Ellis had developed a close relationship with Pierce County Sheriff’s detective Gary Sanders in the year-and-a-half since Josh Powell had relocated from West Valley City, Utah to his father’s home in South Hill, Wash. The two detectives had collaborated on several prior operations connected to the disappearance of Josh’s wife, Susan, on Dec. 7, 2009.

“West Valley was calling the shots,” Gary said. “We were just the auxiliary team, I guess you might call it, assisting them.”

However, in August of 2011, Ellis provided Gary with the even more inside information about his investigation.