In July 2019, Jonelles remains were found at an oil and gas site in rural Weld County, and it was determined she died from a gunshot wound to the head. Steve Pankey and Angela Hicks' son, Carl, was murdered in 2008. Drake responded he had only seen her a few times and he most likely heard his mother make a comment about her being a mature girl for her age.. Pankey is a person of interest in a cold case homicide out of As of Thursday, no criminal charges had been filed. Ryan Horsley: He ran under the Constitutional Party. And, once again, he didn't come close to winning. It's just he is a strange guy. 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. Steve Pankey trial: Ex-wife highlights defendant's fixation It's exhausting. In a matter of days, the search was all over the news, but not because police were talking. 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. Once youre accused of something like date rape, youre forever stigmatized, he said. ANTHONY VIORST: So that's why there was no struggle, all right? And he took duct tape and wrapped it around the dog's muzzle. Hicks reported that was the only time she saw that much emotion from Pankey, as he kneeled down to kiss the urn. I had no knowledge. MAYOR JOHN GATES: I was sitting at my desk one day some time back. But new evidence in the trial indicated when Pankey was a janitor at a school, he asked his wife to write a short story for him to give to a 17-year-old girl who was a student at the school. Russel Ross and Pastor James Christys names surfaced during the formation of Pankeys file. Anthony Viorst: He argued with a bank teller and the police were called. But the most talkative person in this case had yet to be heard from. The most Pankey families were found in USA in 1880. Andersen said he remembers the car being reddish, but he could not swear to this statement either. And I think my jaw probably hit my desk, and I said, "What?". And I was an elementary principal. During the tense moment in the courtroom, Hicks said Viorsts commentary in the ViacomCBS 48 Hours program that aired in March sounded shady and rubbed her the wrong way. Barr claimed she believed that was in regards to her grandchildren. Mayor John Gates: It's not to me, ah, Richard. That, of course, doesn't exist. That was about 8 p.m. Deanna Ross: Jonelle needed a ride home so she hopped in our truck and we took her home. 48 Hours: Who Killed Jonelle Matthews In 1984? - CBS Colorado In September 2001, Hicks filed for divorce from Pankey. Ken Blum and Jud Johnston are the editors. She said a very emotional Pankey walked up He has lived in the Aurora/Southeast Denver Metro area since 1965 and is an expert Getting ready for a yard project? Steve Pankey, a politician, a Christian, and Jonelles murderer, acted in a bizarre and disturbing way in the time leading up to the death of 12-year-old Jonelle, and we submit that he never knew where the body was because he didn't do this. He was called to the scene. Don't accuse me . Pankey was even unaware of the gender and names of her children, according to a statement he made in January 2021, Miller said. The rake came, "right out of my garage," Jim Matthews told "48 Hours.". The search, Pankey said, came about a month after he gave police a DNA sample. Pankey's ex-wife remembers him mentioning Jonelle Matthews They planned to leave at 5 a.m. the next day for the drive to Big Bear Lake to visit his parents. Her comments brought up Pankeys connections to family friends of the Matthews family, according to Hicks. At trial, Viorst told the jury that Pankey was a true-crime junkie. STEVEN PANKEY: That's the first time I heard that there was a missing child. Jim Matthews: The Rescue Jonelle Committee made all kinds of things happen. Pankey denies he ever did that, but Kevin says Pankey's son Mark was so unhappy living at home that the Schneiders took him in for about six years. An attorney in North Carolina said if she didnt show up for the Pankey trial as a witness, she would go to jail. But keep in mind, I'm a 26-year law enforcement veteran. Greeley Mayor and former police officer John Gates knew Steven Pankey, and says he was not considered a person of interest in the early days when Jonelle first disappeared. He had abducted her on Dec 20th, 1984 from her home after she came home from a Christmas concert. But Pankey used to say he was close friends with the pastor. Steve Pankey allegedly killed a 14-year-old girl from Greeley, Colorado in 1984. And yet he picks up the phone. Additionally, there was no mention of Drakes shoe size in Olsons writings, and he couldnt remember the shoe size from memory during his testimony. I believed, at the time, he might have involvement, Olson said. And even President Ronald Reagan got involved. Ryan Horsley: To halt any investigation, to halt him getting arrested. WebPankey and Hicks lose their son In 2002, Hicks and Pankey finalized their divorce, and on July 4, 2008, their son Carl was murdered. Richard Schlesinger: Why would he interject himself into the case? The trial took place but the verdict came in the favor of the politician. He said he won all the trials. Sakulenzki confirmed she reached out to the Federal Bureau of Investigation in 2009 about Pankey, and to the Greeley Police Department in 2019. Hicks stated she does not remember if there was one car her husband drove more often than others. The only evidence left behind were shoeprints in the snow shoeprints someone tried to erase with a garden rake. of course, you know, you think that's terrible, but lots of kids go missing, you know. Jim Matthews: I just kept telling him, I said, "Listen, I'm telling you the truth. STEVEN PANKEY: He told me that a cop had contacted him and said that he had a body he wanted to be buried. "[T]here's no indication that he committed this murder, no indication that he had anything to do with burying the body. On July 4, 2008, the couples youngest son, Carl, was murdered at age 20, and their family came together to celebrate his life with a memorial service. five days before Christmas, Jonelle disappeared from her home. Jim Matthews: For the longest time I knew exactly what they were doing, and I respected it. The woman eventually asked that the case be dismissed. Anthony Viorst: I can't answer that because I can't get into his head but, but I do think it's a combination of sort of obsessive-compulsive behavior and you know, perhaps even mental illness. Mitch McConnell is a U.S. Senate Republican Leader. Her murder went unsolved for 35 years until they found her body in 2019. 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. WebSteve Pankey and Angela Hicks' son, Carl, was murdered in 2008. She found his behavior strange because he never addressed her question, according to Sakulenzki. Prosecutors say only the Matthews family, investigators and presumably the killer knew about them. The Twin Falls Police Department verified Thursday that it had executed the warrant on Wednesday, Sept. 4, at Pankeys condo in the 300 block of Elm Street North. By 2002, the divorce was finalized. After Pankey left home, she said she was close with him, but they didnt remain in contact. And this week, the authorities announced that Steven D. Pankey, 69, a former Greeley resident who now lives in Idaho, had been indicted on Friday on charges of first 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. His sister believed he shouldnt be partaking in the interviews, and his involvement in this case physically bothers her, she said. Another family member took the stand to answer similar questions from Viorst, adding in some information about Pankey as a child. Steve Pankey 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. But boy, just the floodgates opened up for both of us. That night, Daviet and her brother Dave were home, while Drake borrowed Daves truck to go to his mothers house. Steven Pankey Indictment in Jonelle Matthews Murder Update Hicks shared a story Monday about witnessing her husband drive past the church following his removal. During her testimony last week, she stated her and Jonelle allegedly saw an orange-red car that agitated and startled her 12-year-old friend. LOCAL NEWS REPORT: A major development to tell you about in a mystery that is more than three decades old. Idaho Falls news, Rexburg news, Pocatello news, East Idaho news, Idaho news, education news, crime news, good news, business news, entertainment news, Feel Good Friday and more. Both were members of the Sunny View Church of the Nazarene and friends to the Matthews family, who had also attended the church. Hicks also told Viorst she had phone troubles due to changes in 5G coverage in her area, and texts might not have gone through. Doreen Schechter is the producer-editor. He mentioned Jonelle in a speech about missing children. He has lived in the Aurora/Southeast Denver Metro area since 1965 and is an expert Getting ready for a yard project? Jim Matthews: Yeah, right out of my garage. The detective said there was very little record of the investigation. As a result, Steve Pankey was arrested and taken under custody. The man, who tried to threaten Justice Brett Kavanaugh with his life, was arrested with the joint efforts of the U.S. Mayor John Gates: I had met him in about the mid-1970s. First Lady Lindsey Graham #TheView pic.twitter.com/qBNs4GjqEI. Pankey Viorst believed it was possible for Drake to have left directly after the show ended to commit the crimes against Jonelle. The other counts were were far more complex than that, in my opinion. Before stepping down from the stand, Pankeys sister confirmed she refused to talk about the case with police on April 15. But just five days before Christmas, Greeley learned it could not hide from evil. Anthony Viorst says his client has an alibi. We're leaving before daylight tomorrow morning to go to Big Bear for Christmas.". DA MICHAEL ROURKE: The search for justice for Jonelle begins today. Moroever, the case remained hanging for more than 35 years until the remains of the young girl were discovered in 2019. He is a political candidate run Top 10 Highest Paid Female Model In The World. Greeley Mayor and former police officer John Gates knew Steven Pankey, and says he was not considered a person of interest in the early days when Jonelle first disappeared. Mark told Viorst he had no recollection of a red-orange car, which multiple people testified seeing Pankey drive, including Hicks. Produced by Judy Rybak. Right off the bat, Barr, Pankeys sister who is four years younger than the 70-year-old suspect, identified Pankey. Remember those footprints in the snow that somebody, possibly Jonelle's abductor, tried to conceal using a garden rake? he's a firm adherent to the Ten Commandments, which include thou shalt not kill. They never had conversations about his life, and she said she had to stay out of his business.. Anthony Viorst: That's the kind of thing that's happened to Mr. Pankey over the years. 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.. Mayor John Gates: They were confirmed by the coroner to be those of Jonelle Matthews. (Courtesy of Angela Hicks) ANTHONY VIORST: Norris Drake had an interest in young girls who had recently reached puberty, exactly what Jonelle was, exactly. LOCAL NEWS REPORT: 12-year-old Jonelle Matthews disappeared from her Greeley home. Jim Matthews was eventually cleared. Jim Matthews: No, because I know my daughter well enough that number one, it's Christmas time. Richard Schlesinger: Arguably? He had compulsions, including touching walls multiple times before he left the room and coming back to re-touch the walls, as well as pacing. It's believed she's the victim of a kidnapping. He's had periodic sort of spats with people because he is an irascible, prickly guy. he's ran for governor two times. During the process of forming a file, Hicks was asked to write comments on newspaper stories and give them to the department. In 2020, Steven Pankey, who says he never met Jonelle, was charged with murder after repeatedly making public statements that inserted him into the case, including drawing up a list of persons of interest with his own name on it. With no real evidence of what happened to the 12-year-old, the case went cold. He lost, but Pankey still wanted to be sheriff somewhere. The department issued a statement Friday in which it called Pankey a person of interest in the murder investigation of Jonelle Matthews.. Nancy Kramer is the executive story editor. Yeah, he worked for my father. Anthony Viorst: It's not a good way. That's when Jonelle went to sing in a school choir concert. The former Colorado man ran for governor in Idaho three times, losing in the primary elections. WebPankey, 71, is on trial for the 1984 kidnapping and murder of Jonelle Matthews. 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. At the time, Pankey was a youth minister at Sunny View Church of the Nazarene in Greeley. The police and court records of what happened with the charges are no longer available. As the trial proceeded, Viorst questioned Hicks about the amount of cars the family had over the years, as well as how many guns Pankey had in his possession. Richard Schlesinger: See, that's weird. Viorst asked if Pankey was ever unfaithful. Although, later in life, Pankey started collecting guns, including an older gun given to him by his sister, Teri Barr. The day before the 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 When Steven Pankey swore to tell the truth and nothing but the truth, Gloria and Jim Matthews were hoping to finally get to the truth, about their daughter, Jonelle's, murder. Steve Pankey, person of interest in Colorado murder cold case In the video, Viorsts alternative suspect was accused of being the first person to tell different sources about this unknown information not available to the public. ANGELA HICKS: "No more music, no TV, no radio, no newspapers. On the night Jonelle went missing, Pankey said, he was home with his then-wife. For the record, the Constitution Party denies Pankey or anyone else was exorcised at least by them. Like his father, Pankey also believed in these viewpoints, according to Hicks. Pankey, 71, is on trial for the second time for her kidnapping and murder. 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. They never released the information about the rake. However, Olson said he called and left a voicemail after obtaining the first letter. He agreed they were listening to the radio on their way back to Greeley. In his closing argument, Viorst, who's a lawyer, not a psychiatrist, raised serious questions about his client's mental health. Wells argued Al Dominguez, the district attorney of Weld County during that time, previously testified he never touched nor came across Jonelles case. 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. He testified that in the past he had lied about his knowledge of the case. But as it turns out, when Jonelle vanished in 1984, Pankey lived in Greeley about two miles from the Matthew home. Politician Lord Frost is one of the most prominent figures in the English government. Hicks had no recollection of Pankey being away the night Jonelle went missing or that night being different from other nights since her husband would come home anytime between 4-11 p.m. on most days, Hicks told Viorst. On December 20, 1984, a 14-year-old girl, Jonelle Mathews was kidnapped from her home in Colorado, never to return. "It began as a series of lies, and it got bigger and bigger over the years," Pankey told the jury. But apparently Pankey knew. Pankey went on trial in October 2021. Steve Pankey trial Day 11: Two of Pankeys family members Pankey said he wants his story to be heard in case he is arrested. Republican candidate for Governor in Idaho Steve Pankey ran on being a Trump supporter who espoused traditional core values with a biblical and constitutional perspective. He is now on trial for murdering a 12 year old girl. Steve Pankey Jim Matthews: We knew that we wanted to give her a dignified burial and I'm not a real emotional person. Steve Pankey Around that same time, Steven Pankey, his young son and his wife, who was pregnant with their second son, also left Greeley. A recorded video was conducted during the Nov. 19, 1989 interview of Drake, and fragments of the video were played Wednesday morning. Hicks stated Viorst, sounded like a bully in the first voicemail, which is why she never returned his calls. Its the new home of High Plains Bank in Wiggins. Pankey said he had brushes with the law in Colorado before Jonelles disappearance that led police to mistrust him. Jim Matthews takes the stand in the trial of the man accused of the kidnapping and murder of his 12-year-old daughter Jonelle. She turned herself in to police last Wednesday. to some extent, we're going to just have to face that. When it comes to landscape Did you know Your Butcher, Frank has super tasty delicatessen salads? Richard Schlesinger: So, you've really gotta believe these prosecution witnesses to convict this guy. And then I'd say other things and he'd say, "well, that's bull nobody's going to buy that.". Richard Schlesinger: What made that campaign a dumpster fire? But Pankey has never been a man with clear answers. And she could not go on with hers. JIM MATTHEWS | Jonelle's father [on the witness stand]: She could have been lured out of the house and gullible because she was 12 years old. KELLY WERTHMANN: Did you kill Jonelle Matthews? DA ROBERT MILLER: He's not someone that has a mental health disorder, he's a master manipulator. She loves presents. Hes my brother, and I love him, she said with a smile. [Update] Steve Pankey has been arrested for the 1984 murder of Jonelle's father Jim says the fast-breaking news about Pankey surprised him. 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. During Statler's testimony, he indicated he received a call from Pankey three weeks after Jonelle's disappearance. "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. It's a case that has haunted the small Colorado city of Greeley. Mayor John Gates: I think that part might've fit into the no-brainer category. The boys body was discovered in a storage unit in the 5000 block of E. Hicks confirmed nothing was ever found on their property after law enforcement searched where Pankey was digging in their yard. STEVEN PANKEY: So, the truth is that I made a lot of stuff up out of bitterness. The media interviews Pankey did in 2019 was another aspect Barr named when addressing his behavior. But Jim Matthews, who joined that same church not long after Pankey left, says there's another commandment Pankey seems to be having trouble with: thou shalt not bear false witness. Police stopped investigating him when his mother told them Drake was still with her in her house at the time Jonelle is believed to have disappeared. But by then, defense attorney Anthony Viorst had silenced his chatty new client. Pankey was a secretive man during their marriage, Hicks said. STEVE PANKEY [to KMVT]: They searched this place, they took my laptop . Ryan Horsley: I was kind of confused because our local sheriff actually went to our church. Steve Pankey found guilty in 1984 murder of Jonelle Matthews PRESIDENT RONALD REAGAN [March 7, 1985]: I learned about Jonelle Matthews of Greeley, Colorado. There was one occasion where he made comments about how attractive younger girls were at the pool. Reward offered as manhunt for Texas shooting suspect reaches "dead end", Louisiana's health care deserts put women, babies at risk, doctors say, How a tall Texan became an unlikely Australian rules football star, Second convoy of U.S. citizens fleeing Khartoum arrives at Port Sudan, ISIS chief killed by Turkey's intelligence agency, Erdogan says, General Mills issues Gold Medal flour recall over salmonella concerns, Investors sue Adidas over Kanye West Yeezy deal, Tornado flips cars, downs trees after touching down in South Florida, Shaquil Barrett's 2-year-old daughter dies in drowning accident. On July 4, 2008, the couples youngest son, Carl, was murdered at age 20, and their family came together to celebrate his life with a memorial service. Norris Drake died in 2007, but many thought Viorst's theory about him helped Pankey's case. 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. I am giving you bits and pieces of evidence that hasnt been released, Olson said in the full 1989 interview with Drake, according to Wells. Hicks told Viorst she never had any suspicions of Pankey having a sexual interest in anyone other than adults.

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