Missing mom case: Husband is person of interest

The woman, named Susan Powell, has been missing for nearly two weeks. The twenty-eight-year-old mother of two young children was last seen Sunday night, Dec. 6, at her home in West Valley City and was reported missing by relatives the next day.

"Every lead we've been offered so far would leave us to believe this is out of character (for Susan) and thus suspect foul play is involved," West Valley City Asst. Police Chief Craig Black said Wednesday.

Susan's husband Joshua Powell, who showed up at the home later on Monday with his two sons, ages 2 and 4, told at the time that he went camping with the boys in subfreezing temperatures in the middle of the night Dec. 7.

Joshua- a person of interest
But the investigators are suspicious about Joshua’s role in the entire case, thus now considering him a person of interest in Powell’s suspicious disappearance.

West Valley City Assistant Police Chief Craig Black said that the behavior of Josh Powell, who has refused to cooperate in the search for his missing wife, is not normal.

“[I would] describe him as abnormal under the circumstances,” Black said during an interview with Today’s Matt Lauer. “This is not normally what we see happen.”

"Josh's unusual lack of cooperation for a husband looking for his wife with the police department, you know, it certainly causes us to ask questions as to why would he do things to exclude the resources that we can bring to the table to find Susan," Black said.

Joshua’s non-cooperative behavior
He said the families of missing persons usually are eager to help cops, but after talking to police on Dec. 7, the day Susan was reported missing, Joshua has hired a defense attorney and declined to talk to authorities further.

“We feel that Josh, probably more than anyone else, could provide us information and insight into what has happened to Susan, whether it be foul play or not at this point,” Black told Lauer.
“We would truly like to visit with him, interview him and, frankly, ask him some questions about things he may even be uncomfortable talking to us about that would help lead us to find her.”

Susan’s Family saddened but not surprised
Meanwhile, Susan’s family has said they are saddened but not surprised that Joshua has been named a person of interest in the investigation. The family held a press conference Thursday afternoon in Puyallup, Wash.

"It breaks our hearts but we're not surprised (after) watching his actions and reactions over the past week," family spokeswoman Shelby Gifford told reporters at the press conference Thursday.

"We know that Susan is an excellent mother and would not have tolerated her children being taken out of the home after midnight to go camping in dangerously cold conditions," he added.

Family wish for Susan’s safe return
At the conference Susan’s family and friends cried with her photos in hands, and said they still hope she is found alive, People reports.

"If you see Susan, note the location and call 911 immediately," said tearful Gifford. "Susan is a mother, a daughter, an aunt, a sister, a niece, a granddaughter, and a friend. She's loved by many. Our primary focus is to remind everybody that Susan has not been found."