Harris introduced Pankeys obsession with true crime, and how he even tied it into a science fiction book he wrote, while Hicks remained on the stand for the majority of Monday. The Matthews friends from church, Russ Ross and his daughter, dropped Jonelle off around 8:15 p.m. and left with an indication that she was safe and sound inside the home. Steven Dana Pankey took Jonelle Matthews from her family home, 320 43rd Avenue Court, without her consent and against her will on December 20, 1984 between 8:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. 2. The Avalanche championship dynasty crumbles less than a year after hoisting the Stanley Cup. She died from a single gunshot wound to the head, prosecutors said. Idaho Man Convicted in 1984 Murder of 12-Year-Old Colorado Girl, Arm teachers? It wasnt true, but she had to convince him to stay away for his own protection, she said. In October 2021, a year after former Idaho gubernatorial candidate Steven Pankey was arrested for the kidnapping and murder of 12-year-old Jonelle Matthews, he went to trial. The third part brings his story from the 1980s to the present and discusses his political campaigns and life in Idaho. After years of waiting to feel safe with Pankey behind bars, especially after testifying against him in the trials, Hicks is not taking the simple things in life for granted. In July 2019, oil workers found Jonelles remains with one gunshot wound to the head buried in unincorporated Weld County. Law enforcement questioned Drake, but they said they did not pursue him further because his family provided an alibi for him. One of Pankeys handwritten documents even said Jonelle was dead before crossing 10th Street in Greeley and that two cops were living within a block of her home. Following extradition from Idaho, Pankey made his first appearance in a Colorado courtroom in Greeley on October 30, 2020.[24]. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. The grand jury did find him guilty of false reporting. Connect with Trevor at (970) 392-4492, treid@greeleytribune.com or @treid71 on Twitter. There is some discussion online at websleuths and reddit that Carl may have changed his name to Carl Kassem Jetson just a few months before his murder (See. Her father indicated a police officer said he needed help burying a body, according to Pankeys fabricated story. [21] In 2018, Pankey had campaigned for the Idaho Republican Party's nomination for the position of governor of Idaho. It was a very unsettling, distressing thing to go through, she said. Within 100 hours, American ground troops declared Kuwait liberated. As investigators struggled to find answers, they focused initially on Jonelle's father Jim Matthews. He is next scheduled to appear in court June 3. [28] His earliest possible release date is in 2042, at which point he will be 91 years old. She never saw the dogs again. The discoveries made possible by the Hubble have contributed to scientists' understanding of the universe. A crew was excavating the area to install a pipeline and discovered the human remains about 15 miles southeast of Matthews former home. The defense filed a couple of motions that were briefly discussed Wednesday, including one regarding the release of juror information and another objecting to expanded media coverage, which was granted to certain media companies over the course of the trial to allow photographs, video and audio recordings. We are purposely breaking this one into three parts, the first will cover the crime, the second covers the background of the alleged perpetrator up through his time living in Greeley, Co. Steve Pankey, who twice ran for governor of Idaho, is charged in the 1984 kidnapping and murder of Jonelle Matthews. He was not convicted on either of these allegations. "NorrisDrake, ladies and gentlemen, knew that the footprints were raked," Viorst told jurors. Devin Booker sulked. and you'll be alerted when others do the same. Pankey maintains that hes innocent in the kidnapping and murder of Matthews, but a 2021 jury found otherwise. AncientFaces is a 100% free and family-friendly community to share memories and connect with others to discover more about Uncovering Our Shared Memories: An Introduction to the Community Standards at AncientFaces Hollywood writers going on strike over fair pay in streaming era, Missing teens likely among 7 people found dead in Oklahoma, authorities say, Fish contaminated with "forever chemicals" found in nearly every state, Gordon Lightfoot, "Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald" singer, dies at 84, CBS News Poll: How GOP primary race could be Trump v. Trump fatigue, At least 6 dead after dust storm causes massive pile-up on Illinois highway, Oklahoma governor signs gender-affirming care ban for kids, U.S. tracking high-altitude balloon first spotted off Hawaii, Bob Lee died from three stab wounds, medical examiner says. He also claimed to have watched students walking home from the middle school which Jonelle attended. [16] She appears in the International Center for Unidentified and Missing Persons' database. It was very, very frightening.. 52 years shorter than [21], The police announced that Pankey had long been a person of interest in the case. One portion of an article said there were signs of foul play at the Matthews home, but details were being withheld from the public, which Hicks noted with, One time Steve was rambling on about the snow being raked outside of Jonelles house.. Add family and friends whose lives he impacted. Harris argued during cross that Pankeys comment was strange, but it didnt lead to any kind of evidence. Steve Pankey was born in 1951 in Ventura, California. [13][21] According to the 2020 indictment statement, shortly following their return to Greeley, Pankey started digging in their yard. (Greeley Tribune archives) Hicks believes this information would have helped explain to the jury where she was coming from, including what her life was like with Pankey, how she came to the decision to go to law enforcement and why that was risky for her to do. I guess I am a simple person in that regard.. I was very relieved at that because my dad was just such a good, honest, kind man, and to have Steve use him like that was just horrible for me, Hicks said. [4] Steven Pankey was sentenced to life imprisonment on October 31, 2022, after his arrest in 2020. Before Jonelles disappearance, there were a few allegations against Pankey, namely teenage students who claimed that he maced them and a woman who accused him of rape. Where is Steven Pankey now? I just thought she was a really nice woman who didnt seem to have any ax to grind. [14] She was mentioned in the Congressional Record for the United States House of Representatives on April 2, 1985, page 7224. Pankey's former defense attorney Anthony Viorst told "48 Hours" that Pankey's knowledge of the rake "is arguably the one piece of evidence that arguably ties Mr. Pankey to the crime." Pankey on Wednesday withdrew his not guilty plea to kidnapping and murder charges in the case to prevent legal issues with his speedy trial rights. Help paint a picture of Carl so that he is always remembered. Prosecutors found the details about the day they left for their trip in a hurry to the days after they returned to be the most compelling parts of Hicks testimony. At the time of Jonelle's disappearance, Steven Pankey lived in Greeley, Colorado. We share yesterday, to build meaningful connections today, and preserve for tomorrow. First published on March 25, 2021 / 5:47 PM. AncientFaces is a place where our memories & family stories live. He has lived in the Aurora/Southeast Denver Metro area since 1965 and is an expert Getting ready for a yard project? The spacious, modern Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Steve Pankey trial: Ex-wife highlights defendants fixation on Jonelle Matthews case, Weld DA announces community relations director position opening, seeks qualified candidate, Weld County could get hit with a legal challenge for not complying with a 2021 redistricting law, Florida was the most prized swing state for decades. Its the new home of High Plains Bank in Wiggins. 00:01. Hicks had to pack in a hurry. After the last time Hicks spoke to Pankey in 2019, she never wanted to speak to him again. Shortly after the rape charges, Pankey claimed that he was given disturbing information about members of the Sunny View Church of The Nazarene, where he himself was a member. Nous, Yahoo, faisons partie de la famille de marques Yahoo. She also said this trip was unexpected. Select "Add Memory" to share stories and photos. On Wednesday, September 4, 2019, police in Twin Falls, Idaho, searched Pankey's condo under a warrant that stated investigators had probable cause to believe that Pankey abducted and murdered Jonelle. In the 1980s, Pankey prohibited Hicks from driving, reading newspapers, watching TV or listening to music. Steve Pankey (credit: Weld County District Attorney's Office) It was Dec. 20, 1984 when 12-year-old Jonelle Matthews sang in a concert and was dropped at home by a friend and the friend's father . I mean, then to me, it was just like, Oh my god, this is something else, Hicks said. Now, the case has been put to rest thanks to the indictment of Steven Pankey, an Idaho . Without those pieces of information, I dont think we could have disproven what the defendant wrote in that alibi letter, Rourke said. [5] During that time Hicks also referenced multiple legal filings, unrelated to Jonelle's disappearance and written by Pankey, that gave details about her case. On October 13, 2021, Steve Pankey's trial started. Kevin Durant moped. After almost 38 years, the mystery of what happened to Jonelle Matthews on Dec. 20, 1984 has been put to rest. Now The Family Seeks Her Killer", "Former Idaho gubernatorial candidate charged with killing girl, 12, who vanished in 1984", "25 years after Greeley girl vanished, no clues", "Greeley PD taking a new look Jonelle Matthews case", "Three decades after she disappeared from her Greeley home, memories of Jonelle Matthews remain", "Remains Found in Weld County Identified", "Remains of Jonelle Matthews dug up by work crew 34 years after she vanished, Greeley police sayThen 12-year-old disappeared after middle school Christmas concert", "Man Charged With Murder in 1984 Killing of Colorado Girl Taken From Home", "Former candidate for ID governor investigated in 1984 Colorado cold case killing", "Steve Pankey, Person Of Interest In Jonelle Matthews Case, Hopes Girl's Killer Is Found", "Suspect Steven Pankey Appears In Greeley Court In Jonelle Matthews 1984 Murder Case", "Mistrial declared on murder, kidnapping charges in Jonelle Matthews caseSteve Pankey was accused of killing Jonelle Matthews in 1984. [21] He was held without bail at the Ada County Jail in Boise until he was extradited to Colorado. The statement did, however, added to a long list of suspicions Hicks had about Pankeys involvement. Upon retrial, Pankey was found guilty of the kidnapping and murder of Jonelle by a Weld County jury on October 31, 2022. Hicks claimed to have heard Pankey muttering in response, accusing the minister of being a false prophet. In 2001-2002 his address was 6310 N 13Th Street in Philadelphia Pennsylvania 19141. "He argued with a bank teller and the police were called," he said. That wont be true in 2024. TWIN FALLS - A former candidate for Idaho governor says he is under investigation in the cold-case killing of a 12-year-old girl in Colorado 35 years ago, the Idaho Statesman reported Friday. The Weld County Coroners Office used DNA evidence to confirm that the remains were Jonelles. Miller questioned how Pankey knew of the finding, to which Hicks responded he had an online subscription to the Greeley Tribune, despite not residing there since 1987, and he followed it religiously., Pankey also conveyed to Hicks over the phone that if police contact her to tell them she doesnt remember anything because it would make his life easier.. On December 20, 1984, Jonelle Matthews vanished from Greeley, Colorado, into thin air. Greeley, Colorado, Mayor John Gates testified about learning that Steven Pankey had once named him a person of interest in the disappearance of Jonelle Matthews. Now, the case has been put to rest thanks to the indictment of Steven Pankey, an Idaho resident. She never heard back until 2019 when Greeley police detectives Robert Cash and Mike Prill began to investigate Pankey as a person of interest. Without Angela Hicks, Weld County District Attorney Michael Rourke said, the suspect in the 1984 kidnapping and murder of 12-year-old Jonelle Matthews would have never been arrested, indicted or convicted. Kiszla: One-hit wonders? He also brought up Pankeys interest in other murder cases, including two cases involving women named Mary Piece and Sarah Johnson. Two days later, the family traveled back home on Christmas morning. Dateline NBC dives into Jonelle Matthews' disappearance, her cause of death, and what happened when her body was found. Pankey, 71, is on trial for the second time for her kidnapping and murder. "[13], Jennifer Mogensen, Jonelle's older sister, said her family experienced "some closure" when they learned that Jonelle was murdered and she considers Pankey's arrest "another gift to our family". Since Pankey told her about his attempts to gain immunity, she decided to go to the Sun Valley police. It was Pankeys second trial in the case. For decades, her devastated family wondered what happened to the sweet 7th grader, whose disappearance cast a pall over Greeley. Thats why she complied when he demanded she never speak to her father again. He does not believe in gun control of any kind and hoped that all gun laws would be repealed. In September 2019, police obtained a warrant to search Pankeys Twin Falls, Idaho home. The ride to California was silent, but on the way back to Greeley, Pankey forced Hicks to flip through the radio stations in search of news about Jonelles disappearance. In her testimony, she said their septic tank had just been replaced earlier that year and she didnt notice any issues. The home where Pankey lived with his family at the time of Jonelle's disappearance, pictured, was two miles from her home. Based on DNA evidence, the Weld County Coroner's Office positively identified the remains as being those of Jonelle Matthews. The jury found him guilty on a charge of false reporting", "Steve Pankey's Defense Poses Theory That Another Man Killed Jonelle Matthews In 1984", "Steve Pankey found guilty of kidnapping, felony murder in Jonelle Matthews case", "Man Sentenced to Life in Prison for Jonelle Matthews' 1984 Murder", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Murder_of_Jonelle_Matthews&oldid=1145793361, December 1984 events in the United States, Pages using infobox person with multiple organizations, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, Member of Sunny View Church of the Nazarene and Franklin Middle School Choir, Jennifer Mogensen (sister), Terri Vierra-Martinez (biological mother), This page was last edited on 21 March 2023, at 01:02. Pankey also reportedly dug up his yard on their return, and there was the mysterious case of a car bursting into flames which Pankey disposed of at a local salvage yard. the heart becomes full In 2020, a jury went to mistrial because they couldn't agree on if Pankey was guilty. Prosecutors said Pankey kept up to date on the case throughout the years even as he moved his family to several states before settling in Idaho where he ran unsuccessfully as a Constitution Party candidate for Idaho governor in 2014 and in the Republican gubernatorial primary in 2018, the year that authorities said he was named as a person of interest in the girls death. On Monday, a jury found Steven Pankey . The jury found him guilty on making false reports to authorities, but they were deadlocked on the other kidnapping and murder counts. At the time of Matthews disappearance, Pankey lived just three miles from her familys home and allegedly was a youth pastor at the Matthews church. Hicks couldnt find her paycheck in her cubby at work, and asked the owner, who was also her and Pankeys landlady. [21], Pankey knew he was a person of interest in September 2019 when he was interviewed by the Idaho Statesman. [2], Years after Jonelle's disappearance, her parents moved to the Philippines. Pankey, who has maintained his innocence . Beginning in Hong Kong then spreading to Europe, the crash then hit the United States. Police told her that Pankey not only had come to Sun Valley several times, but he had been to multiple agencies claiming to have information that he wouldnt give away without immunity, according to Hicks. Kevin Durant moped. In 2010, the Greeley Tribune published another summary of the case. " had a call from a journalist in Idahothat told me that I'd been named as a person of interest in this case by Mr. Pankey. In the early morning hours the next day, the family left for their trip. But in 2021, the jury convicted Pankey, and he now sits behind bars for at least 20 years, until hes 91 years old. He also kept searching for information about Jonelle on the internet and has been reported to make statements that made others believe that he knew Jonelle was dead. Pankey was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole. She was also unaware of the functions of the car, including if it was driveable, according to her testimony. Prosecutors told jurors that Pankey had made incriminating statements over the years about Jonelle's case. Steven Pankey, 71, will spend life behind . When it comes to landscape Did you know Your Butcher, Frank has super tasty delicatessen salads? The number one reason was the person who killed Jonelle will finally pay for it. She stated that Pankey listened to the radio for news about Jonelles disappearance on the drive home and forced her to read him news from newspapers on the same topic. The Avalanche championship dynasty crumbles less than a year after hoisting the Stanley Cup. Last year, his first trial ended with a hung jury on the kidnapping and murder charges, but he was convicted for false reporting after he admitted to lying to law enforcement about the case during his testimony. It wasnt until back in 1995, when they lived in Idaho, that Pankey made a statement that made Hicks blood run cold as she pieced together the events of December 1984. Lorsque vous utilisez nos sites et applications, nous utilisons des, authentifier les utilisateurs, appliquer des mesures de scurit, empcher les spams et les abus; et. This initiated Hicks discussing the timeline with law enforcement, who discovered Pankey had previously said their family left for California on Dec. 19, instead of the 22nd. when he died at the age of 20. Welcome to AncientFaces, a com "Thank you for helping me find my family & friends again so many years after I lost them. A photo of Carl Pankey with his mother, Angela. Angela Hicks, Pankeys former spouse, took the stand for her second day of testimony Monday morning. He said he and his wife were home on the night of Jonelle's disappearance. Hicks went to discuss the rent situation with Pankey, who responded he used the money on legal fees because the Sun Valley police were persecuting him. 7 death records, 193 followers 8.63k+ favorites, 201 followers 28.0k+ favorites. When 2 or more people share their unique perspectives, Jonelle Matthews: Roundup of Greeley Tribunes reporting on case, Steve Pankey trials. Require gun training? Feb. 17 2023, Published 9:29 a.m. [2] Vierra had used a search consultant to help locate Jonelle. But theres still that element of this is the father of my children.. Pankey is accused of forcing Jonelle from her home at gunpoint on Dec. 20, 1984, and then killing her. Over the years, he has been haunted by the disappearance of Matthews, to the point of obsession. Critics say theyll make bias worse. Pankey was a neighbor of Jonelle and her family when she vanished after being dropped off at her empty home by a family friend after performing at a Christmas concert in Greeley. During both visits to Greeley for her testimony, Hicks visited Jonelles grave and left a pink rose with a purple ribbon for her. While the search was ongoing, he moved to Oklahoma and then to Idaho, where he ran twice for governor in 2014 and 2018. Pankey pleaded not guilty for those crimes. Steve Pankey was arrested in Idaho on Monday and charged with kidnapping and murdering 12 years old boy Jonelle Matthews. In 2020, Steven Pankey, who says he never met Jonelle, was charged with murder after repeatedly making public statements that inserted him into the case, including drawing up a list of persons of. Pankey is being represented by the public defenders office after private defense attorney Anthony Viorst withdrew as counsel, citing a lack of time and energy to potentially go through another trial. Pankey is serving his sentence at the Bent County Correctional Facility in Las Animas, Colorado. When Pankey came home in the afternoon on Dec. 21, 1984 the day after Jonelles disappearance he announced their family would go visit his family for Christmas in California. Weld Judge Timothy Kerns advised the jury the allegations against Pankey cannot be used against him. [9] The phone call was the last time anyone was known to have spoken with Jonelle. Hicks asked Pankey what theyd do with their two dogs, and he said he dumped them. She said she confronted Pankey about the situation, who responded that he needed the money to pay legal fees. [3] Her remains were discovered on July 24, 2019, by construction workers putting in a new pipeline 15mi (24km) from her home. Charges were filed against him but were later dropped. After Jonelle's body was found in July 2019, Steve was charged with her 1984 murder. 'Dateline' Looks at the Case, Gloria Satterfield Died While Working for the Murdaugh Family Her Sons Want Answers, Where Are Lloyd and Marshall Barrus Now? Did Carl serve in the military or did a war or conflict interfere with his life? Pour en savoir plus sur la faon dont nous utilisons vos donnes personnelles, veuillez consulter notre politique relative la vie prive et notre politique en matire de cookies.