SALT LAKE CITY -- Two Washington State writers have written a chilling tale about the disappearance of Susan Cox Powell. The book, "If I Can't Have You," hit stands Tuesday.
The writers say their research turned up proof Josh Powell fantasized about her death.
The book was written by best-selling crime writer Greg Olsen with the help of Rebecca Morris.
"I think the most shocking things we found out in Steven Powell's diary is that as early as 2007, Josh was daydreaming about Susan dying," Morris said. "Josh had said that he fantasized that someone knocked on the door and said your wife's been killed in a car accident."
The authors investigate what they call one of the 21st century's most puzzling disappearances. "He may have sedated or even poisoned Susan on that Sunday."
The writers detail different theories, like ‘was she poisoned?’
Morris said Josh made his wife a special plate of pancakes the day she disappeared.
"Her friends had wondered if he started to poison her, because he often made odd smoothies with weird kind of concoctions and she on the day she disappeared, she went to bed early she didn't feel well."
Morris writes, ‘Josh was a troubled teen who threatened his mother with a knife and killed his sister's pet gerbil. He held on tightly to Susan, controlling how much money she could spend and warned her what would happen if she left.
‘Josh threatened her and said if you take the boys they are going to grow up without any parents. That indicates that he had murder/suicide on his mind then.’
After all this time there are still no solid clues about what happened to the devoted mother of two despite extensive searches over the years.
"I think this is going to be a mystery for some time, because we don't know what happened. We don't know where Susan is, and the only person who knows is Steve and Steve wouldn't barter when he was in prison."
Morris believes Steven Powell will take those secrets to the grave. She thinks he knows what happened to Susan, why it happened and where she is.
