Wedded Bliss ... or ... Domestic Hell? UPDATE

Josh Powell, a person of interest in the disappearance of his wife, Susan Powell, in 2009 in Utah died yesterday in a fiery murder suicide yesterday killing himself and his two small sons. Many of us can speculate that it was destine to happen, it was my biggest fear when the children were in his custody.

A lawyer for the missing woman's parents said;

The young sons of Susan and Josh Powell, who died with their father when he ignited an explosion in their Washington home, were beginning to verbalize that their mother was in the trunk of their father's car on the night that she disappeared in 2009.

A sad and tragic ending to a sad and tragic story that is almost to common nowadays. My condolences to Susan Powell's family and friends.

I recorded an episode of Doctor Phil yesterday that got my dander up. In the state of Utah we have a woman missing and has been since December 7, 2009. Susan Powell, mother of two boys ages 3 & 5 (both have had birthdays since her disappearance).

The husband, Josh Powell, claims that he took the boys on an impromptu camping trip, to a state run park in middle the of nowhere, in twenty below weather, at around midnight December 6, 2009.

When the boys weren't dropped off at their daycare on Monday the sitter became alarmed called the home and both parents phones. Unable to reach anyone she call Josh Powell's mother and sister, who then called the local police and requested a welfare check on the occupants of the Powell home located in West Valley.

After receiving no answer the police broke into the house only to find it empty. Mrs. Powell's, cell phone, keys and purse were still in the residence. Husband Josh returns home between 5 or 6 p.m, claims he has no idea of his wife's whereabouts, he then is whisked away by police for questioning.

1. Husband taking two small children on a camping trip in the middle of the night on one of the coldest nights we've had this year. No mother would allow this unless, she wasn't around to protest.
2. Husband did not call his employer regarding his absence on Monday. When questioned by a reporter his reply "I thought it was Sunday", this is why the stupid need attorneys.
3. Police enter the home to find fans blowing on a "wet spot" on the living room rug, we're still talking winter time folks.
4. A family member or friend speaks to reporters yesterday, and released information regarding domestic abuse in the household. Seems hubby is a control freak. Susan had to turn over her car keys upon arriving home after work. Ms. Powell earned more money than he as a stockbroker, (hey I've no problem with this) but she had no access to any bank accounts. You see Josh would change the pin numbers ever few months.
5. Husband has not cooperated with the search for his spouse, nor with the police when asked to come in for more questioning. He did relent and give DNA samples.
6. Powell went away for Christmas with his children to his parents home in Washington. I gather enjoying the holiday with pesty reporters or police to interrupt.
7. The campground where the "camping" trip took place has a log sheet that must be signed when you enter. Josh Powell's name is nowhere to be found.
8. When police took possession of the Powell van, Josh rented a car and disappeared for 12 hours.
9. Husband has moved from the area to Washington, kit and caboodle. Why not stay and look for your missing wife?
10. Brother-in-law stated on the Dr. Phil show last night that Josh runs his mouth non stop most of the time. He now is strangely silent, only says when questioned that his attorney told him not to talk to anyone. Brother-in-law also mentioned that Powell has control issues. Powell's sister is also demanding answers from her brother you see, her sister-in-law was also her best friend.
11. Marriage was failing due to financial and emotional problems, Susan was planning on filing for divorce in April.

Powell is now considered a "person of interest", boxes, bags and computers have been removed from the residence. He's been back once to rent the home out to former neighbors.

It has been stated, in our local newspaper, that the Cox family (Susan's family) are devout Mormon who don't want to think the worst. Until recently both have been so passive about it all that it was quite disturbing to me. But last night I thought I might have seen a wisp of anger, especially after Doc Phil asked the question; don't you feel like grabbing Josh by the lapels and rattling his head a bit about the whereabouts of your daughter?

The father meekly answered that he doesn't want to go there in terms of the fate of his Susan, he wants to believe she's still alive. Plus there are the grandchildren to consider and the pending investigation. Dr. Phil's next question; have you seen your grandchildren lately? Answer; no. The son-in-law and daughter showed more anger than the parents,

Don't get the wrong impression, in no way am I faulting these parents, I've not walked in their shoes, and can only interpret to you what a nut-job I would be by this time. I was so beside myself that it seemed, to me, the parents showed indifference or we're trying to portray some type of holier than thou attitude. If that was my child missing, with all the evidence pointing at his spouse I can tell you this; the producers would have had a hard time keeping up with the expletives coming out of my pie hole.

How can keeping silent impede an investigation? I would not rest until that spouse answered my questions. What bothers me the most is the fact that this "person of interest" has the children. Do they really think this control freak will stop his usual behaviour just because they're children? Mr. Cox claims that Josh is a good father and is not worried about the children in his care...really! In all probability this man may have done something horrendous to one of your children how far of a stretch is it for him to harm two more people that are defenseless?

I know...I know..innocent until proven guilty, but if it walks like a duck...

• 2007 - 14 % of all homicides in the U.S. were intimate partners 2340, 1,640 were females, 700 males.
• 70% of the victims are female killed by an intimate partner. According to sources the statistics have changed very little since 1993.
• Children have been present in at least 36% of the cases in 2002, 60% directly witnessed the violence, its probably much larger now.
• 74% of the U.S. population know a victim of domestic violence.
• On average more than three women and one man are murdered by their "better halves" a day.
• Health costs for intimate partner battery exceed $5.8 billion each year. Nearly $4.1 billion are direct medical and mental health care services.

There are too many statistics to list. This is why there's so much written material for reality shows such as Forensic Files, The Investigators and Snapped. When aware of mental and / or physical abuse of a loved one or a friend, please don't stand idly by, try and get the victim to help themselves. Most abused persons, out of some miss-placed loyalty or embarrassment, will not tell parents or siblings of their mistreatment.

I've heard, on several occasions, male acquaintances joke that killing is cheaper than a divorce. You note I said jokingly, I can see myself now on a Dateline interview exclaiming "but I thought he was kidding, I didn't take him seriously".

My prayers go out to the Cox and Powell family's. Both are suffering greatly, so sad that it seems the norm to resolve marriage difficulties with such a horrendous act. Lord have mercy on us all.