Did Steven Powell have hand in Susan Powell’s disappearance?

The West Valley City Police Chief believes that it’s possible that Steven Powell had a hand in his daughter-in-law’s disappearance.

West Valley City Police chief Buzz Nielsen has been saying for months that he believes it’s possible that Steven Powell was an accomplice in his daughter-in-law Susan’s disappearance, and now the The Salt Lake Tribune reports
that Powell called in sick the two days after Susan vanished.

The Washington Department of Corrections confirms that Powell sent an email to his supervisor requesting sick time.

Powell worked for the DOC as an account executive in 2009 when Susan Powell disappeared.

Although Josh Powell was investigated as a “person of interest,” in his wife’s disappearance, he was never named a suspect, but West Valley City, Utah Police Sgt. Mike Powell (no relation) recently said he didn’t rule out eventual charges against Steven Powell.

After Susan Powell’s disappearance, Josh Powell moved with his two sons to Steven Powell’s home in Puyallup. Steven Powell was later arrested and charged with voyeurism and child pornography. The boys were placed with Susan Powell’s parents for their safety.

On Feb. 5, on a supervised visit with the boys, Josh Powell locked a social worker out of his rental house, attacked the boys with a hatchet and ignited the home in an explosive, gas-fueled inferno. The social worker was not injured.

Documents recently released describe how Steven Powell had an apparent obsession with his daughter-in-law. A locked cabinet in Steve Powell’s bedroom contained multiple images of Susan Powell, including some of her in her underwear. Other images showed nude female bodies with Susan Powell’s face copied onto them.

Susan Powell reportedly wrote in her personal journals that she did not want Steven Powell involved in her life and wished that Josh Powell would sever ties with him. She described Steven Powell as a pedophile.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.