like a human body. But that rumor kept diminishing. First, there was supposed to be a body. And then charred bones. And, finally, the news that only ashes were found. Unidentifiable ashes. Impossible to tell if they were human or animal. Or wood, for that matter.
In the mines that were shallow enough to explore, searchers found nothing but rubble. They risked their own lives for several days, all to no avail.
Susan might very well be at the bottom of a mine, but if she was, the person or persons who had hidden her there had made sure she would never be found.
* * *
In Puyallup, only five days after the parking lot argument, the case was about to explode wide open. Detective Gary Sanders had written an affidavit to obtain a search warrant to search Steven Powell’s house again. The Pierce County Sheriff’s Department was seeking permission to search for Susan Powell’s journals, photographs, digital media to “include but not limited to” laptop computers, desktop computers, or any type of device that could store digital media copies of Susan’s journals.
Searchers would also seek images or papers that contained password information to access encrypted digital media. And “any other fruits or instrumentalities determined to be evidence of the crimes of aggravated kidnapping, homicide, and obstruction of justice.”
Photographs and videotape of the interior and exterior of the Powell home, garage, or other structures on the property would be searched for, along with three Dodge Caravans and a light blue Chrysler Town and Country minivan.
The search warrant was granted on August 24, 2011, by a Pierce County Superior Court judge.
On August 25, at least fifteen law enforcement officers, some from the West Valley City, Utah, police department and some from Pierce County, met for a briefing at Pierce County’s South Precinct. They were told what to look for at Steven Powell’s house and what was to be seized (if located). A tentative time to execute the search warrant was being discussed at 2:15 that afternoon when Ed Troyer, the public information officer for the sheriff’s department, got a phone call from a television news team saying they had heard “something was going to be going on at the Powell residence.”
Troyer notified Ellis Maxwell, who conferred with Gary Sanders. They agreed that they should move ahead with the search warrant as soon as possible. Neighbors around Steven’s tan and white house witnessed a group of squad cars parked in front, and then a phalanx of officers gathered near the front door.
One of Steven’s male relatives answered the door naked. Steven Powell was not at home, but Josh, Charlie, and Braden were, along with Alina and John Powell, Josh’s siblings. It was a very hot afternoon, and once the residence was secured, the Powell family members were asked to wait outside, where it was a bit cooler. Embarrassed by the stares of neighbors, Josh asked if they could move to the backyard. That was fine with the search team; they particularly wanted to avoid upsetting the little boys.
Charlie and Braden knew Pierce County detective Teresa Berg and leapt into her arms when she arrived, and they also seemed secure with Adam Anderson, the head of the Forensic Unit.
Luckily, they were young enough that they didn’t understand what was happening.
Alina Powell was angry at the intrusion and kept going back into the house, staring down the officers who asked her to stay in the backyard. It was all very uncomfortable—but there was no other way to do it. The investigators couldn’t take any more risks that Steven or Josh might destroy possibly vital evidence.
Gary Sanders and Ellis Maxwell logged in the names of all the law enforcement personnel who entered the house, noting their times of arrival and departure.
What would they find inside? In the prior search warrant, now more than a year in the past, Steven Powell had been agreeable and seemed to hold nothing back. In
In the mines that were shallow enough to explore, searchers found nothing but rubble. They risked their own lives for several days, all to no avail.
Susan might very well be at the bottom of a mine, but if she was, the person or persons who had hidden her there had made sure she would never be found.
* * *
In Puyallup, only five days after the parking lot argument, the case was about to explode wide open. Detective Gary Sanders had written an affidavit to obtain a search warrant to search Steven Powell’s house again. The Pierce County Sheriff’s Department was seeking permission to search for Susan Powell’s journals, photographs, digital media to “include but not limited to” laptop computers, desktop computers, or any type of device that could store digital media copies of Susan’s journals.
Searchers would also seek images or papers that contained password information to access encrypted digital media. And “any other fruits or instrumentalities determined to be evidence of the crimes of aggravated kidnapping, homicide, and obstruction of justice.”
Photographs and videotape of the interior and exterior of the Powell home, garage, or other structures on the property would be searched for, along with three Dodge Caravans and a light blue Chrysler Town and Country minivan.
The search warrant was granted on August 24, 2011, by a Pierce County Superior Court judge.
On August 25, at least fifteen law enforcement officers, some from the West Valley City, Utah, police department and some from Pierce County, met for a briefing at Pierce County’s South Precinct. They were told what to look for at Steven Powell’s house and what was to be seized (if located). A tentative time to execute the search warrant was being discussed at 2:15 that afternoon when Ed Troyer, the public information officer for the sheriff’s department, got a phone call from a television news team saying they had heard “something was going to be going on at the Powell residence.”
Troyer notified Ellis Maxwell, who conferred with Gary Sanders. They agreed that they should move ahead with the search warrant as soon as possible. Neighbors around Steven’s tan and white house witnessed a group of squad cars parked in front, and then a phalanx of officers gathered near the front door.
One of Steven’s male relatives answered the door naked. Steven Powell was not at home, but Josh, Charlie, and Braden were, along with Alina and John Powell, Josh’s siblings. It was a very hot afternoon, and once the residence was secured, the Powell family members were asked to wait outside, where it was a bit cooler. Embarrassed by the stares of neighbors, Josh asked if they could move to the backyard. That was fine with the search team; they particularly wanted to avoid upsetting the little boys.
Charlie and Braden knew Pierce County detective Teresa Berg and leapt into her arms when she arrived, and they also seemed secure with Adam Anderson, the head of the Forensic Unit.
Luckily, they were young enough that they didn’t understand what was happening.
Alina Powell was angry at the intrusion and kept going back into the house, staring down the officers who asked her to stay in the backyard. It was all very uncomfortable—but there was no other way to do it. The investigators couldn’t take any more risks that Steven or Josh might destroy possibly vital evidence.
Gary Sanders and Ellis Maxwell logged in the names of all the law enforcement personnel who entered the house, noting their times of arrival and departure.
What would they find inside? In the prior search warrant, now more than a year in the past, Steven Powell had been agreeable and seemed to hold nothing back. In
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