Holding on to hope for Susan Powell

WEST VALLEY CITY — It's been almost two months since Susan Powell disappeared.

Reminders that the mother of two is still missing can still be found around her home. A "missing" poster is taped to the front doorway. Shards of broken glass and a window screen remain underneath the now-fixed front window where police originally had to break in on the day she was reported missing.

But friends and family members continue to hold out hope she is alive.

"We want Susan to come home, and the best thing is to keep her face and her name out there … just like Elizabeth Smart," said Jennifer Graves, sister of Susan Powell's husband, Josh Powell.

On Wednesday, Susan's friends returned to her vacant house to hang purple ribbons and streamers. Two large signs saying, "We Will Find You" and "We Will Bring You Home" were posted on the front lawn while smaller signs were hung on the garage.

Messages like, "We love you Susan," "Millions of people are praying for you" and "Lost but not forgotten" were posted around the house where Powell was last seen on Dec. 7.

Friends say campaigns like decorating Powell's house help them feel like they are contributing and doing something to help find her, because, as one neighbor said, "There is very little in our control right now."

"The stress of, 'I can't do anything,' is enough to destroy you. Little things like this are enough to do a lot for those who are still holding on," Kirk Graves, Josh Powell's brother-in-law, said.

Police call Susan Powell's disappearance suspicious and her husband, Josh Powell, a person of interest. Josh has also been the focus of ever-increasing speculation and scrutiny about what he knows and, according to police, why he won't fully cooperate with them. Josh Powell told police he went camping with their two sons, who turned 3 and 5 this month, in a remote area of Tooele County at midnight on Dec. 7. When he returned the next day, his wife was gone.

Since then, he has lost his job and moved all of his belongings to Washington to live with his parents. Family members say Josh Powell has told them he planned to return to Utah to fix up his house before putting it on the market to sell, though there was no indication when that might be.

On Wednesday, Jennifer Graves and her husband, Kirk, were among those hanging signs and ribbons at Susan's house.

Kirk Graves said his family went to Washington last Friday and had dinner with Josh Powell and his sons.