Susan Powell Search: Unidentified Remains Found
Topaz Mountain, Utah- In a search effort today, based solely on intelligence gained by recent warrants served on Joshua Powell, the husband of missing Utah woman Susan Powell, human remains have been located.
Cadaver dog teams were utilized this afternoon, and confirmed positive alerts in an area Josh Powell is known to “rock hunt”.
The waiting game begins, the remains could not be identified as that of a man or woman, and the medical examiner is enroute. Abc4 , who had been invited by the search effort, was subsequently restricted from the crime scene upon recovery.
Chuck Cox, father of Susan Cox Powell, said he believes police are close to completing their investigation in this case and it is due for a break, but stopped short of confirming if he believes are the remains of his daughter.
“I absolutely believe they have a specific reason for being there.”
Related Posts
Related Posts:
170 Comments
RSS feed for comments on this post. TrackBack URI
Below is the MSNBC link to the story:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/44524688/ns/us_news-crime_and_courts/#.TnEyHs1nlnI
If these remains are Susan, I hope the person(s) responsible are swiftly brought to justice. Prayers to her family.
Got me, Blink. How does this news never cease to amaze me? Excuse the cliche, but I don’t word well when overwhelming news hits my meter.
Closure for the deceased is the least we can hope for; justice we can work and pray for–hopefully this is Susan.
Word Girl, as usual you bring up something very top of mind for me.
I had a conversation today, in yet another foray into the black hole of cold cases that suck me in like a vortex, lol.
Where I was humbled by the words- there is no such thing as closure, I don’t even know what that means.
I just want to know you to direct all these years of pain at, so it can live somewhere where it belongs.
Just wow.
B
Looks like it’s 150 miles from W.VC to Topaz Mtn.
Would this jive with the excessive miles put on the rental vehicle?
Does anyone know if we’ve heard how far he drove it?
How is the access in winter in this area? Where I live, some of our roads are only open for a few months each year.
Great questions. Yes, it jibes, in a general way, for the next day with the rental. It is my personal belief evidence from that vehicle was used in conjunction with other intel to facilitate this search.
There is what I will call basal access, given the elevations. He was not going up the mountain with her.
If, in fact this is Susan. Is it inappropriate to find satisfaction in the end of days for an arrogant murdering stain?
When this is over, I am going to have some words for LE in this case. Talk about a dark horse.
B
Excellent police work. The truth is coming.
Rest in Peace Susan <3
I agree. I cannot tell you how badly I have needed to want to write on a success story in that regard.
B
Prayers for Susan’s family & friends.
Do we know if the old mine shaft is her resting place? Didn’t freak in law mention that would be a good place to hide a body?
My heart is with her wee men. I hope this is Susan, for the boys and her family’s sake. The healing process needs to begin.
Another question, what are the possible charges if Freak and Freak Jr. are suspects and charged? Death penalty? Life?
Freak in law, lol
B
-snipped-
Where I was humbled by the words- there is no such thing as closure, I don’t even know what that means.
When you lose someone you love, especially before their time, it stays with you day by day. Like an open wound, it slowly heals, scars and leaves and empty place inside of you. It never goes away
What comes to mind-and please forgive me-is that sometimes it takes the Jaws of Life to break the chain of abuse. May God be felt in the hearts of these boys. Leah
Any estimate on how long it will take to know the sex of the remains and then to determine the identity?
Depends what identifiers, if any, were found with her that might grant a warrant in advance of identification.
If the skull is intact, less the obvious disarticulation issues, a dental match may be made, if Xray’s are available, in 24 hours. The forensic dental exam can be immediate if a victim has anything unique and specific: even if it is one tooth, in some circumstances.
If they are flat out fully skeletonized remains, will depend on emulsification of a long bone, typically.
If there is obvious trauma, or no trauma, we could also be waiting on a tox, which again if fully skeletonized, we are talking keratin or emulsification requirements.
Anyone else remember West Valley inviting the press?
B
I hate to say I hope it’s her, but her poor family, not her in-laws, deserve to know her fate. I pray they get some closure and if it’s her, may she rest in peace. I hope they put Josh and Steven Powell down a mine shaft!
Interesting….
——————————
This latest search is in an area popular for gem and rock hunters. Police have said Powell’s husband liked to rock hunt in the area.
“From the very beginning he clearly indicated he had been in and around the area,” said Sgt. Powell, who is not related to the family of the missing woman.
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/2011/09/14/2011-09-14_authorities_find_human_remains_in_utah_desert_while_searching_for_missing_mom_su.html#ixzz1XywN2aRs
Blink asked: If, in fact this is Susan. Is it inappropriate to find satisfaction in the end of days for an arrogant murdering stain?~~~~
IMO, it’s not only appropriate but righteous. The murdering stain could have ended this long ago but instead elected to besmirch the sweet and lovely victim. How effed up is it to not only kill your spouse, isolate two small boys but start a campaign to paint Susan as some tart. I suppose it gave Perv Sr. & josh a feeling of power or something.
I’m trying to not be excited but I so hope it’s her. wonder what’s happning at Powell-ville tonight?
There are many instances, many people, in some cases personal friends of mine, of women that suffer through an ill-fitting (generous term) relationship for their children’s sake.
If I could figure out the equation that might resonate to those in need:
YES, If he can do X, he is capable of ENDING YOUR LIFE. BY the time you decide If I am correct, you may be looking down at me.
Dramatic, yes, can I spend the rest of my flight delay listing women that wished that they considered such a thought, yes – again.
B
09/14/2011 “Father expresses doubts remains belong to Susan Powell: The father of a missing Utah woman is expressing doubts that human remains found in Utah’s rugged desert belong to his daughter….The remains were not immediately identified, and it wasn’t clear if the body was that of Susan Cox Powell….Authorities also weren’t certain if the remains belonged to a male or female….A medical examiner was on the way to the scene.” http://www.komonews.com/news/local/129831953.html
I do not know if it is Susan, but Josh had seriously chapped ( as in burned) hands and face days later.
And a generator. Where am I bringing a generator? Rhetorical.
B
No one wants to believe that someone with whom they share a relationship with is capable of harming another human being, let alone themselves. It is beyond human comprehension to conceive of the evil hidden within a small segment of society who possess a cavalier indifference for life, who crassly slay the innocent forever sullying the beauty of their memory within the hearts and minds of their victim’s family and friends.
My heart is heavy as I think of Susan’s children, her extended family, her friends, and associates. Whether what has been found proves to be Susan’s remains, closure will never be complete this side of heaven. Pain slowly fades, never being fully eradicated, leaving an odorous scar not easily forgotten. Nonetheless, I pray for wholeness and healing of the hearts and minds of those who knew and loved Susan. May God’s grace and mercy be poured out upon them. Additionally, I pray that truth and justice will prevail and that the perpetrator(s) will be held accountable for their hideous actions and that the ugly reality of their behavior will haunt them endlessly. Shalom, Sharai
For Susan. for Susan’s 2-young sons, for Susan’s father & her other family members/friends … that LOVE her & MISS her every day … strength & prayers for you all … may this discovery/recovery now bring you home Susan to all who love you ….
Susan Powell’s Father: Remains Discovery ‘Doesn’t Get Our Hopes Up’
http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/headlines/2011/09/susan-powells-father-remains-discovery-doesnt-get-our-hopes-up/
The father of missing Utah mother Susan Powell responded to the news that police have found remains in the desert which are “almost certainly human” by saying that it “doesn’t get our hopes up.”
Charles Cox said Wednesday that although investigators finding Susan alive would be ideal, the discovery of her body would at least bring some closure as to what happened to her. It is not yet known whether the remains discovered by police in the Utah desert belong to Powell, the mother of two from West Valley City, Utah.
“I’d rather they find her alive. But if they find her body. then at least we know she’s not with us anymore,” Cox said, adding that Wednesday’s discovery of human remains “doesn’t get our hopes up a lot.”
“At the same time, it could be the break. We live that every day. Every phone call we get could be the one that tells us we’ve found Susan,” he said.
REMOVE the “word” DOT & space to make link work.
Search for Susan Powell turns up human remains
http://www DOT
sltrib.com/sltrib/news/52582781-78/powell-police-search-susan.html.csp
Merritt said he did not know the gender of the remains or how long they have been here. He declined to specify their condition or how they were discovered, though he said five cadaver dogs confirmed the remains were human.
The remains were found about 1 p.m. Since personnel from the state medical examiners office could not reach the area before dark Wednesday two detectives were to camp overnight to guard the scene, Merritt said. The excavation and an additional search will proceed Thursday.
Merritt said police were treating the site, located in Juab County, as a crime scene in line with standard procedures. The Juab County Sheriff did not have reports of anyone missing near Topaz Mountain, Merritt said.
Blink-
Why would he need a generator? To power what?
Anything that needs power where there is no AC adapter outlet, lol.
Sorry, not being glib, but it could be anything. I don’t know what model it was, but they are pretty loud.
It could be he brought it in the even the van did not start due to the temperature- at twenty five below they would all freeze to death without help, fairly quickly.
B
I would encourage everyone to go back and watch the video interview
with Josh. As Blink said – everything you need to know about this
case is there in that video. For a psychologist or a keen LE detective, Josh’s body language is a gold mine.
25 below zero. Some camping trip. Would the frozen tundra of a Utah desert do a chapped number on your face and hands? You betcha.
This case reminds me somewhat of a case I just finished reading.
The book is “Trail of Blood” by Wanda Evans concerning the disappearance of Scott Dunn in 1991. There were blood stains in his apt. – but no body. And without a body, the police took years to investigate this as a murder. Six years later, his girlfriend and another man were finally convicted – even though the body was never found, a very hard case for the prosecution. But they did it.
Without Susan’s body, likewise this case has been stalled – perhaps until now. After two years, what evidence may remain? Could there still be DNA in the bone marrow – surviving the severe Utah heat and cold? Of course the dental records are a good bet. And the hip structure of the skeleton tells whether it is male of female. But two years is a long time.
As many of you know, crime theory tells us of three types of murders.
1. Organized
2. Unorganized
3. Unorganized > Organized (it never goes the other way).
The pancake/poison theory means it was organized. However, the proof is still out on that. The blood stain on the carpet suggests unorganized first, then an organized cover up. Was it blood though?
We are not sure yet as far as I know.
On the negative side, I doubt this corpse/remains holds anything that will convict Josh. After all, anyone could have dumped her body there.
Nothing to specifically tie to Josh. No, it’s the crime scene #1 at the house that will be the smoking gun that delivers Josh to his new roommate “Bubba”.
I suspect LE has had many pieces together of this case for some time, and were just waiting for a body discovery. Now, God willing this will move forward to a quick arrest. After all, it was info from the warrant on Josh that this location was identified.
Hard enough for two young boys to deal with the murder of their mother. Harder still to face the fact that their father did it.
These boys will need all our prayers for some time to come.
As a student of many true crime books and cases, it’s hard to believe that people of less than brilliant intelligence can seemingly get away with a murder for years – yet they often do. These are not seasoned serial killers, just seriously disturbed husbands, boyfriends, etc. But finally, one crucial piece of evidence emerges
that cracks the case, years later. Let’s hope that happens here.
Too many unsolved cold cases on this site, let’s hope that Blink can file this one SOLVED !!
Sherlock
Dang- you got that right. The CSI effect is a reality, period.
It is a travesty, but it is true sometimes criminals are luckier than smart and give the appearance of organized, at least on the surface. Josh Powell is a dolt and a son of a dolt, period.
B
I find it hard to believe that no one was aware and could have supplied informatin about where Powell went on his rock hunting trips. This area should have been searched as soon as weather permitted.
If he made such a trip with the boys and turned off the engine for any length of time, it probably would not start without help.
If this is Susan, it suggests that she was killed and then transported to the burial scene in the same vehicle her two young children were in. (quite disturbing)
Do we know for sure the whereabouts of the kids and their grandfather? It is possible the kids actually stayed with grandpa while father-of-the-year disposed of the victim?
It worries me that these young children may have seen something horrific. I’m sure father-of-the-year has influenced their memories, but appropriate counselling will hopefully be available.
I’m sure of course, that we will hear that she ran off with her homicidal boyfriend and he killed her and framed her husband
The father of missing Utah woman Susan Powell said that the more he learns about human remains found in a rural desert, the more worried he is that they could be his daughter.
http://abcnews.go.com/US/susan-powell-mystery-father-worried-remains-daughter/story?id=14525301
Would a generator be used to power a jack hammer? or snow blower? or post hold digger? or maybe those would all be gas-powered. Obviously I’m just thinking out loud. Need more coffee.
Does Josh still have custody of the 2 babies? I suppose he does huh?
YIKES.
-BAM
Heavy sigh…I never really thought she left her boys. There is too much hinky going on in her disappearance for it not to be the dolt (lol).
God Bless her sons and family and friends.
To the Dolts – rot in hell.
If this is indeed Susan, LE will already have a fairly strong circumstantial link towards JP, considering the close proximity of the body to the late hour camping trip in the middle of a snow storm (how incriminating is that for starters?). I sure hope locating the body will finally produce the needed physical evidence to finally put this dirt ball away, although I am a bit worried, 2 years is an awfully long time for evidence to degrade. With juries nowadays, it can be a tossup.
@Blink ~ generator ?
First thought – light/s [maybe use to see enough to dig/locate spot ]
- or – some power tools ?
“Midnight blizzard camping Josh” could be “sweating” now w/this discovery/recovery …
My thoughts on the pancake poisoning is that maybe the wet spot on the carpet was not blood (some evidence would remain) but instead vomit. Perhaps she became very ill before passing out. Maybe LE should look at that carpet for other residue, if they haven’t already.
O/T ~ Zahra Baker’s “step-mother” has pleaded guilty to 2nd-degree murder as well, some other chrgs
[Id fraud, bigamy & a few others. She still has Federal chrgs pending]
She has sentence of ONLY 14 -to- 18yrs MAX sentence for Zahra’s murder]
Not much more time then she gave Zahra to live … is this truly all justice could give Zahra??
I’ve followed this case, but have not read everything. One lingering idea I have is this: With sub-zero weather at that time of year, I doubt the boys (Susan’s sons) would have been camping with their dad as Josh Powell has said. If he had anything to do with her murder, then having the boys along for the ride while disposing of their mother’s body would have been a risk for Josh Powell. He would have to worry about keeping the boys from freezing to death, as well as himself while he disposed of her body. Too much to risk. Somehow ‘father-in-law’ must have been involved either with the actual murder and Josh disposed of the body while father-in-law watched the kids, or vice-versa. Then they both went on a rampage to discredit Susan Powell in order to take the lime-light off themselves.
Could this have been pre-planned so that a grave could have been pre-planned ahead of time like while camping during nicer weather?
Question: Where is the video interview of Josh?
Shalom, Sharai
OT: Just finished reading The Poisoner’s Handbook: Murder and the Birth of Forensic Medicine in Jazz Age New York. Fantastic true crime read. http://www.amazon.com/Poisoners-Handbook-Murder-Forensic-Medicine/dp/1594202435
I know my fellow Blinksters will appreciate it.
Back on topic: I sure hope it is Susan they found. Depending how he killed her (and he most certainly killed her), the remains may yield enough for an arrest. I’ve not heard much about the stain on the rug other than from the freak-in-law, and he is not a credible source. Prior to it being “red” per FIL’s report, my first impression was vomit from the poisioned pancakes.
Regarding “No such thing as closure”, I have gotten in the habit of very seriously telling my young children (four yr old twins) when they complain that something isn’t fair that “Life indeed is not fair. You need to understand that as soon as possible.” Life is indeed not fair. But we crave fairness, justice, equanimity so desperately. It is human to crave “fairness”. I see it with the kids, so inate and early it starts. Anyway, I’ve just been thinking about this.
I just want this asshole in prison, where he belongs.
the idiot josh should confess and steve should go to sex rehab they both are sick there is nothing to justify their crime
Mr Powell may want to get his lies straight. Maybe write them down and review them for accuracy before he opens his mouth.
**************
“This latest search is in an area popular for gem and rock hunters. Police have said Josh Powell liked to rock hunt in the area. “From the very beginning, he clearly indicated he had been in and around the area,” said Sgt. Powell, who is not related to Susan Powell’s family.”
http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/police-human-remains-found-search-utah-mom-14524805?page=2
_____________________________
Powell says he has never been to the area where the remains were found. The area is a popular place where people go to hunt for gems and stones.
http://abcnews.go.com/US/susan-powell-search-human-remains-desert-recent-cops/story?id=14525301
_______________________________
It seems perhaps LE found something during that last search of JP’s house that directed them to a very specific area in the desert? They went to a specific spot and found human bones. What are the odds of that kind of timing with the recent search of the mines and the home? I so hope it means they found something solid that is incriminating and ties him directly to that area (like with Scott Peterson). A specific map
search . . . anything. I am going to remain hopeful for true justice in this case. At the risk of sounding self-serving, after this summer I really need a solid conviction to restore my faith in the legal system and feel that the world hasn’t gone completely nuts.
Lots of good comments have made me think tonight–thanks Blink/Blinkers.
Vomit of food and fluid would not penetrate a carpet surface to the extent of seeping through to the other side and into the padding.
Pure liquid vomited could do that; however, we’ve been told Susan ate pancakes. Blood, on the other hand, will seep through, given time
and sufficient quantity.
Identifying a skeleton’s gender, if intact or relatively so, can be done by a combination of comparisons: pelvic inlet/outlet, angle, and
sciatic notch. The skull would indicate gender by ocipital protuberance and wider mandible–similar to the width of the wide part of the skull for a male; narrowing jaw for female. Male teeth are larger and the brow area is thicker as is the skull itself.
The long bones are thicker, the shoulder-pelvis relation, ribcage size and proximity to pelvis size are other factors, but the lines get blurry and it can be difficult to sex a skeleton in some cases.
Genetic and environmental factor weigh in when the remains are found as these on Topaz Mountain. Hopefully the techs and doctors can get dna.
Wouldn’t it be interesting if the remains turned out to be Steven Koecher?
Darn…I thought we might get some closure and evidence. Not to be, there are no human remains found after all.
http://abcnews.go.com/US/susan-powell-search-human-remains-announcement-mistaken-officials/story?id=14525301
Remember the whole story about Josh going hundreds of miles in a rental car shortly after the disappearance? You don’t suppose he disposed of the body then, with the help of his daddy-o, he moved her somewhere else? (Apologies…I can’t figure out a way to say it with more sensitivity.) I have always wondered what in the hell he could have been doing, other than covering up his crime. Wish I could go look myself…she’s out there somewhere.
What.in.the.hell??? Blink–help!
After LE saying they had found remains, and that those remains are recent-as in not bones from an Indian graveyard, etc. They have backtracked and said there are no remains in the grave?
I do not get it.
Why in the world would they release that kind of info and then say this:
>>DELTA, Utah (AP) – A search in the Utah desert for a missing mother took a strange turn Thursday when the site that authorities said contained human remains turned up no body parts.
Cadaver dogs discovered the location this week amid a renewed search for Susan Powell, and investigators declared that they had found human remains.
But authorities now say that after digging into the site, they have found no remains. Police said specially-trained dogs have found indications of human remains at the site, but no actual bones have yet been found.
“Right now, we haven’t found anything except for these scents that these dogs are picking up,” said West Valley City Police Lt. Bill Merritt. “We have not come across bones.”<<
http://www.komonews.com/news/local/129925608.html
__________________________________________________
OK, so the next news release is even more weirdly interesting and surprising than I’d guessed… Foxnews say that authorities now say NO remains found.
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2011/09/14/police-find-unidentified-remains-in-search-missing-utah-mom
And Forbes: http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2011/09/16/general-us-missing-mom-utah_8683090.html
Though some news outlets are a bit behind, and just now reporting the previous, apparently incorrect, details.
Weird pretty much calls it.
@starshadow
Beyond Interesting.
@sat
I have been traveling over 24 hours and I admit I have no clue what is going on.
Zeus
I have no earthly idea.
Blink ~ would it be they are trying to ‘back-track’ & keep ‘what’ they found protective from public [ie 'dolt & dolt jr'] ??
Would LE be trying to see/watch IF someone say leaves “Washington state” for …. ???
This story I ABC News makes a person say whaat …. [a lot]
Thanks
———–
Susan Powell Search: No Human Remains Found, After All, Officials Say
ABC NEWS
No actual human remains have been found in the search for missing Utah woman Susan Powell, though police cadaver dogs did pick up scents at a desert location, police reportedly said, clarifying earlier claims that they had found remains.
“Right now, we haven’t found anything except for these scents that these dogs are picking up,” said West Valley City, Utah, Police Lt. Bill Merritt, according to The Associated Press. “We have not come across bones.”
Later, officials clarified to the AP that the anthropologist was called in to determine whether the site was an ancient burial ground. Police did not fully explain why they earlier said they had found remains.
The sergeant would not call the remains “bones,” and said that whatever police found may not have been visible to the human eye. The alleged remains were found by cadaver dogs on Wednesday.
Two fresh cadaver dogs will be brought in to go over the patch of ground where the remains were found, and then a medical examiner was likely to be called to begin the process of identifying them, Sgt. Powell said.
Police are continuing their search throughout the desert around the base of Mount Topaz.
Susan Powell’s husband Josh Powell, 35, released a statement after officials claimed to discover remains that read, “With very little information available to the public, we can only hope that additional information is released quickly to minimize heartache to those of us who love Susan. In the meantime, we continue to hope for Susan’s safe return.” Josh Powell said he has never been to the area where the remains may have been found. The area is a popular place where people go to hunt for gems and stones.
{No, cannot believe HE released a ‘statement’ … ]
AMO
OFF TOPIC BUT…
Elisa Baker plead guilty yesterday to killing her daughter Zahara Baker. She will be spending the next 18 years in jail. Not nearly enough time in my opinion.
But she’s off the streets and unable to harm any other defenseless children.
Douche.
Riverpearl says:
September 15, 2011 at 12:55 pm
There is something terribly, terribly wrong here! “Up to” 18 years? I’ve not been so angry since Cword walked! Please don’t tell me this piece of trash stepmother will accrue points for good behavior and be out in 18 months! How do they figure 2nd degree murder? Zahra was horribly abused, brutally murdered, purposefully dismembered and scattered all over the place!
Today isn’t working out too well for our victims, is it? Susan hasn’t been found. Justice has only been partially served Zahra. Cword has to reimburse but $100000 of the $500000 it cost to investigate and prosecute this. The SA is entitled to a measly fifty bucks?
I think I’ll go back to bed, pull the covers up over my head and hope that when I wake up all of this headline news stuff will have been but a bad dream.
SNARK ALERT – Perhaps “experts” from the C word are on the job… as you all now know, you can’t really rely on cadaver dogs right? UGH…… sorry, still bitter….
I do hope that what they found are remains and if not of Susan then of someone else’s lost loved one or maybe some ancient history, either way you look it, there has to be some positive to come out of it… happy Friday to all!!
@Riverpearl
I hope this is not the case, but possible that whatever they found was leaked so that surveillance efforts might prove fruitful , if you catch my drift.
I wonder what, after so long, has produced such a concentration effort on the part of LE in this case. Was someone new brought in to work on it? Some new information come to LE? Because otherwise I don’t see why the warrants, etc., didn’t happen a year ago.