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Video, docs give glimpse into Susan Cox Powell’s troubled marriage

SALT LAKE CITY — Police detectives investigating the disappearance of Susan Cox Powell found the video inside a safe-deposit box, alongside some of her journals and a note “for family, friends of Susan — all except for Josh Powell, husband, I don’t trust him!”

On the tape, Susan Cox Powell is seen engaged in a mundane task — documenting all of the property inside her West Valley City home.

She walks through the house, filming pieces of personal property.

“Pearl earrings Josh’s dad bought me,” she said, showcasing some jewelry. “(Unintelligible) got in a rage as you can see and broke this. There’s studs and pearls and opals in there. Broke this and threw all my DVDs and made a mess because he was angry at me a year or two back.”

On another part of the tape, she pointed out holes in the wall that she said Josh had made, punching the wall.

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WVC PD to get new review board

By Alexandria Autrey

WEST VALLEY CITY – The West Valley City Council has approved a new police review board.

The decision comes after dozens of drug cases were dismissed earlier this year due to evidence of mismanagement by the department’s now disbanded neighborhood narcotics unit.

The West Valley City Professional Standards Review Board will look over complaints against police and issue quarterly as well as annual reports on its operations.

The seven-member board will be made up entirely of civilians, and there will not be any city employees on the board.

Members will be appointed by the city manager with the advised consent of the city council.

Salt Lake County proposes mutual commitment registry

SALT LAKE CITY – Unmarried couples and same-sex partners living in Salt Lake County will soon be able to get benefits they don’t have now. The county is launching a mutual commitment registry, similar to what Salt Lake City put in place in 2008.

The idea, however has its critics. The county is legally recognizing relationships the state doesn’t, especially when it comes to same sex couples, but the registry is also for people who may be the legal caretaker of someone, whether it’s a relative or a partner. Still, one group says it’s a slippery slope.

“I believe this will be primarily used by same sex couples,” says Salt Lake County Councilman Arlyn Bradshaw who is openly gay.

WVC Mayor won’t seek re-election

WEST VALLEY CITY, Utah — West Valley City Mayor Mike Winder announced Wednesday that he has decided not to seek re-election this fall, citing financial reasons.

“Public service is always a sacrifice for a family, and in our city’s council-manager form of government it is especially difficult to serve as mayor,” Winder said in a press release. “Although the pay is part-time, the duties of the job of mayor have daily demands that make other employment very difficult. For the need of better providing for my growing family, I announce today that I will not be seeking reelection.”

Winder, 37, was elected in 2009 with 76 percent of the vote and was paid an annual salary of $35,000. Winder’s salary was about one-third of the salary paid to the mayors of Provo, Sandy, Salt Lake City and other cities of similar size, the press release said.

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Susan’s family lawyer: Feds investigating disappearance

SEATTLE — A lawyer for the family of missing West Valley City mom Susan Cox Powell announced that federal authorities are now investigating her disappearance.

Anne Bremner said Tuesday that federal authorities are continuing the investigation that West Valley City police have said has gone cold.

“This is not over, and there will be further investigation in this case involving Susan Cox Powell’s disappearance and all the other circumstances that we know about,” Bremner said.

Bremner said she could not name the federal agency investigating the disappearance, but said they were looking at Susan’s father-in-law, Steven Powell.

“I can say that it partially involves Steven Powell in terms of what he knew and what he can say and what he can tell us about what happened to Susan,” she said.

Video: newest details in Susan Cox Powell case

Fox 13’s Scott McKane has been covering the investigation into Susan Cox Powell’s disappearance for several years, and in this video he talks about some of the details that emerged only after the active investigation ended.

He talks about who police suspected to be involved as well as why formal charges weren’t brought against those people. He also discusses clues police had regarding how Susan’s body may have been transported and other details.

WVC police believe Michael Powell was involved in Susan’s disappearance

WEST VALLEY CITY, Utah – After suspending the active search for Susan Cox Powell, West Valley City police are revealing more details about the likely involvement of Michael Powell in Susan’s disappearance.

Deputy Chief Phil Quinlan, West Valley City Police Department, had in-depth knowledge of the case, and he shared more information about the close connection between brothers Michael and Josh Powell in the months after Susan disappeared.

Quinlan said there is strong circumstantial evidence that Michael Powell knew what Josh had allegedly done and helped him dispose of the body.

“And a pivotal point there was the discovery of a car he’d salvaged in Pendleton, Oregon,” he said.