Timeline: Josh Powell investigation, Susan Cox Powell disappearance

2012

Feb. 11
A funeral for Braden and Charles Powell has been scheduled for Saturday. The public is invited to The Church Of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Puyallup at 1:00 p.m.

Feb. 7
Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill acknowledged for the first time that they believe Susan Cox Powell is dead, and that her case is being handled as a murder investigation.

Feb. 6
A Pierce County medical examiner determined that the sons of Josh Powell died of carbon monoxide poisoning and had additional chopping wounds from a hatchet on their necks. Josh Powell died of suicide by carbon monoxide poisoning from the fire that he set.

Feb. 5
Josh Powell and his two sons were killed in an explosion at a home in Graham, Wash. Police say it appears Powell intentionally set the fire right after a social worker brought the boys over for a supervised visit. She smelled the gas, but Josh blocked her from entering the house.

Feb. 1
A judge ruled the boys will remain in the custody of Susan Powell’s parents and she wouldn’t reconsider until Josh Powell underwent a psycho-sexual evaluation. Read more

2011

Oct. 27
The child pornography and voyeurism trial for the father-in-law of missing Utah mother Susan Powell has been delayed until March, 2011. Read more

Sept.
Police announced they had found human remains in a “shallow grave” near Topaz Mountain while searching for clues in Susan Powell’s disappearance. The remains turned out to be charred wood, and police said test results on the specimens have come back, but would not say if they are linked to Susan.

Sept. 29
A judge says Susan Powell’s sons should not be returned home with their father and will live with Judy and Chuck Cox, Susan’s parents. Josh Powell told the judge he objects to the decision, but has agreed to undergo psychological evaluation as part of a plan to regain custody. Read more

Sept. 28
Josh Powell is also the subject of a voyeurism and child pornography investigation that landed his father in jail. Assistant Attorney General John Long made the surprise allegations during a custody hearing. Long also said investigators are reviewing 15 computers taken from Powell’s home on Aug. 25. Powell denied the accusations, saying he didn’t know anything about the videos and photos.

Sept. 23
The father-in-law of Susan Powell pleads not guilty to possessing child pornography and secretly videotaping her, other women, and young girls without their knowledge. The arrest of Steven Powell, 61, at his Washington state home set off a court battle, with Susan Powell’s father asking a judge for custody of her two sons.

“We’re very concerned for the welfare of our grandchildren. We’re doing everything we can,” said Chuck Cox, Susan Powell’s father, after the custody hearing.

Aug. 26
West Valley City, Utah detectives continue to search the Puyallup home of Josh Powell. His father, Steve Powell, also lives at the residence.

“During the course of the investigation, which is very large, we have developed information that leads us to believe there are specific items in the home that are of evidentiary value,” said Lieutenant Bill Merritt. Read more

Meanwhile, Susan Powell’s father-in-law says they were involved in a sexual relationship. In an interview with ABC News, Steven Powell said he was falling in love with the missing woman.

“Susan was very, very sexual with me. She was very flirtatious. I’m her father-in-law. She would do a lot of things that would….she did a lot of things. She did it. I did it. We interacted in a lot of sexual ways,” Powell said.

Steven was asked if he loved Susan. “That’s pretty likely, yeah. I would say so. There’s no question in my mind that the feelings were mutual.” Read more

Aug. 23
Chuck Cox, Susan Powell’s father, said he will fight the release of pages from her diary. But the family of her husband, Josh Powell, who has been named as a person of interest in her disappearance, says the pages show she had tried to commit suicide as a teen and could have walked away from her family, as they suspect. Read more

Aug. 18
It’s been a year and a half since Susan Powell disappeared from her Salt Lake City home. Police say they’ll be searching for signs of Powell near Ely, Nevada, a remote area about three hours from Salt Lake City.

2010

Jan. 8
Josh Powell moves with his sons from West Valley City to his father’s home in Puyallup.

2009

Dec. 8
Josh Powell tells police he took their two sons, Braden, 2, and Charles, 4, camping at midnight the night of his wife’s disappearance.