Susan Powell: Missing mom’s remains may have been found (update)

Susan Cox Powell, 28, with older son Charlie has been missing since December 2009. Family photo.

A Utah mother of two small children has been shrouded in mystery ever since she went missing in December 2009 and was never found. While her husband’s alibi didn’t make sense, police have yet to find enough concrete evidence to recognize him as a suspect. Susan Cox Powell, 28, and her husband Josh Powell have both been the target of speculation and rumors fueled by Facebook friends and Josh Powell’s own father who told CBS News that he was having an affair with Susan.

Josh Powell told police that he was camping with their two young sons, Braden and Charlie, ages 2 and 4, that wintery, cold night Susan Powell went missing. Human remains were recently found in the vicinity of Topaz Mountain — a place where Josh Powell was said to frequent. While other human remains in the area have turned up short, Susan’s father Chuck Cox is vacillating over whether the remains could likely be his daughter’s and remaining optimistic. It is fairly clear that he’s holding on to the belief that his daughter could still be alive.

The night Susan Powell went missing, there was a fierce snow-storm, another reason why Joshua’s alibi appears suspicious. Reportedly, Josh and his two sons are living in Washington state with his father. Josh’s sister Jenny has reportedly been cut off from her immediate family and nephews for trying to press Josh for answers.

UPDATE: Authorities are now saying that human remains have not been found, only that cadaver dogs have hit upon something.