But as it turns out, when Jonelle vanished in 1984, Pankey lived in Greeley about two miles from the Matthew home. Hicks talked to officers about her husbands behavior and actions after Jonelle went missing, including the fact that he was aware of evidence from the crime scene that was not public knowledge. KELLY WERTHMANN: Did you kill Jonelle Matthews? But the District Attorney's Office felt they had enough evidence to go to trial. They've got rifles and they're pointing them at me. All right? Mr. Pankey wanted to be a person of interest. He said he has repeatedly told them that he wont speak without his attorney. Mayor John Gates: The most strong evidence to me is the way Mr. Pankey conducted himself from the time this happened up until his indictment. Steven Pankey Part 2 Ryan Horsley says that's when Pankey started collecting guns. In her testimony, Hicks said she was unsure if the car functioned. The boys body was discovered in a storage unit in the 5000 block of E. Richard Schlesinger: Do you remember being afraid? He lost, but Pankey still wanted to be sheriff somewhere. Man Charged With Murder in 1984 Killing of Jonelle Matthews Additionally, she contacted friends with the Englewood police about the case a few weeks after her disappearance. JUDGE TIMOTHY KERNS: We the jury find the defendant Steven Dana Pankey guilty. The most Pankey families were found in USA in 1880. Prosecutors have announced they are ready for a new trial, because they still believe Jonelle was killed by Steven Pankey. Richard Schlesinger: So, you've really gotta believe these prosecution witnesses to convict this guy. DA ROBERT MILLER: How long were you driving as you flipped stations looking for news stories about Jonelle Matthews? Pankey depicted this notion of enemies when he made Christy the villain in his fiction writings, according to assistant district attorney Robb Miller. In a matter of three days, on October 12, 2020, police arrested Pankey for kidnapping and first-degree murder in Jonelle's case. She says that shocked her because Pankey had forbidden radio and television use in their house, about a year earlier. Ryan Horsley: I was kind of confused because our local sheriff actually went to our church. STEVE PANKEY [to KMVT]: At the time I was married. Tuesday, Hicks testified that a day before his memorial service, she witnessed a bizarre moment. Anthony Viorst: Mr. Pankey likes to talk. Defense attorney Anthony Viorst says the case against his client is just a weak and circumstantial collection of strange behaviors. We just had a big group of friends. Steve Pankey found guilty in 1984 murder of Jonelle Matthews STEVEN PANKEY: That's the first time I heard that there was a missing child. His mother and sister lived across the street from the Matthews home, and he was at his mother's house the night Jonelle was taken. After hiding her panic from Pankey as her mind flooded with his past odd behavior after Jonelle went missing, she decided to go to the Sun Valley police station. Francis said her son left her house about 9:30 p.m. Dec. 20, 1984. Steve Pankey DA ROBERT MILLER: Describe what happens on December 21 at your house. Hicks also stated in her testimony that Pankey banned radio, TV and news from their household around the time Jonelle went missing. Jim Matthews: I just kept telling him, I said, "Listen, I'm telling you the truth. Police might have been closer to an answer than they knew. The man, who tried to threaten Justice Brett Kavanaugh with his life, was arrested with the joint efforts of the U.S. Jim Matthews: Hopefully we will know the scenario of what happened that night. Before interviewing Drake on the record, Olson spoke with Drake, and he revealed he had knowledge about raked-over shoe prints in the backyard of the Matthews home the night Jonelle went missing. And as of now, nobody has been convicted of murdering Jonelle. He was a person who sure was interested in the case. I had no knowledge. | On January 8, 2022 09:21 PM. STEVE PANKEY [to KMVT]: I want to at least be on record that I talked to you, so I don't get possibly an obstruction of justice charge. Once youre accused of something like date rape, youre forever stigmatized, he said. The friend, Rochelle Davy, formerly known as Rochelle Baxley, said the car startled and agitated Jonelle. Who killed Jonelle Matthews? What her suspected killer Steve They also testified this information was never made public. Richard Schlesinger: The problem is there's no physical evidence. 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 Hicks stated she does not remember if there was one car her husband drove more often than others. She described being forced to listen to news accounts about Jonelle's disappearance, and she told jurors about finding a piece of paper in Pankey's trash. DAY 18 | LIVE UPDATES: Witness describes pink, foamy substance found on Tammy Daybells mouth as 911 calls are played in court, High school assistant softball coach charged after allegedly sexually abusing student athlete, Teen accused of fatal rock throwing took picture of victims car as a memento, affidavits say, Two people in custody after morning traffic stop in Idaho Falls ends with car in canal, NWS issues flood warning for river, street department offers sandbags. Once the interviews with Drake and people he associated with him came to an end, law enforcement executed a search warrant of the Drake residence. At trial, Viorst told the jury that Pankey was a true-crime junkie. Viorst began his examination by asking if Pankey had the right to defend himself during this trial, receiving a yes response from Hicks. The defense attorney strived to bring this evidence into Pankeys defense from the testimony of Andrea Yost, the ex-wife of Drakes roommate in 1984 and a woman with whom he developed a romantic relationship. Ryan Horsley: He ran under the Constitutional Party. However, Olson said he called and left a voicemail after obtaining the first letter. "It was just me trying to be a big man, be in the case, OK? at their state convention, he claimed that they tried to do an exorcism on him. Additionally, there was no mention of Drakes shoe size in Olsons writings, and he couldnt remember the shoe size from memory during his testimony. JUDGE TIMOTHY KERNS: 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. Prosecutors say only the Matthews family, investigators and presumably the killer knew about them. One time, I guess their family dog was doing a lot of barking, and it was irritating Steven. He has lived in the Aurora/Southeast Denver Metro area since 1965 and is an expert Getting ready for a yard project? The only evidence left behind were shoeprints in the snow shoeprints someone tried to erase with a garden rake. Pankey says it was lies that led to him being charged with murder, but not his lies; his ex-wife Angela Hicks' lies fueled by her need for revenge. Pankey said he had brushes with the law in Colorado before Jonelles disappearance that led police to mistrust him. They had to wait a little more than two years until October 2021, for this moment: opening statements in the trial of Steven Pankey. And then he buried her and went on with his life. Pankey was charged Monday morning with child abuse resulting in death and abuse of a corpse in the case. Gloria Matthews: Everywhere we went I was always looking for her I always had hope that I would find her. but he took her he shot her. And he calls Detective Jack Stotler and he identifies himself as a ordained Baptist minister. He testified that in the past he had lied about his knowledge of the case. What happened to Carl Pankey? Along with Mark, Barr was unaware of past gun use by Pankey, but said she gave him the old gun recently. ANGELA HICKS: He said, "get us ready to go. She explained her brother was upset Drake had not returned his truck before midnight, the time both siblings went to bed. STEVEN PANKEY: It was just me trying to be a big man, be in the case, OK? Pankey told the Statesman he was sure that after police had his DNA, they would stop investigating him. Mayor John Gates: I think that part might've fit into the no-brainer category. More than three decades later, in 2019, Jonelle's body was found by a crew digging a pipeline. It's a wild sounding story and "48 Hours" can't confirm it or even that he went to the FBI. That was about 8 p.m. Deanna Ross: Jonelle needed a ride home so she hopped in our truck and we took her home. And Pankey himself took the stand. Pankey was seen in what was described by multiple witnesses as an orange-red vehicle over the years. Politician Lord Frost is one of the most prominent figures in the English government. The ex-wife of Steve Pankey, the 70-year-old man accused of murdering Jonelle Matthews in 1984, confirmed during the second week of his trial in Weld District Court there was physical abuse present in her relationship with Pankey. Richard Schlesinger: Do you believe that he was a threat to children in that church? STEVEN PANKEY: I had never imagined Angie would be as big a liar as I am. Kelly Werthmann: This was a moment that this community had been waiting for a long time. But over the years there was even more strange behavior, moments that, authorities believe add up to circumstantial evidence. ANTHONY VIORST: He lives in a world of conspiracy, paranoia and low self-esteem. It was pure hatred on my part. Richard Schlesinger: Why would he interject himself into the case? The comments made him suspicious given Jonelles disappearance, he said, so he reported them to the FBI rather than to local police. Norris Drake. Pankey made an unusual witness in his own defense. STEVE PANKEY [to KMVT]: They searched this place, they took my laptop . By Phoenix New Times Drake became noticeably upset by questions regarding the hold-back evidence and said he felt bad because he didnt see anything and he was right there.. Instead, he called a lawyer, according to Olson. Darla Jentzsch: It was such a mystery, this whole thing happened. In his testimony, Olson said the case once again went cold, but he never excluded Drake as a suspect once the case was handed over to another person in early 1990. In the matter of the burning car, Pankey allegedly told Hicks he knew the car was going to catch on fire, so he moved it to the back property. In response, Mark testified his father did not change and their relationship remained the same. STEVEN PANKEY: So, the truth is that I made a lot of stuff up out of bitterness. Barr did attest to his behavior being unusual when he decided to run for office on multiple occasions, because of his lack of experience. Viorst will bring in new witnesses Thursday. He was different from others and didnt get along with most people. STEVE PANKEY ["Unfound" podcast]: She was 23 years old. The best home improvement jobs deserve the best materials. That was our sign that she made it inside and everything's fine. Steve Pankey DA MICHAEL ROURKE: The search for justice for Jonelle begins today. It was updated on August 6.]. When it comes to landscape Did you know Your Butcher, Frank has super tasty delicatessen salads? After Pankey left home, she said she was close with him, but they didnt remain in contact. Jim Matthews: They sent two or three detectives out and started searching the house for clues. Jonelle Matthews' mother, father, and sister were the first to testify at the trial for her suspected killer, Steve Pankey. It's emotional. Pankey said he wants his story to be heard in case he is arrested. that told me that I'd been named as a person of interest in this case by Mr. Pankey. For Pankey, it might have started getting a little hot under the limelight, if you will, when the state's star witness, Angela Hicks, took the stand. His girlfriend severely killed him in 2008 in Phoenix. He said he won all the trials. Her whereabouts remained a mystery for more than 35 years until her remains were discovered in 2019. And I was an elementary principal. Hence, justice is yet to be served for Mathews. Ryan N. Smith is a development producer. Because Norris Drake got her to leave the house. You can't let this consume you. Zero physical evidence, OK? The attorney also told her she had to say what she reported to Olson in their 1989 interview while testifying on Wednesday, to create reasonable doubt in this case. In another jaw-dropping move, in that same letter Pankey also named himself as a person of interest, while still insisting he's innocent. This timeline indicated the family was watching The Cosby Show from 7-9 p.m. Olson testified he checked the TV guide and confirmed the times match up with the statements. In 2008, he ran for sheriff in Shoshone once again. WebPankey and Hicks lose their son In 2002, Hicks and Pankey finalized their divorce, and on July 4, 2008, their son Carl was murdered. Authorities searched a home in Twin Falls, Idaho. In total, he said the word rake 11 times, compared to Drake saying it twice, Wells said. And we just had a very full life. Most of his reports were lost when files switched over to a computer filing program at the Greeley Police Department, including the search warrant and most of the interviews other than Drakes. Richard Schlesinger: You'd be the last people to whom something like this would happen, I would think. First published on March 27, 2021 / 11:03 PM. Jim Matthews: We knew that we wanted to give her a dignified burial and I'm not a real emotional person. Jonelle was reported missing from her home in Greeley, north of Denver, on Dec. 20, 1984, after returning from performing a Christmas concert with her classmates, according to the Denver Post. According to his own website, his father was a Youth For Christ Leader. He mentioned Jonelle in a speech about missing children. We were totally clueless about this guy. Fred Smith knows real estate. vice presidents for enrollment management and And there was something odd about them. Both were members of the Sunny View Church of the Nazarene and friends to the Matthews family, who had also attended the church. He said his mother allegedly said multiple sets of shoe prints, which belonged to kids who came to kidnap Jonelle, were found in the backyard of the home. STEVE PANKEY [to KMVT]: Don't spit in my face. Hicks said she found torn-up paper about Jonelle in the trash can. Claire St. Amant is the development producer. STEVEN PANKEY: I wanna back up a little bit. Hicks on Monday said Pankey acted suspiciously in the days following Jonelles disappearance, including making their family leave town, fixating on the news coverage and digging a hole for hours outside their house. Hicks remembered seeing Pankey with a gun three times throughout their relationship: when he worked as a security guard at the job where the two first met, when he did target practice outside their home and when she pawned his gun in 1979. He said he moved to Greeley in 1973. to some extent, we're going to just have to face that. After an Aug. 13, 2013, phone call with the suspect, he still did not make a report, but Viorst said Olson wasnt in charge of investigating Pankey. Steve Pankey Steve Pankey trial: Matthews family denies knowing Pankey The only physical evidence were those footprints in the fresh snow. After prosecutors finished up their direct examination of Pankeys ex-wife Angela Hicks, defense attorney Anthony Viorst had his chance to speak with the witness on Tuesday. Mark said he spent time with his dad at least once per week before his arrest in 2020. ANTHONY VIORST: Norris Drake had an interest in young girls who had recently reached puberty, exactly what Jonelle was, exactly. Steve Pankey: Where is Jonelle Matthews Killer Now? - The WebCommonly after shootings, we hear families of the victims call for more gun control. He gave the Statesman a copy of the search warrant, signed on Sept. 3 by Idaho Magistrate Judge Calvin Campbell. STEVE PANKEY [to KMVT]: I knew more than I wanted to know, OK. STEVE PANKEY [to KMVT]: I told the FBI I want to talk to you. And then I'd say other things and he'd say, "well, that's bull nobody's going to buy that.". Sakulenzki confirmed she reached out to the Federal Bureau of Investigation in 2009 about Pankey, and to the Greeley Police Department in 2019. Pankey said he had a bad relationship with Greeley authorities afterward. A politician, Steve Pankey was identified as the prime suspect after the victim's father was ruled out back in 1984. As a follow up, investigators interviewed people including Drake, his mother, his sister, his first wife, possibly his first wifes father, Connie Daviet, who was his roommates sister, Dave Daviet, who was Drakes roommate, and Yost. In 1999 he told the Idaho Supreme Court, after a conviction for once again causing a scene in a bank, that the conviction which was dismissed years later was in part an "attempt to force" him "to become an informant" in Jonelle's disappearance. But denied he was obsessed with the news. Though Mitch McConnell has revealed about backing Trump for the 2024 presidential election, he has not confirmed about his re-election in 2022. Jonelle's father Jim says the fast-breaking news about Pankey surprised him. Pankey was even unaware of the gender and names of her children, according to a statement he made in January 2021, Miller said. Pankeys overall attitude toward the church and both men involved was negative, and he would get angry when their names would come up in conversation, according to Hicks. But there was no rest for the Matthews. There was one occasion where he made comments about how attractive younger girls were at the pool. White are the field producers. A SWAT team arrived, rifles in hand, to search his cars and his condo, and the team seized his electronic devices and financial documents, Pankey said. Pankey is a person of interest in a cold case homicide out of DA Michael Rourke: He wasn't a person of interest. He was the janitor. My dad waited until he saw her flick on the light. STEVEN PANKEY: It was a polite way of flipping them the bird. Kelly Werthmann: People were ready. Jim Matthews: He was not a youth worker at our church. It was agony for Jonelle's mother Gloria, who could no longer hope her daughter would come home. That was one of many lies, says Pankey, meant to target people he hated, like his father-in-law, and Mayor John Gates. But it was intense. A STEVEN PANKEY: In the little jail cubicle before coming up here, I was praying and I was thinking, God, maybe I shouldn't testify Because I'd be just telling more lies. Jennifer Mogensen: I don't know specifics. As of Thursday, no criminal charges had been filed. She loves presents. Great news for one of the cases featured on our podcast: Steve Pankey has been arrested for the 1984 murder of 12-year old Jonelle Matthews!https://t.co/sch2tDfjmy. Also, he was a candidate for a county sheriff in Twin Falls which, once again, wasn't a success story for him. Since the beginning of trial, Viorst has argued Drake was across the street at his mothers home the evening of December 1984, making him a plausible suspect. The first trial ended in a mistrial after the jury could not reach a unanimous I believed, at the time, he might have involvement, Olson said. "48 Hours" interviewed Pankey's attorney Anthony Viorst as he was preparing for trial. What Happened During Steve Pankeys Viorst and Hicks discussed Pankeys anti-establishment views, believing law enforcement was actively out to get him and having occasional run-ins with the police. and we submit that he never knew where the body was because he didn't do this. he's a firm adherent to the Ten Commandments, which include thou shalt not kill. 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Deanna Ross: We rode our bikes a lot around town. For the family of Jonelle Matthews, the news was so devastating they didn't want to discuss it. Once back in Greeley, she says Pankey drove right past their house, straight to the grocery store, where he made her buy the local papers and search for news about Jonelle. They never released the information about the rake. STEVE PANKEY [to KMVT]: I contacted the Fort Collins FBI office. five days before Christmas, Jonelle disappeared from her home. Though Jonelle was reported missing in 1984, it wasnt until July 23 of this year that her body was found, according to Greeley police. Ryan Horsley: To halt any investigation, to halt him getting arrested. It was December 1984 when 12-year-old Jonelle Matthews vanished from her family's Greeley, Colorado home. The trial took place but the verdict came in the favor of the politician. But he said he met with an FBI agent at the Greeley police station shortly after he returned, because he heard from his father-in-law, who worked for a cemetery, that someone had asked about getting rid of a body. The red-orange car was allegedly seen by Jonelle and her friend on the bus heading back from the choir concert on Dec. 20, 1984. The next step in the investigation was gathering the evidence Olson collected to present to the the Weld District Attorneys Office. WebThe Pankey family name was found in the USA, and the UK between 1840 and 1920. Richard Schlesinger: And he was using, what, a garden rake? And that's why Gates became a prosecution witness. WebPankey, 71, is on trial for the 1984 kidnapping and murder of Jonelle Matthews. Pankey said he also has volunteered to take a polygraph test. If Pankey didn't kill Jonelle Matthews, then who did? His now ex-wife, Angela Hicks, took the stand on Monday afternoon. The police and court records of what happened with the charges are no longer available. I had no knowledge," Pankey said. Drake and Yost lived together from 1985-1987. Anthony Viorst: Yeah, they told him. The detectives then left. In September 2001, Hicks filed for divorce from Pankey. "And you always knew Jonelle was around [laughs]. Jim Matthews takes the stand in the trial of the man accused of the kidnapping and murder of his 12-year-old daughter Jonelle. (Courtesy of Angela Hicks) Viorst questioned how Drake knew about Jonelles disappearance that morning, with it being unlikely he contacted his mother after leaving her house that night or before coming upstairs the following morning. STEVE PANKEY [to KMVT]: On the 26th we were driving back. But the most talkative person in this case had yet to be heard from. Who Is Steven Pankey Son Carl Pankey? Verdict And Update On Gloria Matthews: We are going to know that she was murdered [crying]. Has anyone considered Steve Pankey as There were two campaigns for governor, one for municipal council, one for lieutenant governor and three runs for county sheriff. As per reports, the 14-year-old was kidnapped and reportedly killed somewhere in Greeley, Colorado. Pankeys father believed a womans place was in the home, women had to obey her husband and other more traditional ideas of marriage. Patti Aronofsky is the senior producer. Jim and Gloria Matthews had moved to Greeley just six years earlier, to raise their young daughters Jennifer and Jonelle. Since Mark was freshly 5 years old during 1984, Assistant District Attorney Robb Miller questioned if his memories were reliable. He just does, for whatever reason. STEVEN PANKEY: I spent a couple of hours in the basement jail area with my attorney and he was talking to me about my testimony Mr. Viorst was saying to me 'cause I would give certain things and he'd say, "well, that's a good answer."

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