Sean Robinson

TACOMA, Wash. — On Dec. 7, 2009, less than 24 hours after his wife, Susan, disappeared, Josh Powell lied over and over.

He lied to police in Utah. He lied to his sister. He lied to his wife’s friend. The next day, he lied to police again, appearing to hand over potential evidence even as he concealed it. A week later, he canceled his wife’s chiropractic appointments and withdrew all the money from her IRA accounts.