On April 5, 2010, Josh provided police with a list of files he wanted them to retrieve for him. At the top of the list were his photos and videos, which he described as “basically unreplaceable [sic].”
“Everything that can be released from the white Western Digital drive would be greatly appreciated,” Josh wrote.
West Valley police were unable to accommodate Josh’s request.
In truth, Josh already had copies of many of those files safely in Washington. This became clear after police served a search warrant at the home of Josh’s father, Steve Powell, in South Hill, Wash. on Aug. 25, 2011. At that time, they once again seized Josh’s computers and digital devices.