Pankeys lawyers said his behavior may have seemed unusual but they argued police did not secure hard evidence against him and failed to clear an alternate suspect who died in 2007. Gates told "48 Hours.". The unexpected trip came as a surprise to Hicks because he previously made the decision not to go. Pankey's trial continues 9 a.m. Tuesday in Weld District Court. Over the years, the police said that Pankey had intentionally inserted himself into the investigation, claiming to have information about the crime. Two days later, the family traveled back home on Christmas morning. afficher des publicits et des contenus personnaliss en fonction de vos profils de centres dintrt; mesurer lefficacit des publicits et contenus personnaliss; et. First, he said, False prophet, under his breath before standing up and repeating his statement, according to Hicks, who was sitting next to him during this time. Without those pieces of information, I dont think we could have disproven what the defendant wrote in that alibi letter, Rourke said. Her death was then ruled a homicide. 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In the days following their return from California, Hicks noticed Pankey digging around their property and witnessed him standing near a burning vehicle holding a shovel. 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. Hicks felt she had to walk on eggshells around Pankey. While Sakulenzkia doesnt recall the exact words Pankey said, she indicated it took her by surprise and she began asking about the remarks made. Since, other sheep have been cloned as well as horses, pigs, deer, and bulls. [21], On October 13, 2020, Steven Pankey was indicted on charges of murdering and kidnapping Matthews. 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. Beginning in Hong Kong then spreading to Europe, the crash then hit the United States. 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. Afterward, Hicks requested Greeley Tribune archives of articles relating to Jonelles case from over the years to give to the police. I felt like I couldnt because it was just not safe to delve into why he did some things.. Where we share what we remember to make discoveries and meaningful connections with others. [3] Her remains were discovered on July 24, 2019, by construction workers putting in a new pipeline 15mi (24km) from her home. 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. next to their name to remove from the family tree. Her father arrived home at 9:30 PM and found the garage door open, but no one was in the house. The best home improvement jobs deserve the best materials. Carl Wesley Pankey lived In September 2019, they thus executed a warrant to search his condo in Idaho upon suspicion of involvement. At the time of her disappearance, Jonelle's father was the principal of Platte Valley Elementary School in Kersey, Colorado.[6]. 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. That wont be true in 2024. [2] In 1994, Jonelle was declared legally dead. 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. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. 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. These writings included that Pankey said a blanket and pillow were missing from Jonelles home; that if he revealed where her body was then he would get the death penalty; and not to give the family hope because she was already dead. 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. In the 1980s, Pankey prohibited Hicks from driving, reading newspapers, watching TV or listening to music. It's official: Jamal Murray, Nuggets are in Phoenix's heads now. During the trial, Pankey's ex-wife, Angela . In 1987, in the year that Carl Wesley Pankey was born, on October 19th, stock exchanges around the world crashed. we begin to show & tell who our loved ones were during particular moments in their lives. 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.. Pankey maintains that hes innocent in the kidnapping and murder of Matthews, but a 2021 jury found otherwise. 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. 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. That was one of the most difficult parts of testifying for Hicks. He also wrote that he feared he might "get the death penalty for revealing the location of Ms. Matthews body. 22 birth records, View 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 Jonelles death. "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. @48hours. Her memory of it was the same every time, frankly, Miller said. Si vous ne souhaitez pas que nos partenaires et nousmmes utilisions des cookies et vos donnes personnelles pour ces motifs supplmentaires, cliquez sur Refuser tout. Devin Booker sulked. Despite decades of ongoing police work and public interest, Jonelle's case remained cold. As the last person suspected of speaking to Jonelle, she testified she would have called the police if she would have known she was talking to a 12-year-old since the girl resembled a first grader over the phone. In 1997, Gloria Matthews received a letter from Vierra requesting permission to visit Jonelle. (Greeley Tribune archives) He left the church around June of 1978, and in the summer of that same year, Jonelles loving parents became a part of the congregation. I think she obviously had some fears about doing it. An optical flaw was found within weeks of launch but was fixed within three years. Oct. 31After almost 38 years, the mystery of what happened to Jonelle Matthews on Dec. 20, 1984 has been put to rest. Read More: Where Are Jim and Gloria Matthews Now? Daily, over 337 million Europeans use the euro. the average Pankey family member People may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Thats why its so important to That great looking new building in Wiggins? [2], Years after Jonelle's disappearance, her parents moved to the Philippines. Pankey family member is 72. Who is Carl Pankey to you? [2] Vierra had used a search consultant to help locate Jonelle. WELD COUNTY, Colo. The ex-wife of Steve Pankey, the man accused of killing 12-year-old Jonelle Matthews in 1984, testified in his murder trial Monday and Tuesday. 7 death records, 193 followers 8.63k+ favorites, 201 followers 28.0k+ favorites. 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. The indictment also mentions that Pankey knew of and discussed a rake used to obliterate foot impressions in the snow at the Matthews home, which law enforcement withheld from the public. [13], A few months following Jonelle's disappearance, Pankey attended a church service where a minister claimed that Jonelle would be found safe. The number one reason was the person who killed Jonelle will finally pay for it. But he was the father of her two children, she said, so taking the stand against him came with complications. He noted that Drake had been at his mother's house that night but was missing for a number of hours the same night. Who were the people in Carl's life? See What AncientFaces Does, Furthermore, the police claimed that Pankey had information about a crucial piece of evidence a rake used to sweep away footprints in the snow which the police had not disclosed to the public. In 1984, a 12-year-old girl named Jonelle Matthews went missing in Greeley, Colo. On the evening of December 20, 1984, Jonelle was performing in a Christmas concert at IntraWest Bank of Denver as a member of Greeley's Franklin Middle School Choir. One of the star witnesses in this case, Steven Pankey's ex-wife Angela Hicks, testified about what she says she witnessed while married to Pankey. By January 8, 2022 06:03 PM. I have no happiness or no sadness related to this. Within about two weeks, Hicks received two or three of these files, she said. We'll connect you with others who know the person you follow. Jonelle Matthews Jim. In a matter of three days, on October 12, 2020, police arrested Pankey for kidnapping and first-degree murder in Jonelle's case. The 12-year-old was missing for more than three decades. Jurors found Steve Pankey, 71, guilty of felony murder, second-degree kidnapping and false reporting in the disappearance and death of Jonelle Matthews in 1984, the office of district attorney. He said that he heard of Jonelles disappearance only after he returned, several days later. Connect with Trevor at (970) 392-4492, treid@greeleytribune.com or @treid71 on Twitter. [3] Her remains were discovered on July 24, 2019, by construction workers putting in a new pipeline 15 mi (24 km) from her home. Share what Carl did for a living or if he had a career or profession. The remainder of Deputy District Attorney Robb Millers examination focused on the 1990s to 2019, when Pankeys suspicious statements, legal filings and writings revolving around Jonelles case led Hicks to reach out to law enforcement. I still dont know why he did it, she said. They include minor and non-violent allegations, like accusations of creating a nuisance and harassment at a local bank. 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. When it comes to landscape Did you know Your Butcher, Frank has super tasty delicatessen salads? It was very, very frightening.. Phoenix, Maricopa County, Arizona United States. During that time, she felt concerned, but she also believed she did everything she could safely do. He stopped her on news coverage about a 12-year-old who had gone missing from her Greeley home. 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." (r=(t=i[n]).getAttribute("data-secret")))r=Math.random().toString(36).substr(2,10),t.src+="#?secret="+r,t.setAttribute("data-secret",r);if(s||a)(e=t.cloneNode(!0)).removeAttribute("security"),t.parentNode.replaceChild(e,t);t.contentWindow.postMessage({message:"ready",secret:r},"*")}}}}(window,document); Millers questioning opened by asking about Pankeys controlling nature during his marriage to Hicks. According to reports, Pankey lived about two miles away from the Matthews home during the time of this incident. Twin Falls man investigated in killing - Pankey ran for governor in 2014. The Weld County Coroners Office used DNA evidence to confirm that the remains were Jonelles. And I couldnt make sense of the car being on fire, but you also couldnt talk to him. Distractify is a registered trademark. As a witness, she couldnt say anything prejudicial or bring up any of Pankeys prior bad acts while on the stand. The home where Pankey lived with his family at the time of Jonelle's disappearance, pictured, was two miles from her home. But theres still that element of this is the father of my children.. A few days later, Hicks testified that she went to the Sun Valley Police Department wanting to confirm or deny if her husband did come into the department saying he had information about Jonelle. According to the forensic report, Matthews cause of death was a gunshot wound to the head. This was a tragic end to her story, and was only discovered when her body was found decades after her disappearance. So, every day just seems like there is going to be something to hopefully look forward to or to do. 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. [21] In 2018, Pankey had campaigned for the Idaho Republican Party's nomination for the position of governor of Idaho. After hearing testimony from multiple witnesses, Steven Pankey took the stand. Kerns set a Dec. 10 deadline for prosecutors to file a response to the defenses motion regarding the release of juror information, noting media would need to apply before the same deadline if they would like to get involved because he would not plan to make the document public if it is granted. Carl's immediate relatives including parents, siblings, partnerships and children in the Pankey family tree. The grand jury did find him guilty of false reporting. At the time, Greeley police started investigating Pankey after he and Cash shared a phone call about the case that made Cash suspicious of the defendant. a Its the new home of High Plains Bank in Wiggins. She didnt say, I know he did it. She said, Heres what happened to me back in 1984 that really bothers me.. When back in Greeley, instead of returning home right away, Pankey continued driving past their residence to a Safeway. During a service, the pastor recited his vision, or "word from the Lord," that Jonelle was going to be found alive and well, which received an immediate response from Pankey. First published on March 25, 2021 / 5:47 PM. After almost 38 years, the mystery of what happened to Jonelle Matthews on Dec. 20, 1984 has been put to rest. Pankey is being represented by the public defender's office after private defense attorney Anthony Viorst withdrew as counsel, citing a lack of time and energy to potentially go through another trial. All the information collected and observed by Hicks, along with a written and verbal statement from her, was sent to the Greeley Police Department. She shared that Pankey would not allow her to spend money without getting his permission first, prohibited her from seeing her father, would not let her drive the car and even gave her a time limit if she would go to the grocery store. He testified that in the past he had lied about his knowledge of the case. 52 years shorter than The testimony was only introduced with the purpose of highlighting his ex-communication from the church, which bolsters the prosecutors' argument of his hatred toward the church and law enforcement, Kerns said. Pankey was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole. At about that time, a car stored on their property caught fire and the burned car "was disposed of at a salvage yard". Second, the verdict gave the family and community closure. Yet, as of writing, 71-year-old Steve Pankey is incarcerated at the mixed-security Limon Correctional Facility in Lincoln County, Colorado. Her father indicated a police officer said he needed help burying a body, according to Pankeys fabricated story. 2023 Cinemaholic Inc. All rights reserved. In her testimony, she said their septic tank had just been replaced earlier that year and she didnt notice any issues. Testimony in the . What Happened During Steve Pankey's Trial For The 1984 Murder Of Jonelle Matthews? He is next scheduled to appear in court June 3. International Center for Unidentified and Missing Persons', "Jonelle Matthews investigation: Chronicling the 34-year search for missing Greeley 12-year-oldThe vivacious 12-year-old disappeared in 1984. When Steve Pankey's son was murdered in 2008, his ex-wife heard him say in front of the urn, "I hope God didn't allow this to happen because of Jonelle Matthews." Angela Hicks, Pankey's former spouse, took the stand for her second day of testimony Monday morning. The average age of Steve Pankey, who twice ran for governor of Idaho, is charged in the 1984 kidnapping and murder of Jonelle Matthews. Based on DNA evidence, the Weld County Coroner's Office positively identified the remains as being those of Jonelle Matthews. While the search was ongoing, he moved to Oklahoma and then to Idaho, where he ran twice for governor in 2014 and 2018. Steve Pankey, who is accused of kidnapping and murdering Jonelle, is accused of watching Franklin Middle School children walk home from school in the Weld County Grand Jury's indictment of Pankey. 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. 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. He's had periodic sort of spats with people because he is an irascible, prickly guy. 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. [13][21] According to the 2020 indictment statement, shortly following their return to Greeley, Pankey started digging in their yard. He began digging in the front yard, which Hicks didnt question. JACKSON, Miss. The criminal indictment said that he "intentionally inserted himself in the investigation many times over the years claiming to have knowledge of the crime which grew inconsistent and incriminating over time". The Matthew family didn't know Pankey. 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. Pankey was indicted in October 2020 by a grand jury on first-degree murder and kidnapping charges in connection with the 1984 killing of 12-year-old Jonelle Matthews in Greeley. (Staff/Morgan. On the evening of December 20, 1984, Jonelle was performing a holiday concert at IntraWest Bank of Denver. But this time, she started asking questions about what was going on. A few days after Jonelles disappearance, Pankey was approached by Hicks father, who worked at a cemetery in Greeley, he told interviewers. Hicks said it wasnt unusual for her husband to leave for the day in the early morning and not return until anytime between 4-11 p.m., which is why she couldnt recall what time he came home and what he was doing on Dec. 20, 1984, the day Jonelle went missing. 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. The public defenders office would then have a week to reply, at which point Kerns would issue an order as quickly as possible. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. That wont be true in 2024. Kevin Durant moped. The former neighbor of the Matthews family/ex-gubernatorial candidate has since been sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole, meaning he could presumably go free one day. And so to me, that was the single most significant telling of what she recalled that really, to be honest with you, put me over the top in terms of charging him in the first place.. Steve Pankey allegedly killed a 14-year-old girl from Greeley, Colorado in 1984. or visit Help / Frequently Asked Question (FAQ) to discover more about the community. 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. It charged that "he took Jonelle Matthews from her family home " and "shot Jonelle Matthews during the course of the kidnapping.". She remained missing for almost 35 years as her family and the police searched for her. . 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. Invite family and friends to share what they know about Carl Wesley Pankey. Prosecutors told jurors that Pankey had made incriminating statements over the years about Jonelle's case. Jonelle was adopted in March 1972 by James "Jim" and Gloria Matthews, a married couple with a daughter, living in Greeley, Colorado. All Rights Reserved. The third reason: Hicks would finally be safe from Pankey. Pankey claimed that he had no idea about Jonelles disappearance as he had left Greeley to visit his parents in California in the early hours of December 21, 1984. The police arrived at 10:15 PM and found footprints in the snow, indicating that someone had been looking in the windows. 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. Pankeys verdict was significant for three reasons, Rourke said. Where is Steven Pankey now? Suspects long obsession with Jonelle Matthews 1984 disappearance at center of trial, Nearly four decades after Greeleys Jonelle Matthews disappeared, a suspect is going on trial for murder, The Denver Post, other news outlets sue DPS for recording of closed-door meeting after East High shooting, Rock-throwing suspects turned back to take photo of fatal crash as memento, Jeffco affidavit says, Jury finds Jeremy Webster guilty of first-degree murder in Westminster road-rage shooting spree, Former Colorado judge censured for drunken sexual advances in first use of new discipline system. On October 13, 2021, Steve Pankey's trial started. in the family tree section to add relatives, or press the "X" 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. Carl was attending college when he was murdered in Phoenix Arizona. [16] She appears in the International Center for Unidentified and Missing Persons' database. Fred Smith knows real estate. The 22-day trial ended in a mistrial after the jury was unable to come to a unanimous decision on the kidnapping and murder charges, though they did convict Pankey of one count of false reporting to authorities. 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. Once Jonelles remains were discovered in 2019, the police accused and arrested Pankey for the murder. 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? Her disappearance became the talk of local and national news when in 1985, then-President Ronald Reagan even referenced the tragic case.

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