COMMENTS

LOCAL RESIDENTS SEARCH NATIONALLY FOR FRIEND

By: Lyle Evansiano January 8, 2010

Friends and family of Susan Powell are launching a social-media blitz in the search for the missing Utah mother of two.

Michael Gifford or Orting, one of the organizers, said the effort uses Facebook, Twitter and YouTube to carry information about Powell and her picture throughout the Internet.

Powell has been missing since Dec. 7. Police have labeled her husband, Josh Powell, as a person of interest. He has told police he went camping with the Powells' two young sons around the time she disappeared.

Meredith Vieira on the nationwide television show TODAY interviewed Susan Powell’s father, Chuck Cox, via satellite from Orting in mid-December.

“After hearing Josh’s comments to the media, and basically the lack of information coming forward from him ... and the police naming him a person of interest — they don’t do that without a reason,” Cox said.

“We have been trying to be supportive of Josh,” Cox added. “We want Josh to come forward, please, and tell us the rest of the story. Tell us a credible story, please.”

Gifford & Friends three-day social media blitz was heavily viewed and consisted of the following:



• If you have a twitter account, follow @FindSusan (http://www.facebook.com/l/bff97;twitter.com/FindSusan) and then tweet about her with a link to the YouTube channel below, using the hashtag of #findsusan – please also ask your followers to retweet your message.

• At 8 AM, Mountain Standard Time on Monday, January 4, we will have a new video slideshow with new pictures of Susan. Please go to our Facebook page to get the direct link to the video. If you follow us on Twitter (@FindSusan), we’ll also be tweeting the link throughout the Blitz. The official YouTube channel for this video and other videos about Susan is: http://www.facebook.com/l/bff97;www.youtube.com/susanpowellsearch


• Here is the link to Susan’s missing poster: http://www.facebook.com/l/bff97;bit.ly/4ppWVz - just scroll down to her posters. Again, please memorize Susan’s face and look around right where you are. If you see her, please note her location and condition and call 9-1-1 immediately. There is a $10,000 reward for finding her. Please also consider printing out a few and posting them at your local supermarket and other places nearby.

• Ask your friends to email findsusanpowell@gmail.com with “I want to help” in the subject line. If there’s a specific service you can provide for us, if and when the time comes that we can use that help, we’ll email you and let you know.

• Email 5 of your email contacts with the contents of this message and “Find Susan Powell – Please forward to 5 people” in the subject line. We’re not asking you to spam your friends, family and co-workers. Just email 5 people and if you choose to add more than 5, that’s great.


• Blog about Susan and our efforts to find her. Include the links in this email to help spread the word.

• Join us on the Friends and Family of Susan Powell Facebook Page here: http://www.facebook.com/l/bff97;bit.ly/findsusan


• Before, during and after the Find Susan Social Media Blitz, remember to tie a ribbon or wear a purple ribbon for "Susan's Purple Ribbon Campaign". This will increase the awareness and support for finding Susan and help give hope and support to Susan's family and friends!


• You can also pray for Susan and her friends and family.

Added Gifford, "Thank you for anything you can do. We appreciate you!"

Police say it appears the husband of a missing Utah woman is moving out of the couple's Salt Lake City home.

West Valley City police Capt. Tom McLachlan says it appears relatives of Josh Powell are packing up items from the home and relocating the family to Washington state.

Susan Powell has been missing since Dec. 7. She was last seen by her husband, who has said he left on a winter camping trip with the couple's children at about 12:30 a.m. that day.

Police say Josh Powell is the only person of interest in the case. He has not been named a suspect.

The Powells have family in Washington state.

Joshua Powell's attorney, Scott Williams, will only say that the Salt Lake City area doesn't provide his client with the financial and social support his family needs.