Books, television programs and the COLD podcast have helped many people learn Susan Powell’s story. The source of each claim still matters.

Why It Matters

Reporting can bring attention to an unsolved case, but an interview, recording or documentary interpretation should never be mistaken for a police finding.

Go Deeper

Timeline · Court Records · Footnotes

Why this media guide exists

Susan Powell’s disappearance and the deaths of Charlie and Braden have been examined in podcasts, television programs, books and long-form journalism. Those works help audiences learn the story, but they do not all use the same source standards or have access to the same records.

A major audio investigation

The first season of COLD, reported by Dave Cawley, combines archival documents, interviews and recorded audio. The project’s accompanying transcripts and notes make it possible to check a reported statement against the material available to the production. The program is investigative journalism. It is not an official ruling about Susan’s disappearance.

What a viewer should verify

A documentary may cut hours of interviews into minutes of narrative. A book may quote a source who later gave a different account. The existence of an audio tape or journal does not mean every interpretation drawn from it is settled. Readers should check what was recorded, when it was recorded and whether the speaker was describing firsthand events.

The original files

West Valley City police material and the later Washington court decisions provide the independent record against which a program can be compared. The Utah documents address the disappearance investigation. The 2019 and 2023 civil opinions address the duty to protect the boys. Neither group of documents should be used to make an unsupported new claim about the other case.

Care for the family

The media record is often framed around Josh’s actions. Susan and her sons deserve more than that. A trustworthy guide should also include family remembrance, Susan’s own documented experiences and the difference between public interest and invasion of privacy.

What the record means

Media can bring useful new attention and readers to a cold case. It can also spread a striking claim faster than its source can be checked. Linking each program to the primary record protects readers and keeps the family history from being replaced by dramatic speculation.