Cold

Thanks for listening to season three of COLD, we hope you enjoyed it. If you did, there’s another podcast we think you should check out called Killer Psyche. On Killer Psyche, retired FBI agent Candice DeLong draws on her decades of experience to reveal why these murderers and criminals committed these acts. She will reveal fascinating new details about what drove these people, including cases she was close to. Candice will share specific psychological methods and profiling techniques that experts use to understand the deepest part of the most complex, fascinating, and twisted minds, from the Unabomber to Dr. Death to El Chapo. Follow Killer Psyche wherever you get your podcasts. Hey Prime Members, you can listen early and ad-free on Amazon Music. Download the Amazon Music app today: Wondery.fm/ColdS3_KP

Susan Powell vanished from her home in West Valley City, Utah on a cold December day in 2009. Her husband, Josh Powell had taken the couple's two sons out camping in a blizzard. He claimed to have no idea where his wife had gone. Susan has never been found. Josh was never arrested or charged with a crime, though police suspected he murdered Susan in cold blood. Reporter Dave Cawley has spent years pouring over this cold case mystery. In Prelude, he sets the stage for an unbelievable true story. Share your thoughts: #ColdPodcast #FindSusan Twitter Instagram Facebook Episode transcript: https://thecoldpodcast.com/season-1-transcript/prelude-full-transcript Listen to Cold on the Wondery App or wherever you get your podcasts. You can binge all episodes ad-free on Wondery+. Join Wondery+ in the Wondery App, Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Start your free trial by visiting wondery.com/links/cold/ now.

Josh Powell believed in his own greatness from at least age 5. So why wouldn't any girls date him? Why did his only other serious girlfriend before Susan Cox run away in fear? Perhaps because he inherited some of his father Steven Powell's bizarre beliefs about relationships and marriage. This episode tells the story of the one who got away from Josh Powell, a full decade before the disappearance of Susan Powell made him the focus of a multi-state murder investigation. For the past three years, investigative reporter Dave Cawley has been studying thousands of police documents, journals, videos, and diary entries. He has tracked down new sources, followed new leads, and traced Josh Powell's trail from West Valley City, Utah, through Idaho, Oregon, Nevada, and on to Washington State, where he killed himself and his two sons. Cold is the most complete retelling of the Susan Powell story ever. Join Dave Cawley in his search for truth. Share your thoughts: #ColdPodcast #FindSusan Twitter Instagram Facebook Episode transcript: https://thecoldpodcast.com/season-1-transcript/to-all-the-girls-josh-powell-full-transcript/ Listen to Cold on the Wondery App or wherever you get your podcasts. You can binge all episodes ad-free on Wondery+. Join Wondery+ in the Wondery App, Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Start your free trial by visiting wondery.com/links/cold/ now.

Susan Cox married Josh Powell after only 6 months of courtship. She immediately found herself under the lens of her father-in-law Steven Powell's video camera. The camcorder even captured Steve's confession of love for his daughter-in-law Susan Powell in July of 2013. She rejected him, not realizing he had stalked her and stolen her journals, underwear and hygiene products. For the past three years, investigative reporter Dave Cawley has been studying thousands of police documents, journals, videos, and diary entries. He has tracked down new sources, followed new leads, and traced Josh Powell's trail from West Valley City, Utah, through Idaho, Oregon, Nevada, and on to Washington State, where he killed himself and his two sons. Cold is the most complete retelling of the Susan Powell story ever. Join Dave Cawley in his search for truth. Share your thoughts: #ColdPodcast #FindSusan Twitter Instagram Facebook Episode transcript: https://thecoldpodcast.com/season-1-transcript/wake-up-little-susie-susan-cox-powell-full-transcript Listen to Cold on the Wondery App or wherever you get your podcasts. You can binge all episodes ad-free on Wondery+. Join Wondery+ in the Wondery App, Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Start your free trial by visiting wondery.com/links/cold/ now.

Susan Powell feared for her life. She braced for divorce as her marriage to Josh Powell reached its lowest point in 2008, but worried how he would react. She even wrote a secret last will and testament that said, "If I die, it may not be an accident, even if it looks like one." Josh had learned from his dad Steve Powell's divorce and made preparations of his own. He set up a trust that would give him control of Susan's $1,000,000 life insurance policy in the case of her untimely death. For the past three years, investigative reporter Dave Cawley has been studying thousands of police documents, journals, videos and diary entries. He has tracked down new sources, followed new leads and traced Josh Powell's trail from West Valley City, Utah, through Idaho, Oregon, Nevada and on to Washington State, where he killed himself and his two sons. Cold is the most complete retelling of the Susan Powell story ever. Join Dave Cawley in his search for truth. Share your thoughts: #ColdPodcast #FindSusan Twitter Instagram Facebook Episode transcript: https://thecoldpodcast.com/season-1-transcript/susan-powell-faith-and-finances-full-transcript/ Listen to Cold on the Wondery App or wherever you get your podcasts. You can binge all episodes ad-free on Wondery+. Join Wondery+ in the Wondery App, Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Start your free trial by visiting wondery.com/links/cold/ now.

Josh and Susan Powell's daycare provider, Debbie Caldwell, sounded an alarm when the couple's boys, Charlie and Braden Powell, failed to arrive at her home on the morning of Monday, Dec. 7, 2009. West Valley City police detective Ellis Maxwell drew the assignment of locating the missing family that day and discovered two box fans in the missing family's home, pointed at the couch. When Josh Powell returned to Sarah Circle with the boys that afternoon, Maxwell was waiting with a long list of questions. For the past three years, investigative reporter Dave Cawley has been studying thousands of police documents, journals, videos and diary entries. He has tracked down new sources, followed new leads and traced Josh Powell's trail from West Valley City, Utah, through Idaho, Oregon, Nevada and on to Washington State, where Powell killed himself and his two sons. Cold is the most complete retelling of the Susan Powell story ever. Join Dave Cawley in his search for truth. Share your thoughts: #ColdPodcast #FindSusan Twitter Instagram Facebook Episode transcript: https://thecoldpodcast.com/season-1-transcript/find-susan-cox-powell-full-transcript Listen to Cold on the Wondery App or wherever you get your podcasts. You can binge all episodes ad-free on Wondery+. Join Wondery+ in the Wondery App, Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Start your free trial by visiting wondery.com/links/cold/ now.

The criminal investigation into Susan Powell's disappearance kicked into high gear on Dec. 8, 2009. Josh Powell frantically cleaned his house and minivan before meeting detective Ellis Maxwell for a tense second interview. In secret warrants, West Valley City police identified Josh as their sole suspect in Susan's presumed kidnapping and murder. However, they narrowly missed their best chance of finding her. For the past three years, investigative reporter Dave Cawley has been studying thousands of police documents, journals, videos and diary entries. He has tracked down new sources, followed new leads and traced Josh Powell's trail from West Valley City, Utah, through Idaho, Oregon, Nevada and on to Washington State, where Powell killed himself and his two sons. Cold is the most complete retelling of the Susan Powell story ever. Join Dave Cawley in his search for truth. Share your thoughts: #ColdPodcast #FindSusan Twitter Instagram Facebook Episode transcript: https://thecoldpodcast.com/season-1-transcript/10-minutes-josh-powell-police-interview-full-transcript Listen to Cold on the Wondery App or wherever you get your podcasts. You can binge all episodes ad-free on Wondery+. Join Wondery+ in the Wondery App, Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Start your free trial by visiting wondery.com/links/cold/ now.

Josh Powell went off the grid for 18 hours after avoiding arrest on Dec. 8, 2009. He popped up the next afternoon in Tremonton, Utah. Police soon learned he'd put 807 miles on a rental car. The news media learned of Susan Powell's disappearance and began to hound Josh, even as his own neighbors turned against him. In the middle of all of this, Josh went to a physical therapist and was diagnosed with a rotator cuff injury -- something unknown even to police until now. For the past three years, investigative reporter Dave Cawley has been studying thousands of police documents, journals, videos and diary entries. He has tracked down new sources, followed new leads and traced Josh Powell's trail from West Valley City, Utah, through Idaho, Oregon, Nevada and on to Washington State, where Powell killed himself and his two sons. Cold is the most complete retelling of the Susan Powell story ever. Join Dave Cawley in his search for truth. Share your thoughts: #ColdPodcast #FindSusan Twitter Instagram Facebook Episode transcript: https://thecoldpodcast.com/season-1-transcript/josh-powell-in-the-wind-rental-car-full-transcript Listen to Cold on the Wondery App or wherever you get your podcasts. You can binge all episodes ad-free on Wondery+. Join Wondery+ in the Wondery App, Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Start your free trial by visiting wondery.com/links/cold/ now.

Josh Powell told a group of his wife's friends and coworkers a year before she disappeared that if he were ever to commit murder, he'd dispose of the body by dropping it down an abandoned mine. That and other clues led West Valley City police to launch an exhaustive search abandoned mines in Utah's West Desert, beginning just days after Susan Powell's disappearance. They kept that effort secret, even as frustrated volunteers launched their own searches for Susan's body across the Great Basin. Now, the full story of the secret mine search comes to light for the first time. For the past three years, investigative reporter Dave Cawley has been studying thousands of police documents, journals, videos and diary entries. He has tracked down new sources, followed new leads and traced Josh Powell's trail from West Valley City, Utah, through Idaho, Oregon, Nevada and on to Washington State, where Powell killed himself and his two sons. Cold is the most complete retelling of the Susan Powell story ever. Join Dave Cawley in his search for truth. Listen to Cold on the Wondery App or wherever you get your podcasts. You can binge all episodes ad-free on Wondery+. Join Wondery+ in the Wondery App, Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Start your free trial by visiting wondery.com/links/cold/ now. Share your thoughts: #ColdPodcast #FindSusan Twitter Instagram Facebook Episode transcript: https://thecoldpodcast.com/season-1-transcript/scouring-the-desert-abandoned-mine-full-transcript  

Josh Powell abandoned his home on Sarah Circle less than two weeks after the disappearance of his wife, Susan. He retreated to Puyallup, Washington and the home of his father, Steve Powell. On both ends of the move, he called on members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to help him load and unload his belongings. He never realized one of those volunteers was actually a federal agent. Soon afterward, Josh's estranged older sister Jennifer Graves approached West Valley City police with a proposal. Jennifer volunteered to wear a wire and confront her brother. For the past three years, investigative reporter Dave Cawley has been studying thousands of police documents, journals, videos and diary entries. He has tracked down new sources, followed new leads and traced Josh Powell's trail from West Valley City, Utah, through Idaho, Oregon, Nevada and on to Washington State, where Powell killed himself and his two sons. Cold is the most complete retelling of the Susan Powell story ever. Join Dave Cawley in his search for truth. Share your thoughts: #ColdPodcast #FindSusan Twitter Instagram Facebook Episode transcript: https://thecoldpodcast.com/season-1-transcript/jennifer-graves-wearing-a-wire-full-transcript Listen to Cold on the Wondery App or wherever you get your podcasts. You can binge all episodes ad-free on Wondery+. Join Wondery+ in the Wondery App, Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Start your free trial by visiting wondery.com/links/cold/ now.

Steve Powell sang to the FBI just months into the search for his missing daughter-in-law Susan Powell. Agents tried to warn him that his son, Josh Powell, was likely a murderer and could kill again. Steve's bizarre views came under even more intense scrutiny after West Valley City police discovered he'd written and performed songs about Susan using the alias Steve Chantrey. He had even convinced Susan to sing background vocals for his planned album, "Light of Seattle." For the past three years, investigative reporter Dave Cawley has been studying thousands of police documents, journals, videos and diary entries. He has tracked down new sources, followed new leads and traced Josh Powell's trail from West Valley City, Utah, through Idaho, Oregon, Nevada and on to Washington State, where Powell killed himself and his two sons. Cold is the most complete retelling of the Susan Powell story ever. Join Dave Cawley in his search for truth. Share your thoughts: #ColdPodcast #FindSusan Twitter Instagram Facebook Episode transcript: https://thecoldpodcast.com/season-1-transcript/light-of-seattle-steve-powell-songs-full-transcript Listen to Cold on the Wondery App or wherever you get your podcasts. You can binge all episodes ad-free on Wondery+. Join Wondery+ in the Wondery App, Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Start your free trial by visiting wondery.com/links/cold/ now.

Josh and Susan Powell's oldest son, Charlie, started to open up about his missing mommy in 2010 as he attended the Mel Korum YMCA and started kindergarten at Carson Elementary School. Charlie's comments about killing bears and Mormons raised alarm for summer camp counselors and his teacher, Tammy Forman. Meanwhile, West Valley City police took their investigation in a new direction, planning to introduce Josh to a possible romantic interest on a Seattle commuter train. For the past three years, investigative reporter Dave Cawley has been studying thousands of police documents, journals, videos and diary entries. He has tracked down new sources, followed new leads and traced Josh Powell's trail from West Valley City, Utah, through Idaho, Oregon, Nevada and on to Washington State, where Powell killed himself and his two sons. Cold is the most complete retelling of the Susan Powell story ever. Join Dave Cawley in his search for truth. Share your thoughts: #ColdPodcast #FindSusan Twitter Instagram Facebook Episode transcript: https://thecoldpodcast.com/season-1-transcript/charlie-powell-kill-a-bear-full-transcript Listen to Cold on the Wondery App or wherever you get your podcasts. You can binge all episodes ad-free on Wondery+. Join Wondery+ in the Wondery App, Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Start your free trial by visiting wondery.com/links/cold/ now.

West Valley City police were running out of options. Every traditional approach to the Susan Powell case had failed. So, during the summer of 2011, detectives began brainstorming plans for a major, multi-state operation code-named Tsunami. It all hinged on the use of a court-authorized wiretap to monitor Josh Powell's phone calls, in the hopes he would let slip some important clue about the fate of his missing wife. To stimulate that conversation, police staged a bizarre public search in Ely, Nevada and they raided the Puyallup, Washington home of Josh's father, Steve Powell. For the past three years, investigative reporter Dave Cawley has been studying thousands of police documents, journals, videos and diary entries. He has tracked down new sources, followed new leads and traced Josh Powell's trail from West Valley City, Utah, through Idaho, Oregon, Nevada and on to Washington State, where Powell killed himself and his two sons. Cold is the most complete retelling of the Susan Powell story ever. Join Dave Cawley in his search for truth. Listen to Cold on the Wondery App or wherever you get your podcasts. You can binge all episodes ad-free on Wondery+. Join Wondery+ in the Wondery App, Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Start your free trial by visiting wondery.com/links/cold/ now. Share your thoughts: #ColdPodcast #FindSusan TwitterInstagramFacebook Episode transcript: https://thecoldpodcast.com/season-1-transcript/operation-tsunami-full-transcript  

With the wiretap winding down, West Valley police returned to Utah's West Desert with cadaver dogs. They found what at first appeared to be a grave site, but soon discovered it held no sign of Susan. Meantime, digging of a different sort on Josh Powell's computers and digital devices turned up new leads. The FBI and U.S. Secret Service encountered one encrypted hard drive that resisted every effort to view its contents. For the past three years, investigative reporter Dave Cawley has been studying thousands of police documents, journals, videos and diary entries. He has tracked down new sources, followed new leads and traced Josh Powell's trail from West Valley City, Utah, through Idaho, Oregon, Nevada and on to Washington State, where Powell killed himself and his two sons. Cold is the most complete retelling of the Susan Powell story ever. Join Dave Cawley in his search for truth. Listen to Cold on the Wondery App or wherever you get your podcasts. You can binge all episodes ad-free on Wondery+. Join Wondery+ in the Wondery App, Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Start your free trial by visiting wondery.com/links/cold/ now. Share your thoughts: #ColdPodcast #FindSusan Twitter Instagram Facebook Episode transcript: https://thecoldpodcast.com/season-1-transcript/topaz-mountain-human-remains-full-transcript  

Josh Powell went to court in Washington in a bid to get his sons, Charlie and Braden, returned to him. West Valley City police warned the social workers they'd found incestuous cartoon pornography on Josh's computer. After reviewing those images, forensic psychologist James Manley suggested Josh undergo a psychosexual evaluation. Meantime, detectives puzzled over why Josh's brother, Michael Powell, sold his 1997 Ford Taurus to Lindell Auto in Pendleton, Ore. just weeks after Susan Powell's disappearance. For the past three years, investigative reporter Dave Cawley has been studying thousands of police documents, journals, videos and diary entries. He has tracked down new sources, followed new leads and traced Josh Powell's trail from West Valley City, Utah, through Idaho, Oregon, Nevada and on to Washington State, where Powell killed himself and his two sons. Cold is the most complete retelling of the Susan Powell story ever. Join Dave Cawley in his search for truth. Listen to Cold on the Wondery App or wherever you get your podcasts. You can binge all episodes ad-free on Wondery+. Join Wondery+ in the Wondery App, Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Start your free trial by visiting wondery.com/links/cold/ now. Share your thoughts: #ColdPodcast #FindSusan Twitter Instagram Facebook Episode transcript: https://thecoldpodcast.com/season-1-transcript/4thekidzz-josh-powell-custody-battle-full-transcript  

Josh Powell carries out his final act, killing his sons Charlie and Braden by setting fire to his rented home in Graham, Wash. during a court-authorized visit. In the wake of the fire, Susan Powell's family and friends find comfort in their community. West Valley police and Pierce County sheriff's deputies seek clues in the charred remains of the house, hoping that Josh might at last point them to Susan's final resting place. For the past three years, investigative reporter Dave Cawley has been studying thousands of police documents, journals, videos and diary entries. He has tracked down new sources, followed new leads and traced Josh Powell's trail from West Valley City, Utah, through Idaho, Oregon, Nevada and on to Washington State, where Powell killed himself and his two sons. Cold is the most complete retelling of the Susan Powell story ever. Join Dave Cawley in his search for truth. Share your thoughts: #ColdPodcast #FindSusan Twitter Instagram Facebook Episode transcript: https://thecoldpodcast.com/season-1-transcript/killing-susans-sons-murder-suicide-full-transcript Listen to Cold on the Wondery App or wherever you get your podcasts. You can binge all episodes ad-free on Wondery+. Join Wondery+ in the Wondery App, Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Start your free trial by visiting wondery.com/links/cold/ now.

After the deaths of Josh, Charlie and Braden, West Valley police refocused their investigation on Josh Powell's youngest brother. The mercurial Michael Powell made a play for Josh and Susan Powell's life insurance, ending up entangled in an interpleader lawsuit. During a civil deposition, he lied about his encrypted emails and Facebook snooping with Josh. For the past three years, investigative reporter Dave Cawley has been studying thousands of police documents, journals, videos and diary entries. He has tracked down new sources, followed new leads and traced Josh Powell's trail from West Valley City, Utah, through Idaho, Oregon, Nevada and on to Washington State, where Powell killed himself and his two sons. Cold is the most complete retelling of the Susan Powell story ever. Join Dave Cawley in his search for truth. Share your thoughts: #ColdPodcast #FindSusan Twitter Instagram Facebook Episode transcript: https://thecoldpodcast.com/season-1-transcript/fall-of-the-house-of-powell-life-insurance-full-transcript Listen to Cold on the Wondery App or wherever you get your podcasts. You can binge all episodes ad-free on Wondery+. Join Wondery+ in the Wondery App, Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Start your free trial by visiting wondery.com/links/cold/ now.

A jailhouse informant calling himself "Cowboy" provided police with a promising tip early in the search for Susan Powell. He said Josh Powell had spent time with an elusive stripper named Summer. Find Summer, find Susan. Detectives launched an all-out hunt for Summer that stretched on for years, yet failed to turn up any new information. It was just one among hundreds of tips in the Powell investigation that wasted time and resources, never bringing police any closer to finding Susan. For the past three years, investigative reporter Dave Cawley has been studying thousands of police documents, journals, videos and diary entries. He has tracked down new sources, followed new leads and traced Josh Powell's trail from West Valley City, Utah, through Idaho, Oregon, Nevada and on to Washington State, where Powell killed himself and his two sons. Cold is the most complete retelling of the Susan Powell story ever. Join Dave Cawley in his search for truth. Share your thoughts: #ColdPodcast #FindSusan Twitter Instagram Facebook Episode transcript: https://thecoldpodcast.com/season-1-transcript/chasing-leads-josh-powell-stripper-full-transcript Listen to Cold on the Wondery App or wherever you get your podcasts. You can binge all episodes ad-free on Wondery+. Join Wondery+ in the Wondery App, Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Start your free trial by visiting wondery.com/links/cold/ now.

West Valley City police made one final push before declaring the Susan Powell case cold in 2013, interrogating Josh Powell's uncle Maurice Leach in Oregon. Meanwhile, Susan's family fought for change, both in the courts and at the Washington statehouse. Josh's mom, Terri Powell, went to court in Utah to argue for her share of the life insurance money. Twice-convicted sex offender Steve Powell died alone from heart failure. For the past three years, investigative reporter Dave Cawley has been studying thousands of police documents, journals, videos and diary entries. He has tracked down new sources, followed new leads and traced Josh Powell's trail from West Valley City, Utah, through Idaho, Oregon, Nevada and on to Washington State, where Powell killed himself and his two sons. Cold is the most complete retelling of the Susan Powell story ever. Join Dave Cawley in his search for truth. Share your thoughts: #ColdPodcast #FindSusan Twitter Instagram Facebook Episode transcript: https://thecoldpodcast.com/season-1-transcript/cold-case-full-transcript Listen to Cold on the Wondery App or wherever you get your podcasts. You can binge all episodes ad-free on Wondery+. Join Wondery+ in the Wondery App, Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Start your free trial by visiting wondery.com/links/cold/ now.

Nearly 10 years have elapsed since Susan Powell's disappearance. Her body has still not been found. The investigation remains a cold case. In recent years, Susan's friends and family have focused their effort on sharing the story as a cautionary tale. They hope showing the warning signs of domestic abuse can help others safely escape dangerous relationships. In this season finale for Cold, Dave shares his theory on what he believes happened to Susan. For the past three years, investigative reporter Dave Cawley has been studying thousands of police documents, journals, videos and diary entries. He has tracked down new sources, followed new leads and traced Josh Powell's trail from West Valley City, Utah, through Idaho, Oregon, Nevada and on to Washington State, where Powell killed himself and his two sons. Cold is the most complete retelling of the Susan Powell story ever. Join Dave Cawley in his search for truth. Share your thoughts: #ColdPodcast #FindSusan Twitter Instagram Facebook Episode transcript: https://thecoldpodcast.com/season-1-transcript/angel-of-hope-susan-powell-theory-full-transcript Listen to Cold on the Wondery App or wherever you get your podcasts. You can binge all episodes ad-free on Wondery+. Join Wondery+ in the Wondery App, Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Start your free trial by visiting wondery.com/links/cold/ now.