Susan Powell's parents, Chuck and Judy Cox, were awarded conservatorship of their daughter's trust by a Utah judge on Wednesday after the family of the missing woman's deceased husband failed to contest the case in a timely manner.
Susan Powell went missing from her home in Utah in 2009, and her husband, Josh Powell, later killed himself and their two sons in 2012. He was the lead suspect in her disappearance up until his death, but was never charged with a crime.
According to The Salt Lake Tribune, Susan and Josh Powell's trust will ultimately include $2.3 million in life insurance awards, and the couple's house in West Valley City.
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"It’s a good day for [the Coxes]," said Anne Bremner, the couple's attorney. "It’s a good day for Susan. It’s a good day for justice."
Judge L.A. Dever said that after Susan's parents gained control of the trust and cut out Terrica and Alina Powell, Josh's mother and sister, the Powells failed to contest their removal within the 30-day time period specified by state law.
"Cox was appointed conservator of Susan's estate because of a qualifying event, i.e., her disappearance," the judge wrote. The judge disagreed with the manner in which the parents gained control of the trust, but said the Powells' failure to contest their being booted was the factor that ultimately decided the case.
It is expected that the Powell family will appeal the ruling.
Susan Powell is expected to be declared dead this December in accordance with Utah's minimum specification for doing so, five years missing.
Meanwhile,
CBS affiliate KUTV reported this week that the family who has rented the former Powell home recently found out about the history of the residence, and plan to move out. They said they should have been informed about the history of the home, but such aspects of a house's history are not required by law to be disclosed.
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