[3] Her remains were discovered on July 24, 2019, by construction workers putting in a new pipeline 15mi (24km) from her home. I think she obviously had some fears about doing it. Jonelle went missing from her Greeley home on Dec. 20, 1984, after returning from her choir concert to an empty home. President Ronald Reagan mentioned Jonelle Matthews in a speech on March 7, 1985, from Room 450 of the Old Executive Office Building. Charges were filed against him but were later dropped. He testified that in the past he had lied about his knowledge of the case. 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. After hearing testimony from multiple witnesses, Steven Pankey took the stand. 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. His indictment also presented 26 reasons why Pankey was being suspected and accused of Jonelles abduction and murder. Since, other sheep have been cloned as well as horses, pigs, deer, and bulls. 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. 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. Steve Pankey allegedly killed a 14-year-old girl from Greeley, Colorado in 1984. 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. Jonelle was never seen again. Emotions swirled in Hicks head as she sat in her car to watch a live stream of the jury delivering the verdict late last month. He never shared that with me. [13] Steven Pankey was 69 years old at the time of his indictment. And I think my jaw probably hit my desk, and I said, 'What?'" [19][20] The forensic report listed Jonelle's cause of death as "a gunshot wound to the head".[13][21]. Read More: Where Are Jim and Gloria Matthews Now? "I realize the jury was unable to reach a verdict on the other counts and that is a perfectly acceptable way for a trial to conclude," Judge Timothy Kerns told the court. Its the new home of High Plains Bank in Wiggins. Shortly after 8:30 PM, Jonelle answered a phone call and took a message for her father. I know thats the way it had to be. Pankey, Hicks and their family members joined together later that year on Aug. 6, to celebrate their sons life on what was supposed to be his 21st birthday. Keeler: Avs fans, could we please skip Valeri Nichushkin, Nazem Kadri revisionist history? Jonelle Matthews? Hicks asked, trying not to show panic or any emotion. Invite family and friends to share what they know about Carl Wesley Pankey. [22][23], On October 13, 2020, Pankey was indicted on charges of first-degree murder and kidnapping in Jonelle's death. Now, we may know the whole story or so it seems but Pankey maintains that he's innocent. In 1984, a 12-year-old girl named Jonelle Matthews went missing in Greeley, Colo. Hicks couldnt find her paycheck in her cubby at work, and asked the owner, who was also her and Pankeys landlady. The Matthews family regularly attended Sunny View after they moved to Greeley. He's had periodic sort of spats with people because he is an irascible, prickly guy. He also brought up Pankeys interest in other murder cases, including two cases involving women named Mary Piece and Sarah Johnson. Pankey repeatedly claimed to have knowledge of the crime and had asked "for immunity in exchange for information". [9] Jonelle's older sister, Jennifer, got home at 10:00 PM, but had not seen her. 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. Two days later they had reached a verdict. "He argued with a bank teller and the police were called," he said. But it just was unnerving.. During both visits to Greeley for her testimony, Hicks visited Jonelles grave and left a pink rose with a purple ribbon for her. A status hearing was set for 1:30 p.m. May 3. 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. Until a man living in Twin Falls Idaho, Steven Pankey, became a person of interest. . Gates told "48 Hours.". Hicks and her then-husband, Steve Pankey, along with their young son, had just visited Pankey's family in Big Bear Lake, California, more than 15 hours away. She never saw the dogs again. 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. Pankey, who resided in Idaho in the years leading up to his arrest,. When 2 or more people share their unique perspectives, While living in Idaho, Pankey continued to have brushes with the law. 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. (Greeley Tribune archives) The Matthews notified Vierra about what happened and the families became friends. Defense attorney Peter Harris brought up the burning car with Hicks, asking if she knew the make, model or color. He was not convicted on either of these allegations. The average age of A former Idaho gubernatorial candidate has been found guilty of killing a 12-year-old Colorado girl who vanished nearly four decades ago. However, the politician was not found guilty on any of the charges he was indicted on. The judge declared a mistrial on those counts. Two days later, the family traveled back home on Christmas morning. Powered by WordPress.com VIP. After almost 38 years, the mystery of what happened to Jonelle Matthews on Dec. 20, 1984 has been put to rest. [9] The phone call was the last time anyone was known to have spoken with Jonelle. She looked like she was in shock and disbelief, Sakulenzkia said during her time on the stand. Phoenix, Maricopa County, Arizona United States. The unexpected trip came as a surprise to Hicks because he previously made the decision not to go. Once Jonelles remains were discovered in 2019, the police accused and arrested Pankey for the murder. When he made me break it off with my dad, he told me, If your dad shows up here, Im going to kill him and Im going to use every opportunity to piss on his grave, Hicks said. 48 Hours: The Kidnapping of Jonelle Matthews chronicles this strange disappearance and charts how and why the police came to accuse Steve Pankey. Pankeys interest continued when they arrived back in Greeley, Hicks said. Right after Jonelles remains were discovered, detectives traveled to Pankeys residence to question him, but he refused to cooperate. " I was home with my then wife and my 5-year-old son.". The 22-day trial ended in a mistrial after the jury was unable to come to a unanimous decision on . He requested Hicks grab copies of the Greeley Tribune and The Denver Post, she said. She wasnt surprised by the results of last years trial and was relieved Pankey remained in jail. When she first went missing, Pankey took his family on an unplanned trip out of town, and when they returned, he forced his now ex-wife to read bits of the newspaper to him about Matthews disappearance. Tune into Dateline on Feb. 17 at 9 p.m. EST on NBC for the full story. BY ANCESTRY.COM. From the mid-90s until 2019, the information Hicks gave to police sat there because the Greeley Police Department didnt investigate the file sent from Sun Valley. Pankeys lies about her father were unforgivable to Hicks because Pankey had already taken away her relationship with her father and removed him from her support system back in the early years of their marriage. She just wanted us to know what she knew.. However, his retrial in 2022 resulted in the jury finding him guilty of not just false reporting but also second-degree kidnapping and first-degree felony murder he was found not guilty of first-degree murder. The third reason: Hicks would finally be safe from Pankey. It was a very unsettling, distressing thing to go through, she said. She felt it was in Gods hands after she showed up and told the truth twice. In 1996, at the age of only 9 years old, Carl was alive when on July 5th, the first cloned mammal - "Dolly the Sheep" - was born in Scotland. The rake came, "right out of my garage," Jim Matthews told "48 Hours.". He stopped her on news coverage about a 12-year-old who had gone missing from her Greeley home. 00:58. But that was a very, very frustrating thing to contend with as a witness.. Jonelle's sister married and moved out of Colorado. Saddam Hussein's forces had previously invaded the sovereign state of Kuwait and the focus of the operation was to remove his Iraqi troops from Kuwait. / CBS NEWS. Law enforcement questioned Drake, but they said they did not pursue him further because his family provided an alibi for him. Thats why she complied when he demanded she never speak to her father again. The number one reason was the person who killed Jonelle will finally pay for it. dvelopper et amliorer nos produits et services. He was sentenced Monday afternoon to life in prison with the possibility of parole. I had no knowledge.". when he died at the age of 20. Mr. Pankey wanted to be a person of interest Mr. Pankey loves the limelight all of the statements that he has made about his culpability have been, 'I didn't do it.'". Distractify is a registered trademark. All the information collected and observed by Hicks, along with a written and verbal statement from her, was sent to the Greeley Police Department. It wasnt true, but she had to convince him to stay away for his own protection, she said. She then learned Pankey had gone to multiple law enforcement agencies over the years.