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

00:00:00

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.

00:01:49

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.

00:49:46

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.

00:53:07

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.

01:17:24

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

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