Graham, Wash. • Susan Cox Powell’s husband, the only person of interest named by police in her disappearance, is dead.
Their two little boys, whose welfare attracted public attention, are dead, too.
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And so, the West Valley City police search for the missing wife and mother may receive more scrutiny than ever, although the definition of "case solved" likely has changed.
Arresting Josh Powell might have produced a coda, but now nothing less than finding his wife — a task that has eluded West Valley City police for two years — will end the mystery.
"There’s no success here," West Valley City police Chief Thayle "Buzz" Nielsen said Monday after touring the charred remains of Josh Powell’s home here. "This is terrible."
Josh Powell on Sunday set a fire that killed himself and his sons, Charlie, 7, and Braden, 5.
Nielsen vowed his department would continue investigating Susan Powell’s disappearance. He said he hopes someone who was afraid to speak when Josh Powell was alive will come forward, and he didn’t rule out charging someone as an accomplice in Susan Powell’s disappearance or death.
When asked if Josh Powell’s father, Steve Powell, might be an accomplice, Nielsen replied, "Absolutely."
Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill said Monday that his office has held periodic briefings with police over the years in connection with the case.
"We have certain elemental criteria we need to meet in terms of evidence and, at this point, we did not feel that we were there," Gill said.
Gill called Josh Powell "a strong person of interest" in connection with his wife’s disappearance, but said that his death did not necessarily mean the end of the investigation.
"This continues to be a missing persons case with an open and active investigation," Gill added. "Until I have some conversation with law enforcement [about whether] they will close their case out or not, it’s still a missing persons case."
Susan Powell’s father, Chuck Cox, on Monday said he doesn’t think his daughter will return.
"She’s gone, and I don’t know if we’ll ever know where she is," Cox said.
Nielsen said Josh Powell did not know where the West Valley City police investigation stood and it should not be considered a reason for the suicide and murders.
The case against Josh Powell was circumstantial, Nielsen said, but the chief hoped to arrest Josh Powell, or some culprit, this year.
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