09-17-2011 Topaz Mountain Search Yields Charred Wood and Decomp

[passionflower]

The press has been very quiet today...makes me feel like something is building.

We will be here for you.

 

[Knox]

It's wonderful to come to this page and see posters so passionately advocating for Susan. You all have the same desires and goal, to bring her home~

Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up!

 

[HatesSociopaths]

While some days the search has featured about 100 personnel from surrounding counties and West Valley City police, on Wednesday there were only about 20 searchers. Mike Powell said many of the volunteers from county search and rescue teams had to tend to work and family but may return later in the week.
There is still no definite end date for the search, Mike Powell said.
Brad Williams, a volunteer on the Millard County search and rescue team, returned Wednesday and drove an ATV about 15 miles around Topaz Mountain.

http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/news/52619697-78/powell-search-mike-police.html.csp

 

[LCoastMom]

First off; don't assume someone can poison someone just because "they look like someone who could do that". No wonder the guy went into hiding (after 3 police interviews). Any lawyer worth his money will always tell his client to not talk to police, especially if you are suspect #1 and they are grasping at straws. Being popular with public opinion is the least of Josh's worries. He's worried about his boys, angry/worried/confused regarding his wife, and of course the mob mentality which plagues him every day which he fears may turn into violence against him or his family. Look at the Casey Anthony trial- people threatening her family. Everyone reacts differently- and with the advent of the internet; any little detail can become misconstrued, distorted (in regards to his demeanor, affect, etc.). It's great to have forum discussion, but sad people have tunnel vision.


People need to remember the following quote from Kiirsi's blog:

"Here, once and for all is the short answer to those questions: You don’t know all the details here. There are many, many details of Susan’s background/relationship with Josh/etc. that have NOT been made public. And you WILL NOT hear them from me, either. My whole goal, focus and priority here is to find Susan. This includes not telling the world things the police want kept inside the investigation. "

And no; this just isn't related to Steve's antics.

I think that it is very interesting when someone doesn't cooperate with the police they say it is because a lawyer tells them not to do so. If someone is innocent the first thing they do is allow LE to rule them out regardless of what a lawyer will tell them, so they can be removed from the list of suspects and allow LE to move on.

If Josh's main concern were truly for his children and his wife IMO he would allow LE to ask him anything and answer truthfully, with his attorneys present if he so wishes. It's been almost two years, he's way overdue.

 

[Just-a-Guy]

I think that it is very interesting when someone doesn't cooperate with the police they say it is because a lawyer tells them not to do so. If someone is innocent the first thing they do is allow LE to rule them out regardless of what a lawyer will tell them, so they can be removed from the list of suspects and allow LE to move on.

If Josh's main concern were truly for his children and his wife IMO he would allow LE to ask him anything and answer truthfully, with his attorneys present if he so wishes. It's been almost two years, he's way overdue.

As a lawyer, I agree. I've had clients laugh in my face when I tell them not to talk. While I always want my clients to follow my advice, there is something telling about a man (or woman) who simply stands their ground.

If it was my wife, and "my lawyer" told me to clam up, I would (respectfully) tell him to go to hell.

 

[gwenabob]

As a lawyer, I agree. I've had clients laugh in my face when I tell them not to talk. While I always want my clients to follow my advice, there is something telling about a man (or woman) who simply stands their ground.

If it was my wife, and "my lawyer" told me to clam up, I would (respectfully) tell him to go to hell.

That's because lawyers don't always know whether or not their client is guilty or not and they aren't going to ask. A good lawyer will assume his client is innocent, but proceed carefully as if he were guilty.

An innocent person will proclaim it loud and clear and do everything in their power to help LE find the guilty party rather than have all eyes on him. Josh has not done this.

 

[Just-a-Guy]

That's because lawyers don't always know whether or not their client is guilty or not and they aren't going to ask. A good lawyer will assume his client is innocent, but proceed carefully as if he were guilty.

An innocent person will proclaim it loud and clear and do everything in their power to help LE find the guilty party rather than have all eyes on him. Josh has not done this.

Very well said. I totally agree.

 

[lonetraveler]

http://mynorthwest.com/76/549964/Father-doubts-remains-are-of-missing-Puyallup-daughter

Some interesting information at this link.

So blankets and clothing was found? Hopefully something is about to break.

 

[passionflower]

So blankets and clothing was found? Hopefully something is about to break.

But who's?
Mr. Cox doesn't think it is Susan?
I would love to know how SP/JP are acting during all this.
Could some news be distorted to throw JP/SP off alittle???

 

[dovebar]

I think the same... I'm waiting for more info as well. I know the area quite well, and it's interesting how close it is to I-5.

Considering the weather that night, this is interesting.

 

[hollyblue]

Searching Topaz Mountain foothills for Susan Cox Powell

Many questions were posed about the search in the desert only to be answered by “I cannot comment on that or answer that at this time.” The WVC Police Department is performing a balancing act letting the public know as much as possible while not jeopardizing their investigation. Any significant developments in the case will be reported as they become known.

“It is kind of a spectacular case. Most people in our state are aware of it. It isn’t your usual missing persons case,” Lt. Merritt said. As Lt. Merritt said on Thursday, “The search will continue….”


http://millardccp.com/searching-topaz-mountain-foothills-for-susan-cox-powell-p1497-1.htm

 

[hollyblue]

Search for Powell in desert will continue

Last week, cadaver dogs led investigators to what appeared to be a shallow grave, but after two days of excavation, police said they had found only a collection of charred wood chips. About 100 pieces of wood have been removed from the site for examination and possible testing by a forensic anthropologist.

Lt. Bill Merritt, who supervises West Valley City's major crimes unit, has said it's possible the dig site may have been a crime scene at some point. Merritt said last week that he didn't know whether DNA evidence -- should it exist -- could be recovered from burned wood.

In an email Wednesday, Salt Lake City forensic DNA testing expert Tim Kupferschmid said it is difficult, but possible, to extract a DNA profile from burned wood, although fire will degrade and eventually destroy DNA evidence.

"The quality of the DNA depends on the length of time in the fire, the heat of the fire and the amount of starting biological material present," Kupferschmid, the executive laboratory director for Sorenson Forensics, told The Associated Press.


Read more:http://www.heraldextra.com/news/state-and-regional/article_625622c5-e24e-5dc0-9bc5-db066ce36c88.html#ixzz1Yf5Z4sjq

 

[HatesSociopaths]

Searching Topaz Mountain foothills for Susan Cox Powell

Many questions were posed about the search in the desert only to be answered by “I cannot comment on that or answer that at this time.” The WVC Police Department is performing a balancing act letting the public know as much as possible while not jeopardizing their investigation. Any significant developments in the case will be reported as they become known.

“It is kind of a spectacular case. Most people in our state are aware of it. It isn’t your usual missing persons case,” Lt. Merritt said. As Lt. Merritt said on Thursday, “The search will continue….”


http://millardccp.com/searching-topaz-mountain-foothills-for-susan-cox-powell-p1497-1.htm

From link:

The teams are scouring everything east of the Brush Highway and along the Dugway Road between Topaz Mountain and the geode beds. The WVC investigation into Powell’s disappearance has found the Powell family had been in the area in the fall of 2009.

BBM. This is the spot I talked about in earlier post. I had sent a link to WVC and got a nice response. Fingers crossed they find her!

 

[Oriah]

Search for Powell in desert will continue

Last week, cadaver dogs led investigators to what appeared to be a shallow grave, but after two days of excavation, police said they had found only a collection of charred wood chips. About 100 pieces of wood have been removed from the site for examination and possible testing by a forensic anthropologist.

Lt. Bill Merritt, who supervises West Valley City's major crimes unit, has said it's possible the dig site may have been a crime scene at some point. Merritt said last week that he didn't know whether DNA evidence -- should it exist -- could be recovered from burned wood.

In an email Wednesday, Salt Lake City forensic DNA testing expert Tim Kupferschmid said it is difficult, but possible, to extract a DNA profile from burned wood, although fire will degrade and eventually destroy DNA evidence.

"The quality of the DNA depends on the length of time in the fire, the heat of the fire and the amount of starting biological material present," Kupferschmid, the executive laboratory director for Sorenson Forensics, told The Associated Press.


Read more:http://www.heraldextra.com/news/state-and-regional/article_625622c5-e24e-5dc0-9bc5-db066ce36c88.html#ixzz1Yf5Z4sjq

I swear to God, sometimes I think every professional in this case is learning from WS's. Next we'll be hearing that 11 cadaver dogs might have had false positives, and that it was probably not a great idea to process a potential crime scene without protective gear.

*sigh*

Hoping and praying that today is the day Susan comes home.

 

[Lera213]

From link:



BBM. This is the spot I talked about in earlier post. I had sent a link to WVC and got a nice response. Fingers crossed they find her!

What response did you get? HOly cow batwoman, I knew your lead was a good one.

 

[HatesSociopaths]

What response did you get? HOly cow batwoman, I knew your lead was a good one.

Well just in case they want to correspond more I don't want them to think their emails to me will be posted online, but I can tell you what made me feel they might do something with the info. I got two separate responses. When I got the first one, I thought to myself that this is probably the response anyone would get if they sent in a tip. Then I got another email about an hour later. The second one was from Lt. Merritt himself who is leading the search down there. I was essentially thanked for the information. After reading that email, I got excited that they might follow up on the information, but he did not specifically say that he would. So I have been watching closely to see if Dugway Geodes comes up in the news as a search area, and there it is!

The tip I sent was mainly just a link to this post and I also suggested they read the thread:

[ame="http://www.websleuths.com/forums/showpost.php?p=7138781&postcount=283"]Websleuths Crime Sleuthing Community - View Single Post - 09-17-2011 Topaz Mountain Search Yields Charred Wood and Decomp[/ame]

 

[waltzingmatilda]

Way to go HS!!! Mega pats on the back for you!

wm

 

[HotLavaJavas]

Good job, HS

Did you see this link on Twitter regarding what Josh claims he did with the rental car? Here.

It's about as believable as his camping story.

MO.

 

[Jacie Estes]

Good job, HS

Did you see this link on Twitter regarding what Josh claims he did with the rental car? Here.

It's about as believable as his camping story.

MO.

I hadn't seen that part of the interview. josh is one of those people that if he said the sky was blue on a cloudless day people would still look up.

Why did he try to send the police emails 'through his dad'? Is he not allowed to touch the computer? Has he lost the ability to know how to send an email?

 

[Knox]

Good job, HS

Did you see this link on Twitter regarding what Josh claims he did with the rental car? Here.

It's about as believable as his camping story.

MO.

Trying to activate two cell phones? I was very memorable that night?

Why was he trying to activate two cell phones? Did he buy some sort of disposable cell phone or calling cards from a convenience store?