What Would Susan Say: The Susan Cox Powell Video Testimony

Recently released documents in the Susan Cox Powell disappearance, especially a written last will and testament and video made by Susan, indicate that she was in imminent danger and she knew it. In the video we see her laying the groundwork and instruction should something happen to her, as well as in notes she wrote indicating that, ..."if something happens to me it may not be an accident."

This case was one that Susan Murphy Milano wrote about and talked about extensively. (Below are links to some of the posts she wrote.) She had Susan Cox Powell's parents on radio shows along with their attorney Anne Bremner whom she talked to frequently about the case.

According to Susan, and some of the conversations we had about it, the writing was on the wall, Josh Powell had intimate knowledge about what happened to his wife on the night he took two small children camping in freezing weather after dark. Add in the later interviews with his father, still incarcerated Steven Powell, and the soup gets even spicier. She felt that Steven Powell could have possibly been the mastermind behind the whole crime given his obsession with something he could not have, his son's wife.

We are all familiar with the incidents that occurred since the beginning of this case in December of 2009, and the last one standing is Steven Powell. Josh Powell incinerated himself and his children after a social worker came by for an appointed visitation, and his brother, who some believe was also involved, has committed suicide.

By all indications Susan Cox Powell was attempting to create an Evidentiary Abuse Affidavit (EAA), but what went wrong, and why didn't it accomplish what she wished it would?

• There were no incident or police reports filed (that we know of) to indicate violence in the home, Susan only spoke about her unhappy marriage to friends as far as we know. (Hearsay) But, Josh Powell had violent tendencies as indicated in the treatment of his own mother.
• To document the abuse Susan had a handwritten "last will and testament" but it was not witnessed and notarized (that we know from news reports).
• After creating the handwritten will and the video testimony, Susan locked it away in what she thought was a safe place, but, by all reports, she didn't give a copy to relatives, trusted friend, or attorney.
• Most likely the video and will may not hold up as evidence in court, it would depend on the jurisdiction and laws for that state.

Susan Cox Powell tried, she knew enough about her own situation to know she was in danger, and to put her impressions in writing and video. She felt that something was going to happen, intuitively wanting to protect her children and the assets, she did all she knew to do.

Had Susan created an EAA with a trained advocate things may have turned out differently for her and for her children. Although hindsight in this case is 20/20, the information we know could possibly save the life of another in the same situation. 

A person trained to assist in the creation of an Evidentiary Abuse Affidavit would know how to have everything in order, signed, witnessed and notarized, to insure that if it ever needed to be presented to a prosecutor, law enforcement investigator, or to the court, that it would have the best chance of being the voice of the victim, whether or not that victim was disabled, missing, or deceased. It would also contain details about the possible perpetrator that would give investigators avenues to take to uncover evidence and proof.

It's a relatively simple process, and those who have created it are all still alive to testify to it's usefulness,  in fact it has the effect of empowerment and peace of mind to most of those who have created their individualized safety plan and the Evidentiary Abuse Affidavit.

On the website, Document the Abuse, Sandra L. Brown, CEO of The Institute for Relational Harm Reduction and colleague of Susan Murphy Milano, has assembled comprehensive information about lethality assessment, how to create the EAA, how to become certified to train others, and lists of all providers and community partners that are committed to help insure the safety of victims of family violence.

What Would Susan Say:

Nine emails were provided to the newspaper after Susan Powell disappeared in December 2009, but at the request of the provider, the newspaper held back on publishing them until now. 

"Every moment I step back and take stock of what I'm dealing with, it feels like a never ending cycle but I'm too afraid of the consequences (sic) losing my kids, him kidnapping, divorce or actions worse on his part, if I take a stand on one of his ultimatums like spending $20 on the counseling co-pay or cutting off access to my pay check," she wrote. 

When Susan Cox Powell vanished, it was disclosed by the oldest of the boys, "mommy went on a camping trip with us but she didn't come back." West Valley city police, for unknown reasons, decided to sit on evidence; blood, child's disclosure, a letter found in Susan's drawer at work stating "if something happens to me." There was enough within weeks to prevent Josh Powell from leaving the state of Utah and making an arrest. What in God's name were they waiting for?   (from May 1, 2012 post)

Help keep Susan Murphy Milano's legacy moving forward into the future, a future where there is absolute help for victims of violence, female and male.

If you're a victim, read Holding My Hand Through Hell, you will find yourself and your story somewhere in this book,  Susan's true crime memoir is a must. 

If you are thinking about ending a relationship, before you make any announcements or plans, read Time's Up, prepare your personal Evidentiary Abuse Affidavit and individualized safety plan to insure that you've done all you can.

Click on the book covers to purchase.

*Susan Murphy Milano lost her battle with cancer on October 28, 2012. To keep her work and her memory alive, I will be writing entries to her blog hoping to keep her many loyal readers and keep attention on the cases which she herself wrote about. Sometimes a case screams to be heard, a case that Susan herself would want to write about, those are the ones I will occasionally attempt to present as "What Would Susan Say."......Delilah (ImaginePublicity)

Disclaimer: I am not a trained or certified advocate, only a close friend and colleague of Susan Murphy Milano and was appointed administrator of her online sites. The opinions and case speculations do not necessarily mean that I'm an expert in domestic violence, only in the sense that I had the privilege of working with Susan on a daily basis, editing her blogs and books and sharing in her vast knowledge.

http://murphymilanojournal.blogspot.com/2009/12/not-your-average-camping-trip.html
http://murphymilanojournal.blogspot.com/2010/11/susan-powell-to-be-chewed-up-like.html
http://murphymilanojournal.blogspot.com/2010/11/susan-powell-part-2-to-be-chewed-up.html
http://murphymilanojournal.blogspot.com/2010/11/susan-powell-part-3-she-knows-she-will.html
http://murphymilanojournal.blogspot.com/2011/09/susan-cox-powell-father-in-law-arrested.html
http://murphymilanojournal.blogspot.com/2012/05/lesson-for-world-susan-cox-powell-and.html

Toxic Relationships: On The Susan Murphy Milano Show: Monday December 27, 2010 at 10:00 AM Eastern Time

According to Sandra Brown, M.A. our guest on Today's show:


We live in an age where ‘Positive Psychology’ has engrained a mantra into society’s psyche–that if you think it (the psychopath needs to change his behavior), then you can make it happen (our relationship will be successful when he changes). That may be true when you begin with a person who has normal psychology. But it’s a long way from being true for those who have pathology.


For many years people have thought that if they focused hard enough, loved long enough, tolerated more, and carried a positive attitude that their partner would somehow become uneffected by the personality disorder, form of pathology, or even psychopathy they bore. There is a danger in applying pop psychology principles to something as aberant as pathology. Trying to ‘attract’ positivity to the relationship so the pathology is transformed leaves people ignoring the traits of pathology that can seriously harm them.


The truth is, nothing impacts non-pathological people as much as being in a relationship with someone who is pathological. Add to that not understanding how pathology manifests in relationships and the often manipulative behavior of those with pathology and you have partners, families, and children who are devasted almost as much by the lack of information as by the destruction that often happens at the hands of the pathological. Without the education of ‘what‘ the disorder is, ‘how‘ it came to be, ‘whom‘ it effects, ‘why‘ it harms others, partners, family and children live in the shadows of unspoken confusion and pain.


Many who have found The Institute’s programs and products have said, “This is the first time anyone has ever explained this to me in a way I could understand.” I have seen when people finally found information that described their partner’s pathology, awareness often gave way to crying and then anger…that the information they sought was out there all along but not easy to find, or sometimes not easy to understand in laymen’s terms.


I think that the mental health field has to bear part of the responsibility for so little public education about the pervasiveness of personality disorders, pathology, and psychopathy and the often devastating results to relational health. The mental health field has done little to train the public what pathology is, the limitations of wellness it implies, and what it looks and acts like in relationships. The efforts of The Institute is to bridge the gap in public pathology education by providing the best and most up to date research about personality disorders, pathology, and psychopathy for the lay reader in easy to understand wording and concepts and to provide the best prevention training regarding recognizing pathological love relationships. Additionally, The Institute works towards training other therapists in our Model of Care protocol so that therapy for the survivors and public education about pathology is more readily available through our mental health professionals.


Time: 10:00 AM


Date: December 28, 2010


Guest: Sandra Brown, M.A., Psychotherapist

Show Link:  http://www.blogtalkradio.com/susanmurphymilano/2010/12/27/the-susan-murphy-milano-show-holiday-special-copin

Call-in Number: (347) 326-9337

www.saferelationshipsmagazine.com 

The Susan Murphy Milano Show: Guest Dr. Lillian Glass, Decemeber 1, 2010 at 4:00 PM EST

The Susan Murphy Milano Show

"Time's Up!"

"The body doesn't lie!" "Neither does one's voice or speech patterns."

Known as"The First Lady of Communciation" Dr. Lillian Glass is a world renown Communication and Body Language Expert, Media Personality, and author of several best selling books including "Toxic People" and "I Know What You're Thinking".

Dr. Glass is a well respected and sought after Media Personality. She is the Body Language Expert for Dancing With the Stars, Entertainment Tonight, and the Insider. She is also a Regular Commentator on The Nancy Grace Show, the ‘resident therapist” on The Chelsea Lately Show and often appears on MSNBC, Showbiz Tonight, Headline News, and Dr. Phil. Dr. Glass also has a regular monthly body language column in Cosmopolitan Magazine called ‘The Real Story.’ Her comments are frequently seen in magazines and newspapers throughout the world including US Weekly, OK, In Touch Weekly, Globe, First for Women, and Life and Style as well as numerous electronic media outlets.

Be sure to check out her newest book, "Toxic Men."

Join Dr. Lillian Glass on The Susan Murphy Milano Show, "Time's Up!"

Wednesday, December 1 at 4pm ET on Here Women Talk broadcast by the Zeus Radio Network

Known as the “Jane Wayne of Justice,” Susan Murphy Milano always stands up as a voice for those who are silenced in a world of intimidation and violence within their homes and in courtrooms across the country.

Wednesdays at 4pm Eastern

The Susan Murphy Milano Show.

Live from:

Hear Women Talk Network on Zeus Radio!

If you missed the show, you can listen to the archive or download the podcast here:

Here Women Talk is a fresh, new spot for women to socialize, inspire and learn from each other. I know you will want to join in the interactive social network as well as listen to the radio broadcast each week. Join us in the chat room, socialize and ask questions!

http://herewomentalk.com

http://herewometalksocial.com


Music on The Susan Murphy Milano Show is "Gone" performed and provided by Ava Aston 

[Susan Murphy Milano is with the Institute for Relational Harm Reduction and Public Pathology Education. She is an expert on intimate partner violence and homicide crimes. For more information visit http://www.saferelationshipsmagazine.com/  She is the author of "Time's Up A Guide on How to Leave and Survive Abusive and Stalking Relationships," available for purchase at the Institute, Amazon.com and wherever books are sold.  Susan is the host of The Susan Murphy Milano Show, "Time's Up!" on Here Women Talk http://www.herewomentalk.com/ and is a regular contributor to the nationally syndicated The Roth Show with Dr. Laurie Roth  http://www.therothshow.com/ ]

"All Abusers are Not Created Equal" On The Susan Murphy Milano Show: Wednesday October 13, 2010 at 4:00 PM EST

Join us for a very special hour with Sandra Brown, M.A., with the Institute for Relational Harm Reduction Institite and author of "Women Who Love Psychopaths" and "How To Spot A Dangerous Man" as she hosts the shows during the month of October while Susan is on the road.

Todays guests for the hour on the show will be "you" the callers.

Learn which abuser's can change their behaviors, and those whom are not capable of changing and why.

Wednesday October 13, 2010
Time: 4:00 PM Eastern and 3:00 PM Central

You can listen to the show live, and participate in the chat room, the direct link for the show is HERE

We will take your calls live. The number to call in with questions or comments is
347-326-9337

Drew Peterson: Part 3 Profiling a Psychopath

[“Being married to a psychopath with a badge and gun was no different than living in a house without a door to exist. Drew Peterson had carefully set the stage not just with Kathleen, but those with whom he worked.”]

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The book authored by Sandra Brown, M.A. is available at Amazon.com

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When Drew Peterson started up again with his womanizing outside the marriage, while still with Kathleen Savio, he carefully constructed his “game plan.” Drew Peterson started dating a child. A woman barely 16 years old with whom he could shape from clay and mold into what he wanted. Stacy Peterson would be his newest “catch.”

It was fairly easy for him to snare her in his destructive psychopath net.

Stacy Peterson: It is important to point out when Stacy met Drew she was only 15 or 16 years of age, a mere child with no real life experience. And for someone with Peterson's defined psychopath (as discussed in the book "Women Who Love Psychpath's") and hypnotic approach all he needed to do was dangle the carrots of a secure life in front of her and off she went.

Peterson's lavish gifts and attention to Stacy Cales in the early stages of the relationship and the promise of a family, home and permanent lifetime security was an easy sell. In reality it was Peterson's psychpaths cage in disguise.

This was criminal hijacking by a man whom preyed on a teenager to feed his immediate sexual gratification because he was not capable of maintaining a mature and healthy relationship with an adult. He was no longer seeking someone who would not listen to him when he said jump. Stacy Cales did not know enough to argue or talk back, she was having too much fun with Peterson who treated Stacy like a fairy princess, like you read out of storybook.

Peterson's need for social dominance was also an important piece in his life. Whose ego would not rise, (possibly when other things didn't) while out for and evening with a girl more than half his age?

So now he has a wife and a teen mistress. Peterson makes plans to divorce Kathleen so he can spend his life with Stacy.

The groundwork three years prior for Kathleen's "crazy behavior" has already been layed down by Drew with other law enforcement at the Bolingbrook police department. A clever psychopath always sprinkles their version of facts and events long before an erruption. Peterson knew no one would respond to Kathleen's cries for help because he made his fellow officers believe, (because they were told) she was an "angry crazy broad" who was out to get him for ending the marriage.

Drew Peterson was so good at setting the stage with fellow officers by the fact no one ever responded to her while she was alive, spilling over to her crime scene and incorrectly ruling her death an accident. Peterson's psychopath behavior was a huge victory for his already out of control and dangerous personality.

After the death of Kathleen Savio, Stacy Peterson's world would turn upside down and inside out.

Part 4: Friday, September 17, 2010

[Susan Murphy Milano is with the Institute for Relational Harm Reduction and Public Pathology Education. She is an expert on intimate partner violence and homicide crimes. For more information visit http://www.saferelationshipsmagazine.com/  She is the author of "Time's Up A Guide on How to Leave and Survive Abusive and Stalking Relationships," available for purchase at the Institute, Amazon.com and wherever books are sold.  Susan is the host of The Susan Murphy Milano Show, "Time's Up!" on Here Women Talk http://www.herewomentalk.com/ and is a regular contributor to the nationally syndicated The Roth Show with Dr. Laurie Roth  http://www.therothshow.com/) ]

Drew Peterson: Part 2 : Profiling a Psychopath

Psychopaths present themselves initially as intensely interested in a woman. And according to Sandra Brown, M.A., author of "Women Who Love Psychopaths," they have connected the dots to design the best approach to get her.

Kathleen Savio: In 1992, Kathleen Savio accountant in her late twenties when a mutual acquaintance who happened to be a police officer’s wife set up a blind date for her to meet Drew Peterson. What Kathleen did not know at the time was Drew was still married to his second wife Vicki Connelly. But, Drew charmed her telling Kathleen he was divorcing Vicki because she was a herion addict. And what would Drew have to gain by lying? A clever psychopath always pre-sets the stage for their prey. In addition, he sealed his love bond with Kathleen knowing damn well she would never make contact with Vicki, much less allow the woman anywhere near her.

Drew Peterson was indeed, the master of his own stage. Kathleen likely thought to herself his explaination about Vicki sounded logical. The relationship built quickly, sharing feelings, talking, and eye-gazing. All the phases Peterson created to form his false "love bond."

Within a few short months Peterson quickly moved through the stages of psychopath attraction (as detailed in the book) and bonding like "road runner on crack" asking Kathleen to marry him. With excitement in her voice she called members of her family to share the news of the couple’s engagement and impending marriage. Kathleen felt good about her decision knowing she was marrying a man who made her feel safe and secure. And in a blink of an eye, they were married.

The majority of those whom fall prey to men such as Drew Peterson have invested themselves totally in the relationship similar to an invisable toxic drug. Kathleen was no different. After her first child was born, the "love bond" shifted, Peterson became verbally abusive telling her she was "dog ugly" or fat after the birth of her son. She tried to please him and return to the place where the fire began in the relationship when they were dating. It was too late, Peterson had already worked at the core of her soul, over time isolating her from family and friends until she had no support system left. When his words were not enough to break her, he used his fists to drive his point home. Within two years another child was born to the marriage. But another child in the marriage only added to the madness.

Being married to a psychopath with a badge and gun was no different than living in a house without a door to exist. Drew Peterson had carefully set the stage not just with Kathleen, but those with whom he worked.

Part 3 of this series continues Saturday, September 11, 2010

[Susan Murphy Milano is with the Institute for Relational Harm Reduction and Public Pathology Education. She is an expert on intimate partner violence and homicide crimes. For more information visit http://www.saferelationshipsmagazine.com/  She is the author of "Time's Up A Guide on How to Leave and Survive Abusive and Stalking Relationships," available for purchase at the Institute, Amazon.com and wherever books are sold.  Susan is the host of The Susan Murphy Milano Show, "Time's Up!" on Here Women Talk http://www.herewomentalk.com/ and is a regular contributor to the nationally syndicated The Roth Show with Dr. Laurie Roth  http://www.therothshow.com/) ]

Profiling A Psychopath Series Part 1: Drew Peterson

According to the Institute of Relational Harm and Public Psychopathy Education, there are approximately six million men in the United states with psychopathic traits. In my opinion, former Bolingbrook police Sergeant Drew Peterson, awaiting trial for the murder of his third wife Kathleen Savio and with the disappearance of his current wife Stacy Peterson (still missing), each met their fate at the hands of Peterson. With detail and precision luring Stacy and Kathleen into a relationship, the outcome, inevitable harm.

Sandra L. Brown, M.A., Author and CEO of the Institute, a psychotherpist has worked in psychopatholgy for over 20 years.

Within intimate partner violence and homicide we only see the aftermath of the offender's behavior or action; the outcome results in a crime or death, but no one ever really explains and identifies a violent offender within a relationship. Until now. In my opinion the work of Sandra Brown, M.A. and the Institute is the piece of the missing puzzle as it directly relates to psychopaths, sociopaths and narcissists.

"Psychopaths are highly pleasure motivated and excesssively seek out what they enjoy. This includes lots of high-status posessions, the need to be constantly entertained and distracted, hyper-sexual, wanting to be dominant with their social circles, and by all means requiring lots of power."

So why have I decided to disect and discuss only one man out of approximately six million in the weeks ahead? Because I am hoping it will assist first responders, prosecutors, social workers and clergy directing the more than six million victims to safety, when they understand to whom a victim of intimate partner violence is joined like super glue at the hip.

Victims of intimate partner violence have been at war for too, long, time's up!

[Susan Murphy Milano is with the Institute for Relational Harm Reduction and Public Pathology Education. She is an expert on intimate partner violence and homicide crimes. For more information visit http://www.saferelationshipsmagazine.com/  She is the author of "Time's Up A Guide on How to Leave and Survive Abusive and Stalking Relationships," available for purchase at the Institute, Amazon.com and wherever books are sold.  Susan is the host of The Susan Murphy Milano Show, "Time's Up!" on Here Women Talk http://www.herewomentalk.com/ and is a regular contributor to the nationally syndicated The Roth Show with Dr. Laurie Roth  http://www.therothshow.com/) ]