WEST VALLEY CITY, Utah — The Puyallup father of a missing Utah woman is doing what he can to keep attention focused on the search for her, saying investigators’ focus on her husband appeared to be misplaced.
Susan Powell, the 28-year-old mother of two small children, was reported missing Dec. 7 under what police are calling suspicious circumstances.
Since then, police have increased the number of investigators assigned to the case to about 30. They have questioned her husband, Josh Powell, and searched a desert area where he said he took the couple’s children, ages 2 and 4, camping early Dec. 7 in freezing weather.
West Valley City Police Capt. Tom McLachlan says police haven’t been able to verify Josh Powell’s story because snow covered the spot where he said he went.
Susan Powell’s father, Charles Cox, flew in from Puyallup to assist in the search. He spent Saturday morning granting dozens of interviews to media outlets around the country.
While Cox and Josh Powell shared a brief hug before a prayer service began, Cox said the only conversation he’s had with him since his daughter was reported missing was on Tuesday.
“I’m kind of concerned that all the focus is on him at the present. I mean he’s told his story — believable or not — and I don’t see him as capable of harming her,” Cox said. “And the more time spent on him, the less time there is looking at other possibilities.”
Susan Powell’s friend, Kiirsi Hellewell, described her as a “girly girl” who liked to get dressed up when she went out with friends and make blankets for friends at church.
She said that a winter camping trip seemed odd.
“They might go camping, but they would not do it in the winter, they would not do it in the middle of night and they wouldn’t do it when they were expected at work the next day,” she said.
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