Who Was Jonelle Matthews? Murder Suspect Steve Pankey's Charges Explained

Posted by Reinaldo Massengill on Wednesday, May 8, 2024

Jonelle Matthews is a 12 years old victim who was mysteriously kidnapped and murdered in 1984. Continue reading the article to get more updates on the case.

Jonelle Matthews had been kidnapped and murdered nearly four decades earlier. And till now, her parents are still circulating in court, desperate for answers.

You can get the detail on the case in this article. 

Who Was Jonelle Matthews? Kidnapped And Murdered In 1984

Jonelle Matthews was a 12 years old girl, who disappeared from her family's Greeley, in December 1984. However, Jonelle's body was discovered in 2019 by a crew digging a pipeline, more than three decades later. 

Her parents, Jim and Gloria Matthews had moved to Greeley six years before to raise their two daughters, Jennifer and Jonelle, before the incident.

Steve Pankey, who twice ran for governor of Idaho, is charged in the 1984 kidnapping and murder of Jonelle Matthews. https://t.co/jo85ZILgca

— 48 Hours (@48hours) January 9, 2022

Jonelle went to sing in a school choir concert on the night of December 20, according to her father. She then caught a ride home with her friend, Deanna Ross, and Deanna's father. It was around 8 p.m. at the time.

They left her until he saw her flick on the light. But when Jim reached his home at about 9:30 p.m., he could not find his daughter. 

Jim says he initially assumed Jonelle was at a friend's house, but after contacting around and waiting about a half-hour to an hour, he called the police.

They dispatched two or three detectives to search the house for clues, only to find no trace of her.

The only evidence left was shoeprints in the snow, which someone attempted to erase with a garden rake. The case drew widespread attention.

Jonelle Matthews Murder Suspect Steve Pankey Charges Explained

Steven Pankey was charged with the murder of Jonelle Matthews in 2020 after making public statements that drew him into the case. However, he claims he never encountered Jonelle.

According to Pankey's former attorney, Anthony Viorst, Pankey seeks attention but is not a murderer.

Jonelle Matthews Cause Of Death: Why Did Murder Suspect Steve Pankey Kill Her And Who Is He? https://t.co/GG3XkKQeNb

— KeedaNews (@keedanewss) January 9, 2022

There's no evidence that he committed the murder or had any connection with burying the body. Viorst states, "Mr. Pankey desired to be a person of interest.  He enjoys being in the spotlight".

"All of his statements about his guilt have been, 'I didn't do it,'" Viorst told.

Pankey's trial began in October 2021 but the case has never reached its conclusion.

In yesterday's trial, Pankey was determined to prove that he had been framed. Furthermore, Jim mentions that they'd never heard of Steve Pankey before.

However, when Jonelle vanished in 1984, Pankey was living in Greeley, about two miles away from the Matthew residence. Moreover, Pankey claims he and his family left Greeley for five days the morning after Jonelle vanished.

Months later, Pankey unexpectedly placed himself directly into the center of this case and offered some information about Jonelle's disappearance.

Steve Pankey claims that his father-in-law, a groundskeeper at a Greeley cemetery, shared some disturbing information with him seven days after Jonelle vanished.
He states, "he told me that a cop had consulted him and informed him that he had a body that he wanted to be buried.

Jonelle Matthews: Steve Pankey Case Update

The trial for Jonelle Matthews' murder took place on January 8, 2022, and the most recent case update can be found here. Steve Pankey, the suspect, was investigated on a face-time during the trial. 

Timeline: The Jonelle Matthews murder - CBS News https://t.co/9m3gFwcoMs

— Proud Army Mom (@WReffner) January 9, 2022

In the trial, the jury was deadlocked on the conclusion & the actual murder charges, and could not reach a unanimous verdict.

Steve Pankey may face a retrial for the kidnapping and murder of 12-year-old Jonelle Matthews in 1984.

Judge Timothy Kerns stated, "I understand the jury was unable to reach a verdict on the other counts, and that is an entirely acceptable way to end a trial."

A mistrial was declared by the judge. So far, no one has been convicted of Jonelle's murder. 

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