The search for Susan Powell, who was last seen on December 6, 2009 at her West Valley City, Utah home on December 6, 2009 home, has been called off by authorities, the Salt Lake Tribune reported. Powell was last been in her home, which she shared with Josh, her husband. He was the only person of interest ever named in the case.
Her husband denied ever having anything to do with his wife's disappearance before killing himself and the couple's sons last year when he set fire to their rented home in Washington.
"We have left no stone unturned during the last 3 ½ years of this investigation," Deputy Chief Mike Powell said about the investigation. The deputy chief said during the news conference believed "early on" that her husband was involved in his wife's disappearance. He was the last person to see her alive and showed a lack of concern for her disappearance. Investigators also found droplets of his wife's blood in her home, though Powell added that the droplets were not necessarily suspicious.
Investigators and a deputy district attorney treated the case as a homicide and kidnapping. Investigators obtained a wiretap order, which they used to monitor communication between Powell and his brother Michael. The wiretapping began in August 2011 and continued until October.
Police also used dogs, underwater, search tools, aircraft and other means to look for Susan. Deputy Chief Powell said that after Josh's death investigators turned attention to Michael Powell. Investigators believed Michael may have transported Susan's body shortly after her disappearance.
Michael and Josh also used sophisticated computer encryption to communicate. Investigators have been unable to decipher that encrypted communication. The search for Susan Powell most recently took investigators to a home in rural Scotts Mills, Oregon. The house was rented by Josh Powell's aunt and uncle at the time of Susan Powell's disappearance, but the search was called off after two days when nothing was found.
The deputy chief also said Monday that the brothers' father, Steve Powell, was not directly involved in Susan's disappearance but may have learned of it afterward. However, he has not been forthcoming with investigators.
