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An attorney for the parents of missing West Valley City woman Susan Cox Powell announced on Thursday evening that Powell's father-in-law, Steve Powell, went camping in Utah's west desert the night she disappeared in 2009.
"Steve Powell, according to a new witness, said he went camping with the boys and Josh Powell when Susan went missing," Anne Bremner, a Seattle attorney who represents Chuck and Judy Cox, posted on Twitter.
Bremner wrote that a witness informed police of Steve Powell's activities "long ago."
Bremner wasn't available to comment more late Thursday, but Chuck Cox said he's not surprised to learn of the details that are emerging about Steve Powell possibly accompanying Josh and his grandsons, then ages 2 and 4, on a camping trip close to midnight Sunday, Dec. 6, 2009.
But the Washington state Department of Corrections confirmed that Steve Powell was at work the morning of Monday, Dec. 7, 2009.
Chuck Cox said he has always believed Steve Powell helped his son kidnap and murder Susan Powell.
"I know Steve had something to do with it. I've been consistent with that," Chuck Cox said, reached at his Puyallup, Wash. home. Cox said he's unaware of who the witness is, but said he's glad the person has emerged and hopes the news will "help the police move past the bubble they seem to be on" with his daughter's case.
West Valley City police could not be reached for comment on Bremner's postings Thursday evening.
The latest Steve Powell news from Bremner follows a revelation earlier this week that the 61-year-old called in sick to work a day after Susan Powell went missing. Powell was absent from his Washington Department of Corrections job on Dec. 8 and Dec. 9, 2009, his former employer confirmed to The Salt Lake Tribune on Tuesday.
Those days coincide with the period that Josh Powell, Susan's husband, rented a Ford Focus from the Salt Lake City International Airport, putting more than 800 miles on the vehicle before returning it around 7 p.m. on Dec. 10, 2009.
West Valley City police Sgt. Mike Powell, who is not related, declined to comment Tuesday on what investigators know about Steve Powell's work absence, saying he "wouldn't be addressing that question at all" because Susan Powell's case is "an active investigation that is progressing."
Also this week, Minneapolis police confirmed that West Valley City police contacted them about Susan Powell's disappearance. Michael C. Powell, Josh Powell's brother, moved to Minneapolis in 2010 to attend graduate school at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities.
Michael Powell has made inflammatory statements about police on a website called "4thekidzz," which was taken down after his brother Josh attacked his sons with a hatchet and then set fire to his Washington rental home, killing himself and his boys in February.
Josh Powell was the only person of interest named by police in his wife's disappearance.
Bremner is representing the Coxes, who are contemplating a possible lawsuit against West Valley City police for the handling of their daughter's case. The Coxes are also contemplating a lawsuit against Washington child welfare officials.
Tribune reporter Brooke Adams contributed to this story.
Twitter: @mrogers_trib