If looking at Susan as a possible DV victim and a possible victim of the worst type of DV, we see well-established and documented patterns. IMO and experience, these patterns of behavior between men and women transcend religion, economic accomplishment or lack thereof, race, location, time, and more. These patterns often include, for some reason, the victim moving away from the family. It is astoundingly common to see the victim losing control of the vehicle, money, phone, computer, home, etc. There is a natural progression. Many victims are not allowed to go to church or work at some point. What always got me was, these controllers do not know each other, or have a secret network, but they do the same things, case after case. This is why I lean towards Dear Susan getting in a confrontation with her spouse and this being the cause of her disappearance. Her case is classic IMO. I pray she will be found soon.
http://www.sltrib.com/ci_14042094?IADID=Search-www.sltrib.com-www.sltrib.com Salt Lake Tribune 20th December
A year before she disappeared, Susan Powell told a wide circle of friends she was preparing for the worst if she sought a divorce: that her husband might try to kidnap their sons and break her financially.
She said she had set up a separate bank account, arranged a place to stay if she decided to leave, and had informally written a will, according to friends who requested anonymity because they are not authorized by police to speak about the investigation. And Susan Powell made sure many knew of her preparations.
Susan Powell ultimately decided to stay and work on the relationship after fasting and praying.
and later in the same article:
Friends said they told her the relationship wasn't healthy and confirm that they encouraged Susan Powell to leave her husband, whom they have described as controlling and emotionally abusive. A friend has said Susan Powell was at one point poised to return to Washington with the aid of her parents.
Joshua Powell, 33, was upset his wife was depositing money into an account he didn't have access to, said friends who added that they encouraged Susan to stand up to him. Family members have said the couple got marital counseling at Susan Powell's urging.
http://www.sltrib.com/ci_14035282?IADID=Search-www.sltrib.com-www.sltrib.com Salt Lake Tribune 22nd December
Susan and Joshua Powell moved to Utah about five years ago, after stints working in assisted-living facilities in Yakima and Olympia, Wash., didn't provide them with enough income to start a family.
The couple picked Utah because Joshua's sister, Jennifer Graves, and his mother lived there, Chuck Cox said.
Same article:
After Susan's disappearance, court records revealed that she and Joshua had about $200,000 in debt, including a large amount of credit card debt.
Susan gave up her goal of working as a hairstylist shortly after relocating to Utah to help Joshua with his real estate business. She later worked with Fidelity and got a job at Wells Fargo, working as an assistant stockbroker, where she helped people with transactions over the phone.
Susan tended to fall into the role as the family's main breadwinner as Joshua tried to make his career work, Chuck Cox said.
BBM
As PercyVeer highlights, we have a picture of an abusive and controlling husband. Susan was so scared of him she started stashing money, but he knew about it and was upset about it. Many other people also knew about it, as she made it common knowledge.
At the same time, she's been the main breadwinner, he thinks he should have access to the money she earns, and between them (i.e. Josh alone) they've run up $200,000 in debt. Sadly she gave up a potential career as a hairdresser, something she would have enjoyed and would have been good at, to support his failed business dealings.
My first thought on seeing that $200,000 dollar figure was,
how? What can you possibly buy to run up a debt of that colossal magnitude, by the age of 34?
My wife suggested Josh's various attempts at starting his own businesses, and that's probably a big chunk of it. I think having a shiny new van when you could have bought something second-hand, spending money on a new generator when you don't really need one, and stuff like that. He may also have even been spending deliberately to minimise the amount she could save in her private account.
Josh seems to have lived his life in a misplaced bubble of self-confidence, thinking he knows stuff, can handle stuff, and is good at stuff, when really he's a bumbling incompetent juvenile who has been mainly supported by his wife's income for the duration of his married life. He also seems to think the world owes him a nice lifestyle, when his earnings haven't matched up to that.