Cops Says Husband of Missing Mom Susan Powell 'Hindering' Probe

Dec. 15, 2009 — -- Frustrated cops today accused the husband of missing Utah mom Susan Powell of "hindering" the investigation into her disappearance.

The police in West Valley City, Utah, spoke out the day after Joshua Powell skipped a meeting with investigators for what would have been his second interview with them. Powell did not alert the officers that he wouldn't be showing up for the interview.

Police have been trying to find Susan Powell, 28, since she vanished more than a week ago.

"It is our position he's been hindering the investigation," West Valley City Police Capt. Tom McLachlan told ABCNews.com

McLachlan said Joshua Powell is not considered a suspect or a person of interest. "However, he is the last person we know who saw Susan," the captain said.

Police said they are now working through the high profile criminal lawyer Scott Williams who Joshua Powell recently hired to represent him.

"This has the potential to delay the investigation by several days or longer," McLachlan said.

Earlier today, Susan Powell's father Charles Cox indicated to "Good Morning America" that his faith in his son-in-law was wavering.

"I asked him if he had any idea where his wife, my daughter Susan, would be. And he said he didn't. He was sincere sounding when he said that. I believed that," Cox told "GMA."

When asked if he still believed his son-in-law, Cox replied, "I don't know what to think anymore."

Others are also confused by Joshua Powell's actions, like hiring a lawyer.

"It kind of raises a red flag, but I know he has to protect himself," neighbor Wendy Trujillo told "Good Morning America." "We're just really worried about Susan, and, of course, everyone's thinking the worst and just hoping by the faith of God that she does come back."

Susan Powell has been missing since Dec. 6. Joshua Powell told police he left his wife at home to take their two young sons on a late-night camping trip in the woods and she was gone when they returned. He and the two boys, age 4 and 2, were also believed to be missing initially but returned home the following afternoon.

The temperature that night was between 10 and 25 degrees with rain and snow.

Susan Powell's Father: Son-in-Law's Story Initially Believable

"Lots of times I just go camping with my boys," Powell told a local CBS News' affiliate last week. "Just overnight. We do s'mores and stuff."

Powell, who missed work Dec. 7, told reporters he was simply confused about what day it was and thought it was still the weekend.

Cox said that now he has no choice but to leave the investigation up to police.

"I understand the concerns I'm hearing from everyone, and I can see their point," he said. "I just don't want us to focus on him exclusively or that story exclusively when there might be another explanation."

Trujillo told ABC News that police and forensic units have been at the Powell home nearly every day since Susan Powell was reported missing. They've removed several bags and boxes as well as one of the family's computers. Joshua Powell and the couple's sons, she said, have not been staying at the house.

Powell was last seen Dec. 6 at her home in West Valley City and was reported missing by relatives the next day.

"She's been gone for an entire week. I don't believe there can be any, very much hope left," a tearful Kiirsi Hellewell, Susan Powell's best friend, told ABC News this week. "I'm trying to stay busy and not think about it. But I don't see how there's any way she can still be alive."

Joshua Powell told police that he last saw his wife around 12:30 a.m. before he and the boys left for their trip and that she didn't go along because she was feeling sick.

Cox said it's not unusual for his son-in-law to get a late start.

"It was believable," Cox said of Powell's story. "It was unusual, but believable to me."

But Hellewell said she talked to Susan Powell the day she went missing and she wasn't sick. Police told ABC News they were unable to verify Joshua Powell's camping trip because snow had covered the spot where he said they went.

The West Valley City Police found Susan Powell's purse and keys in her bedroom and say there was no sign of forced entry at the house.

Susan Powell's Friends Say the Couple Discussed Marital Problems

"She would never leave her children, and she would never leave without contacting anybody," Hellewell said.

Susan Powell's friends told ABC News that all though the couple had openly discussed marital and financial problems in the past and at one point were considering divorce, they had made a real effort to re-connect.

They both had good jobs, Hellewell told ABC News, and Joshua Powell had begun going back to church.

Cox had previously criticized the speculation about his son-in-law's possible involvement.

"I don't see him as capable of harming her," Cox told the Salt Lake Tribune this weekend. "I'm kind of concerned that all the focus is on him."

Police officials interviewed Joshua Powell, as well as the couple's 4-year-old child, but walked away with more questions than answers, they told ABC News last week.

"He did give us a statement, and we're following up on all aspects of that statement," said Capt. Tom McLachlan, who called her disappearance "suspicious."

Anyone with information regarding the case can call West Valley City Police at (801) 840-4000.

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