SCOTTS MILLS, Oregon - A search of a rural property outside Salem, Oregon, for missing West Valley City woman Susan Cox Powell was prompted by a tip from her father Chuck Cox.
Susan Cox Powell went missing from her West Valley City home in Dec. 2009. Her husband Josh Powell remains the sole "person of interest" in the case. He killed his two sons Charlie and Braden Powell before killing himself in Feb. 2012.
Cox says that late last year, he received a phone call from a woman who wanted to remain anonymous.
"She made me aware of some property here that would have been accessible to the family," Cox said.
That property sits in Scotts Mills, Ore., around 20 miles northwest of Salem. Josh Powell's aunt and uncle lived on the property back in 2009 when Susan vanished.
"And this person was concerned that this could be a place where they could have dumped Susan's body," Cox said.
Cox passed that tip onto detectives. He says they've looked into every lead he's given them, but this one felt different. And detectives agreed.
"But this one's credible, with a specific place to look," he said. "Not too long ago, they told me, 'Yeah, we're going to search it.' So there must have been enough there, that it was reasonable to search it."
On Tuesday morning, West Valley City police brought cadaver dogs on a search of the property.
"It's an opportune spot," Cox said. "And there's a family connection and [Josh Powell] was aware of that place."
Cox asked for and received permission to go along on the search.
"Which I really appreciate because if they find her I'd like to know where it was, just because I'd like to know and be there," he said.
Cox then asked FOX 13 News to accompany him on the case because he believes that the West Valley City Police Dept., while not perfect, have gone above and beyond the call of duty in this case.
"People wanted us to sue West Valley Police because they're not doing enough. Well I know they've been working very hard on this all the time, I can't imagine any police department working any harder. I think they've done an excellent job and I hope this will resolve it," he said.
West Valley City haven't released much information about the search.
