Attorney: Missing Utah mom's husband met with cops
SALT LAKE CITY, UT
Scott Williams told The Associated Press that he and Josh Powell
met with West Valley City police on Tuesday. He said Powell is
answering police questions in an effort to help find his
28-year-old wife, Susan.
Susan Powell was reported missing Dec. 7 when she didn't show up
to work and her children weren't dropped off at day care.
Josh Powell told police he took his two boys, ages 2 and 4,
camping around 12:30 a.m. that day and returned in the evening.
Investigators said they haven't been able to verify the camping
trip because snow had covered the site -- Simpson Springs on the
historic Pony Express Trail in Utah's west desert.
The Powell home was locked when police arrived and they broke
in, fearing the family had suffered from carbon monoxide poisoning.
They found no signs of forced entry.
Susan Powell's father, Charles Cox, has said police found a wet
spot in the house being dried by two fans when they entered.
West Valley City Police Capt. Tom McLachlan declined to comment
on that, but said earlier Tuesday that Josh Powell was costing the
police valuable time because he failed to show up for an interview
on Monday.
"We are very disappointed in that because he is not a suspect
and this delays the investigation -- it slows things down,"
McLachlan said early Tuesday. "His stated purpose is he wants to
find Susan and that is also our stated purpose on this missing
persons case, and this complicates the issue."
McLachlan said police initially interviewed Josh Powell when he
returned home and then again the next day. Police have also
interviewed the Powells' older son.
Williams said the Monday interview was canceled at his request.
"We have been in contact with West Valley City police multiple
times daily," he said. "The Monday afternoon possible interview
was canceled by me that morning because I was new and because I
needed more information to provide effective consultation and
advice."
Williams is a Salt Lake City defense attorney who often
represents high-profile defendants in criminal cases. He declined
to specify exactly when he was retained by Josh Powell.
McLachlan said late Tuesday that he wasn't aware if police had
met with Josh Powell on Tuesday.
"I'm going to have to wait to the morning to get briefed until
I can make any statement," he said.
Kiirsi Hellewell, Susan Powell's best friend, said she has been
in contact with Josh Powell on a daily basis but hasn't asked him
specific questions about Susan in an effort not to interfere with
the investigation or to lose his trust as a friend.
"He doesn't do a lot of talking. He mostly looks upset and
confused and is crying most of the time," Hellewell said.
She said she sat next to Josh Powell at church on Sunday and
that he cried through most of the service.
It was at that same church on Dec. 5 that the last known
pictures of Susan Powell were taken. The couple and their children
attended a Christmas breakfast, where one picture shows a smiling
Josh Powell with a camera hanging around his neck, talking with his
children while his wife stands a few feet away reaching for food.
"Susan and her family were very normal and seemed all happy to
be there. We actually talked to them quite a bit. Josh seemed
really happy to be there and he asked me to take a picture of he
and the family, and yes he has the picture," Mindy Kay Perry
Guzman, who took the picture, wrote in a message to The Associated
Press.