If Something Happens to Me
Digest
This podcast delves into the chilling case of Susan Powell, a 28-year-old woman who vanished in December 2009. Her husband, Josh Powell, claimed she went camping with him and their children, but inconsistencies in his story raised suspicions. The podcast examines the troubled relationship between Susan and Josh, highlighting the control Josh exerted over her. Despite circumstantial evidence, police initially hesitated to arrest Josh, but he remained a person of interest. The podcast explores Josh's isolation after Susan's disappearance and the role of his father, Steve Powell, who became his defender and shielded him from the media. Steve Powell's own disturbing behavior, including his obsession with Susan and voyeuristic activities, ultimately led to his arrest for child pornography. The podcast details the custody battle for Susan's sons, Charlie and Braden, between Josh and Susan's parents. Josh's actions, including his attempts to gain custody and his eventual murder-suicide, are discussed. The podcast covers the Cox family's lawsuit against the state of Washington, alleging that the state's focus on family reunification led to the deaths of their grandchildren. The podcast concludes with the ongoing search for Susan's body, highlighting the efforts of volunteers and the Cox family's determination to find closure.
Outlines
![](https://s3.castbox.fm/webstatic/images/book.5d108c35.png)
The Disappearance of Susan Powell
This episode introduces the case of Susan Powell, a 28-year-old woman who went missing in December 2009. Her husband, Josh Powell, claimed she went camping with him and the children, but inconsistencies in his story raised suspicions. The episode explores the troubled relationship between Susan and Josh, highlighting the control Josh exerted over her.
![](https://s3.castbox.fm/webstatic/images/book.5d108c35.png)
Josh Powell as a Person of Interest
This episode discusses the investigation into Susan's disappearance, focusing on Josh as a person of interest. Despite circumstantial evidence, police initially hesitated to arrest him. The episode explores Josh's isolation from the world after Susan's disappearance and the role of his father, Steve Powell, who became his defender and shielded him from the media.
![](https://s3.castbox.fm/webstatic/images/book.5d108c35.png)
Steve Powell's Creepy Behavior
This episode reveals Steve Powell's disturbing behavior, including his obsession with Susan and his voyeuristic activities, which ultimately led to his arrest for child pornography. The episode details the custody battle for Susan's sons, Charlie and Braden, between Josh and Susan's parents.
![](https://s3.castbox.fm/webstatic/images/book.5d108c35.png)
Josh's Actions and the Cox Family Lawsuit
This episode discusses Josh's actions, including his attempts to gain custody and his eventual murder-suicide. The episode covers the Cox family's lawsuit against the state of Washington, alleging that the state's focus on family reunification led to the deaths of their grandchildren.
![](https://s3.castbox.fm/webstatic/images/book.5d108c35.png)
The Search for Susan's Body
This episode concludes with the ongoing search for Susan's body, highlighting the efforts of volunteers and the Cox family's determination to find closure.
Keywords
Susan Powell
Susan Powell was a 28-year-old woman who went missing from her home in West Valley City, Utah, on December 6, 2009. Her disappearance remains unsolved, and her husband, Josh Powell, is considered the prime suspect.
Josh Powell
Josh Powell was Susan Powell's husband. He was initially considered a person of interest in her disappearance, but was never charged. He later killed his two sons, Charlie and Braden, in a murder-suicide.
Steve Powell
Steve Powell was Josh Powell's father. He became a vocal defender of his son after Susan's disappearance. He was later convicted of child pornography charges related to his voyeuristic behavior towards Susan and other young girls.
Charlie and Braden Powell
Charlie and Braden Powell were Susan and Josh's two young sons. They were tragically killed by their father, Josh Powell, in a murder-suicide.
West Valley City Police Department
The West Valley City Police Department investigated Susan Powell's disappearance. They initially hesitated to arrest Josh Powell, but later became convinced of his guilt.
Child Protective Services
Child Protective Services (CPS) became involved in the case after Steve Powell was arrested for child pornography. They took custody of Charlie and Braden, but later allowed supervised visitation with Josh.
Cox Family
The Cox family, Susan's parents and siblings, were deeply involved in the search for Susan and the fight for justice for their grandchildren. They filed a lawsuit against the state of Washington, alleging negligence in the handling of the case.
Q&A
What are the key inconsistencies in Josh Powell's story about Susan's disappearance?
Josh claimed Susan went camping with him and the children, but there was no evidence of camping gear at their home, and Susan's purse and other belongings were left behind. He also changed his story about the location of the camping trip, and his demeanor during interviews was suspicious.
Why did police initially hesitate to arrest Josh Powell?
While there was circumstantial evidence pointing to Josh's involvement, police lacked physical evidence to secure a search warrant or arrest him. They also faced pressure from the district attorney's office to wait for more evidence.
What was Steve Powell's role in the case?
Steve Powell became a vocal defender of his son, shielding him from the media and making false claims about Susan's character. His own disturbing behavior, including voyeurism and child pornography, ultimately led to his arrest and conviction.
What were the key findings of the Cox family lawsuit against the state of Washington?
The jury found that the state of Washington was negligent in its handling of the case, specifically in allowing supervised visitation between Josh Powell and his sons. The jury awarded the Cox family $98 million in damages.
What is the current status of the search for Susan Powell's body?
The search for Susan's body continues, with volunteers and the Cox family determined to find closure. While recent searches in abandoned mines have yielded animal bones, the mystery of Susan's disappearance remains unsolved.
Show Notes
A deep dive into the disappearance of wife and mother Susan Powell and the stunning twist involving her two young sons at the hands of her husband Josh Powell.
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Those poor babies are with their Mother in heaven 😢