Josh made Susan ride a bike 14 miles round trip to work for two months - Made her sell her car
March 1, 2010 -
Gifford said, "We can say without a reservation that Susan was a victim of domestic abuse in her own home."
It has been discovered that
Josh controlled the finances even though it was Susan who brought in the bulk of the money. Susan's friends and family say that Josh did not even allow her to buy the groceries she needed for her boys, and complained when she bought them shoes.
They say he sold Susan's car against her wishes, leaving her dependent upon him. He undermined her as a parent.
Josh was extremely controlling when it came to money. He restricted the amount of groceries Susan bought for her boys and, while friends and family once believed Susan labored in her garden because she loved gardening, they have since learned she was forced to garden to provide healthy and nutritious foods for her growing children.
Jennifer Graves, Susan's sister-in-law, said, "She had to really fight to buy groceries for her kids."
"I remember one time," Jennifer said, "when
Josh made her feel guilty for buying a pair of shoes for one of the boys when he outgrew them."
"There was another time," she said, "When
Josh borrowed money from Chuck [Chuck Cox is Susan's father] and he refused to repay it, and he refused to let Susan repay her own parents money they borrowed years ago."
Jennifer said
when Susan bought anything for herself, "He would get angry whenever Susan tried to purchase non-essential items for herself like clothes and makeup."
During the Feb. 15 press conference,Gifford said that Josh changed PIN numbers so Susan could not access her own bank accounts.
"There was at least one time," Jennifer said, "when things got physical in their relationship."
Examiner.com spoke with two legal experts, Attorney and Legal Analyst, Anne Bremner, and Family Law Attorney, Juliana Wong, of Stafford Frey Cooper for their expert opinion.
"Many of the
clients that we represent may not suffer from physical violence, but more often than not," Bremner and Wong conferred, "will be victims of mental violence. A successful perpetuation of the abuse is through financial restraints and limitations."
"For obvious reasons," they said,
"by taking away the funds from the victim, the victim is left without the necessary funds to support themselves or the children and is completely reliant on the perpetrator. This is the most effective way of controlling a person."
Examiner.com learned from those closest to Susan that
selling Susan's car was Josh's idea. Susan was not happy about it but finally relented. Josh claimed they didn't need a second car and it was too expensive to keep up two cars. Was it another form of control?
Gifford said during the Feb. 15 press conference that Josh held the only set of keys to the family mini-van.
The couple seeks marriage counseling
Susan confided in Caldwell, telling her that
Josh continually told her she was crazy. Susan was so distraught by what Josh said that she told Debbie she went to a therapist to be analyzed and was told she was not crazy.
Caldwell suggested they try marriage counseling. She told Susan to ask their Bishop, who ultimately signed the couple up for counseling.
Caldwell said Susan confided in her, telling her that
Josh became angry during counseling sessions and that the counselor called him on it once.
Susan also told Debbie
Josh's goal for Susan was that she not confide in her friends or family about their marital problems.
Susan told Caldwell
Josh's behavior would change when he talked with his father and brother on the phone. Susan said he would get angry and mean.
Shelby Gifford, spokesperson for the Cox family, said
Susan kept many things from her parents in an effort to protect them.
http://www.examiner.com/x-34328-Sea...e-experts-say-controlling-behavior-a-red-flag
