March 3, 2010 - There has been an ongoing debate over the use of purple ribbons in the Susan Cox Powell missing person's case. Some people initially were concerned the color purple represented domestic violence, and that the implication was that Susan's family and friends, and others, had put the cart before the horse so-to-speak, and that they were pointing the finger at Josh Powell, implying he had harmed his missing wife.
However, the color purple was chosen because it is one of Susan's favorite colors.
Since the early days of the case friends and family have converged and concluded that Susan was a victim of domestic abuse in her own home.
Shelby Gifford, spokesperson for Susan's family, issued a powerful statement at the Feb. 15 news conference:
"We can say without reservation that Susan was a victim of domestic abuse in her own home."
Few neighbors believe Josh is targeted
Last weekend things heated up in the small Country Hollow community in Puyallup.
A few neighbors, who allegedly did not know the details of Susan Cox Powell's case, believed Josh Powell, Susan's husband, was being targeted and blamed in his wife's disappearance when neighbors "plastered" missing person's fliers and purple ribbons all over their street.
Neighbors believed, once again, that the color purple was indicative of domestic abuse. In Susan's case, it would now be appropriate in its implied representation of domestic abuse.
One neighbor, who Danielle Hill believes was trying to prove the point that he believed Josh was being crucified, invited Josh and his family for a casual visit at their home. Colleen Russell said Josh arrived at the neighbor's home at around 5:30 p.m. Saturday afternoon. With Josh were his father, Steven Powell, his brother, sister, and two young sons.
Danielle Hill said Braden came to her on her porch, touched her arm, quickly twirled her hair, and seemed to need a "mommy hug." According to Colleen, the Powell family did not go inside the neighbor's home but instead stood outside talking.
Canvassing the neighborhood
It all started when one of Josh's new neighbors, Colleen Russell, learned about Susan's disappearance on the Dr. Phil show that aired Feb. 16. She contacted Susan's parents and was given purple ribbons, flower seed packets, and a flier to copy for distribution in her neighborhood and community.
Colleen and other neighbors started close to home, canvassing the Country Hollow neighborhood and asking neighbors to put purple ribbons and fliers on their trees or porches last weekend. The reason, they said, was to raise awareness of Susan's disappearance.
They also posted flyers and ribbons to light posts and the front and rear entrances of the neighborhood. That was their first stop - they intended to put fliers and ribbons around the town of Puyallup.
Ribbons go up, ribbons come down
It wasn't long before they were notified the flyers and ribbons would have to come down.
Homeowner Association President, Norman Lawlis, claims he did not remove the ribbons or fliers and said the association hired an outside company to do the job. While he may have hired an outside company to take down most of the ribbons and fliers, Colleen Russell, one of the residents who put them up, said she saw him taking them down himself on Saturday.
Lawlis had harsh words to say of neighbors who support putting purple ribbons and fliers in their gated community.
"Fliers weren't put up to keep remembrance of Susan," he said. "They were put there to harass one of our homeowners." He is referring to Josh Powell, Susan's husband, who was the last person to see his wife and who is the only person of interest in a case police call a missing person's case with suspicious criminal overtones.
Lawlis then said, "They used the pretense they were trying to find her when they told me they were doing it to put pressure on Josh to make him break."
Colleen Russell, who initiated putting fliers and ribbons in the neighborhood said, "I did not say that. I probably said that we needed to keep it in the forefront and that I didn't think it was right for him to move out of his home, city and state and forget. I would not have said anything about him 'breaking'."
"There were over 200 hits to last week's article. People are out to tar and feather him. If he's guilty then I hope they punish him to the full extent of the law. People can't just go around trashing our community," Lawlis said.
One of the persons leaving a comment to the article said, "Someone suggested Googling 'Country Hollow Homeowners Association Puyallup WA' will give a link to the Country Hollow website, with contact information for the homeowners association, should you want to inform them of your opinion of their policies."
Vigilante mentality or public opinion?
Lawlis said, "Go out and search for her but don't stir the pot that the Homeowner's Association is against finding her. I'll turn rocks over if a search is coordinated. This is just a vigilante mentality."
Kirk Graves, Susan's brother-in-law, said, "I thought I would point out to that there is a difference between a vigilante and a citizen. A vigilante goes after someone with a gun. A citizen goes after someone with public opinion. You cant call me a vigilante for exercising my rights as a citizen."
Lawlis said when Josh moved from Utah to Washington the FBI became involved in the case. He believes the reason Josh moved to his father's home was that he had no way of supporting himself in Utah.
"But," Lawlis said, "Josh is innocent until proven guilty. When police have enough evidence then they'll charge him."
"I'm caught between a rock and a hard spot," Lawlis told Examiner.com. Several neighbors, he said, complained that their homes were up for sale and having the fliers and ribbons plastered all over the neighborhood would reduce their chances of selling their homes.
The Salt Lake Tribune reported the reason the ribbons and fliers were coming down was that Steven Powell, Josh's father, complained they were bothering his grandchildren.
Double standard?
A birthday sign with arrows leading to "Jaeden's Party" and balloons remained after Susan's fliers and ribbons had been removed.
Examiner.com asked Lawlis why those were allowed to remain in place while Susan's decorations were removed. He said because the birthday flier and balloons were on county property and that the Homeowner's Association has no jurisdiction over that.
The photo of the birthday party flier shows a street sign that reads "94th Avenue Court" and "Country Hollow Drive E", with "Private Road" written on top of both street signs.
Examiner.com asked Lawlis if that particular street sign belonged to the Homeowner's Association and he said yes, and if anything happens to the sign the Homeowners are responsible. "They are owned by the association. No one, not even the utility company, has rights over them."
The importance of the word getting out in Puyallup, Wash., is that Susan's husband, children, and her family all live in the town. Susan was raised there. People in Puyallup should know Susan is missing so they, too, can help in the search to bring her home.
Susan has been missing for nearly three months. Her husband, who was the last person to see her, said he has no idea where she is. The last time he saw her was around midnight Dec. 6, just before he left on an impromptu camping trip with their two young sons, ages 2 and 4.
According to Dr. Phil, his producers checked the weather and even visited the campsite where Josh claimed he took his two boys, and it was 15 degrees there with snow.
Sources:
KOMO News
The Salt Lake Tribune
