Cold Ep 3: Faith and Finances

Susan married her husband Josh Powell in 2001 they were both active members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and they were even married in one of the churches temples, making vows “for time and all eternity.” But it wasn’t long after that that Josh stopped almost all of his interactions with the church and within only few years of their marriage, he quit attending Sunday services and pressured Susan to do the same.

Nonetheless, Susan remained committed, both to her faith and to her marriage. Susan believed that Josh was her eternal companion, and Josh took advantage of her devotion. He became completely in control of their families finances and would become furious any time Susan spent more than he thought she should on necessities, including the food she would buy for herself and their two young sons.

As the discontent Susan felt in their marriage continued, she sought out a counselor and encouraged Josh to join her, an offer that he most often refused. Susan’s Father Chuck Cox attended one of the sessions though, a session where her counselor observed that Susan was indeed in an abusive relationship, a conclusion that Chuck agreed with.

Shortly thereafter Susan’s parents bought her a cell phone that she would keep secret in case she ever needed to make a quick escape that they paid the bill on to make sure that Josh wouldn’t ever know about it.

But Susan wanted to make their marriage work. It had started off so wonderfully but things had changed. Josh started becoming more strict and harder to live with a friend observed.

After a particularly brutal fight that she and Josh had one evening, Susan drafted a handwritten will the next day at work where she was obviously concerned about her own safety and well-being writing, “If I die, it may not be an accident, even if it looks like one,” she wrote. “Take care of my boys.”

One of the contributing factors that may have played into this fear was that Josh had taken out a million-dollar life insurance policy for her, a purchase that made little sense to Susan unless he expected something horrible to happen.

“I’m worth a million dollars dead and biking to work.” She wrote in an email to a friend, “You tell me how easy it would be to have an “accident.”
Shortly after that, Susan disappeared.
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Episodes:

[leedevitt]

If you ever feel compelled to write or tell people "if anything happens to me it was my husband/wife...its time to leave. I wish Susan had left. She had her parents and friends support. She was scared but it could have been ok. I feel so sad for her and the boys...i know they all had promising futures.
This is my second time listening to this podcast. One of the best ive come across. Thank you for giving Susan and her boys and family a voice and researching so thoroughly. ❤

[rafardison]

this needs to be in Netflix, easy documentary.

[emilylogan]

“You better not complain. I spent money on this.” That hurts my heart.

[ChristineExpressions]

1. You can’t change someone
2. All that energy spent on documentation and telling people is a sign
3. Don’t be held hostage by your religion
4. Believe in yourself
5. Women’s shelter
6. You’re worthy
7. Never look back

[Horseluvver]

Being with a narcissist isn't a relationship, it's a transaction.

[StreetSweep]

Man, this dude had a bad ass girl. She was willing to put up with anything for not just for their kids, but him aswell, she really loved him, and he went and ruined everything. It would have never mattered if he got away with it and if everyone believed him, he would have never been successful at anything ever again or genuine to his true self because consciously and subconsciously it would have broke and destroyed him, and maybe that's exactly what happened the day he took his life along with his children. Crazy

[jaghond]

Wow all that useless crap that he bought and he'd lose it over her buying food for their kids! "pimped out remote control car that he bought on my credit"... Meanwhile she's getting in huge fights with her husband for spending her own hard earned money to feed both their children. What an obnoxious freak.

[serendipity]

This is so sad and chilling. Susan knew he was going to do something to her. He told her the boys would grow up without a mom or dad. How evil he was.

[smalltowngirlbigcityheart]

“I fear everyone will be disappointed in me if I stay” -Susan Powell

Oh Honey, they’d take having you over wondering where you are today in 2020. I so wish you could have gotten out for good before he took your life and the lives of your sweet boys.

[DeformedConscience]

Dax sounds like a great, real dude. I am so sorry that he ever had to deal with Josh. Loved the part where he talks about how his 11 year old daughter was stronger and could lift way more than Josh. Haha. Burn!

[daisysfarmsonnotalottaacre]

Now with the new law. This would be enough to convict josh. The note alone from Susan.

[daisysfarmsonnotalottaacre]

Breaks my heart to hear her bubble and gush over this guy and his faults. When he treated her this way. Murdered her. And her boys. I am heart broken for her.

[juanita_piju]

She was such a good woman, faith driven, smart, kind, selfless. My goodness she could have had everything she wanted and more if she had met someone good for her. Her life was so sad, I cannot imagine.

[missmindy]

I pray that we can find Susan’s body and lay her to rest with her boys. She got her sons in her arms in heaven but to have the family have a place to have them in their lives on earth is heartwarming. Please god, give us the lead to find her

[missmelody]

He wrapped her in that plastic, which is why no DNA was ever found in the trunk of Michael's car. They may very well have dismembered her with that torch and put her in multiple mine shafts. It sounds like he was planning this for months.

[manicmommi]

How she bore the abuse from Josh is crazy! She stayed for her babies. 💜

[Sweetbae]

He even bought the carpet cleaner ahead of time so def sounds like he had been planning this, the cop stated the carpets had been cleaned and we're still wet w a fan on them when they got into the house to search for her.

[laurenbrooks]

Gaw, that's so heartbreaking. Her husband, who is supposed to treasure her, told her to frost her own cake along with leaving a huge mess to clean up. She tried so hard to keep their marriage afloat, desperately wanting them to be happy and for him to love her. So sad.

[joanlantis]

i've listened to all of these susan powell case cold podcasts and i am soo beyond angry that this guy wasnt sent to prison for life. they didnt have a body but THEY HAD EVERYTHING ELSE.shame on you wvc police and DA.

[dbarb]

Thank you COLD for providing these videos. I grew up knowing Susan at church and at school. I am still in shock of all the things that happened to her and her boys even years later. I wanted to thank you for providing these episodes

First of all: So that we can see that Susan was an amazing women that was being mistreated over and over and yet she always had hope. What a strong person. It is very unfortunate that her strong will and beautiful personality was wasted on someone so selfish and unemotional. She could have had a great life if she could have been with someone that cared for her.

Second of all. For you to take the time at the end of the episode to acknowledge if someone is living like this that they should get help. That is huge. I hope other women or men in this type of relationship will see it and realize what is happening and get out as soon as they can.

RIP Susan, Charlie and Braden.