Josh Powell Interview

Many of you have written to me and asked me to review the video of Josh Powell. The police have named him a person of interest in the disappearance of his wife, Susan, and they say he has not been cooperative with them. I think most people see that Josh’s behavior is definitely abnormal and I do not disagree. Josh, if you want my opinion, knows more than he is telling us. He couldn’t look more like a deer caught in headlights than he does here in this interview. He is constantly thinking before he speaks, doesn’t answer questions directly, and he shows little to no concern for his wife at all.

Read moreHere are my thoughts when I watch the video:

1. When the interview first starts and the reporter asks Josh how he is doing, I find it interesting how Josh has to think about it before he answers the question. He says after a pause, “Um…. well, I’ve been trying to figure out….what I can do so I don’t sit idle….” Does this make any sense? If your wife disappeared and you didn’t know what happened to her, would you worry about occupying your time so you don’t “sit idle”?Now imagine the flip side, that you do know what happened to your wife and it was haunting you, would idol time be a big concern? Josh’s choice of words here is haunting to me. I also find it interesting how he talks about dealing with “this”, presumably talking to the media, repeatedly. It is obviously annoying for him to talk to reporters. If he knows nothing about his wife disappearance, I would think he would welcome continued exposure to help find her, wouldn’t you?
2. I find it strange how Josh says, “I was just going to go in and get my kids…because….. you know….they’re family.” He clearly is not an expert at thinking on his feet and is not well versed at doing this and it shows. Many of his statements make little to no sense. He is having trouble connecting basic thoughts.
3. The reporter asks Josh again, “How are you doing…” and Josh answers with, “You know people have been really… helpful and supportive, so …..its been……..it’s been really hard, but…. you know, you just keep going…” Notice how Josh doesn’t answer the question? I also noticed how Josh’s thought changes in the middle of this sentence. It’s as if a vision in his mind’s eye changed his thought process. He was starting to say one thing (that people are helpful), but he changes it to how difficult it has been. More than that, it looks like he keeps making contempt and disgust expressions, doesn’t it? He has a personality that may do this naturally, so I can’t be sure. I’d like to see more footage of him to see if this is case specific or natural for him.
4. The reporter asks Josh to tell him what happened that night. Do you notice that Josh doesn’t answer the question directly? Instead he says, “Yeah, a….just a lot of times I just go camping with my boys…” Josh doesn’t provide any details of that night whatsoever. Instead, he talks about what they usually do–not what they did. This does not support honesty.And what information we do get from Josh makes absolutely no sense. What father takes two children under five out camping after 10 PM on a sub-freezing night? Its ridiculous, and obviously points to some sort of cover-up.
5. When Josh says, “I just went…. with the boys…” the pauses are indicative that he is thinking on his feet–not speaking from his memories. I also see more contempt on his face again. It’s subtle, but it seems like every time he thinks of key times during that night, he feels this emotion.
6. The reporter asks Josh, why he didn’t call in sick and Josh responds, “…You know… I didn’t, ah……..I was somehow thinking it was Sunday. I didn’t go to church and …I just missed a day and I thought we’ll go and come back Sunday.”Is anyone buying this? Has this happened to any of you who are married with children? Have you missed a Monday at work because you lost track of time??
7. When the reporter asks Josh if he has any idea of where his wife could be, watch how he swallows awkwardly as he shakes his head no. People often salivate when they are nervous and uncomfortable. Why would he be nervous if he had nothing to hide?I just keep seeing this surreal look on Josh’s face, like a “deer in headlights” look over and over again. Its a highly unusual look like he is bewildered he is where he is right now…
8. The reporter talks about how the husband is often the first person looked at in cases like this. Josh says, “I, um, didn’t do anything…..I don’t know where she is at….I don’t even know where to start looking.” Josh comes across as robotic here to me. He has no emotions whatsoever, which is very notable considering he is married to Susan.
9. The reporter ask Josh, what do you tell the boys about their mom? Before Josh speaks, watch how he awkwardly swallows again and how he makes a very distressed facial expression. Obviously this question makes him very uncomfortable. Josh then says, “By the time it all started, I’d…I was already….ah….I was already late and…went to bed and its been hectic ever since.” What is he talking about? Does this make any sense?”Hectic”? If you wife was missing, would “hectic” be the word that comes to mind?

   Josh does not think quickly on his feet. That’s for sure. With that, I suspect he was not a pathological liar. He really struggles at this… It makes me wonder if he lost his temper at some point and something horrible happened. That reminds me that I read that there was a wet spot found on the carpet. If this is true, its incredibly ominous…

10. When the reporter ask Josh what time his wife went to bed, he just says, “She just went to bed that night.” He doesn’t give us any details again. He deflects the question with a generic statement. I suspect, sadly, that she never went to bed and that is why he doesn’t have an answer.
11. The reporter says, “And what time did you go camping, would you say?” Josh says, “Um…I…you know, I got out to a pretty late start.”The reporter says, “Nine-ish?”

    Josh says, “No it was later.” Notice Josh doesn’t have any time frame for reference because he wasn’t paying attention to the clock. This is supportive he didn’t “plan” to go camping. If you plan to go camping with little kids, you are aware definitely aware of the time. Kids get cranky without sleep.

12. Josh says, “Basically……um……I’m just trying to …..figure out what I can do…and (head shake yes–as if he is confirming what he said to himself) and both try to find her and…try to…..take care of (shoulder shrug) life in general (positive self-affirmation again — indicative of someone thinking on their feet, not telling us what they know is true).”Clearly Josh is not telling us his true thoughts, if you want my opinion. He is trying to deflect, but he is horrible at it!
13. The reporter continues, “Where did you guys camp?”Josh replies, “Um….we went down south to the…(looks around)…to some trails down there.”

    The reporter questions, “To the Moab area?”

    Josh says, “No, no…uh, we actually just went down to …the…. Pony Express (self-affirmation again).”

    The reporter says, “They actually have campgrounds down there?” and Josh thinks for a second and says, “Ah….I guess there is a few.” He guesses? Wasn’t he saying he was just there? If he was, he wouldn’t have to guess would he??

I believe Josh knows a heck of lot more than he is telling us. I don’t see anything in this interview that supports honesty, if you want my opinion.