Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Upon retrial, Pankey was found guilty of the kidnapping and murder of Jonelle by a Weld County jury on October 31, 2022. For Hicks, Pankeys involvement in the case seemed more cut and dry, Hicks said, but the jurors were unaware of many compelling details she couldnt testify about due to rules of evidence. Her disappearance became the talk of local and national news when in 1985, then-President Ronald Reagan even referenced the tragic case. But this time, she started asking questions about what was going on. He does not believe in gun control of any kind and hoped that all gun laws would be repealed. AncientFaces is a place where our memories & family stories live. Who killed Jonelle Matthews? What her suspected killer told jurors 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. Jonelle Matthews was a 12-year-old American girl who disappeared near Greeley, Colorado, on December 20, 1984. While living in Idaho, Pankey continued to have brushes with the law. 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. She wasnt surprised by the results of last years trial and was relieved Pankey remained in jail. When it comes to landscape Did you know Your Butcher, Frank has super tasty delicatessen salads? Following this, Pankey said a sentence that Hicks testified had heightened her worries about Pankeys involvement in Jonelles disappearance: I hope God didnt allow this to happen because of Jonelle Matthews.. 7 death records, 193 followers 8.63k+ favorites, 201 followers 28.0k+ favorites. Pankey's trial began on Thursday, October 14, 2021, ultimately ending in a mistrial on November 4, 2021, due to a hung jury. The grand jury did find him guilty of false reporting. Right after Jonelles remains were discovered, detectives traveled to Pankeys residence to question him, but he refused to cooperate. But I definitely felt safe for the first time since the grand jury indictment knowing that this was the resolution to it.. He was first held without bail at the Ada County Jail in Boise, Idaho before he was extradited to Colorado for court proceedings. [13][21] According to the 2020 indictment statement, shortly following their return to Greeley, Pankey started digging in their yard. Hicks had to pack in a hurry. He's had periodic sort of spats with people because he is an irascible, prickly guy. During the trial, Pankey's ex-wife, Angela . 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. After the last time Hicks spoke to Pankey in 2019, she never wanted to speak to him again. Update, May 18: Two attorneys Jessica Brazil and Peter Harris have been appointed to represent Steve Pankey. She wasnt a woman of scorn. Kiszla: One-hit wonders? He was charged with first-degree murder in 2020, following the discovery of Jonelle's body. 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. After their divorce, Pankey and Hicks stayed in communication, which included chatting over the phone a few times per year and getting together for dinner at their oldest sons house. The number one reason was the person who killed Jonelle will finally pay for it. 48 Hours. Where Is Steven Pankey Now? 'Dateline NBC' Dives In Law enforcement questioned Drake, but they said they did not pursue him further because his family provided an alibi for him. Two days later, the family traveled back home on Christmas morning. After Jonelle's body was found in July 2019, Steve was charged with her 1984 murder. [4] Steven Pankey was sentenced to life imprisonment on October 31, 2022, after his arrest in 2020. [21], On October 13, 2020, Steven Pankey was indicted on charges of murdering and kidnapping Matthews. On Monday morning, a Weld County jury found Steve Pankey the man accused of kidnapping and killing the Greeley 12-year-old in 1984 guilty of second-degree kidnapping with use of a deadly. He said that he heard of Jonelles disappearance only after he returned, several days later. When Angela Hicks took the. Twin Falls man investigated in killing - Pankey ran for governor in 2014. It charged that "he took Jonelle Matthews from her family home " and "shot Jonelle Matthews during the course of the kidnapping.". See What AncientFaces Does, Testimony in the . The Matthews notified Vierra about what happened and the families became friends. Court sets May 2022 status hearing for Steve, 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), Court sets May 2022 status hearing for Steve Pankey 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. Over the years, the police said that Pankey had intentionally inserted himself into the investigation, claiming to have information about the crime. But theres still that element of this is the father of my children.. Following extradition from Idaho, Pankey made his first appearance in a Colorado courtroom in Greeley on October 30, 2020.[24]. [2] In 1994, Jonelle was declared legally dead. He noted that Drake had been at his mother's house that night but was missing for a number of hours the same night. She felt she had no choice but to tell her dad he was being too intrusive in her marriage. afficher des publicits et des contenus personnaliss en fonction de vos profils de centres dintrt; mesurer lefficacit des publicits et contenus personnaliss; et. On December 20, 1984, Jonelle Matthews vanished from Greeley, Colorado, into thin air. After the death of his son, Steve Pankey said what was needed was "A Third Great Awakening, revival, a return to the God of the Bible on God's terms". On October 13, 2021, Steve Pankey's trial started. She called it an endless barrage of nothing real serious.. 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. The medical examiner also found out that the cause of death was a single gunshot wound straight to the head. Despite the mistrial, she felt both sets of jurors did their best and were attentive. He emerged as a person of interest in the case three decades later shortly before Jonelles body was found in 2019 after claiming to have information about what happened to her and asking for immunity from prosecution. Within 100 hours, American ground troops declared Kuwait liberated. Jonelle Matthews murder case: Steven Pankey goes on trial in 1984 killing When Cash reached out to Hicks, she said she relayed all the information from Pankeys prior legal fillings, handwritten letters and other documentation. Vous pouvez modifier vos choix tout moment en cliquant sur le lien Tableau de bord sur la vie prive prsent sur nos sites et dans nos applications. President Ronald Reagan mentioned Jonelle Matthews in a speech on March 7, 1985, from Room 450 of the Old Executive Office Building. On Dec. 20, 1984, according to a grand jury indictment, Mr. Pankey, armed with a gun, took Jonelle from her family's home and killed her during the course of the kidnapping. 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. In 1987, in the year that Carl Wesley Pankey was born, on October 19th, stock exchanges around the world crashed. Details on the Broadwater County Sheriff Shooters. 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. This file is auto-generated */!function(c,l){"use strict";var e=!1,o=!1;if(l.querySelector)if(c.addEventListener)e=!0;if(c.wp=c.wp||{},c.wp.receiveEmbedMessage);else if(c.wp.receiveEmbedMessage=function(e){var t=e.data;if(!t);else if(! 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. 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. 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. In 2002, Hicks and Pankey finalized their divorce, and on July 4, 2008, their son Carl was murdered. Hicks, reflecting back to the moment, said it was the only time she saw emotion, other than anger, from Pankey. Steve Pankey was found guilty of kidnapping and murdering 12-year-old Jonelle Matthews on Dec. 20, 1984. She said she confronted Pankey about the situation, who responded that he needed the money to pay legal fees. Pankey told the newspaper that he did not know Jonelle or the Matthews family and had only heard about them following the disappearance. In a matter of three days, on October 12, 2020, police arrested Pankey for kidnapping and first-degree murder in Jonelle's case. Greeley Police Commander Roy Smith stated that Pankey "had made repeated efforts to speak with detectives" about the Matthews case, but refused to answer questions when detectives traveled to Twin Falls on August 15, 2019. This was shocking to Hicks because her then-husband previously banned all kinds of media, including TV, newspapers and radio, when they moved into their home on 10th Street. In a few court filings, he brought up Jonelle's case, such as this 1999 filing when he told the Idaho Supreme Court that his conviction for causing a scene in a bank was in part "an attempt to force" him "to become an informant" in Jonelle's disappearance. Investigators searched the Matthews home, but the only physical evidence they found were shoeprints in the snow that someone had tried to eliminate with a garden rake. The 12-year-old was missing for more than three decades. Incriminating statements, lack of physical evidence again at forefront During his trial in 2019, his ex-wife, Angela Hicks explained his odd behavior in her testimony as well. A crumpled-up piece of legal pad paper found in Pankeys trash can by Hicks also indicated information about the raked-over snow an important factor in the investigation due to the raked-over shoe prints being withheld from the public. But she did feel relief. "It was just me trying to be a big man, be in the case, OK? A motions hearing was set for 1:30 p.m. Feb. 8. Did Carl serve in the military or did a war or conflict interfere with his life? Jonelle was just 12-years-old when she went missing the night of December 20, 1984. The Matthews family regularly attended Sunny View after they moved to Greeley. In February 1985, before the couple moved out of Greeley, they attended a church across the street from their home. Pankey then began leaving documents and court paperwork on Hicks desk titled, Angies files. She said he would try to sue everyone from a car dealership to a dentist, but in his pages of documents, there would often be a paragraph or two about Jonelle. The spacious, modern Trevor Reid writes and edits for the Greeley Tribune. Steve Pankey allegedly killed a 14-year-old girl from Greeley, Colorado in 1984. Afterward, Hicks requested Greeley Tribune archives of articles relating to Jonelles case from over the years to give to the police. That wont be true in 2024. Steve Pankey: Where is Jonelle Matthews' Killer Now? Hicks is thankful for the work of Detectives Robert Cash and Mike Prill, the Weld District Attorneys Office, the jurors and Judge Timothy Kerns for listening to her, working tirelessly on this case and being fair and impartial. They include minor and non-violent allegations, like accusations of creating a nuisance and harassment at a local bank. According to state records, hell actually become eligible for parole on October 1, 2040, when hes in his late 80s. Kevin Durant moped. But where is Steven Pankey now? '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? On November 2, 2021, jurors got the case. People may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Hicks claimed to have heard Pankey muttering in response, accusing the minister of being a false prophet. His indictment also presented 26 reasons why Pankey was being suspected and accused of Jonelle's abduction and murder. Hicks couldnt find her paycheck in her cubby at work, and asked the owner, who was also her and Pankeys landlady. It was used by Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Spain and has since spread in use. 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. In July 2019, oil workers found Jonelles remains with one gunshot wound to the head buried in unincorporated Weld County. (WLBT/Gray News) - A Mississippi family is searching for answers about what happened to their son after his remains were found in three separate places.Attorney Ben Crump is now . Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Jury finds Steve Pankey guilty of 1984 kidnapping, murder of Jonelle Matthews, Second trial begins for man accused of 1984 kidnapping, murder of Jonelle Matthews, Mistrial declared after jury fails to reach verdict on murder, kidnapping charges in Jonelle Matthews case, Killer or true crime junkie? Once Jonelles remains were discovered in 2019, the police accused and arrested Pankey for the murder. [3] Her remains were discovered on July 24, 2019, by construction workers putting in a new pipeline 15mi (24km) from her home. What Happened During Steve Pankey's Trial For The 1984 Murder Of Jonelle Matthews? a Steve Pankey trial: Ex-wife describes behavior | 9news.com He was never elected. Steve Pankey found guilty of kidnapping, felony murder in Jonelle Critics say theyll make bias worse. Who killed Jonelle Matthews? What her suspected killer Steve Pankey And I couldnt make sense of the car being on fire, but you also couldnt talk to him. Pankey's defense offered a different theory. Second trial in Jonelle Matthews murder case set for suspect Steve Pankey New pediatric guidelines aim to treat obesity without stigma. However, it was more than a year later, on October 13, 2020, that the police announced Pankey had been indicted on charges related to first-degree murder and kidnapping in Jonelle's death. She never heard back until 2019 when Greeley police detectives Robert Cash and Mike Prill began to investigate Pankey as a person of interest. [9] Jonelle's older sister, Jennifer, got home at 10:00 PM, but had not seen her. My heart goes out to the Matthews family, and I am just heartbroken about what happened to Jonelle, Hicks said. cbsn.ws/3F7Nia8. His formal charge indicted him on five counts related to Jonelles death: murder in the first degree after deliberation, felony murder, second-degree kidnapping, and two related crime of violence charges. With snow on the ground, Jonelle's father thought it unlikely that she would go far without shoes. [13], A few months following Jonelle's disappearance, Pankey attended a church service where a minister claimed that Jonelle would be found safe. The family took off in the early morning hours of Dec. 22, 1984, causing Hicks to pack in a rush and Pankey to dump the dogs. She never saw her pets again. Pankey further explained that Sun Valley, a city in Idaho, was persecuting him because he wouldnt give them the information they wanted about the Jonelle case unless he received immunity first. Then, he proceeded to go to the back of the church, pacing and repeating, False prophet.. He is a suspect but the heat has not been confirmed by a trial or jury. While the search was going on, Steve Pankey, a former Idaho governor candidate, made himself a person of interest by making allegedly incriminating statements and also discussing information about the crime the police had withheld from the public. She was also unaware of the functions of the car, including if it was driveable, according to her testimony. "And one of the things notated in his handwriting on this piece of legal paper was snow outside the Matthews house was raked," she told jurors. Pankeys interest continued when they arrived back in Greeley, Hicks said. His indictment also presented 26 reasons why Pankey was being suspected and accused of Jonelles abduction and murder. Miller pointed out that Pankey wrote and sent an alibi letter in 2013 to Weld County to try and cover up anything Hicks recalled from Dec. 20, 1984, and the days that followed. 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. While Harris pressed on with questions about Pankey talking about these cases, Hicks said he was fixated on Jonelles case to an extreme extent compared to the others. That was one of the most difficult parts of testifying for Hicks. In the 1980s, Pankey prohibited Hicks from driving, reading newspapers, watching TV or listening to music. On Monday, a jury found Steven Pankey . He was sentenced Monday afternoon to life in prison with the possibility of parole. She said that on their return trip, Pankey "uncharacteristically listened to the radio, searching for news of the girl's disappearance". and you'll be alerted when others do the same. We share yesterday, to build meaningful connections today, and preserve for tomorrow. A few days after Jonelles disappearance, Pankey was approached by Hicks father, who worked at a cemetery in Greeley, he told interviewers. It was very, very frightening.. He also wrote that he feared he might "get the death penalty for revealing the location of Ms. Matthews body. Since, other sheep have been cloned as well as horses, pigs, deer, and bulls. At the time, Hicks assumed Pankeys obsession stemmed from Russ Ross, a family friend of the Matthews who dropped Jonelle off at her home the night she went missing, possibly being under suspicion and the Sunny View Church of the Nazarenes name coming up in light of Jonelles disappearance.