Overwhelming Support for Susan

After returning from the Good Morning America interview in New York,  Chuck Cox posted this statement to the Friends and Family of Susan Powell Facebook group:

Thank you all for your support. Thanks to the Media for giving us the opportunity to address these blatant falsehoods. Susan was first and foremost a loving mother totally devoted to her marriage and the support of her husband. We know as I am sure everyone realizes she was not perfect but I assure you, it wasn’t due to a lack of effort. Everyone that knew her can attest to her loving, helpful, optimistic attitude.

We appreciate your help, support and confidence in her. We know that the Police are doing everything in their power to resolve this case and bring the guilty to Justice. We will continue to do everything in our power to find Susan.

–Chuck Cox

Hundreds of statements of support for Susan and her family have been posted online since the Salt Lake Tribune interview with Josh and Steve Powell came out last Friday, November 5.  Here are some thoughts from the “Friends and Family” Facebook group:

James wrote:

Dear Chuck and Judy, we know the truth. We know Susan would never leave her children no matter how much trouble there may have been (or not been) in her marriage. I know it’s hard to listen to unfounded accusations, but I hope you will remember the words of one of the ancient prophets, Elisha:  

Fear not: for they that… be with us are more than they that be with them. (2 Kings 6:16)

We love you and continue praying for you, your family and, of course, for Susan.

Trisha wrote about Susan’s family:

I can’t even begin to imagine what they are going through after the interview with the Tribune. Nothing but lies, lies, and more lies. Praying for Susan, her boys, her parents, and all of her family and friends.

Candice wrote:

One thing we know for sure: if Susan were to make it home, she would be WELCOMED WITH OPEN ARMS by her family, friends, community, state, nation, and anyone who knows about this in the world. Recent statements only seem to reflect how two people feel, and not the thousands, possibly millions of others who want to see Susan again.

We won’t give up hope! So many of us are hoping and praying in this hard time.

 

Anne wrote:

I would like Susan’s family and friends to know that I’m appalled and saddened at the recent rantings in the media by Josh and Steven Powell.

I hope you know that no reasonable person will put any stock whatsoever in anything these two have to say.

I continue to pray for you, for Susan’s sons, and for Susan.

Shirley wrote:

Dear Mr. and Mrs. Cox. I keep a flyer of your Daughter in my car window. People ask me why I still have it there after so many months have gone by. I tell them I will keep it up until Susan is found.We did that with Elizabeth Smart. Please know that your family are all in my husband and my prayers.

Maurine wrote:

Never Forget, Never Give Up! Keep Hope Alive, you never know what moment a miracle may happen. I pray for that miracle for Susan and her loved ones. Keep your eyes open to what is going on around you.  I keep thinking how her purse and phone were left behind…, that is not the actions of a wife and Mother leaving her home voluntarily. I have to believe someone out there has seen something. Keep Susan’s story and face out there where the public has her face clearly and freshly in their minds. I pray she will be reunited with her children in this life! Somebody knows the answers to her whereabouts, if you know anything, please have the courage to come forward and report what you know to the West Valley Police Dept, it is the right thing to do.

Kate wrote:

 

The heartbreaking thing is Susan didn’t ask for much. She strived each day to live a peaceful, happy life surrounded by the people she loves most. She isn’t a pushy, demanding person…she just wanted the opportunity to be the best mom, wife, daughter, sister and friend she could be…to live her life with grace and integrity, filled with love and joy as she raised her sons into men…I am heartbroken that someone thought she deserved less than everything, that they felt they had the right to dictate the course of Susan’s life, to deny her the God given right to be a mother to her precious sons….

We are here Susan, to be your voice, to be your strength and to be your advocate until we find you and bring you home. We are not going anywhere…11 months is a ridiculous amount of time but if it takes 11 years I will still be here ♥

Chuck Cox, Susan’s father, posted this shortly after the Tribune article was released:

“One more thing, most important: Keep looking.”

Read Full Post »

Josh Powell Breaks His Silence

Friday night, the world was shocked when Josh Powell broke his 11-month silence with an inflammatory 6-hour interview with the Salt Lake Tribune’s Nate Carlisle.

Josh and his father Steve Powell made many claims in the Tribune article, including the following:

* They believe that Susan “ran off” with a boyfriend because she is “sexually and financially motivated”

* They believe Susan is “mentally unstable”

* They accuse the Cox family of starting a foundation to help other adult missing persons as a cover to “solicit donations”

As quoted in the Salt Lake Tribune article, Jennifer Graves, Josh Powell’s sister, had this to say about Josh and Steve’s claims:

“They’ve basically accused Susan of being a slut, and it’s offensive to me,” Jennifer Graves said. “She was not. She was frustrated with her marriage.”

Her husband Kirk added, “They need an explanation for why she’s not around.  He can’t say ‘Of course, she’s not around because I killed her.’ ”

The Graves’ told the Salt Lake Tribune that Susan was NOT mentally unstable and that, in fact, it’s the Powell side of the family—Josh and Steve’s side—that have mental issues. 

The article goes on to say:
The irony, the Graveses said, is that one of Josh Powell’s brothers has been diagnosed as bipolar and schizophrenic. Steve Powell, they said, is a controlling person who often drives the actions of some of his children. With mental illness running in the family, the Graveses wonder if Josh might be the one suffering from it.

The Tribune article has garnered a passionate response all across the world, as online readers weigh in on the subject.  The overwhelming majority of people have spoken in support of Susan, her two little boys, and the Cox and Graves families.  The local and national media also had a swift response.  There are now too many articles and videos to list them all, but here’s a few:

Good Morning America’s report on Sunday, November 7

A report from Seattle’s QFOX13

Statement Analysis goes through the entire Salt Lake Tribune article and highlights disturbing passages with some very thought-provoking discussion

Local Salt Lake City TV station ABC-4 has reaction from the Cox and Graves families

On Monday morning, Chuck and Judy Cox, as well as Jennifer and Kirk Graves, were interviewed in New York City for Good Morning America

Read Full Post »

Nine Months: Susan in the Media

Susan Cox Powell has now been missing for 275 days.  Yesterday’s excellent story by Good Morning America sparked a resurgence of media interest, both locally and in Washington.  Here’s a rundown of the stories, articles and videos  from  Tuesday, September 7, the nine-month anniversary of Susan’s disappearance:

 Good Morning America’s report

Another clip of the GMA report, from Puyallup, Washington’s KOMO news

Local Utah station KSL’s interview with Jennifer and Kirk Graves

Local Utah station ABC-4 TV’s article

Isabelle Zehnder of Examiner.com’s article,  “Nine Months”—focusing on Steve Powell’s e-mailed remarks to ABC

Also, yesterday, news broke that a woman’s body was found in a shallow grave in Cle Elum, Washington.  The local sheriff’s team and some archaeologists are excavating the body.  We hope for updates as work progresses.

On the Friends and Family of Susan Powell Facebook group, emotions were high as those who knew Susan—and those who didn’t, but have come to love her as they follow this case—expressed feelings of anger, grief,  and sadness as well as hope, prayers, and faith. 

If you are on Twitter, follow @FindSusan for updates on any news we get.

PLEASE keep spreading the word of Susan—someone, somewhere knows something…has seen something…can help the police solve this case and find Susan.  If you have any information that might help police, please call the West Valley City Police Department at 801-840-4000.

Read Full Post »

Susan’s Story on Good Morning America: Tuesday, Sept. 7

Tuesday, September 7 Susan and her story will be featured on Good Morning America on ABC.  They are doing a series on missing persons this week and spent a few days in Washington and Utah in August, filming for this segment. 

They chose a very good day for this story—tomorrow it will be NINE MONTHS since Susan was ripped away from her home, her children, and everything she knew and loved. 

Susan’s friends and family want to thank GMA, ABC and everyone who worked on this story for keeping Susan in the news!

Read Full Post »