Disclaimer: This article contains mentions of murder and suicide. Reader discretion is advised.
ABC 20/20‘s “If Something Happens To Me” will look into the case against Josh Powell in the missing case of his wife, Susan Powell. Josh was a person of interest in Susan’s 2009 missing case. Later, he would kill himself and their two young sons in a horrific murder-suicide incident. The episode airs this Friday, July 26, 2024, at 9 p.m. ET. A synopsis reads, “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.”
Susan and Josh Powell’s marriage had completely soured by the time she went missing from the couple’s Utah home in December 2009. Josh claimed he had taken their two sons on a camping trip only to find Susan missing once they returned. He then moved to Washington with the boys to live with his father, and the search for Susan continued. Detectives eventually found blood and a letter stating she feared for her life, among other incriminating evidence, in their house.
Authorities ruled Josh Powell a person of interest in Susan’s disappearance based on evidence and his other suspicious actions. In the following years, while Josh never faced charges in Susan Powell’s missing case, he lost the custody of their sons. Moreover, authorities kept him under their radar until he killed himself and his two sons in a murder-suicide. The incident occurred in February 2012 during a supervised visitation with the boys.
Reportedly, Susan Powell has never been found and is now presumed dead.
What did Josh Powell do?
According to Oxygen, Josh Powell was a person of interest in his wife Susan’s missing case. All evidence lined up against him, including his strange actions and the couple’s deteriorating marriage in the time leading up to Susan Powell’s disappearance. ABC News reported that Susan’s friend knew their marriage had remained bitter for years. Moreover, the mother-of-two was consulting a divorce lawyer.
After Susan’s disappearance, Josh Powell cleaned his minivan and the house garage. Additionally, he was never actively involved in the search for his wife. Susan’s friend Kiirsi Hellewell stated, “There was no point at which Josh” was even slightly “concerned that Susan was missing.” Authorities questioned him, but he claimed he did not remember anything. They also interrogated the couple’s then-four-year-old son Charlie, who said they went “camping.”
However, Charlie added that it was “my dad and my mom and my little brother” who were present there. The boy then said, “My mom stayed at Dinosaur National Park. My mom stayed where the crystals are.” People initially believed Charlie’s statements meant Susan Powell was dead and that Josh killed her. Nonetheless, there remained doubt concerning his claims as he made several false comments including how they took a plane to go camping.
Months after Susan’s disappearance Josh Powell moved to Washington with their two sons to live with his father. He claimed he wanted to keep his family away from the media attention. Josh eventually lost custody of his sons to the state and only saw them during supervised visitations. This happened until February 2012 when he killed himself and the boys in a murder-suicide incident.
On February 5, 2012, Josh Powell was scheduled to see his two sons in a visit that a state caseworker was supposed to supervise. When the caseworker brought the boys to the Powell home, Josh locked the supervisor outside. He then struck the boys, then five and seven years old, with a hatchet, doused them in gasoline, and caused a massive explosion. Josh and both his sons died in the murder-suicide.
Authorities have never found Susan Powell, leaving the case unsolved. Before the murder-suicide, detectives had found incriminating evidence, including a $1 million life insurance policy in Susan’s name. They also found a hand-written letter she wrote which described their miserable marriage, reported Sportskeeda.
In the letter, Susan also mentioned, “If I die, it may not be an accident.” This, combined with a string of other evidence, led authorities to believe Josh Powell was behind Susan’s disappearance. However, he died before facing any charges.
ABC 20/20’s episode “If Something Happens To Me” airs on the network this Friday, July 26.
