What Happened to Susan Powell?

This is a rush transcript from "On the Record," December 14, 2009. This copy may not be in its final form and may be updated.

GRETA VAN SUSTEREN, FOX NEWS HOST: There is breaking news in Utah. Just days before Christmas, a young mother of two, Susan Powell, is missing. And the mystery is deepening, and the search to find her is on.

Here is what we know. Sunday night, December 6th, just after midnight, Susan's husband Joshua says he sees his 28-year-old wife for the last time. He says Susan went to sleep and he took the couple's two young boys on a late night camping trip.

The next day, Monday, December 7th, Susan fails to arrive at her job as a stock broker for Wells Fargo. Her family reports are missing.

Police go to Susan and Joshua's home, they pound on the door, and there is no answer. Fearing the entire family may be dead from carbon monoxide poisoning, they break down the door, and the house is empty except for two fans reportedly blowing with a wet spot on the carpet.

That evening, 5:00 p.m., Joshua shows up at the home with their two boys, no Susan. Since then, no sigh of Susan. Police say Joshua is not a suspect in the case. He says he loves and misses his wife.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOSHUA POWELL, HUSBAND OF MISSING UTAH MOM: We just miss her and we want her back. And I and my boys love her.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: How are they doing?

JOSHUA POWELL: They're doing OK.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Do you have any idea what happened to her?

JOSHUA POWELL: No,

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VAN SUSTEREN: Does Susan's father suspect his son-in-law?

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CHARLES COX, FATHER OF MISSING UTAH MOM: The police have to look at all aspects of this. The investigation has to be all-encompassing, or we are doing a disservice to getting my daughter home. And we do not have all of the facts yet, so I will not speculate on his involvement.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VAN SUSTEREN: So what is the latest? Joining us is the latest Arikka Von, reporter for KTSU. Arikka, what is the latest in the search for this young mother?

ARIKKA VON, KTSU: Greta, there actually isn't much of a boots on the ground search for her. Last Thursday police scoured the west desert of Utah. That was pretty much the only search for her out in that area. They have no more directions to look for her other than that one spot, and they found nothing.

VAN SUSTEREN: How old are the children?

VON: Just two and four years old, so a lot of family and friends are saying it is really strange that Joshua, the husband, would take them out with extremely cold temperatures, that he would take them that far out in the desert and leave so late at night to take them on a camping trip. So they are just two and four years old.

There other new thing today is that we have learned Joshua Powell has retained a rather well-known attorney here in Salt Lake City, Scott Williams. He mostly defends murder suspects. He is also very well-known for defending Wanda Barzee, the accomplice in the Elizabeth Smart kidnapping case.

So he is a well-known defense attorney here in Salt Lake City, and he is now speaking with Joshua Powell.

VAN SUSTEREN: What did Joshua do? Was he expected at work on Monday?

VON: He was expected at work on Monday, as well. The children did not show up to daycare, so family immediately called knowing that something was very wrong. Everyone has said that Susan was extremely responsible and nothing like that would ever happen without something being wrong.

So as you said, the police went to the house and broke in fearing that they were sick, and there was no one. But Josh showed up later that evening with the two boys and no sign of Susan anywhere.

VAN SUSTEREN: What does he do for a living?

VON: I am not sure. He has been very tight-lipped. As you have seen in the interview, he is always trying to walk away, and it is difficult to get much information out of him. He did speak out over the weekend through a brother-in-law, though.

VAN SUSTEREN: All right, Arikka, we will get back to you in the next few days and we continue to follow this story. Thank you, Arikka.

Joining us by phone is Susan's close friends, Kiirsi Hallewell. Kiirsi, naturally in every single case like this with a woman or a wife missing or a man or husband for that matter, is the focus is on the family. So do you know, what was the relationship like between this husband and wife?

KIIRSI HALLEWELL, FRIEND OF MISSING MOM, (Via Telephone): They have had their problems in the past, and some of them were somewhat more severe than some of the other couples I have known. But I also know that -- I am sorry. Go ahead?

VAN SUSTEREN: I am sorry. I interrupted you.

HALLEWELL: But they both told me in the past couple of months that things are getting much better.

VAN SUSTEREN: When was the last time you saw your friend?

HALLEWELL: December 6.

VAN SUSTEREN: Did she say there was anything unusual going on at that time?

HALLEWELL: Absolutely not. Everything was completely normal. As far as I knew, she was just going to home and relax and then get up to go to work the next day.

VAN SUSTEREN: What does Josh do for a living?

HALLEWELL: He is a computer programmer right now.

VAN SUSTEREN: And during the time you say they had severe problems -- I don't mean to focus all my attention on him, but naturally, things do look peculiar. When you say that things were severe, was there ever any kind of violence?

HALLEWELL: There was never any physical violence of any kind.

VAN SUSTEREN: What do you think has happened? Would she walk away from these two kids?

HALLEWELL: No, she would never leave. She would never leave the children. She would never leave knowing that she was causing hundreds of people to suffering with worrying about where she is.

VAN SUSTEREN: Any chance she has a boyfriend, or anyone who is stalking her?

HALLEWELL: No on the boyfriend. I do not know of any stalkers. No, she was very committed to her marriage.

VAN SUSTEREN: Have you seen or talked to Josh since she disappeared?

HALLEWELL: Yes, we've seen him pretty much every day.

VAN SUSTEREN: Has he said anything to you that has caught your attention?

HALLEWELL: He sounds really confused, speaking dispiritedly, not like his normal self. He is normally quick to offer his opinion and talk a lot. And he is very sad. He is crying a lot. He seems kind of lost.

VAN SUSTEREN: A lot of stress, obviously, no doubt, a very tragic situation as they look for Susan. Kiirsi, thank you.

HALLEWELL: You're welcome.

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