into a missing persons investigation for four people. After nine hours of being missing, Josh finally answered his phone and gave a strange version of events - that Susan had gone to bed and he had left with the children at midnight to go camping in a snowstorm. He also claimed that Susan had asked him to steam clean the sofas, which is why the carpet cleaner was left out.
Susan's disappearance sparked immense concern, and Josh was urged to come home. However, there was no evidence to pin him down for kidnapping or murder. That is, until police found a note written by Susan buried in the house. It read: "If I die, it may not be an accident even if it looks like one." Blood droplets were also found near a sofa that had been recently cleaned. Despite this, Josh continued to deny any involvement in Susan's disappearance and insisted that he did not consider himself a suspect.
As the search for Susan continued, Josh moved to Washington to live with his father. Two weeks after her disappearance, he still had not checked in with the police for updates on the case. Meanwhile, hundreds of people were holding vigils in Susan's honor, but Josh did not allow his sons to interact with the mourners. As the investigation progressed, shocking details about Josh's father, Steven, emerged. Police were left stunned by the evidence surrounding him.
It was a heartbreaking and confusing case, filled with unexpected twists and turns. And in the end, it tragically led to the deaths of two innocent children. The mystery of Susan Powell's disappearance and the truth behind her husband and father-in-law's involvement may never be fully understood.
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