Murdered: The Powell Family Tragedy
As October approaches, so does Domestic Violence Awareness Month — a time to remember the lives lost, the families forever changed, and the warning signs too often ignored. Few cases embody that tragedy more than the Powell family.
In December 2009, Susan Powell vanished from her Utah home. Her husband, Josh, claimed she simply disappeared during a midnight camping trip with their two young boys. But as investigators dug deeper, disturbing secrets within the Powell family surfaced: Josh’s controlling behavior, his father Steven’s obsessions, and a home filled with tension and fear.
The nightmare didn’t end with Susan’s disappearance. Three years later, Josh carried out an unthinkable act of violence against their sons, Charlie and Braden, in a horrific ending that shocked the nation.
This episode examines Susan’s disappearance, the devastating loss of her children, and the unanswered questions that still linger. Through it all, her parents — the Cox family — continue to fight for justice, and to ensure Susan, Charlie, and Braden are never forgotten.
TW: This episode includes disturbing content related to domestic violence, child abuse, child pornography, family annihilation, and the murders of Susan Powell and her two sons. It also includes references to stalking, coercive control, and disturbing criminal behavior.Listener discretion is strongly advised.
Episode Source Material
Official Reports & Investigations
West Valley City Police Department. “Photos, Documents Relating to the Susan Powell Case.” Released May 2013.
Washington State Department of Social and Health Services. Court and custody filings related to the Powell family, 2009–2012.
Articles
Deseret News. “Timeline: The Powell Family’s Tragic Two Years.” Deseret News, February 5, 2012. https://www.deseret.com/2012/2/5/20252578/timeline-the-powell-family-s-tragic-two-years.
St. George News. “Susan Powell Update: Police Close Case of Missing Utah Mom, Offer New Details.” St. George News, May 21, 2013. https://www.stgeorgeutah.com/news/archive/2013/05/21/susan-powell-update-police-close-case-of-missing-utah-mom-offer-new-details.
Salt Lake Tribune. “Powell’s Story: Cruelty, Abuse from an Early Age.” The Salt Lake Tribune, February 12, 2012.
ABC News. “Josh Powell: Could His Sons’ Deaths Have Been Prevented?” ABC News, February 8, 2012. https://abcnews.go.com/US/josh-powell-sons-deaths-prevented/story?id=15531986.
ABC News. “Mom Susan Powell Goes Missing on Same Cold Night Dad Takes Boys ‘Camping’: Is There a Crack in the Case?” ABC News, December 10, 2009. https://abcnews.go.com/US/mom-susan-powell-missing-cold-night-dad-takes/story?id=9290825.
Books / Longform Articles
Olsen, Gregg. If I Can’t Have You: Susan Powell, Her Mysterious Disappearance, and the Murder of Her Children. New York: St. Martin’s Press, 2014.
Documentaries
Dateline NBC. “Secrets in the Snow.” Aired January 20, 2012. NBC News.
Oxygen. The Disappearance of Susan Cox Powell. Two-part special. Aired May 2019. Oxygen Media.
Podcasts
KSL. Cold. Season 1: The Susan Powell Case Files. 2018. https://thecoldpodcast.com.
Crime Junkie. “MISSING: Susan Powell.” Audiochuck, 2018. https://crimejunkiepodcast.com.
True Crime Garage. “Susan Powell.” Episodes 223 & 224. 2019. https://truecrimegarage.com.
Videos & Transcripts
KOMO News. “Video: Josh Powell 911 Call Made by the Social Worker.” KOMO News, February 5, 2012.
KOMO News. “Transcript: Social Worker’s 911 Call from Josh Powell’s Home.” KOMO News, February 5, 2012.
KUTV News. “Video: Susan Powell Talks About Her Life and Possessions.” KUTV 2 News, 2008.
Websites
Susan Cox Powell Foundation. https://www.susancoxpowellfoundation.org.
Find Susan. http://www.findsusanpowell.org.
