Father-In-Law Of Missing Woman Had Secret Videos Of Her, Minors

In a disturbing twist to an already very disturbing case, the father-in-law of of a missing Utah woman has been arrested on child porn charges. He also had video footage of the missing woman, apparently taken without her knowledge.

According to the AP, police searched the home of Steven Powell as part of the ongoing investigation into the whereabouts of his daughter-in-law Susan, who disappeared in December 2009. According to prosecutor Mark Lindquist, they found “thousands of images of females being videotaped without their knowledge, including Susan Powell.” He added, “The photographer focuses on the women’s buttocks, breasts. Many images were of minor females.” Those minor females include two former neighbors of Powell, who were just 8 and 10 at the time. Powell has been charged with 14 counts of voyeurism and one of possessing child porn.

Previously, Powell had made a number of strange statements about his daughter-in-law. He and his son, her husband Joshua Powell, both alleged that she was promiscuous and suicidal. Steven Powell also claimed that he and Susan had a romantic relationship. He said they were in love, adding, “Susan was very sexual with me. We interacted in a lot of sexual ways because Susan enjoys doing that.” Her father, Chuck Cox, however, says that Steven Powell was harassing her: “She said something about Steve had wanted her to be a common wife for him and Josh.” He says that Steven’s advances made Susan uncomfortable, and precipitated her move to Utah: “She wanted as far away from him as possible.” The discovery of footage of Susan, apparently shot without her consent, certainly lends weight to Cox’s version of events. And while authorities still don’t know what happened to Susan, Steven’s activities call into question anything he ever said about her.

Authorities Charge Father-In-Law Of Missing Utah Mom With Possession Of Child Porn, Voyeurism [AP, via Washington Post]
Susan Powell Case: Father-In-Law Claims Sexual Relationship With Missing Mom [AP, via Huffington Post]