Who killed Jonelle Matthews? What her suspected killer Steve Pankey mentioned on the witness stand

It was December 1984 when 12-year-old Jonelle Matthews vanished from her household’s Greeley, Colorado house. The one proof left behind have been shoeprints within the snow – shoeprints somebody tried to erase with a backyard rake. The case drew nationwide consideration. 

Greater than three many years later, in 2019, Jonelle’s physique was discovered by a crew digging a pipeline. In 2020, Steven Pankey, who says he by no means met Jonelle, was charged with homicide after repeatedly making public statements that inserted him into the case, together with drawing up an inventory of individuals of curiosity together with his personal identify on it. Pankey went on trial in October 2021.

Anthony Viorst, Pankey’s former legal professional, says Pankey craves consideration however isn’t a assassin.

“[T]here is no indication that he dedicated this homicide, no indication that he had something to do with burying the physique. Mr. Pankey needed to be an individual of curiosity. … Mr. Pankey loves the limelight … all the statements that he has made about his culpability have been, ‘I did not do it,'” Viorst informed “48 hours” correspondent Richard Schlesinger as he prepped for the trial.

At trial, Viorst informed the jury that Pankey was a true-crime junkie. And Pankey himself took the stand.

“It was simply me making an attempt to be an enormous man, be within the case, OK? I had no data,” Pankey mentioned.

“It started as a collection of lies, and it bought larger and larger over time,” Pankey informed the jury. “One lie results in one other.”

If Pankey did not kill Jonelle Matthews, then who did?

A HAUNTING CASE

It had been practically 4 many years since Jonelle Matthews was kidnapped from her house and murdered. Now, her mother and father have been lastly in a courtroom determined for solutions.

JIM MATTHEWS | Jonelle’s father [on the witness stand]: She may have been lured out of the home and gullible as a result of she was 12 years previous.

Kelly Werthmann: This was a second that this group had been ready for a very long time.

Kelly Werthmann is a reporter and anchor for Denver’s CBS station, KCNC.

Kelly Werthmann: Individuals have been prepared. However … it was intense.

It is a case that has haunted the small Colorado metropolis of Greeley.

Darla Jentzsch: All of us lived with our entrance doorways open.

Deanna Ross: We rode our bikes rather a lot round city.

Jonelle Matthews’ mates Darla Jentzsch and Deanna Ross keep in mind rising up with Jonelle.

Deanna Ross: We had sleepovers, birthday events. We simply had an enormous group of mates.

It is the sort of city realtors wish to name “an ideal place to boost children.”

Darla Jentzsch: I am so lucky that we have been neighbors.

However simply 5 days earlier than Christmas, Greeley discovered it couldn’t cover from evil.

LOCAL NEWS REPORT: 12-year-old Jonelle Matthews disappeared from her Greeley house. … It is believed she’s the sufferer of a kidnapping.

Darla Jentzsch: It was such a thriller, this entire factor occurred.

Similar to that, Darla misplaced her childhood pal.

Richard Schlesinger: Do you keep in mind being afraid?

Darla Jentzsch: Oh, yeah. I keep in mind being afraid.

Deanna Ross: As a group, it rocked Greeley.

LOCAL NEWS REPORT: Jonelle Matthews will flip 13 in two weeks. Nobody is aware of the place she’ll spend her birthday.

Richard Schlesinger: You would be the final individuals to whom one thing like this might occur, I’d suppose.

Jim Matthews: Mmm.

Gloria Matthews: Yeah.

Jim and Gloria Matthews had moved to Greeley simply six years earlier, to boost their younger daughters Jennifer and Jonelle.

Jennifer Mogensen: We have been completely happy.

Richard Schlesinger: Had been you an in depth household?

Jim Matthews: Undoubtedly. … Gloria was working at a restaurant. And I used to be an elementary principal. … We have been very concerned in our church. And we simply had a really full life.

At the least they did till that evening — December 20. That is when Jonelle went to sing in a faculty choir live performance.

Jim Matthews: She was thinking about any sort of performing factor.

Afterwards she bought a trip house with Deanna Ross and Deanna’s father. That was about 8 p.m.

Deanna Ross: Jonelle wanted a trip house … so she hopped in our truck and we took her house. … My dad waited till he noticed her flick on the sunshine. That was our signal that she made it inside and the whole lot’s nice.

Richard Schlesinger: And also you drove off considering what?

Deanna Ross: That I might see her the following day, in school.

Jim Matthews: I got here house on my own.

Jim Matthews recollects arriving house at about 9:30 p.m. and located that his daughter wasn’t there.

Richard Schlesinger: Did it happen to you that possibly she … had run away?

Jim Matthews: No, as a result of I do know my daughter properly sufficient that primary, it is Christmas time. She loves presents. She simply loves the entire festivities of Christmas.

At first, he thought Jonelle was at a pal’s home, however after calling round and ready a couple of half hour to an hour, Jim says he referred to as police.

Jim Matthews: They despatched two or three detectives out and began looking out the home for clues.

Mayor John Gates: I keep in mind that evening prefer it was yesterday.

Greeley’s Mayor John Gates was 27 years previous on the time, and a police officer. He was referred to as to the scene.

Mayor John Gates: My project that evening … was … going across the neighborhood, knocking on doorways … asking them if they’d seen or heard something suspicious that night.

Nobody had seen or heard something, and the Matthews house, which was now against the law scene, provided few clues.

The one bodily proof have been these footprints within the contemporary snow. They have been discovered simply exterior the home. And there was one thing odd about them.

Jim Matthews: Whoever did it, tried to rake their footprints.

Richard Schlesinger: And he was utilizing, what, a backyard rake?

Jim Matthews: Yeah, proper out of my storage.

Richard Schlesinger: Oh, to cowl them up.

Jim Matthews: Yeah, yeah.

Richard Schlesinger: Peculiar, huh?

Jim Matthews: [laughs] Sure.

There have been no fingerprints and if there was DNA, legislation enforcement was nonetheless a number of years from having the ability to analyze it. With nothing else to go on, investigators targeted on Jim Matthews himself.

Richard Schlesinger: What was it like so that you can be thought-about a suspect in your daughter’s disappearance?

Jim Matthews: For the longest time I knew precisely what they have been doing, and I revered it.

He even agreed to a lie detector take a look at, with an FBI agent.

Jim Matthews: The primary interrogator west of the Mississippi.

Jim says the agent informed him he failed.

Jim Matthews: I simply saved telling him, I mentioned, “Hear, I am telling you the reality. I am telling you the whole lot I do know.” Then they’d one other one with the native police. That is once I began dropping it. I mentioned pay attention, “I’ve been very sincere, I have been accessible to you any time you needed, however I am getting sick of this as a result of I’m harmless.”

Jim was finally cleared, leaving no suspects or leads. A gaggle of Greeley residents labored arduous to maintain Jonelle’s story alive. 

Jim Matthews: The Rescue Jonelle Committee … made every kind of issues occur.

They made headlines. Jonelle turned one of many first lacking youngsters whose photograph appeared on milk cartons throughout America.

And even President Ronald Reagan bought concerned. He talked about Jonelle in a speech about lacking youngsters.

PRESIDENT RONALD REAGAN [March 7, 1985]: I discovered about Jonelle Matthews of Greeley, Colorado. … 5 days earlier than Christmas, Jonelle disappeared from her house.

However Jonelle’s household and mates may solely appeal to that sort of consideration for therefore lengthy.  With no actual proof of what occurred to the 12-year-old, the case went chilly. However Jonelle was removed from forgotten.

Gloria Matthews: In all places we went I used to be all the time searching for her … I all the time had hope that I’d discover her. … in my goals she all the time got here house. You already know, she all the time got here house. 

However in actuality, there was no signal of Jonelle.

LOCAL NEWS REPORT: A serious improvement to let you know about in a thriller that’s greater than three many years previous.

After which on July 23, 2019, practically 35 years after Jonelle’s disappearance, police lastly had that breaking information to share.

Jennifer Mogensen: Wow.

Deanna Ross: It was a whole shock.

A crew digging a pipeline in a distant stretch of land simply southeast of Greeley had found human stays with a gunshot wound to the top.

Mayor John Gates: They have been confirmed by the coroner to be these of Jonelle Matthews.

It was agony for Jonelle’s mom Gloria, who may now not hope her daughter would come house.

Gloria Matthews: We’re going to know that she was murdered [crying].

The query was, who killed Jonelle?

STEVE PANKEY [to KMVT]: I heard {that a} woman was lacking from Greeley, Colorado.

Police may need been nearer to a solution than they knew.

STEVE PANKEY [to KMVT]: I lived in Greeley, Colorado, from 1973 …

Steve Pankey was as soon as a candidate for governor of Idaho.

STEVE PANKEY [Idaho Statesman political ad]: I am one of many individuals who desires to symbolize you.

He was an individual who certain was within the case.

STEVE PANKEY [to KMVT]: I contacted the FBI.

And made himself an individual of curiosity.

STEVE PANKEY [to KMVT]: I knew greater than I needed to know, OK.

STEVE PANKEY [to KMVT]: I informed the FBI I need to speak to you. It might or could not have one thing to do with the Jonelle Matthews case.

A COLD CASE HEATS UP

In September 2019, simply weeks after discovering the stays of 12-year-old Jonelle Matthews, the case that had been so chilly for therefore lengthy shortly heated up. Authorities searched a house in Twin Falls, Idaho.

STEVE PANKEY [to KMVT]: They have full SWAT gear on. They have rifles they usually’re pointing them at me.

It belonged to Steven Pankey.

In a matter of days, the search was everywhere in the information, however not as a result of police have been speaking.

STEVE PANKEY [to KMVT]: Do not spit in my face. Do not accuse me …

It was Steven Pankey who began speaking — to only about anybody who would pay attention, together with CBS affiliate KMVT.

STEVE PANKEY [to KMVT]: I’ve by no means met Jonelle Matthews … I’ve by no means met anyone in her household …

STEVE PANKEY [to KMVT]: Ensure that the viewers hear that … I voluntarily gave my DNA. I provided to take a polygraph.

Police will not straight affirm any of that.

Kelly Werthmann interviewed Pankey for CBSDenver over FaceTime. 

STEVE PANKEY [to Werthmann]: If I gave my DNA, that will be kinda like a knockout blow …

Kelly Werthmann: He actually needed to make himself clear that he was framed.

KELLY WERTHMANN: Did you kill Jonelle Matthews?

STEVE PANKEY: [Laughs] Completely not.

“48 Hours” tried to get our personal interview with Pankey.

Richard Schlesinger: Would you allow us to speak to your consumer?

Anthony Viorst: No. I cannot.

However by then, protection legal professional Anthony Viorst had silenced his chatty new consumer.

Anthony Viorst: Mr. Pankey likes to speak. He does. … to some extent, we’ll simply must face that.

Jonelle’s father Jim says the fast-breaking information about Pankey shocked him.

Jim Matthews: We had by no means heard the identify Steve Pankey. … We have been completely clueless about this man.

However because it seems, when Jonelle vanished in 1984, Pankey lived in Greeley — about two miles from the Matthew house.

STEVE PANKEY [to KMVT]: On the time I used to be married. And … I had a 5-year-old son.

Greeley was a lot smaller then and Pankey was identified round city.

Mayor John Gates: I had met him in concerning the mid-Nineteen Seventies. 

Richard Schlesinger: You keep in mind that?

Mayor John Gates: I do. Yeah, he labored for my father. … sure, I keep in mind assembly him. 

Greeley Mayor and former police officer John Gates knew Steven Pankey, and says he was not thought-about an individual of curiosity within the early days when Jonelle first disappeared.

Richard Schlesinger: Was Pankey questioned in any respect within the early days of this investigation?

Mayor John Gates: To not my data.

Anthony Viorst says his consumer has an alibi.

Richard Schlesinger: The place was he the evening Jonelle Matthews disappeared?

Anthony Viorst: He was at house that evening together with his spouse and little one.

Pankey says the morning after Jonelle disappeared, he and his household left Greeley for 5 days.

STEVE PANKEY [to KMVT]: We went to California to be with my mother and father for Christmas.

STEVE PANKEY [to KMVT]: On the twenty sixth we have been driving again. And I heard on the automobile radio {that a} woman was lacking from Greeley, Colorado. … after all, you understand, you suppose that is horrible, however plenty of children go lacking, you understand.

That is what he says he thought at first, however a month after Jonelle’s disappearance, Pankey all of the sudden inserted himself straight into the center of this case and volunteered some details about Jonelle’s disappearance.

STEVE PANKEY [to KMVT]:  I contacted the Fort Collins FBI workplace.  … I mentioned … “I need to speak to you. It might or could not have one thing to do with the Jonelle Matthews case.”

Steve Pankey claims that seven days after Jonelle disappeared, his father-in-law — a groundskeeper at a Greeley cemetery — shared some disturbing info.

STEVE PANKEY [to KMVT]:  He informed me {that a} cop had contacted him and mentioned that he had a physique he needed to be buried.

Pankey informed KMVT that he shared the knowledge with the FBI, as a result of he feared that in some way somebody could be making an attempt to implicate him in Jonelle’s homicide.

STEVE PANKEY [to KMVT]:  I need to no less than be on document that I talked to you, so I do not get probably an obstruction of justice cost.

It is a wild sounding story and “48 Hours” cannot affirm it and even that he went to the FBI. Legislation enforcement information present that Pankey had different unrelated run-ins with Greeley police. They describe principally minor and non-violent allegations, like making a nuisance and harassment. In reality, the day earlier than Jonelle disappeared, Pankey was arrested at a financial institution for harassment and felony trespass.

Anthony Viorst: He argued with a financial institution teller and the police have been referred to as.

The police and courtroom information of what occurred with the fees are now not accessible.

Anthony Viorst: That is the sort of factor that is occurred to Mr. Pankey over time. He is had periodic type of spats with individuals as a result of he’s an irascible, prickly man.

However police clearly suppose it is greater than that and appear to be trying intently at Pankey’s previous — probably together with a case from 1977, when a 26-year-old Pankey was charged with sexually assaulting a girl he met in church.

In a four-hour episode of the “Unfound” podcast recorded in November 2019, Pankey claims he was relationship his accuser.

STEVE PANKEY [“Unfound” podcast]: In 1977, I used to be a youth pastor on the … church.

STEVE PANKEY [“Unfound” podcast]: She was 23 years previous.

Anthony Viorst: There was a sexual encounter. And she or he later mentioned it was nonconsensual.

The girl finally requested that the case be dismissed.

Anthony Viorst: It has nothing to do with this case. Nothing. … he is a agency adherent to the Ten Commandments, which embrace thou shalt not kill.

However Jim Matthews, who joined that very same church not lengthy after Pankey left, says there’s one other commandment Pankey appears to be having hassle with: thou shalt not bear false witness.

Jim Matthews: He was not a youth employee at our church. He was the janitor.

Richard Schlesinger: Do you consider that he was a menace to youngsters in that church? 

Gloria Matthews: We do not know. 

However Anthony Viorst says he is not fearful

Anthony Viorst: There is not any bodily proof in any way to attach Mr. Pankey to this crime. Zero bodily proof, OK?

John Gates is aware of the proof is circumstantial, however he believes it’s as robust as it’s unusual.

Mayor John Gates: That is … a number of the most weird stuff I’ve ever heard, and I have been across the block.

THE SERIAL POLITICAL CANDIDATE

About two years after 12-year-old Jonelle Matthews vanished from her house in Greeley, Colorado, her household made the painful determination to pack up and depart city.

Jim Matthews: You must go on with life. You possibly can’t let this eat you.

Round that very same time, Steven Pankey, his younger son and his spouse, who was pregnant with their second son, additionally left Greeley. The Pankey household bounced round from state to state for some time. In 1989, they settled in Idaho, however Pankey admits he couldn’t cease fascinated with Jonelle.

STEVE PANKEY [to KMVT]: It will be at the back of my thoughts about this case … so I referred to as … the man who lived subsequent door … I simply requested, “did they ever resolve that Jonelle Matthews factor?” And he mentioned, no, to not his data.

However Pankey may need been extra than simply curious. In 1999 he informed the Idaho Supreme Court docket, after a conviction for as soon as once more inflicting a scene in a financial institution, that the conviction — which was dismissed years later — was partly an “try to power” him “to change into an informant” in Jonelle’s disappearance. He additionally wrote that he feared he would possibly “get the demise penalty for revealing the placement of” her physique. 

Richard Schlesinger: See, that is bizarre. I imply, why would he say that if he did not know the place Jonelle Matthews was buried?

Anthony Viorst: Nicely, here is what I am going to say, Richard. I agree with you that it is bizarre …  It simply makes zero sense. It is simply — he’s an odd man. … and we submit that … he by no means knew the place the physique was as a result of he did not do that.

However over time there was much more unusual habits, moments that, authorities consider add as much as circumstantial proof. 

Richard Schlesinger: What did you consider him? How did he appear to you?

Kevin Schneider: Very odd.

Kevin Schneider says he met the Pankey household after they first moved to Idaho. His son was mates with Pankey’s son, Mark.

Richard Schlesinger: Did your son ever see any uncommon issues on the Pankey home when he was over there?

Kevin Schneider: Sure, he did. One time, I suppose their household canine was doing numerous barking, and it was irritating Steven. And he took duct tape and wrapped it across the canine’s muzzle.

Richard Schlesinger: Ohh.

Pankey denies he ever did that, however Kevin says Pankey’s son Mark was so sad dwelling at house that the Schneiders took him in for about six years.

Kevin Schneider: He could not take his dad.

In 2001, Pankey’s spouse filed for divorce, and he moved to Shoshone, Idaho, the place in 2004 with none expertise with legislation enforcement, aside from being arrested, he ran for sheriff.

He misplaced, however Pankey nonetheless needed to be sheriff someplace. In 2008, he thought of operating in Twin Falls, the place he went to church with Ryan Horsley, a political guide.

Ryan Horsley: I used to be sort of confused as a result of our native sheriff really went to our church.

Richard Schlesinger: He needed to run in opposition to … a fellow church member?

Ryan Horsley: Yeah. … it simply appeared actually bizarre that he did not have a grievance in opposition to our native sheriff … And so simply appeared like he was simply operating simply to run.

Pankey may need thought higher about operating in Twin Falls. In 2008, he ran for sheriff in Shoshone as soon as once more. And, as soon as once more, he did not come near successful. However his political ambitions grew, and he turned a serial candidate.

Ryan Horsley: He is ran for lieutenant governor as soon as. … he is ran for governor two instances. … And one of many instances he ran for governor was an actual dumpster hearth.

Richard Schlesinger: What made that marketing campaign a dumpster hearth?

Ryan Horsley: He ran underneath the Constitutional Get together. … at their state conference, he claimed that they tried to do an exorcism on him.

Richard Schlesinger: I am sorry, did you say an exorcism?

Ryan Horsley: Sure.

Richard Schlesinger: I do know that you are a politician and never a priest, however did he appear in want of an exorcism? 

Ryan Horsley: It simply appeared unusual. I used to be simply sort of glued to the headlines this entire time on simply his tales — that they simply did not make sense.

For the document, the Structure Get together denies Pankey or anybody else was exorcised — no less than by them. In 2018, Pankey made a second try at changing into governor and to nobody’s shock, he misplaced. Ryan Horsley says that is when Pankey began amassing weapons.

Ryan Horsley: Out of the blue he started, um, buying firearms … and later came upon that Greeley Police Division had been contacting him relating to this homicide investigation.

And 6 weeks after Jonelle’s stays have been found, authorities have been at Pankey’s entrance door with a search warrant.

STEVE PANKEY [to KMVT]: They searched this place, they took my laptop computer …

Pankey had an fascinating subsequent transfer: he ran for sheriff once more.

Ryan Horsley: I believe that was his last-ditch effort, truthfully.

Richard Schlesinger: To do what?

Ryan Horsley: To halt any investigation, to halt him getting arrested.

It did not work.

DA MICHAEL ROURKE [to reporters]: It’s with nice honor at present that we announce that the grand jury indicted a person named Steven Dana Pankey for the kidnapping and homicide of Jonelle Matthews.

On October 12, 2020, police arrested Steven Pankey for kidnapping and first-degree homicide.

CHIEF MARK JONES [to reporters]: To the Matthews household, I pray that this information brings you some closure and hope as we proceed to pursue justice for Jonelle and your loved ones.

Protection legal professional Anthony Viorst says the case in opposition to his consumer is only a weak and circumstantial assortment of unusual behaviors.

Anthony Viorst: I do not wish to reveal my protection, you understand, on nationwide tv … however I do not suppose it is going to be any shock once I let you know that they have no motive in any way for this crime … there’s completely no indication Mr. Pankey knew this woman … knew the place she lived … had any want to kill her.

However the District Lawyer’s Workplace felt they’d sufficient proof to go to trial. And on October 13, 2021, a jury was seated and able to hear the case.

THE CASE AGAINST STEVEN PANKEY

In August 2019, practically 35 years after Jonelle vanished, Gloria and Jim Matthews have been lastly capable of lay her to relaxation.

Jim Matthews: We knew that we needed to provide her a dignified burial and … I am not an actual emotional particular person. However boy, simply the floodgates opened up for each of us.

However there was no relaxation for the Matthews. They needed to wait a bit greater than two years —till October 2021, for this second: opening statements within the trial of Steven Pankey.

DA MICHAEL ROURKE: The seek for justice for Jonelle begins at present.

DA MICHAEL ROURKE: The proof on this case will show … that the defendant is responsible of homicide within the first diploma and second-degree kidnapping.

Greeley Mayor John Gates was on the witness listing.

Richard Schlesinger: What have been the challenges dealing with the prosecution?

Mayor John Gates: Nicely, I believe from a legislation enforcement perspective, the truth that … the case was 37 years previous. … The massive factor in policing now could be DNA. That, after all, would not exist.

Richard Schlesinger: The issue is there is no bodily proof.

Mayor John Gates: Proper. 

Richard Schlesinger: So, you’ve got actually gotta consider these prosecution witnesses to convict this man.

Mayor John Gates: No query.

After all, the prosecution additionally has Pankey’s personal phrases. He spent years insisting he had very important details about what occurred to Jonelle Matthews.

DA Michael Rourke: He wasn’t an individual of curiosity. And but he picks up the cellphone. And he calls Detective Jack Stotler and he identifies himself as a ordained Baptist minister. He claimed that he had contact with anyone who had details about Jonelle’s disappearance. However he did not hand over the knowledge.

“48 Hours” interviewed Pankey’s legal professional Anthony Viorst as he was making ready for trial.

Richard Schlesinger: Why would he interject himself into the case?

Anthony Viorst: I can not reply that as a result of I can not get into his head however, however I do suppose … it is a mixture of type of obsessive-compulsive habits and you understand, even perhaps psychological sickness.

Mayor Gates thinks there’s loads of proof in opposition to Pankey.

Mayor John Gates: Essentially the most robust proof to me is the best way Mr. Pankey performed himself from the time this occurred up till his indictment.  …The bucket of weird means rather a lot to me. … It builds a very, actually robust circumstantial case, in my thoughts.

Richard Schlesinger: Nicely, in some unspecified time in the future, your— your identify got here outta that bucket of weird.

Mayor John Gates: Sure — it did.

And that is why Gates turned a prosecution witness. He testified a couple of name he bought again in 2019, a couple of weird declare Pankey made in a letter to the media.

MAYOR JOHN GATES: I used to be … sitting at my desk in the future a while again. And had a name from a journalist in Idaho. … that informed me that I might been named as an individual of curiosity on this case by Mr. Pankey. And I believe my jaw most likely hit my desk, and I mentioned, “What?”

In one other jaw-dropping transfer, in that very same letter Pankey additionally named himself as an individual of curiosity, whereas nonetheless insisting he is harmless.

Anthony Viorst: Mr. Pankey loves the limelight. He simply does, for no matter purpose.

Richard Schlesinger: It is a hell of a approach to get the limelight. Is not it?

Anthony Viorst: It is not a great way. … I would not advocate it to anybody.

For Pankey, it may need began getting a bit scorching underneath the limelight, if you’ll, when the state’s star witness, Angela Hicks, took the stand.

She is Steven Pankey’s ex-wife.

DA ROBERT MILLER: Describe what occurs on December 21 at your home.

That was simply in the future after Jonelle disappeared. Angela Hicks says her then-husband got here house and seemingly out of the blue, introduced they have been leaving on that journey to California — they usually have been leaving shortly.

ANGELA HICKS: He mentioned, “get us able to go. We’re leaving earlier than daylight tomorrow morning to go to Massive Bear for Christmas.”

Hicks says on their means again to Greeley, Pankey insisted she activate the radio. She says that shocked her as a result of Pankey had forbidden radio and tv use of their home, a couple of 12 months earlier.

ANGELA HICKS: “No extra music, no TV, no radio, no newspapers. That is going to be a godly house.”

However Angela Hicks says that day, her ex-husband was obsessed — making her flip the dial in the hunt for information about Jonelle’s disappearance.

DA ROBERT MILLER: How lengthy have been you driving as you flipped stations searching for information tales about Jonelle Matthews?

ANGELA HICKS: Um, I imply, a number of hours.

As soon as again in Greeley, she says Pankey drove proper previous their home, straight to the grocery retailer, the place he made her purchase the native papers and seek for information about Jonelle.

ANGELA HICKS: He needed me to learn every article out loud to him.

Hicks mentioned Pankey, over time, would convey up Jonelle or react unusually when others did. And she or he bought actually involved when she discovered a be aware within the trash.

ANGELA HICKS: And one of many issues notated in his handwriting on this piece of authorized paper was snow exterior the Matthews home was raked.

Bear in mind these footprints within the snow that anyone, probably Jonelle’s abductor, tried to hide utilizing a backyard rake? Prosecutors say solely the Matthews household, investigators and presumably the killer knew about them. However apparently Pankey knew. He even talked about them in a 2019 dialog, with investigators. 

Anthony Viorst: That’s arguably the one piece of proof that arguably ties Mr. Pankey to the crime. I imply …

Richard Schlesinger: Arguably? They by no means launched the details about the rake.

Anthony Viorst: So, here is what I am going to say … It is our place that it was divulged by legislation enforcement. All proper?

Richard Schlesinger: By the police.

Anthony Viorst: Yeah, they informed him. All proper?

And moreover, Viorst informed the jury that Pankey wasn’t the one one who knew about these raked footprints.

ANTHONY VIORST: Norris Drake, Girls and gents, knew that the footprints have been raked. 

Norris Drake. Viorst claims that he’s Jonelle’s killer. Within the years after Jonelle disappeared, Drake was arrested on a number of unrelated misdemeanor fees.

ANTHONY VIORST: Norris Drake murdered Jonelle Matthews.

Kelly Werthmann: I imply, as a reporter, you begin lookin’ round … tryin’ to do some looking out of who this particular person is.

Kelly Werthmann and others protecting the trial had by no means heard the identify Norris Drake earlier than, however—in contrast to Pankey—Drake had been questioned by police about Jonelle’s disappearance. His mom and sister lived throughout the road from the Matthews house, and he was at his mom’s home the evening Jonelle was taken.

Kelly Werthmann: There have been no indicators of a battle contained in the Matthews house … he may’ve been somebody that Jonelle had both seen earlier than … She would possibly’ve willingly opened the door, let him in; would possibly’ve willingly gone with him if he had mentioned … “one thing occurred to your loved ones, include me.”

ANTHONY VIORST: In order that’s why there was no battle, all proper? As a result of Norris Drake bought her to depart the home. 

On the evening Jonelle vanished, Drake was unaccounted for for a number of hours. However when did he go lacking? Police stopped investigating him when his mom informed them Drake was nonetheless together with her — in her home — on the time Jonelle is believed to have disappeared. 

Kelly Werthman: But it surely raised some vital and, I believe, vital questions.

And Viorst had extra, based mostly on testimony by a former girlfriend of Drake’s.

ANTHONY VIORST: Norris Drake had an curiosity in younger women who had lately reached puberty, precisely what Jonelle was, precisely.

Norris Drake died in 2007, however many thought Viorst’s principle about him helped Pankey’s case. However probably the most talkative particular person on this case had but to be heard from. Pankey himself would take the stand.

DA MICHAEL ROURKE The truest factor you’ve got ever mentioned is you are a grasp manipulator, proper?

STEVEN PANKEY: Perhaps.

PANKEY TAKES THE STAND

When Steven Pankey swore to inform the reality and nothing however the reality, Gloria and Jim Matthews have been hoping to lastly get to the reality, about their daughter, Jonelle’s, homicide.

Jim Matthews: Hopefully we’ll know the situation of what occurred that evening.

However Pankey has by no means been a person with clear solutions.

STEVEN PANKEY: Within the little jail cubicle earlier than developing right here, I used to be praying and I used to be considering, God, possibly I should not testify … As a result of I might be simply telling extra lies. 

Now underneath oath, Pankey mentioned it was time to say honestly that he was liar … till now.

STEVEN PANKEY: So, the reality is that I made numerous stuff up out of bitterness.

Like that story he as soon as informed legislation enforcement about his father-in-law.

STEVEN PANKEY: He informed me {that a} cop had contacted him and mentioned that he had a physique he needed to be buried.

STEVEN PANKEY: I had informed so many lies.

That was one in every of many lies, says Pankey, meant to focus on individuals he hated, like his father-in-law, and Mayor John Gates.

STEVEN PANKEY: It was a well mannered means of flipping them the chicken. It was pure hatred on my half.

Richard Schlesinger:  Is that in any means plausible to you?

Mayor John Gates: It is to not me, ah, Richard. However take into account, I am a 26-year legislation enforcement veteran. So, I could be a bit extra cynical than the typical particular person.

STEVEN PANKEY: It was simply me making an attempt to be an enormous man, be within the case, OK? I had no data. 

Pankey made an uncommon witness in his personal protection.

STEVEN PANKEY: … one lie results in one other.

Pankey says it was lies that led to him being charged with homicide, however not his lies; his ex-wife Angela Hicks’ lies fueled by her want for revenge.

STEVEN PANKEY: I had by no means imagined Angie can be as large a liar as I’m. 

Pankey refuted his ex-wife’s declare that their journey to California two mornings after Jonelle disappeared was sudden — insisting it had lengthy been deliberate.

STEVEN PANKEY A month, three weeks, two months, I do not know, earlier than December.

He agreed they have been listening to the radio on their means again to Greeley.

STEVEN PANKEY: That is the primary time I heard that there was a lacking little one.

However denied he was obsessive about the information.

Kelly Werthmann: I believe it is, it is her phrase in opposition to his. So, the protection clearly has to show, sure, he is an admitted liar however he is not mendacity now.

Pankey was on the stand for 2 days giving testimony that was typically rambling and arduous to comply with, and generally head-scratching.

STEVEN PANKEY: I wanna again up a bit bit.

ANTHONY VIORST: Mr. Pankey, I am gonna ask you to reply my questions a bit extra straight for those who do not thoughts.

STEVEN PANKEY: I spent a few hours within the basement jail space with my legal professional… and he was speaking to me about my testimony … Mr. Viorst was saying to me — ‘trigger I’d give sure issues and he’d say, “properly, that is reply.” … After which I might say different issues and he’d say, “properly, that is bull—— no one’s going to purchase that.”

ANTHONY VIORST: He lives in a world of conspiracy, paranoia and low vanity.

In his closing argument, Viorst, who’s a lawyer, not a psychiatrist, raised critical questions on his consumer’s psychological well being.

ANTHONY VIORST: Mr. Pankey does have a psychological sickness. 

Richard Schlesinger: Pankey’s protection lawyer informed me that he thought his consumer could be mentally sick. If that is the speculation of the protection, did Pankey’s time on the stand assist him or damage him?

Mayor John Gates: I may see that goin’ both means.

However the state noticed it going their means.

DA ROBERT MILLER:  He is not somebody that has a psychological well being dysfunction, he is a grasp manipulator. 

On November 2, 2021, the jurors bought the case. And two days later they have been again.

JUDGE TIMOTHY KERNS: Has the jury reached a unanimous verdict on rely quantity 4?

Rely 4: making false reviews to authorities.

JUDGE TIMOTHY KERNS: We the jury discover the defendant Steven Dana Pankey responsible.

Mayor John Gates: I believe that half would possibly’ve match into the no-brainer class. The opposite counts have been — have been much more complicated than that, for my part.

On these different counts, the precise homicide fees, the jury deadlocked and couldn’t come to a unanimous verdict.

JUDGE TIMOTHY KERNS: I notice the jury was unable to achieve a verdict on the opposite counts and that could be a completely acceptable means for a trial to conclude.

The decide declared a mistrial. And as of now, no one has been convicted of murdering Jonelle.

Mayor John Gates: The jury possible was conflicted on was Mr. Pankey, in reality, somebody that kidnapped and murdered Jonelle Matthews? Or was he one which simply surrounded himself with unusual, weird habits for years?

For the household of Jonelle Matthews, the information was so devastating they did not need to talk about it.

Kelly Werthmann: To not have that definitive reply … It is irritating. It is emotional. It is exhausting.

They usually could must do all of it once more. Prosecutors have introduced they’re prepared for a brand new trial, as a result of they nonetheless consider Jonelle was killed by Steven Pankey.

Richard Schlesinger: What do you suppose occurred to your sister?

Jennifer Mogensen: I do not know specifics. … however he took her … he shot her. After which he buried her and went on together with his life. And she or he couldn’t go on with hers.

Steven Pankey is in custody awaiting a brand new trial date.

Produced by Judy Rybak. Claire St. Amant is the event producer. Doreen Schechter is the producer-editor. Ryan N. Smith is a improvement producer. Jordan Kinsey, Elizabeth Caholo and Lauren A. White are the sector producers. Ken Blum and Jud Johnston are the editors. Chelsea Narvaez is the affiliate producer. Patti Aronofsky is the senior producer. Nancy Kramer is the chief story editor. Judy Tygard is the chief producer.

IN TRIBUTE

Josh Gelman, “48 Hours” producer who embodied bravery and hope, dies of most cancers  

Josh Gelman, a multi-award-winning producer for “48 Hours,” died Tuesday night, January 4, on the age of 62, after an extended, brave battle with most cancers. In his practically three-decade profession at CBS Information, Josh displayed his quite a few abilities as an editor, producer, author and photographer. His supreme reward was discovering, capturing, and deploying pictures that exposed the emotion and deeper meanings on the coronary heart of each story. Josh was additionally beloved as a colleague who all the time took the time to mentor, to show, to assist.