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Crime & Justice • Missing Person

Susan Powell

Susan Powell (born Susan Marie Cox; October 16, 1981) was an American mother of two from Utah who disappeared on December 6, 2009.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Susan Powell (born Susan Marie Cox; October 16, 1981) was an American mother of two from Utah who disappeared on December 6, 2009. Her disappearance became a major missing-person case, and investigators later said they believed she had been killed by her husband, Joshua Powell, though her body was never found and no one was charged with her disappearance.

Disappearance

Susan Powell was last seen in December 2009 in West Valley City, Utah. She was reported missing after failing to appear at work, and the circumstances surrounding her disappearance immediately raised concern.

Investigation

Police focused on Joshua Powell early in the investigation and later stated that they believed he murdered Susan. Despite extensive searching and public scrutiny, investigators never recovered her body or filed charges for her disappearance.

Aftermath

In February 2012, Joshua Powell killed the couple's two sons and himself in Washington state. The case remained open for years, and authorities continued to treat Susan Powell as a missing person.

Public attention

The case became widely known through news coverage, true-crime reporting, and later documentaries. It is often cited as one of Utah's most notable missing-person cases.

Key facts

  • Susan Powell disappeared from her home in West Valley City, Utah, in December 2009.
  • Police identified her husband, Joshua Powell, as a person of interest.
  • Investigators believed Joshua killed Susan, but he was never charged.
  • In 2012, Joshua Powell killed the couple's two sons and himself in a house explosion.
  • Susan's remains were never found, and the case remains open.

Frequently asked questions

Who was Susan Powell?
Susan Powell was an American woman from Utah who disappeared in 2009 and became the subject of a widely followed missing-person investigation.
When did Susan Powell disappear?
She disappeared on December 6, 2009.
Where did Susan Powell disappear from?
She disappeared from West Valley City, Utah, in the United States.
Was anyone charged in her disappearance?
No one was charged with Susan Powell's disappearance.
What did police believe happened to her?
West Valley City police later said they believed Joshua Powell killed her and concealed her body.
Has Susan Powell ever been found?
No. Her remains have never been recovered publicly, and she is still treated as a missing person in the available sources.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disappearance_of_Susan_Powell
    Supports: Basic biographical details, disappearance date, spouse, children, police suspicion, and unresolved status.
  2. ABC News — https://abcnews.com/US/susan-powell-disappearance-young-sons-horrific-death-haunts/story?id=73983127
    Supports: Overview of the disappearance, the later deaths of Joshua Powell and the children, and the case's unresolved nature.
  3. CBS News — https://www.cbsnews.com/news/susan-powell-update-police-close-case-of-missing-utah-mom-offer-new-details/
    Supports: Police statements about the investigation, status of Joshua Powell as a person of interest, and the conclusion that authorities lacked evidence to charge him.
  4. KUTV — https://kutv.com/news/local/timeline-what-we-know-in-the-10-years-since-susan-cox-powell-went-missing
    Supports: Timeline of the case, closure of the active search, and continuing missing-person status.