The Susan Powell Case Files | Ambiguous Grief | Bonus Episode 12

Cold

The Susan Powell Case Files | Ambiguous Grief | Bonus Episode 12

Clean

Published on Sep 10, 2026, 3:00:05 AM
Total time: 00:22:44

Episode Description

About a year after Susan Cox Powell disappeared from her home in West Valley City, Utah, a man entered a mom-and-pop bookstore one town over and stabbed the owner of the shop to death. The November, 2010 murder of Sherry Black was an inverse of the Susan Powell case: a body and physical evidence, but no suspect. It took police a decade before investigative genetic genealogy led them to Sherry Black's killer. That man is now in prison for life.

Black's daughter, Heidi Miller, spent a decade of her life trapped in a stage of suspended grief. Heidi didn't know who killed her mom, or why. In the midst of that uncertainty, Heidi created a non-profit organization, the Sherry Black Foundation, to try and create something positive out of her tragedy.

On September 26, 2026, the Sherry Black Foundation will co-host the inaugural Utah Missing and Unsolved Day, bringing together investigators, victim families and service providers. The goal is to make sure no cold case goes uninvestigated, no murdered or missing loved one unforgotten. Ahead of the event, Heidi Miller shares her story with COLD host Dave Cawley in a revealing personal interview.

For years, investigative reporter Dave Cawley has been studying thousands of police documents, journals, videos and diary entries. He tracked down new sources, followed new leads and traced Josh Powell's trail from West Valley City, Utah, through Idaho, Oregon, Nevada and on to Washington State, where Powell killed himself and his two sons. Cold is the most complete retelling of the Susan Powell story ever. Join Dave Cawley in his search for truth.

Share your thoughts: Instagram Facebook Reddit

Episode credits:

  • Research, writing and hosting: Dave Cawley
  • Audio production and mastering: Aaron Mason
  • KSL executive producer: Sheryl Worsley

If you enjoy Cold, please try these other great shows from KSL PodcastsThe LetterRansom, Stranger Becomes Neighbor

More about Cold

Cold is a narrative podcast series focused on missing persons cases. Investigative journalist and host Dave Cawley takes on a single story with each season.

 

Season 1: Susan Powell Case Files, the Cold journey begins with Dave’s investigation into the unsolved disappearance of Susan Powell… and the man with the most to gain from her death.

 

Season 2: Justice for Joyce Yost delves into the details of a murder-for-hire plot and attempts to find justice for Joyce – a woman who bravely reported her kidnapping and rape only to vanish without a trace.

 

Season 3: The Search for Sheree follows two suspects in the 1985 disappearance of Sheree Warren while examining the dangerous escalation of domestic abuse and sexual violence. The Cold team seeks to answer the question: what really happened to Sheree Warren?

 

Created and Produced by KSL Podcasts