TACOMA, Wash. -- Convicted on child pornography charges and sentenced to five years in jail, Steven Powell--the father-in-law of missing West Valley City mom Susan Cox Powell--had one last chance to speak out in court Friday.
"In December 2009, Susan Powell disappeared from Utah," Powell said in court Friday. "A month later, her husband, my son Josh Powell, came to Puyallup, Washington with his sons to live with me….Law enforcement agents from FBI, West Valley City, Utah police and Pierce County , Washington Sheriff's Department spent nearly two years investigating Josh Powell and came up with absolutely no evidence against him in his wife's disappearance."
While looking for evidence in Susan’s disappearance, investigators found sexually explicit pictures of two young girls living next door to Steven Powell, leading to his conviction on July 13 of this year.
"Josh Powell lived for his sons," Steven Powell said in court. "He was an innocent man up until the last day of his life."
In 2012, Josh Powell killed his sons, lit his Washington home on fire and killed himself.
Josh’s sister, Jennifer Graves, reacted to hearing her father’s in-court statements.
"My dad made the statement that Josh Powell lived for his sons: In a twisted sort of sense I agree with him," she said. "He lived to, they were his toys, they were his things."
Graves said she firmly believes Josh killed his wife, Susan, in 2009 and that her father helped in some way. She called Steven Powell's five-year sentence, handed down Friday, a good thing.
"I think he is connected in some way to Susan's case, but, you know, we'll get him where we can," she said. "I think, you know, this is a good beginning.”
Susan Cox Powell has never been found. Her disappearance remains unsolved.
