"NorrisDrake murdered Jonelle Matthews.". Pankeys verdict was significant for three reasons, Rourke said. Pankey was found guilty in the murder of 12-year-old Jonelle Matthews in Greeley in 1984. While the search was ongoing, he moved to Oklahoma and then to Idaho, where he ran twice for governor in 2014 and 2018. I was terrified because I was thinking, What am I going to do if they asked him something? Hicks said. Second, the verdict gave the family and community closure. That wont be true in 2024. Welcome to AncientFaces, a com "Thank you for helping me find my family & friends again so many years after I lost them. She remained missing for almost 35 years as her family and the police searched for her. See What AncientFaces Does, Mar 15 2021. 36 years later Jonelle Matthews' family meet alleged killer | 9news.com [11], For several weeks after the disappearance, law enforcement placed Jonelle's birth mother, Terri Vierra-Martinez, under surveillance without telling her that Jonelle was missing. Angela Hicks, Pankeys then-wife, told police how he took her on an unexpected trip right after the girls disappearance and that he also dumped the family dogs before the trip. She felt it was in Gods hands after she showed up and told the truth twice. The Greeley Tribune contributed to this report. The average age of Add family and friends whose lives he impacted. I have no happiness or no sadness related to this. President Ronald Reagan mentioned Jonelle Matthews in a speech on March 7, 1985, from Room 450 of the Old Executive Office Building. In September 2019, police obtained a warrant to search Pankeys Twin Falls, Idaho home. Now, we may know the whole story or so it seems but Pankey maintains that he's innocent. "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. In the 1990s, suspicions about Pankey's interest in Jonelle arose when he said something that immediately made Hicks want to research the case, she said. What Happened During Steve Pankey's Trial For The 1984 Murder Of Jonelle Matthews? Those were his exact words.. [19][20] The forensic report listed Jonelle's cause of death as "a gunshot wound to the head".[13][21]. ADVERTISEMENT It was suggested that his discharge might have been related to homosexual activities as right after being released, he said that he left the gay lifestyle and repented for it. I just thought she was a really nice woman who didnt seem to have any ax to grind. ET. During their conversation about his legal fees, Hicks said Pankey followed with, Do you really think I would hurt her when she looked so much like you?, My blood went cold, Hicks said, reflecting back to what she called an internal panic.. However, she told the court it was the only car to ever catch fire on their property. Pankey repeatedly claimed to have knowledge of the crime and had asked "for immunity in exchange for information". On Aug. 16, 2019, Pankey and Hicks had a phone conversation about closure, specifically that the Matthews familys closure was much different than their closure with their deceased child because they knew who killed him. But she did feel relief. When you share a memory, or just show that you care by interacting with the biography, I guess the main thing I can say is relief was what went through my mind when the guilty verdict was read, Hicks said. I mean, then to me, it was just like, Oh my god, this is something else, Hicks said. Jonelles case came to the attention of then-President Ronald Reagan as his administration launched a national effort to find missing children. Pankey testified he didnt know Hicks took any of these measures back in the 90s. (Staff/Morgan. Read More: Where Are Jim and Gloria Matthews Now? Pankey had been excommunicated from the church prior to their arrival for an incident that occurred between him and another member. 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. Select "Add Memory" to share stories and photos. Since, other sheep have been cloned as well as horses, pigs, deer, and bulls. [25] The prosecution argued that Pankey's behavior and statements incriminated him in the murder, but Pankey's defense attorney argued that his "obsessive interest" in the case could be attributed to Asperger syndrome. Jonelle Matthews was a 12-year-old American girl who disappeared near Greeley, Colorado, on December 20, 1984. "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. She didnt say, I know he did it. She said, Heres what happened to me back in 1984 that really bothers me.. This is someone I was married to for 23 years, and I walked away from my marriage having little to no respect for the man anymore. He has lived in the Aurora/Southeast Denver Metro area since 1965 and is an expert Getting ready for a yard project? [13] Decades later, Pankey provided investigators with documents concerning this trip, which police said contained "false statements and superfluous details". However, the politician was not found guilty on any of the charges he was indicted on. [21], Pankey's ex-wife, Angela Hicks,[21] said they started their trip on December 22, two days after Jonelle's disappearance. Steve Pankey was born in 1951 in Ventura, California. Share what Carl did for a living or if he had a career or profession. Keeler: Avs fans, could we please skip Valeri Nichushkin, Nazem Kadri revisionist history? Steve Pankey trial: Ex-wife highlights defendant's fixation on - MSN 00:58. Steven Pankey Part 1. While sitting in the parking lot, she read him every story upon his request. Pankey on Wednesday withdrew his not guilty plea to kidnapping and murder charges in the case to prevent legal issues with his speedy trial rights. 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. 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. [9] Jonelle's older sister, Jennifer, got home at 10:00 PM, but had not seen her. He also wrote that he feared he might "get the death penalty for revealing the location of Ms. Matthews body. Charges were filed against him but were later dropped. @48hours. Greeley, Colorado, Mayor John Gates testified about learning that Steven Pankey had once named him a person of interest in the disappearance of Jonelle Matthews. Hicks reached the final straw when Pankey began appearing on podcasts and news channels, lying about his involvement in the case and bringing her dad into the story. Murder of Jonelle Matthews Select the next to any field to update. Jonelle was adopted in March 1972 by James "Jim" and Gloria Matthews, a married couple with a daughter, living in Greeley, Colorado. She said she confronted Pankey about the situation, who responded that he needed the money to pay legal fees. Steven Pankey Indictment in Jonelle Matthews Murder Update | Westword Nobody ever came to me to ask, Hey, your husbands coming in and saying this, what do you have to say about it?. Prosecutors said Pankey kept up to date on the case throughout the years even as he moved his family to several states before settling in Idaho where he ran unsuccessfully as a Constitution Party candidate for Idaho governor in 2014 and in the Republican gubernatorial primary in 2018, the year that authorities said he was named as a person of interest in the girls death. He noted that Drake had been at his mother's house that night but was missing for a number of hours the same night. Yet, as of writing, 71-year-old Steve Pankey is incarcerated at the mixed-security Limon Correctional Facility in Lincoln County, Colorado. They are currently retired and living in Costa Rica. Copyright 1999-2023 AncientFaces, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Testimony in the . But it just was unnerving.. 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. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title.
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