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12/5/20 Fort Collins Coloradoan (Fort Collins, Colo.) A7 2020 WLNR 34719824

December 5, 2020

Section: News

Bond set for accused killer of Jonelle Matthews

Erin Udell

December 5, 2020

Bond for Jonelle Matthews’ accused killer, Steve Pankey, has been set at $5 million.

Pankey, 69, appeared — donning a face mask and orange jail jumpsuit — before Weld County District Judge Timothy Kerns early Friday morning. It was his second court appearance in Weld County since being extradited there from his home state of Idaho, where he was arrested on Oct. 12 on charges of felony murder and kidnapping related to the disappearance and slaying of the 12-year-old Greeley girl.

Kerns imposed the bond following arguments from Assistant Weld County District Attorney Robb Miller, who suggested a $10 million bond for Pankey, painting him as a man of means with a history of harassing witnesses who inserted himself into the Matthews investigation within a month of her going missing.

Pankey’s attorney, Anthony Viorst, of Denver, suggested a $50,000 bond instead and contended his client was just a prickly person with a true crime obsession and propensity for doing “inappropriate things.”

Given the nature of Pankey’s charges — murder in the first degree after deliberation, murder in the first degree and second-degree kidnapping as well as two violent crime sentence enhancements — Kerns said he felt a $5 million cash-only bond was appropriate.

If Pankey were to be released on bond, Kerns said he could not attempt to posses a firearm or other weapon, he could not have contact with any named witness in the case, he would have to surrender his passport and could not leave Colorado without the court’s consent, among other conditions.

In just over two weeks, it will be 36 years since Matthews vanished from her family’s Greeley home on Dec. 20, 1984.

Matthews had been dropped off at the house following a middle school Christmas choir concert but was nowhere to be found when her father returned from her sister’s high school basketball game later that night. Matthews’ sister, Jennifer Mogensen, now lives out of state but attended the Friday hearing virtually.

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On July, 23, 2019, more than three decades after Matthews’ disappearance, oil site crews digging for a pipeline in rural Weld County uncovered Matthews’ remains.

A Weld County grand jury indicted Pankey for Matthews’ death in October, alleging Pankey kidnapped Matthews from her family’s Greeley home between 8:30 and 9:30 p.m. that night, shot Matthews during the course of the kidnapping and later buried her body in the remote field.

The grand jury also alleged Pankey continually inserted himself into the investigation into Matthews’ disappearance and shared a key detail in the case previously only known to police — the fact that a rake had been used outside of the Matthews house that night to sweep away footprints in the snow.

Pankey also came into the Greeley Police Department as early as January 1985, claiming he was an ordained Baptist minister and that he thought one of his parishioners could have been involved in Matthews’ disappearance, Miller told the court Friday. At the time, Pankey reportedly asked for details in the case to compare what he knew with police, Miller said.

While Pankey’s grandfather and father were both ministers, he was a car salesman in Greeley at the time of Matthews’ disappearance, according to Miller.

Pankey continually inserted himself into the case, writing letters to Miller’s office as recently as 2013, Miller said. In one letter sent in 2011, Miller said Pankey detailed how he and his family went on a road trip to California to visit his parents in the days after Matthews went missing. In the letter, he said he wouldn’t learn about Matthews’ disappearance until hearing news of it over the radio upon his family’s return to Colorado.

Miller said Pankey has a history of harassing witnesses, including a woman who had accused Pankey of rape in late 1977. The case was ultimately dismissed after the woman dropped the charges later that year, but Miller said Pankey continued contact even after the case was dismissed.

Miller also argued Pankey was a flight risk with means to flee, including roughly $1 million in an investment account and a home in Idaho valued at $400,000.

In response, Viorst said Pankey had “modest means,” much of which is going toward his defense in this case.

Viorst also noted that Pankey had never been arrested for harassing a witness and had never been convicted of a felony. Voist questioned who exactly Pankey was at risk of harassing in the Matthews case.

”Tragically, the main witness in this case is deceased,” Viorst told the court Friday.

Viorst argued there was no evidence Pankey kidnapped or killed Matthews, noting that instead Pankey had been obsessed with the case and was only on police radar because he consistently reached out to police regarding the case.

Pankey could only be charged with being “an erratic, prickly guy,” Viorst said. “That’s really his only offense here.”

Pankey’s next court appearance, a status conference, is set for Dec. 30 at 2 p.m.

All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in court. Arrests and charges are merely accusations by law enforcement until, and unless, a suspect is convicted of a crime.

Erin Udell reports on news, culture, history and more for the Coloradoan. Contact her at [email protected].

---- Index References ----

News Subject: (Assault & Battery (1AS33); Crime (1CR87); Kidnapping (1KI55); Murder & Manslaughter (1MU48); Sexual Misconduct & Crimes (1SE01); Social Issues (1SO05); Violent Crime (1VI27))

Region: (Americas (1AM92); California (1CA98); Colorado (1CO26); Idaho (1ID22); North America (1NO39); U.S. West Region (1WE46); USA (1US73))

Language: EN

Other Indexing: (Greeley; Timothy Kerns; Erin Udell; Steve Pankey; Robb Miller; Voist; Jennifer Mogensen; Jonelle Matthews; Anthony Viorst)

Edition: 1

DATE FILED: February 24, 2021 3:45 PM

10/28/20 Fort Collins Coloradoan (Fort Collins, Colo.) A2 2020 WLNR 30591545

October 28, 2020

Section: News

Jonelle Matthews case: Who is Steve Pankey?

Erin Udell

October 28, 2020

It’s been nearly 36 years since 12-year-old Jonelle Matthews disappeared from her family’s Greeley home the night of Dec. 20, 1984.

But now one of Greeley’s oldest and most puzzling cold cases continues to heat up — most recently with the Oct. 12 arrest of Steven Dana Pankey, a 69-year-old Idaho man indicted on kidnapping and murder charges in the case.

Here’s what we’ve learned about Steven Pankey so far. His background Steven Pankey, 69, was born in California to Dana Pankey Jr. and his wife, Ruth. Dana Pankey Jr. was a minister — as was his father, evangelist and reverend Dr. Dana Pankey Sr. From 1941 to 1942, Dr. Dana Pankey Sr. served as pastor of Greeley’s Bethel Baptist Church, according to historic newspapers.

In the early 1970s, Steven Pankey and some members of his extended family lived in the Greeley area, according to the grand jury’s indictment and newspaper accounts from that time. Steven Pankey lived in Weld County in the 1970s before a stint in the Army that took him to Louisiana’s Fort Polk, according to a 1975 Greeley Tribune article about an injury lawsuit Pankey filed that in the county that year.

By 1977, Pankey was back in Greeley and working as a salesman at a Chevrolet car dealership. Connections to Jonelle Matthews Steven Pankey was an an active member of Sunny View Church of the Nazarene in the mid- to late-1970s and was listed as a participant in a church choir skit in a 1977 Greeley Tribune article. He left the church around June 1978. That summer, after moving from California to Northern Colorado, the Matthews family joined the same congregation, according to the indictment.

In 1980, Steven Pankey lived at 27965 Weld County Road 47.5, approximately 10 miles due north from where Matthews’ body was discovered last summer, the indictment reads. On Dec. 20, 1984 — the night Matthews disappeared — he lived about two miles away from the Matthews home, according to the indictment.

The indictment alleges Steven Pankey watched children walk home from Franklin Middle School, where Matthews was attending seventh grade at the time of her disappearance. The indictment claims he had intimate knowledge of the neighborhood the Matthews lived in and had discussed a crucial detail about the Matthews’ house that police had kept from the public — the fact that on the night Matthews disappeared, a rake had been used to obliterate shoe impressions in the

snow, according to the indictment.

At the time of Matthews’ disappearance, Steven Pankey was 33 years old, married and the father of a young son. Life after Greeley Public records show addresses for Steven Dana Pankey in Tulsa, Oklahoma and, later, Idaho, where he eventually settled. According to the Times-News in Twin Falls, Idaho, Steven Pankey lived in Ketchum, Idaho, for a number of years before moving to Shoshone, Idaho. In 2004, while living in Shoshone, he ran as a write-in candidate for Lincoln County sheriff. A Times-News article from the time paints Pankey as a mysterious new arrival to Lincoln County who suddenly became a regular at public meetings in area. When asked what he did for a living, Pankey reportedly told people he was a board member of two family trusts, according to the Times-News.

Steven Pankey is the great-grandson of B.F. Pankey, the former lieutenant governor of New Mexico and a prominent cattle rancher in the Southwest before he lost his wealth due to drought, his 1929 obituary read.

Steven Pankey again ran as a Constitution Party candidate for Lincoln County sheriff in 2008. In 2010, Pankey unsuccessfully sought the Republican nomination for lieutenant governor of Idaho. His gubernatorial bids in 2014 and 2018 were equally unsuccessful.

In Sept. 2019, less than two months after Matthews’ remains were discovered, Steven Pankey told the Idaho Statesman he was being investigated for Matthews’ murder, but was innocent of the crime. Greeley police confirmed he was a person of interest in the investigation at the time.

Steven Pankey was arrested on murder and kidnapping changes in the Matthews case Oct. 12. As of Tuesday morning, he was being held in the Ada County Jail in Idaho and was awaiting extradition to Weld County, according to online jail records.

Erin Udell reports on news, culture, history and more for the Coloradoan. Contact her at [email protected].

---- Index References ----

News Subject: (Christianity (1CH94); Crime (1CR87); Criminal Law (1CR79); Government Litigation (1GO18); Legal (1LE33); Property Crime (1PR85); Protestantism (1PR28); Religion (1RE60); Sexual Misconduct & Crimes (1SE01); Social Issues (1SO05))

Region: (Americas (1AM92); Colorado (1CO26); Idaho (1ID22); North America (1NO39); Oklahoma (1OK58); U.S. Southwest Region (1SO89); U.S. West Region (1WE46); USA (1US73))

Language: EN

Other Indexing: (B.F. Pankey; Greeley; Dana Pankey Sr; Dana Pankey Jr.; Dana Pankey Sr.; Erin Udell; Steven Dana Pankey; Jonelle Matthews Steven Pankey; Steve Pankey; Jonelle Matthews; Ruth)

Edition: 1

DATE FILED: February 24, 2021 3:45 PM

10/18/20 Fort Collins Coloradoan (Fort Collins, Colo.) W2 2020 WLNR 29536181

October 18, 2020

Section: News

Idaho man arrested in Jonelle Matthews murder

Erin Udell

October 18, 2020

Nearly 36 years after Jonelle Matthews disappeared from her Greeley home, a grand jury has indicted an Idaho man in her 1984 kidnapping and murder.

Weld County District Attorney Michael Rourke and members of the Greeley Police Department announced Tuesday that Steve Pankey, 69, was arrested Monday in Meridian, a suburb of Boise, Idaho. He is being held without bond at Ada County Jail while he awaits extradition to Colorado.

Pankey was indicted by a grand jury investigating Matthews’ death on Oct. 9 and is facing charges of felony murder, kidnapping and two violent crime sentence enhancements, according to online Colorado court records and Rourke.

Pankey is believed to have kidnapped Matthews from her family’s Greeley home between 8:30 and 9:30 p.m. on Dec. 20, 1984, according to the indictment. Matthews had last been seen entering the family home after being dropped off from a holiday choir concert that evening about 8 p.m.

The grand jury alleges Pankey shot Matthews during the course of the kidnapping.

When Matthews’ skeletal remains were found as oil and gas site workers dug in unincorporated Weld County last July, they were still dressed in the same clothes she had worn to the holiday choir concert, Rourke said. Matthews’ cause of death was determined to be a single gunshot wound to her forehead.

The new details released in the grand jury’s indictment are tough for Jennifer Mogensen, who was in high school when her sister, Jonelle, vanished.

”I’m learning new things and I have to process that,” said Mogensen, “But mostly I’m super grateful that this first step toward justice (was taken). It will be a long journey but we’re just really excited and grateful that this is happening.”

Mogensen flew from her home in Washington state to Colorado last Thursday to be in the Weld County courthouse as the grand jury’s proceedings wrapped the following day. While she couldn’t sit in the courtroom itself, Mogensen said she just wanted to be there for her sister in some way.

Pankey and the Matthews family attended the same church, with overlap between the families in 1978, Rourke said.

At the time of her murder, Pankey lived roughly 2 miles from Matthews’ home and in 1980, four years prior to Matthews’ murder, he lived 10 miles north of the site where her body was eventually found, according to the indictment.

Mogensen said her family did not know who Pankey was before he became a person of interest in Matthews’ disappearance.

Rourke told reporters on Tuesday that Pankey wasn’t on law enforcement’s radar until “very, very recently,” estimating that they became aware of him as a possible person of interest around early- to mid-2018.

Last September, Pankey told the Idaho Statesman that authorities in Twin Falls, Idaho — where he lived at the time — served him with a warrant to search his home, saying investigators had probable cause to believe he kidnapped and killed 12-year-old Matthews. Pankey also said he submitted his DNA to police.

In that article, Pankey said that while he had gone to church with people who knew Matthews’ family, he did not.

Pankey eventually moved to Idaho where he ran for governor in 2014 and 2018.

At the time of Pankey’s revelations to the Statesman, Greeley police issued a statement denying that law enforcement had ever made a request to obtain Pankey’s DNA. The department also confirmed, in that statement, that Pankey remained a person of interest in the case.

On Tuesday, Rourke said there was no definitive DNA link between Pankey and Matthews.

In the days, months and years that followed Matthews’ disappearance, the case baffled investigators and shook Greeley. Matthews soon became one of the missing “milk carton” kids of the 1980s and was known for representing the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children’s most chilling and rare subsets of missing kids — those who go missing under unknown circumstances.

In June, a redacted report of Matthews’ autopsy was released after a monthslong fight from The Greeley Tribune and CBS Denver — two outlets that requested it from the Weld County Coroner’s Office through open records requests earlier this year.

In August, Rourke’s office announced the 19th Judicial District Grand Jury would be conducting an investigation into Matthews’ death.

Greeley Police Chief Mark Jones said Tuesday was nearly 36 years in the making, adding that the Greeley community has been plagued with questions about what could have happened to Matthews for the better part of the past four decades.

”With the arrest of Steve Pankey... some of these questions are starting to be answered,” Jones said. “I trust this new development (will) help the Mathews family, their friends and our community receive some closure and healing for this horrific crime.”

Mogensen thanked the investigators who worked on her sister’s disappearance over the years. As Pankey’s case progresses, she said she hopes to return to Greeley.

”The fact that last year happened and that we know she was murdered was a gift for us after not knowing anything for 34 years,” Mogensen said, referring to the 2019 discovery of Matthews’ remains. “And that now we know who her killer possibly is, it’s another gift to our family. We know that it’s (because of) people working for so many years. We know that we’re blessed.”

Erin Udell reports on news, culture, history and more for the Coloradoan. Contact her at [email protected].

---- Index References ----

News Subject: (Crime (1CR87); Criminal Law (1CR79); Government Litigation (1GO18); Kidnapping (1KI55); Legal (1LE33); Murder & Manslaughter (1MU48); Police (1PO98); Social Issues (1SO05); Violent Crime (1VI27))

Region: (Americas (1AM92); Colorado (1CO26); Idaho (1ID22); North America (1NO39); U.S. West Region (1WE46); USA (1US73))

Language: EN

Other Indexing: (her Greeley; Mark Jones; Greeley; Mathews; Erin Udell; Steve Pankey; Michael Rourke; Jennifer Mogensen; Jonelle Matthews)

Edition: 1

DATE FILED: February 24, 2021 3:45 PM

8/23/20 Fort Collins Coloradoan (Fort Collins, Colo.) W4 2020 WLNR 23693741

August 23, 2020

Section: News

Grand jury to investigate Jonelle Matthews’ death

Erin Udell

August 23, 2020

A year after her remains were discovered in rural Weld County, a grand jury will investigate the death of Jonelle Matthews.

The 19th Judicial District Grand Jury will conduct the investigation with assistance from the Weld County District Attorney’s Office and the Greeley Police Department, according to a Tuesday announcement from the Weld County District Attorney’s Office.

The 12-year-old was last seen walking into her family’s Greeley home after a holiday choir concert Dec. 20, 1984. Her disappearance baffled authorities for almost 35 years. On July 24, 2019, workers excavating land to install oil and gas lines in a remote stretch of unincorporated Weld County unearthed Matthews’ remains.

Weld County Coroner Carl Blesch petitioned to withhold the report, citing that its release would not be in the public’s interest and could potentially harm the ongoing investigation into the homicide, according to the Tribune.

Given that the investigation into Matthews’ death is active — and because of rules surrounding grand jury secrecy — no further information will be given by the district attorney’s office at this time, the office’s Tuesday announcement read.

Erin Udell reports on news, culture, history and more for the Coloradoan. Contact her at [email protected].

---- Index References ----

News Subject: (Government Litigation (1GO18); Legal (1LE33))

Industry: (Engineering (1EN73); Industrial Goods Manufacturing (1ID44); Industrial Machinery (1IN57); Manufacturing (1MA74); Welding Equipment (1WE96))

Region: (Americas (1AM92); Colorado (1CO26); North America (1NO39); U.S. West Region (1WE46); USA (1US73))

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Language: EN

Other Indexing: (Greeley; Carl Blesch; Erin Udell; Jonelle Matthews)

Edition: 1

DATE FILED: February 24, 2021 3:45 PM

6/20/20 Fort Collins Coloradoan (Fort Collins, Colo.) A3 2020 WLNR 17200269

June 20, 2020

Section: News

Matthews’ autopsy report is released after legal battle

Erin Udell

June 20, 2020

After a legal battle over Jonelle Matthews’ autopsy report, a redacted version has been released but offers no new insights into how the 12-year-old Greeley girl died.

The report details how the skeletal remains of Matthews were discovered on July 23, 2019 as workers excavated land to install oil and gas lines in a remote stretch of unincorporated Weld County. It also touches on how the Weld County Coroner’s Office used dental records to identify the remains as Matthews.

Almost all text listed under “diagnoses,” “evidence of injury” and “specimens obtained” were redacted in the released report.

Matthews, a vivacious preteen who loved musicals and the 1980s boy band Menudo, was last seen walking into her family’s west Greeley home after being dropped off from a Christmas choir concert on Dec. 20, 1984. Her disappearance baffled authorities and left a lasting mark on Greeley. She quickly became one of the pre-Amber-Alert missing “milk carton kids” of the 1980s.

The redacted report of her autopsy was eventually released after a monthslong fight from The Greeley Tribune and CBS Denver — two outlets that requested it from the Weld County Coroner’s Office through open records requests earlier this year.

In response, coroner Carl Blesch petitioned to withhold the report, citing that its release would not be in the public’s interest and could potentially harm the ongoing investigation into the homicide, according to the Tribune.

On Thursday, a Weld County district court judge ordered the redacted report be released. A copy was given to the Greeley Tribune and CBS Denver late Thursday and released to other media outlets — including the Coloradoan — Friday morning, Blesch said.

The Greeley Police Department did not immediately respond to the Coloradoan when asked what the current status of Matthews’ homicide investigation was Friday.

Erin Udell reports on news, culture, history and more for the Coloradoan. Contact her at ErinUdell@colorado an.com. 79

---- Index References ---- DATE FILED: February 24, 2021 3:45 PM News Subject: (Crime (1CR87); Kidnapping (1KI55); Social Issues (1SO05))

Industry: (Dentistry (1DE32); Engineering (1EN73); Healthcare (1HE06); Healthcare Practice Specialties (1HE49); Industrial Goods Manufacturing (1ID44); Industrial Machinery (1IN57); Manufacturing (1MA74); Welding Equipment (1WE96))

Region: (Americas (1AM92); Colorado (1CO26); North America (1NO39); U.S. West Region (1WE46); USA (1US73))

Language: EN

Other Indexing: (Erin Udell; Greeley; Jonelle Matthews; Carl Blesch)

Edition: 1

9/25/19 Fort Collins Coloradoan (Fort Collins, Colo.) A2 2019 WLNR 28989668

September 25, 2019

Section: News

Jonelle Matthews: 5 takeaways from Reddit ‘Ask Me Anything’

Erin Udell

September 25, 2019

On Monday, following my recent reporting on the discovery of Jonelle Matthews’ remains, I answered some questions about the 34-year-old Greeley cold case for an “Ask Me Anything” session on Reddit.

Here are my five favorite questions and discussions from the session:

Q: Do you have any personal theories as to how the perpetrator abducted Jonelle in that hour time frame when she was home alone, without leaving signs of foul play? Do you think Jonelle may have known her attacker? Do you think the crime was premeditated or a crime of opportunity (with the garage door open)?

A: I don’t have any personal theories, but that’s only after years of banging my head against the wall writing stories about unsolved crimes like this. In my experience, building a theory is tough because you rarely have all of the information. You can talk to people, piece events together and research till the cows come home, but you really only have a fraction of information until the case is closed and police documents are available.

This happened to me when I was researching Ted Bundy’s Colorado victims. One was Denise Oliverson, a Grand Junction woman who went missing on a bike ride. Until earlier this year the case was open, meaning I couldn’t get any documents on it. They closed it – with Bundy as the main suspect – this spring and I got about 200+ pages of information from police after that. I spent days trying to find out anything about Denise to no avail. It was all sitting in a folder at the Grand Junction Police Department.

Q: What surprised you most about your investigation?

A: It surprised me how Jonelle’s disappearance – while reported across Colorado in the beginning and even mentioned in a speech by President Reagan – is largely not well-known outside of Northern Colorado. She was part of the short-lived “missing milk carton kids” campaign and her picture was used in a lot of the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children’s early programs. While it did have a huge impact on Greeley, it didn’t seem (at least from what I’ve read) to have the far-reaching impact of other similar missing kid cases at the time.

Q: Do you think there will be any luck with eventually catching the culprit?

A: I think if there’s any chance of her killer being found, this is it. After 34 years of (little to) no developments in the case, finding evidence of this level is incredibly rare. Her sister told me she’s hoping for two things: 1. That investigators are able

to get DNA samples that could crack the case and 2. That the people/person who did this is still alive so there can be some justice. DATE FILED: February 24, 2021 3:45 PM

In my research, it seems that Jonelle’s case has beaten the odds — good and bad. More than 90% of kids reported missing are home within six months, but not Jonelle. At the same time, the chance of her remains being dug up by that crew in Weld County is nothing short of a miracle. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that there is some sort of resolution beyond this summer’s discovery.

Q: What’s the most disturbing part of the case for you?

A: That she was just gone. Everyone I spoke to said the night she disappeared was so normal — no red flags or signs of this happening. The eeriest part is the image her dad described when he got home. Her shoes had been slipped off and put away, the TV was on, a space heater was on and pulled up to an easy chair. Her dad told me, “It was like she was there, but she wasn’t.”

Q: What’s the hardest part (on an emotional level) for a journalist like yourself when investigating this sort of crime?

A: Hearing how it affected the people around it. One of Jonelle’s friends from California — where the family lived when she was young — told me that she didn’t feel comfortable being home alone until she was a grown woman married with children. She’s a high school choir teacher now and since Jonelle was dropped off after a choir concert, the friend said she still tells her students and their parents to be extra cautious and walk them up to the door when dropping friends/kids off.

Another woman from Greeley was around Jonelle’s age and used to carpool to school with her. She had just moved into a room in her parents’ basement for more independence. After Jonelle went missing she immediately moved back upstairs to be near her parents’ room.

Another hard part was reading one little line in the original story on her body being found. It said, “Jonelle would have been 47 today.” I talked to her sister about this and she said she still thinks about what Jonelle would have done with her life. She sounded outgoing with such a strong personality and so much to do and give — it’s just awful to know her life ended so early and in such a tragic way.

---- Index References ----

News Subject: (Children (1CH89); Crime (1CR87); Family Social Issues (1FA81); Health & Family (1HE30); Parents & Parenting (1PA25); Sexual Misconduct & Crimes (1SE01); Social Issues (1SO05))

Region: (Americas (1AM92); Colorado (1CO26); North America (1NO39); U.S. West Region (1WE46); USA (1US73))

Language: EN

Other Indexing: (Reagan; Jonelle Matthews; Denise Oliverson)

Edition: 1

9/25/19 Fort Collins Coloradoan (Fort Collins, Colo.) W4 2019 WLNR 28988984

September 25, 2019

Section: News

8 Colo. kids who vanished without a trace

Erin Udell

September 25, 2019

One summer night in 1986, 7-month-old Christopher Abeyta vanished from his crib at the foot of his parents’ bed.

After grabbing books from his locker at Cedaredge High School on Colorado’s Western Slope in 1981, 17-year-old Roger Ellison was never seen again.

Beth Miller — a lively 14-year-old who “didn’t know a stranger” — set off from her Idaho Springs home on a jog one August day in 1983. She never came home.

With the recent discovery of 12-year-old Jonelle Matthews’ remains 34 years after she went missing from her Greeley home, we took a look at years-old missing children cases that have puzzled Colorado authorities.

There are 59 missing juveniles listed in the Colorado Bureau of Investigation’s cold case database, according to the CBI. Here are eight of those children who vanished, seemingly, without a trace in Colorado. 1. Chris Vigil Missing since: April 30, 1978

Chris Vigil, a 9-year-old boy from Laporte, was last seen on a Sunday afternoon hike with his mom, Marian, and younger brother, Eric, in Northern Colorado’s Poudre Canyon. The three set off together on the Greyrock Mountain trail on April 30, 1978, but Chris ended up hiking ahead and disappearing. Despite one of the “most expansive” searches in Larimer County history, Chris has never been found. If you have any information about the disappearance or whereabouts of Chris, contact the Larimer County Sheriff’s Office at 970-416-1985. 2. Marie Blee Missing since: Nov. 22, 1979

On Nov. 22,1979, after attending a 4-H Club dance in Craig, 15-year-old Marie Blee went to a party at the nearby Shadow Mountain Village mobile home park with a friend, according to the Charley Project. Blee left the party with an unidentified driver who had agreed to take her back to her home 15 miles away in Hayden. She has never been heard from again. If you have any information on Blee’s disappearance, contact the Routt County Sheriff’s Office at 970-879-1090. 3. Roger Ellison Missing since: Feb. 10, 1981

It’s been almost 40 years since 17-year-old Roger Ellison, a popular A-student with seemingly no reason to disappear,

vanished from his Western Slope high school. Ellison was last seen getting his books from his school locker in the small Delta County town of Cedaredge. He never made it to his next class and never came home that day, according to the Denver Post. Despite posters being distributed — and his family offering an $8,000 reward for information — Ellison has never been found. For months after Roger’s disappearance, his father, Ernest, reportedly stood at a curb waiting for the school bus that once dropped off his son. He would scan the students getting off, hang his head and cry when he didn’t see Roger, according to the Post. Ernest died of a heart attack the spring after Roger’s disappearance. If you have any information on Roger’s disappearance, contact the Delta County Sheriff’s Office at 970-874-2000. 4. Victoria Sanchez and 5. Yvonne Mestas Missing since: Nov. 1, 1982

Victoria Sanchez and Yvonne Mestas, both 15 and students at Rocky Ford High School, were last seen at the school on Nov. 1, 1982. Their disappearances have stretched on decades, but new information in the case led the Colorado Bureau of Investigation and Rocky Ford police to reopen the case in 2017. It currently remains unsolved. If you have information on Yvonne’s or Victoria’s disappearances, contact the Rocky Ford Police Department at 719-254-3345. 6. Beth Miller Missing since: Aug. 16, 1983

On Aug. 16, 1983, 14-year-old Beth Miller went for a morning jog in her hometown of Idaho Springs, just west of Denver. She never came home and hasn’t been seen since. Witnesses claimed to have seen Miller talking to a man in a red pickup truck, but the alleged truck was never found by law enforcement, according to 9News. If you have information on Beth’s disappearance, contact the Colorado Bureau of Investigation at 303-239-4221. 7. Christopher Harvey Missing since: July 11, 1984

After visiting a friend in the Hinsdale County mobile home park where his family spent their summers, 14-year-old Christopher Harvey set off to walk his dog. Though the dog returned, Christopher never did. The teen’s disappearance — which was further muddled when a badly-beaten boy around the same age was incorrectly identified as Christopher six weeks later — was chronicled in a November 1984 story in the New York Times. If you have any information on his disappearance, contact the Hinsdale County Sheriff’s Office at 970-944-2291. 8. Christopher Abeyta Missing since: July 15, 1986

Christopher Abeyta was just seven months old when he vanished from his crib at the foot of his parents’ bed in Colorado Springs.

Though more than 30 years have passed, the Abeyta family has actively searched for Christopher ever since.

Before her death of cancer in 2017, Christopher’s mother, Bernice, traveled across the county chasing down tips about his whereabouts.

Last year, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children released an updated, age-progressed rendering of what Christopher could look like today.

---- Index References ----

News Subject: (Crime (1CR87); Criminal Law (1CR79); Legal (1LE33); Police (1PO98); Property Crime (1PR85); Sexual Misconduct & Crimes (1SE01); Social Issues (1SO05))

Region: (Americas (1AM92); Colorado (1CO26); Idaho (1ID22); North America (1NO39); U.S. West Region (1WE46); USA (1US73))

Other Indexing: (Yvonne Mestas; Beth Miller; Chris Vigil; Christopher Abeyta; Eric; Ernest; Roger Ellison; Bernice; Marie Blee; Christopher Harvey; Victoria Sanchez; Jonelle Matthews; Marian)

Edition: 1

DATE FILED: February 24, 2021 3:45 PM

9/25/19 Fort Collins Coloradoan (Fort Collins, Colo.) W5 2019 WLNR 28988702

September 25, 2019

Section: News

Who killed Jonelle? The disappearance of Jonelle Matthews was one of Greeley’s biggest mysteries. Now it’s one of its most prominent homicide investigations

Erin Udell

September 25, 2019

WELD COUNTY – The homes on Weld County Road 341/2 are sparse and not used to visitors.

That’s probably why when I pulled up to one on a recent afternoon, two milky white dogs outside went berserk.

”They were both rescue dogs,” their owner, Vance Gilliland, explained as he shushed them, ambling from a garage on his property to the shade of his covered front porch.

At first, he wasn’t sure why a reporter from Fort Collins was there. It had been nearly two months since the remains of 12-year-old Jonelle Matthews were discovered in the oil field across the road in the remote stretch of unincorporated Weld County. Still, Gilliland said he hadn’t seen a single news truck.

That surprised me. In the winter of 1984, Jonelle’s disappearance shook Greeley — a conservative, close-knit city set 60 miles north of Denver on Colorado’s High Plains.

”Missing” posters with Jonelle’s picture quickly went out as volunteers trudged through muddy cow pastures and snowy subdivisions searching for signs of the gregarious seventh-grader. Hearts across the state broke for the Matthews family, who left Jonelle’s Christmas presents wrapped and under their tree in hopes she’d come home.

In March 1985 — a few months after Jonelle vanished from her family’s west Greeley home on Dec. 20 — President Ronald Reagan mentioned her in a speech to a group of Washington, D.C., newspaper editors as fear over high-profile child abductions gripped the nation.

Just two months after that, Jonelle’s missing poster was printed on the side of milk cartons, adding her to the list of pre-Amber-Alert “milk carton kids” missing in the 1980s.

Decades would pass without any notable progress in the search for Jonelle. As time beat on, her case grew colder, becoming the oldest unsolved missing person case in Weld County, according to the Colorado Bureau of Investigation.

”We were consigned to the fact that we were never going to find out what happened to her,” Jonelle’s father, Jim Matthews, told the Coloradoan in a recent interview.

But 341/2 years later, just north of Weld County Road 341/2, oil site crews digging for a pipeline on July 24 uncovered a set of human bones, including a skull with intact, braces-lined teeth — just like Jonelle’s.

Scraps of blue and red fabric were also found near her remains, which were found roughly 20 miles southeast of Jonelle’s house, according to the Greeley Tribune. The night she disappeared, Jonelle had been wearing a red blouse, grey skirt and navy blue sweater vest.

The next day, Greeley police confirmed it was her. Citing that the case is now being worked as an active homicide, they declined to answer questions from the Coloradoan for this story.

In 1984, the home Gilliland has lived in since 2001 was one of only three in the immediate area, he said. Surrounded by flat farmland for decades, it would have been “essentially a no-man’s land” when Jonelle went missing, he added.

Over the years, more houses have popped up and activity from the oil field means pickup trucks are now regulars on the dirt road, kicking up dust and gusts that sway hardy clusters of roadside black-eyed Susans.

Despite that increased traffic, people looking to abandon couches, refrigerators, broken clothes dryers and dogs still do so often on the area’s remote roads, Gilliland said.

Within a nine-months span of 2013, Gilliland’s wife discovered two discarded dogs — an icy Akita-Labrador mix and bright white great Pyrenees mix — while driving near the site where Jonelle would ultimately be found. The family adopted both.

”People like to dump things out here,” Gilliland said, as the pair of pups lazed in the late summer sun on his porch and nearby driveway.

But unlike their story, Jonelle’s didn’t have a happy ending.

”I think the saddest times are when I start thinking about her last moments in life — how brutal it was,” Gloria Matthews, Jonelle’s mom, told the Coloradoan. “But I need to go past that and say, you know, it happened, it’s over with and all this time she’s been in paradise.”

Jonelle’s parents and sister say they hope the discovery of her remains will lead to more answers.

On July 26, Greeley police announced they would be sending evidence from the discovery site for forensic testing and investigating the history of who owned land in the area where she was found.

Last week, a former candidate for Idaho governor, 68-year-old Steve Pankey, told the Idaho Statesman he was being investigated in the case. At the time of Jonelle’s disappearance, Pankey lived two miles away from the Matthews home, he told the Idaho Statesman in a Sept. 13 article.

Though Greeley police told the Greeley Tribune there were multiple inconsistencies to Pankey’s statements, they confirmed on Sept. 13 that he was a person of interest.

With the July discovery breathing new life into a decades-old mystery, the Matthews family — and Greeley — are now holding out hope for justice.

For 341/2 years, they asked, “Where is Jonelle?”

Now they have a different question: “Who killed her?” ’A thousand million times’ Gloria laughed when I asked what Jonelle was like.

The answer was unmistakable — I’d heard versions of it from a handful of the 12-year-old’s friends over the previous month. She was theatrical, stubborn and strong. © 2021 Thomson Reuters. No claim to original U.S. Government Works. 19

”Strong in everything,” Gloria said. “She was strong physically, she was strong-willed. All throughout her life, even when she was a little girl, she knew what she wanted ... and she let you know.”

Gloria recalls detailed requests from Jonelle before each of her birthdays. “I want a strawberry cake,” she remembers Jonelle saying. “I want it pink.”

”And then she would plan her (next) birthday the day after her (last) birthday,” she said, chuckling next to her husband over a video call on Sept. 11 from their home in Costa Rica, where they retired to from the Seattle area seven years ago.

The couple met and married in California 52 years ago. Within a year and a half, they had their first daughter, Jennifer. They adopted Jonelle three years later. She was six weeks old.

The family would move around, from Beruit, Lebanon, to central California to Northern Colorado, where they settled in 1978 so Jim could take an administrator job at Dayspring Christian School, now Dayspring Christian Academy, in Greeley. By 1984, he had taken the principal post at Platte Valley Elementary School in neighboring Kersey.

It was a safe place, where front doors remained unlocked and kids’ bikes were scattered on front lawns.

”It was fun, it was normal,” remembered Deanna Ross, one of Jonelle’s childhood friends. “We rode bikes all over the place in the summers. We hung out, did a lot of sleepovers.”

Deanna, now 47 and living in New Jersey, met Jonelle when she moved to Greeley with her dad, Russell, and brother, Brent, in 1980. The girls went to the same elementary school and soon realized their families belonged to the same church — Greeley’s Sunny View Church of The Nazarene.

”She was very friendly and just very loud,” Deanna recalled. “I always say that I was very shy and she was very outgoing so I think we complimented each other well. She was really theatrical and dramatic and just the center of the room.”

In the early 1980s, Jonelle introduced Deanna to the musical “Annie.” She loved to sing, act in church skits and moon over her favorite 1980s boy band, Menudo.

When the girls got to Franklin Middle School, they joined its honor choir together. On Dec. 20, 1984, they stood on the garland-strewn staircase at Intrawest Bank in downtown Greeley singing carols for a live Christmas performance on the city’s Cablevision network.

Because Jim was at Jennifer’s high school basketball game that night and Gloria was on a plane to Los Angeles to surprise her ailing father for Christmas, Jonelle got a ride home with Deanna and her father, Russell Ross.

It was a Thursday night, one day before the school district’s two-week Christmas vacation was set to start.

Jonelle — a lover of Christmas and its traditions — was itching to go to school that Friday and give her friends the cross-stitched presents she’d been working on, Jim recalled.

She was set to perform in a Christmas play at her church the following week, and her presents were sitting patiently under the family’s tree. Jonelle didn’t know it, but Gloria had braved the department store crowds and waited in line to buy her a coveted Cabbage Patch Kids doll.

”She was talking about Christmas, she was all excited,” Russell recalled, sitting outside a Greeley coffee shop one recent August morning.

”... And she gets out of the truck and she says (to Deanna), ‘I’ll see you tomorrow!’” he added. “Nothing different, unusual.”

Ross noticed that the garage door to the Matthews house was half open, which wasn’t uncommon. So Jonelle entered her family’s bi-level home around 8 p.m. and flipped on the light to let Russell know she was in. © 2021 Thomson Reuters. No claim to original U.S. Government Works. 20

It was the last time she was seen alive.

”In my mind, I’ve gone over it a thousand million times,” Russell said. “Was there something I missed? Didn’t see?” The scene When Jim Matthews got home that night, it was to a familiar scene.

After attending Jennifer’s basketball game, he returned around 9:30 p.m. and walked downstairs. There, the TV was on and glowing while a space heater whirred next to an easy chair.

Jonelle’s shoes had been slipped off and put away, according to news reports at the time. The pair of pantyhose she wore to the concert that night had been taken off and draped over a nearby couch, Jim said.

”It was like she was there, but she wasn’t,” he said.

He yelled, “Hi, Jonelle,” but got no response. Not thinking much of it, Jim wrapped one last Christmas present before walking upstairs and peeking in Jonelle’s bedroom. She wasn’t there.

He walked to the kitchen and saw that around 8:30 p.m. — 15 or 20 minutes after being dropped of by Deanna and Russell — Jonelle had taken a call from one of Jim’s teachers at Platte Valley Elementary School.

The teacher was sick and would need a substitute. Jonelle dutifully took down the message for her father on a blackboard near the family’s phone.

When Jennifer got home from her basketball game around 10 p.m. with no knowledge of where Jonelle could be, Jim said he got worried.

”Our girls were really good about telling us if they (were) going to change plans or be someplace else,” Jim said. So he started calling friends.

After hearing from Jim, Russell shook Deanna awake to see if she knew anywhere Jonelle might go, but she didn’t.

Jim called the family’s pastor, Jim Christy, for advice and was encouraged to call the police. Soon, Greeley officers were swarming the four-bedroom bi-level and searching nearby streets for Jonelle.

”What I remember is people in my room putting fingerprint dust on the walls and, you know, trying to find any signs of foul play,” Jennifer (Matthews) Mogensen said over the phone from her home in Washington State last month.

Though Jonelle hadn’t turned up by the next morning, Jennifer remembers going to school at Greeley Central High School that day.

A Greeley cop drove her. By the time she got to class, kids were already talking about Jonelle.

The news had likely reached the radio at that point, Mogensen surmised. By the next day, it would hit the newspaper. The reporters Every morning, Mike Peters would start his day at the Greeley police station, sifting through its crime logs. But on his way there on Dec. 21, 1984, something odd caught his eye.

While driving out of his neighborhood in west Greeley’s Pheasant Run subdivision, the veteran newspaper reporter — who covered cops and crime for the Greeley Tribune for nearly 40 years — spotted a gaggle of police cars outside of a nearby home.

”I immediately went to the police station (and) asked them what was going on,” Peters recalled. “They said they had a missing girl.”

He covered Jonelle’s story heavily in its early days and even took part in the search for her in January 1985 — trudging through Greeley with his teenage son and stuffing missing posters of Jonelle into envelopes with his 8-year-old daughter.

As years went by with no answers, Peters said he would do regular check-ins with police on Jonelle’s case. Whenever an anniversary approached, he would write something — estimating that he penned anywhere from 40 to 50 stories on the missing girl and her family.

”I remember this one mainly because it was so close to our house, plus it really affected Greeley,” Peters told the Coloradoan last month. “Before that, your kids would walk to school every morning (and) walk home in the afternoon, no problems.”

”We started driving our kids,” Peters added, “and so did everybody else.”

With few updates in those early days, readers clung to each sparse detail. While there was no sign of a struggle inside the home, police said they found signs of possible foul play at the scene, according to the Greeley Tribune at that time. They refused to elaborate.

Later, it was revealed that footprints were found in the snow outside of the home, but they never led police anywhere.

And “the father was a suspect, of course,” Peters said. “He obviously had to be cleared.”

Mogensen remembers being questioned in the case, along with her dad and mom, given their proximity to Jonelle. Her dad was asked the most questions and submitted to a polygraph test, Mogensen recalled.

”I know why police do it, but, you know, if the truth is on your side and you have nothing to hide, you answer their questions, and for our family that (was) the case,” she said.

As the decades passed, Peters followed the case closely, but there was little to cover.

”It was just a blank case,” Peters said. “(The police) were up against a wall. They couldn’t go anywhere with it. They had no evidence about what happened to her.”

On Dec. 20, 2018, 34 years after Jonelle went missing, Greeley Police Department announced it would take a fresh look at her case. It notified its Facebook followers by posting grainy clips of Cablevision’s “Holiday Wish” broadcast — footage of Jonelle singing at her choir concert right before she was dropped off for the last time.

One month later, an advanced reporting class at Colorado State University was watching it wide-eyed.

There was something about the clips — the eeriness of what happened next or Jonelle’s body language during the performance — that convinced the group of student journalists to take on the case as their spring semester investigative project.

They spent weeks traveling to and from Greeley, talking to investigators and characters in Jonelle’s story. Like the police, they were giving Jonelle’s disappearance a fresh look.

Mike Peters visited the class and loaned them his file folder of Jonelle Matthews clippings — from stories early in the investigation to anniversary pieces.

”A lot of times when Jonelle was covered it was, ‘Jonelle’s been missing for one year. Jonelle’s been missing for five years. Jonelle’s been missing for 10 years,’” said Austin Fleskes, a senior at CSU who worked on the project.

There was little to go off of, but the class was hooked.

”It’s all these, like, tiny details. You know, the garage door being open. Were there footprints in the snow? What happened in between the time (when she got home and her dad did)?” Fleskes listed off.

”I think with everyone, it (was) like ‘OK, Russell drops her off and then what?’” added Forrest Czarnecki, another CSU senior who took the class. “Literally, and then what?”

The class entered into the project knowing that nothing would likely come from it, Fleskes said. After 34 years, how could it?

”Everyone would say that followed by, ‘But, boy, wouldn’t it be great if something happened?’” Fleskes said.

After finishing their investigation and posting the finished product on a website this spring, the class largely stopped talking about the case. Then, the July 24 discovery happened.

That day, Peters got a call from the Greeley Tribune’s crime reporter.

”He asked if I knew Jonelle Matthews,” Peters said.

Within a day, the news was out, and Kim Spencer, the instructor of CSU’s advanced reporting class, was texting a link to her students.

A flurry of messages flooded back and finally — after the incessant ping-ping-pings — Fleskes peeked at his phone.

His first reaction?

”Holy s---.” The kids On March 25, 1979, 6-year-old Etan Patz set off to his school bus stop near his parents’ SoHo home in lower Manhattan. It was a two-block trek on familiar streets, but he was never seen again.

On July 27, 1981, 6-year-old Adam Walsh vanished from a Sears department store in Hollywood, Florida, while his mom was shopping a few aisles away. His severed head was found two weeks later in a drainage canal two counties away.

On Sept. 5, 1982, 12-year-old Johnny Gosch set out on his early morning paper route for The Des Moines Register.

After customers started calling his house to complain of undelivered papers, Johnny’s father soon discovered his son’s wagon full of newspapers two blocks from their home. Johnny was gone.

The Walshes took to TV news stations at first, begging for their only child’s safe return. Thousands of missing persons posters went out for all three. Patz’s and Gosch’s pictures were soon printed on milk cartons, becoming two of the first few missing kids ever featured on such a platform.

Immediately after Jonelle’s December 1984 disappearance, there was a similar burst of action. Jim and Gloria spoke with newspapers, a Rescue Jonelle committee was formed and Jonelle’s picture was everywhere.

They were hopeful — so much so that Gloria set a place for Jonelle at the table during the family’s Christmas Eve dinner in case she walked through the door.

”We did everything we could to try to keep her face in front of people so hopefully someone would see her and recognize her and call,” Jim said.

Her disappearance came just six months after the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, or NCMEC — a first-of-its-kind national resource center dedicated to finding missing kids — was established by Congress.

More than 90% of missing children reported to the center are safely recovered within six months, and 98% of its cases involve a child running away or being abducted by a family member, usually in a custody dispute, according to a 2014 to 2016 NCMEC study.

the categorization Jonelle would fall under — make up only 1.3% of cases.

NCMEC does not publicly reveal cases’ categorizations and instead defers to the law enforcement agency on each case, a spokesperson said.

The chances of long-term missing children like Jonelle being found 10, 20, 30 years later is extremely rare, but happens.

By the summer of 1985, the Matthews family started stepping back from the search for Jonelle. By that Christmas, they told the Greeley Tribune that they would unwrap the Christmas presents squirreled away in Jonelle’s bedroom closet. Her Menudo posters would come down as well, as Jim and Gloria turned Jonelle’s room into a guest bedroom.

While they started dead-bolting their door and installed a new garage door system that locked, Jim and Gloria said they tried to keep the rest of Jennifer’s high school years as normal as possible.

”I think one of the police (officers) even said right off the bat (that) the percentage of somebody coming back to the same scene of the crime for you, Jenn, is, like, less than 1%,” Mogensen said. “I never felt scared or anxious to be by myself in that home, and I’m super glad that my parents did not freak out and become very protective of me.”

Russell did the opposite. He admits now that after Jonelle disappeared, he might have been a little too overprotective of his daughter.

”Deanna couldn’t go anywhere without me knowing exactly where, when, how,” Russell said.

Shana Zink, now 47, had carpooled to Dayspring Christian School with Jonelle when the two went there. In the winter of 1984, Shana was 12 and had just moved into a basement bedroom in her family’s Greeley home. After Jonelle’s disappearance, she begged her parents to let her move back upstairs to the room closest to theirs.

”I remembered being terrified that someone would come in through the window well in the basement and take me,” Zink said.

While Mogensen said Jonelle’s disappearance never made her afraid, it did make her wonder.

”I’d wonder what our relationship would have been like as adults,” Mogensen said. “I wonder what she would have been like now. Would she have been married? What kind of job (would she have)?

”You don’t ever forget.”

The unknowns also made one question especially difficult for Mogensen to answer.

”So,” people would innocently ask, “do you have siblings?” The future According to Weld County property records, the land Jonelle was found on was purchased in 1941 by J.J. Stroh, who died in 1974.

While now home to the oil field, the land’s current owner, Jerry Anderson, Stroh’s grandson, said the property was historically used as pasture land, and later leased to the Bureau of Land Management and oil companies. He remembers coming out to it to hunt decades ago but said no one in his family ever lived on it.

History of the land’s ownership, as well as forensic testing of evidence found at Jonelle’s burial site, are two avenues Greeley police are publicly looking down as the once-cold case surrounding Jonelle heats up.

If Mogensen had a magic wand, she’d wave it to ensure that, all these years later, police efforts will turn something up. She’d also make sure that the person or people responsible were still alive.

If they are still alive, Mogensen said her family still has the chance to learn more about what happened to Jonelle.

”That would help with even more closure, if that makes sense,” she said.

In the meantime, the family was given a bit of resolution in mid-August, when they reburied Jonelle’s remains in at Greeley’s Linn Grove Cemetery.

After learning Jonelle had been found, Jim and Gloria were swept into a whirlwind of media interviews and planning a community memorial service for their long-lost daughter. They traveled to Greeley in July and stayed there for three weeks tying up loose ends.

They designed a gravestone for their little girl with a big rainbow and hearts at either end, like pots of gold. “Beloved Jonelle Renée Matthews,” it reads. “Feb. 9, 1972-Dec. 20, 1984.”

And on the somber August day, they lowered the tiny casket containing Jonelle’s remains back into the earth. Now — after 341/2 years in the dark — they will always know where she is.

My quirky feature articles, true crime podcasts and stories that get to the heart of Fort Collins take time to produce each week. And the only way I can keep doing what I do is with your support. If you subscribe, thank you.

---- Index References ----

Company: CABLEVISION SA; DES MOINES REGISTER (INC); WELD COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT NO RE 7 (PLATTE VALLEY SCHOOL DISTRICT) WELD COUNTY COLORAD

News Subject: (Burglary & Theft (1BU41); Crime (1CR87); Family Social Issues (1FA81); Social Issues (1SO05))

Industry: (Entertainment (1EN08); Live Entertainment (1LI85))

Region: (Americas (1AM92); California (1CA98); Colorado (1CO26); Idaho (1ID22); North America (1NO39); U.S. West Region (1WE46); USA (1US73); Washington (1WA44))

Language: EN

Other Indexing: (Intrawest Bank) (Kim Spencer; Johnny Gosch; Gloria Matthews; Mike Peters; Steve Pankey; Austin Fleskes; Brent; Forrest Czarnecki; Ronald Reagan; Shana Zink; Jonelle Matthews; Jennifer (Matthews) Mogensen; Jim Matthews; Greeley; Jerry Anderson; Jim Christy; Deanna Ross; Adam Walsh; J.J. Stroh; Vance Gilliland)

Edition: 1

DATE FILED: February 24, 2021 3:45 PM

9/14/19 Fort Collins Coloradoan (Fort Collins, Colo.) A2 2019 WLNR 27927294

September 14, 2019

Section: News

Idaho man under investigation in death of Greeley girl

Erin Udell

September 14, 2019

On July 24, crews digging for a pipeline in a rural Weld County oil field uncovered a set of skeletal remains. The next day, Greeley police confirmed they belonged to Matthews, who had been the subject of Weld County’s coldest missing persons case, according to the Colorado Bureau of Investigation.

A former candidate for Idaho governor recently revealed he is under investigation in the murder of Greeley girl Jonelle Matthews.

Steve Pankey, 68, told the Idaho Statesman on Thursday that authorities in Twin Falls, Idaho, served him a search warrant last week saying investigators had probable cause to believe he kidnapped and killed the 12-year-old, who went missing from her west Greeley home on Dec. 20, 1984, after a Christmas choir concert.

Greeley Police Department did not respond to the Coloradoan’s immediate requests for comment Friday.

The department said in a prepared statement Friday that law enforcement officers have never made a request to obtain Pankey’s DNA. The department says Pankey remains a person of interest in the investigation.

Jonelle would have been 47 today. Her sister, Jennifer Mogensen, declined to comment on the investigation into Pankey Friday.

Pankey and his former wife lived about two miles away from the Matthews family in 1984, according to the Statesman. Pankey told the newspaper that investigators had asked to speak with him multiple times about Jonelle after her disappearance, but he refused to do so without an attorney.

Last week, roughly a month after Pankey said he submitted DNA to police in the case, authorities searched his Twin Falls condo and car.

Pankey was a 2014 Constitution Party candidate for governor in Idaho. He ran for the seat as a Republican in the 2018 primary.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

---- Index References ----

Company: ASSOCIATED PRESS (THE)

News Subject: (Crime (1CR87); Criminal Law (1CR79); Government Litigation (1GO18); Legal (1LE33); Police (1PO98); Social Issues (1SO05))

Industry: (Energy & Fuel (1EN13); Oil & Gas (1OI76); Oil & Gas Pipeline (1OI68))

Region: (Americas (1AM92); Colorado (1CO26); Idaho (1ID22); North America (1NO39); U.S. West Region (1WE46); USA (1US73))

Language: EN

Other Indexing: (Steve Pankey; Jennifer Mogensen; Jonelle Matthews)

Edition: 1

DATE FILED: February 24, 2021 3:45 PM

8/2/19 Fort Collins Coloradoan (Fort Collins, Colo.) A2 2019 WLNR 23607260

August 2, 2019

Section: News

Event offers assistance for families of missing persons in the state

Erin Udell

August 2, 2019

On the heels of the discovery of Jonelle Matthews’ remains last week, Colorado authorities are inviting families of other missing persons to share information about their loved ones at an annual event.

For the past two years, the Colorado Bureau of Investigation — alongside the Longmont Police Department — has put on Missing in Colorado, a gathering designed to provide a space for family members to speak with investigators about their loved ones’ missing persons cases.

Family members are encouraged to bring medical and dental records of their missing loved ones, as well as photographs. Some also have the option to submit familial DNA samples, which might later aid in the identification of human remains, according to a flier for the event.

This year’s Missing in Colorado event will take place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at the Lowry Conference Center, 1061 Akron Way, Building 697, Denver. A private family support group will be held from noon to 2 p.m.

According to the CBI’s online cold case database, there are 320 unsolved — and “cold” — missing persons cases listed through the agency.

In Northern Colorado, there are about 20 missing person cases that are more than three years old.

Matthews, whose case is the latest in Colorado to see a development, disappeared after being dropped off at her Greeley home following a Christmas concert in December 1984.

The 12-year-old’s remains were discovered on July 23 by construction workers who were building a new pipeline in rural Weld County.

If you are a family member or friend affected by the disappearance of a loved one, you can attend Missing in Colorado for free. The private support group meeting has limited seating. To reserve a space, email [email protected] or [email protected].

If you’d like to submit DNA, organizers recommend that two biologically related family members of the missing person attend.

---- Index References ----

News Subject: (Crime (1CR87); Family Social Issues (1FA81); Social Issues (1SO05))

Industry: (Dentistry (1DE32); Healthcare (1HE06); Healthcare Practice Specialties (1HE49); Security (1SE29); Security Agencies (1SE35))

Region: (Americas (1AM92); Colorado (1CO26); North America (1NO39); U.S. West Region (1WE46); USA (1US73))

Language: EN

Other Indexing: (Jonelle Matthews)

Edition: 1

DATE FILED: February 24, 2021 3:45 PM

7/28/19 Fort Collins Coloradoan (Fort Collins, Colo.) A2 2019 WLNR 23068230

July 28, 2019

Section: News

Discovery brings closure but raises questions

Rebecca Powell

July 28, 2019

The sister of a Greeley 12-year-old whose remains were finally located this week after nearly 35 years says her family is sad but can finally close the door on any sliver of hope they held for her survival.

Jonelle Matthews’ remains were found Tuesday on property located several miles southeast of Greeley in Weld County. She hadn’t been seen since Dec. 20, 1984, when she was dropped off at her north Greeley home after a school concert.

Jennifer Morgensen, Matthews’ older sister, said in an interview with 9News after the discovery that it raises new questions for her family even as it puts others to rest.

”It’s closure for me and my family but it also raises new questions now,” Morgensen said. “And it’s sad, too. We’re sad, my parents and I.”

At the 10-year anniversary of Jonelle’s disappearance, the family sought as much closure as they could, Morgensen said, “but until you have a body, there’s still just some unknowns.”

Morgensen said her biggest remaining questions are “why?” and “who?” As for the killer, she says she doesn’t feel rage and even has room for forgiveness.

The Weld County Assessor’s Office shows the land where the bones were found is owned by the Stroh Family Trust, and OGG&S LLC has a 50% interest. Documents show the county approved a permit for oil and gas development facilities by DCP Operating Company LP in May 2018.

The Weld County Sheriff’s Office said this week that workers constructing a pipeline found the bones Tuesday afternoon while working at the site.

The case had been cold for more than 30 years when Greeley Police Department reopened it at the end of 2018 with plans to again contact the same people they talked to in 1984. They said they hoped modern technology could lead to new answers and thought someone living in the area still might know something.

But this week, it was seemingly random events that led to the discovery of Jonelle’s remains.

”We are going to be working tirelessly to bring justice to Jonelle,” said Rebecca Ries, public information officer with the

Greeley Police Department, in a Wednesday news conference.

Anyone with information about Jonelle’s disappearance is asked to call 970-350-9601 or the Greeley police tip line at 970-351-5100.

---- Index References ----

News Subject: (Burglary & Theft (1BU41); Crime (1CR87); Criminal Law (1CR79); Legal (1LE33); Police (1PO98); Property Crime (1PR85); Social Issues (1SO05))

Language: EN

Other Indexing: (DCP Operating Company LP; OGG&S LLC; Stroh Family Trust) (Rebecca Ries; Jennifer Morgensen; Jonelle Matthews)

Edition: 1

2/19/2021 FormerIdahogubernatorialcandidateindictedin1984killingof12-year-oldgirl|FoxNews

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DATE FILED: February 24, 2021 3:45 PM COLORADO · PublishedOctober14 Former Idaho gubernatorial candidate indicted in 1984 killing of 12-year-old girl Girldiedfromsinglegunshotwoundtohead;herremainswerediscoveredin2019

ByStephaniePagones|FoxNews

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FoxNewsFlashtopheadlinesforOctober14 FoxNewsFlashtopheadlinesarehere.Checkoutwhat'sclickingonFoxnews.com. 86

AformerIdahogubernatorialcandidatewasindictedforthe1984murderofhis12-year-old neighborwhosedisappearancehadbeenamysteryformorethanthree decades, ocials recently announced.

StevenD.Pankey,69,wasarrestedMondaymorninginconnectionwiththeabductionandmurderof JonelleMatthewsonDec.20,1984,inGreeley,Colo. He faces two counts of rst-degreemurder, https://www.foxnews.com/us/idaho-gubernatorial-candidate-indicted-killing-abducting-girl 1/7 2/19/2021 FormerIdahogubernatorialcandidateindictedin1984killingof12-year-oldgirl|FoxNews kidnappingandcrimeofviolenceandwasawaitingextraditiontoColorado,ocials said.

Jonellediedfromasinglegunshotwoundtoherforehead,WeldCountyDistrictAttorneyMichael Rourkesaid.Herremainswerenotdiscovereduntil2019.

OHIOSTATESTUDENTKILLEDINSHOOTINGNEARFRATHOUSE;SUSPECTARRESTED

Jonelle'sfamilysearchedfruitlesslyforyearsasherpicturewasprintedonmilkcartonsduringa nationalmissing-childrencampaigninthe1980s.

“Alwaysinthebackofyourmindyoumighthavealittlebitofhope,”JenniferMogensen,hersister, toldtheAssociatedPress.“We'reextremelygratefulwe'regettingthisnextsteptowardjustice.”

ThisundatedphotoprovidedbytheWeldCounty,Colo.,DistrictAttorney'sOce,showsSte vePankey,aformerlongshotcandidate forIdahogovernorchargedwithmurder,kidnappingandothercountsinthedeathofJonelleMatthews,a12-year-oldColoradogirl whowentmissingin1984.(WeldCountyDistrictAttorney'sOceviaAP)

InthedecadessincePankeylivedinColorado,hehasrunasaConstitutionPartycandidatefor Idahogovernorin2014andintheRepublicanprimaryin2018.It'sthesameyearauthoritiessaidhe becameapersonofinterestinthegirl'sdeath.

PankeypreviouslytoldtheTimes-NewsinTwinFalls,Idaho,thathewasbeingframedinthecase. HesaidhisfamilyhadfewconnectionstoJonelleorherfamily.

ThetwofamiliesdidworshipatthesamechurchinGreeley,andPankeyhadmadestatementsto policerevealing“intimateknowledgeaboutthecommissionofthecrime"thatwasnotpublic https://www.foxnews.com/us/idaho-gubernatorial-candidate-indicted-killing-abducting-girl 2/7 2/19/2021 FormerIdahogubernatorialcandidateindictedin1984killingof12-year-oldgirl|FoxNews information,Rourkesaid.

InthisMonday,Aug.12,2019,photograph,familyphotographsofJonelleMatthews,whowentmissingjustbeforeChristmas1984 andwhoseremainswerefoundinGreeley,Colo.in2019,sitonatableinahomeinGreeley.(APPhoto/DavidZalubowski,File)

TEXASGIRLDIESAFTERCOUPLEFORCEDHERTOJUMPONTRAMPOLINEINHEAT:COPS

PankeyhadwatchedchildrenfromJonelle’smiddleschoolwalkhome,accordingtocharging documents.In2008,hisformerwifeheardhimsayathisson’sfuneral:“IhopeGoddidn’tallowthis tohappenbecauseofJonelleMatthews,"prosecutorswrote.

JonelledisappearedonDec.20,1984,afterbeingdroppedhomebyafriendandthefriend’sfather. Shewaslastseenat8p.m.,enteringtheranch-stylehomewhereshelivedwithherfather,Jim; mother,Gloria;andsister.Butwhenherfatherreturnedfromheroldersister'sbasketballgamean hourlater,Jonellewasgone.

Thecasecametotheattentionofthen-PresidentRonaldReaganashisadministrationlauncheda nationaleffortto nd missing children.HerpicturewasprintedonmilkcartonsacrosstheU.S.as partofaprojectbytheNationalChildSafetyCouncil.

“Foroverthreedecades,thedisappearanceofJonelleMatthewshasleftourcommunitywithmany unansweredquestionsandavoid that has not been lled. With the arrestofStevePankey...some ofthesequestionsarestartingtobeanswered,”saidGreeleypolicedepartmentChiefMarkJones.

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https://www.foxnews.com/us/idaho-gubernatorial-candidate-indicted-killing-abducting-girl 3/7 2/19/2021 FormerIdahogubernatorialcandidateindictedin1984killingof12-year-oldgirl|FoxNews InJuly2019,workersdiggingapipelinediscoveredhumanremainsmatchingJonelle’sdental recordsinaruralareasoutheastofGreeley,acityabout50milesnorthofDenver.Policethen labeledherdeathahomicide.

TheAssociatedPresscontributedtothisreport.

StephaniePagonesisaDigitalReporterforFOXBusinessandFoxNews.FollowheronTwitterat @steph_pagones.

https://www.foxnews.com/us/idaho-gubernatorial-candidate-indicted-killing-abducting-girl 4/7 2/19/2021 FormerIdahogubernatorialcandidateindictedin1984killingof12-year-oldgirl|FoxNews

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https://www.foxnews.com/us/idaho-gubernatorial-candidate-indicted-killing-abducting-girl 7/7 2/19/2021 Former candidate for Idaho governor probed in Colorado girl's 1984 murder

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Former candidate for Idaho governor probedDATE in FILED: Colorado February 24, girl's 2021 3:45 PM 1984 murder

By Louis Casiano

Published September 13, 2019

Fox News Fox News Flash top headlines for Sept. 13Video

A former candidate for governor of Idaho has said he's under investigation in the cold-case killing of a 12-year-old Colorado girl 35 years ago.

Steve Pankey made the revelation during an interview with the Idaho Statesman this week.

The paper, citing a warrant, said authorities believe Pankey is a person of interest in the 1984 kidnapping and murder of Jonelle Matthews. A search of Pankey's Twin Falls home was conducted last week.

Pankey, 68, and his former wife lived two miles away from Matthews when she disappeared from her Greeley, Colo., home on Dec. 20, 1984, after returning from a Christmas concert with her classmates.

FLORIDA MAN’S SKELETAL REMAINS DISCOVERED AFTER UNDERWATER CAR SPOTTED ON GOOGLE EARTH

Greeley police said a construction crew found Matthews' remains on July 23 of this year while excavating for a pipeline in a rural area.

Pankey claimed he gave authorities a DNA sample last month. However, Greeley police said it never made such a request. Pankey has not been charged in connection with Matthews' death.

Jonelle Matthews, 12, was last seen inside her family's home on Dec. 20, 1984. (The Charley Project) 87 https://www.foxnews.com/us/former-idaho-candidate-for-governor-being-investigated-in-1984-colorado-cold-case.print 1/3 2/19/2021 Former candidate for Idaho governor probed in Colorado girl's 1984 murder “Steve Pankey has made repeated efforts to speak with detectives throughout this investigation," the department told KDVR-TV. "Greeley detectives went to Twin Falls, Idaho, on Aug. 15 efforting a conversation. During the interaction, Pankey refused to speak with detectives for reasons unknown."

Pankey unsuccessfully ran for Idaho governor in 2014 as a Constitution Party candidate and ran in the 2018 Republican primary. He finished fifth in a seven-person race with 1.4 percent of the vote.

“I’m trying to be transparent,” he told the Statesman. "I have nothing to hide.”

DNA LEADS TO IDENTITY OF SUSPECT IN 1972 MURDER OF CALIFORNIA GIRL, 11

Investigators have asked Pankey multiple times about Matthews, but Pankey said he won't speak without his attorney present.

He said he moved to Greeley in 1973 and was accused of "date rape" in 1977 by a woman he was dating. He was criminally charged, but the charge was later dismissed. He was also charged with as many as 20 misdemeanors in Colorado that included harassment.

Steve Pankey. (Steve Pankey for Governor campaign)

In Greeley, Pankey said he worked as a youth minister and had gone to church with people who knew Matthews and her family, but added that he didn't know her personally.

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Pankey claimed he was home with his then-wife on the night Matthews vanished. He left the next morning to visit family in California and returned to Colorado on Dec. 26, 1984, he said.

“I never met Jonelle, I never met her family, I didn’t know she existed or disappeared until Wednesday, Dec. 26, [1984],” he said.

Pankey said he moved to Idaho in 1987 and hasn't been back to Colorado since.

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Suspect in 1984 Jonelle Matthews killing waives - FOX - 31 KDVR (Denver, CO) - October 14, 2020 October 14, 2020 | FOX - 31 KDVR (Denver, CO) | Lori Jane Gliha DATE FILED: February 24, 2021 3:45 PM ADA COUNTY, Idaho (KDVR) — The man accused in the 1984 ﬁrst-degree murder of a young girl, Jonelle Matthews, waived his right to an extradition hearing in Idaho.

"I guess my general feeling is, if I'm going to end up in Colorado sooner or later, the sooner the better to get it over with," said Steve Pankey, 69, from an Ada County, Idaho Jail.

City of Meridian police oﬃcers arrested Pankey on Monday at a residence on the 6000 block of Borgnine Lane in Meridian, according to the public safety information oﬃcer, Stephany Galbreaith.

Ada County jail oﬃcials told the FOX31 Problem Solvers that Pankey was brought into the jail just after 11:00 a.m. on Monday.

Pankey faced a judge Tuesday afternoon.

"I am willing to drive to Colorado to face the charges," Pankey said in a calm voice.

Pankey, who was dressed in an orange jail uniform and wearing a paper mask at times during the virtual hearing, told the judge he had hired an attorney in Colorado but had not had an opportunity to speak with that person.

A public defender conferred with Pankey during his Tuesday hearing and explained that although he waived extradition, he was not admitting to any wrongdoing.

"He would like to get to Colorado to get this matter resolved as quickly as possible," she said.

CITATION (HARVARD STYLE)

Jane Gliha, L 2020, 'Suspect in 1984 Jonelle Matthews killing waives right to extradition hearing in Idaho', FOX - 31 KDVR (Denver, CO), 14 Oct, (online NewsBank).

https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=AWNB&t=&sort=YMD_date%3AD&page=2&fld-base-0=alltext&maxresults=20&val-base-… 1/1 2/19/2021 JONELLE MATTHEWS: Man in custody in connection with 1984 death of Jonelle Matthews

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LOCAL NEWS Man in custody in connection with 1984 death of Jonelle Matthews

Man in custody in connection with 1984 death of Jone Matthews

by: Web Staff Posted: Oct 13, 2020 / 01:19 PM MDT / Updated: Oct 13, 2020 / 09:45 PM MDT

https://kdvr.com/news/local/man-in-custody-in-connection-with-1984-death-of-jonelle-matthews/ 1/11 2/19/2021 JONELLE MATTHEWS: Man in custody in connection with 1984 death of Jonelle Matthews

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Ocial Indictment from Weld County District Court →

https://kdvr.com/news/local/man-in-custody-in-connection-with-1984-death-of-jonelle-matthews/ 2/11 2/19/2021 JONELLE MATTHEWS: Man in custody in connection with 1984 death of Jonelle Matthews

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Man in custody in connection with 1984 death of Jone Matthews

https://kdvr.com/news/local/man-in-custody-in-connection-with-1984-death-of-jonelle-matthews/ 3/11 2/19/2021 JONELLE MATTHEWS: Man in custody in connection with 1984 death of Jonelle Matthews

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https://kdvr.com/news/local/greeley-police-chief-speaks-out-about-jonelle-matthews-homicide-investigation/ 10/10 2/17/2021 JonelleMatthewsmurdersuspectStevePankeypleadsnotguilty–GreeleyTribune

NEWSCRIMEANDPUBLICSAFETY DATE FILED: February 24, 2021 3:45 PM JonelleMatthewsmurdersuspect StevePankeypleadsnotguilty

StevenDanaPankey.(WeldCountySheriff’sOffice/ForGreeleyTribune)

ByTREVORREID|[email protected]|GreeleyTribune PUBLISHED:February3,2021at10:51a.m.|UPDATED:February3,2021at1:21 p.m.

StevePankeypleadednotguiltytothe1984kidnappingandmurderof12-year- oldJonelleMatthews,settinguponeofthebiggestcasestogototrialinWeld Countyhistory. 91

https://www.greeleytribune.com/2021/02/03/jonelle-matthews-murder-suspect-steve-pankey-pleads-not-guilty/ 1/3 2/17/2021 JonelleMatthewsmurdersuspectStevePankeypleadsnotguilty–GreeleyTribune Pankey,69,appearedWednesdaymorningwithDenver-baseddefenseattorney AnthonyViorstforanarraignmenthearingbeforeJudgeTimothyKerns.Pankeyis beingheldattheWeldCountyJailona$5millioncash-onlybond,abondViorst hassaidPankeywouldbeunabletopost.

PankeyisaccusedoftakingJonellefromherGreeleyhomeDec.20,1984,before killingherwithasinglegunshotwoundtothehead.ShewasmissinguntilJuly 2019,whenoilandgasworkersconstructingapipelinefoundherremainsinrural WeldCounty,southeastofGreeley.Thecasehasreceivednationalattention.

The15-dayjurytrialissettobegin8:30a.m.July12.

Viorstsaidheintendstofileforachangeofvenuewithin21days,asisrequired byColoradolaw.Thecourtmaychangethelocationofatrialifit’sfoundafairor expeditioustrialcannottakeplaceinthecurrentcountyordistrict.

Atrialreadinessconferencehasbeensetfor1:30p.m.June30,andamotions hearingisscheduledfor9a.m.May28.Thedeadlineformotionstobefiledis April30.

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GREELEY,CO–JULY11:AmemorialforworkerswhodiedfromCOVID-19standsacrossthestreetfromtheJBSGreeleymeatpackingplantin GreeleyJuly11,2020.AccordingtodatareleasedbytheColoradoDepartmentofPublicHealthandEnvironment,287employeesattheplanthave hadlab-confirmedCOVID-19infectionsand6havedied.(AlexMcIntyre/StaffPhotographer)

ByGREELEYTRIBUNESTAFF|[email protected]| January3,2021at7:00a.m.

Theyear2020wasoneunlikeanyother.Forsomanyreasons,these12monthswillbeunforgettable,butnoreasonmoresignificantthan theworld-alteringglobalpandemicthroughwhichfolksintheGreeleyareasufferedmuchlikepeopleinallpartsoftheplanet.

AswelookbacktogetheronthebiggeststoriesthatcrossedthepagesoftheGreeleyTribune,it’simpossibletodivorcetheCOVID-19 pandemicfrom,really,anything.Thewholeyearwascenteredaroundthisonce-in-a-lifetime(hopefully)worldwideevent.Andassuch,our annualyearinreviewlooksalittledifferentthannormal.

Ratherthanpulloutthepandemicasasinglestoryandslideitalongsideourotherbigtopics,wemadethepandemicthewholestory.With fewexceptions—andwe’velistedthose,too—thevirusdominatedandinfiltratedintojustabouteveryoneofthebiggestnewseventsof theyear.Sothemajorityofthisretrospectivewilllookateventsandstoriesthatwererelatedtothepandemic.Afinalsectionwillreview thoserarerelativelyunrelatedstories.

Itwasahardyearformany,butit’sovernow.Let’slookbackandrememberhowwegotto2021.

https://www.greeleytribune.com/2021/01/03/last-year-in-the-greeley-tribune/ 1/11 2/17/2021 LastyearintheGreeleyTribune–GreeleyTribune COVID-19andthegovernment

Thefar-reachingeffectsofthepandemicchallengedgovernmentandpublicsafetyofficialswithhowtorespondtoaninvisibledisaster.

GREELEY,CO–NOVEMBER06:TheCentennialHearingRoom,wheretheWeldCountyCommissionersmeet,intheWeldCountyAdministration BuildingisseeninGreeleyNov.6,2020.(AlexMcIntyre/StaffPhotographer)

Inmid-March,theWeldCountyDepartmentofPublicHealthandEnvironmentissuedapublichealthorderrequiringdistancingand cancelingeventsof10ormorepeople.Thedepartmentdescribedtheorderas“self-enforcing,”meaningcountyofficialsneverwentout searchingforviolations.Laterthatmonth,Gov.JaredPolisissuedastatewidestay-at-homeorder.

Locallawenforcementchosetoeducatepeopleabouttheorderinsteadofenforcingitwiththreatsoffinesorjailtime.Asimilarstancewas takeninJulywhenPolisissuedanexecutiveorderrequiringmasksforpeopleages11andup.

InSeptember,stateofficialsreleasedadialdashboardtoprovideguidanceonwhatlevelofrestrictionsshouldbeputinplacefordifferent counties.Countyandstateofficials’disputeoverthegovernment’sroleinrespondingtothepandemiccametoaheadwhenthestate movedWeldCountytotheLevelRedphaseinmidNovember.

Thecountycommissionersissuedastatementindicatingoutrightdefianceofthestate’srestrictions.Thestate’sLiquorEnforcement Divisionultimatelyhelpedenforcethestate’srestrictions,suspendinglicensesofdefiantbusinesses.

—PublicsafetyreporterTrevorReid

Schoolsdealwiththevirus

Wasthereasegmentofthepopulationmoreaffectedbytherollercoaster,topsy-turvynatureofthepandemicthanschools—thestudents, staffandadministrators?

https://www.greeleytribune.com/2021/01/03/last-year-in-the-greeley-tribune/ 2/11 2/17/2021 Last year in the Greeley Tribune – Greeley Tribune

DATE FILED: February 24, 2021 3:45 PM

WINDSOR, CO – AUGUST 18:A student walks toward the school entrance before the start of the school day on the first day of school for the second set of students at Windsor High School in Windsor Aug. 18, 2020. Students opting to return to in-person learning have been split into groups and will attend school in-person on different days of the week, which reduces the number of students in contact with one another during the COVID-19 pandemic. (Alex McIntyre/Staff Photographer)

Schools and school systems are often reflections of the community at large.

The quarantines, the protocols, masks, building closures, lists of remote learning or those learning online could be indicative of the status of the pandemic at any given time through the first 10 months.

Through the spring and summer, leading to the start of the new academic year in August or September, school leaders nationwide were tasked with crafting an educational plan to suit their district’s needs.

While, in the meantime, voices from all sides weighed in and registered an opinion: schools should open, schools should not be open.

Teachers, then, were entrusted with executing and implementing these plans while worrying about the welfare of their students, of their own and of their families.

What must it be like to go to work each day not knowing what will come from the school day? Will I get sick? Will one of my students or fellow teachers fall ill?

For the students, the disruptions to their lives over the last 10 months reach beyond the walls of the school buildings. These were nothing short of jarring. The simple joys and pleasures of being in school — which is a very social environment — were often lost or reconfigured beyond the norm as it came to performance, sports, competitions, trips and events.

The power of the virus reduces many of us to spectators. Hurry up and wait for it to pass; wait for the vaccine to wipe it away while trying to cope in a very different world.

One local graduation speaker for the class of 2020 wasn’t having it. Not in the least.

“I don’t want to be a special class,” Greeley Central’s Brian Davis told his classmates at the school’s socially distanced ceremony in late July. “I just wanted my senior year. And that’s the last I have to say about that.”

—Education reporter Anne Delaney

Hospitals and personal protective equipment shortages 92

The COVID-19 pandemic strained patient capacity in hospitals around the world, including local UCHealth Greeley Hospital and Banner’s North Colorado Medical Center.

https://www.greeleytribune.com/2021/01/03/last-year-in-the-greeley-tribune/ 3/11 2/17/2021 Last year in the Greeley Tribune – Greeley Tribune

GREELEY, CO – SEPTEMBER 09:Paul Kuhlman, an orthopedic physicianÕs assistant, right, waits to get his flu shot during a curbside flu shot clinic at Banner Health North Colorado Medical Center in Greeley Sept. 9, 2020. Flu shots are particularly important this year when considering the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. (Alex McIntyre/Staff Photographer)

Not yet knowing exactly what they were dealing with, doctors and nurses worked tirelessly around the clock to care for coronavirus patients while hospital administrators worked with staff to convert different floors of the hospital into COVID-19 treatment areas.

UCHealth implemented a large tent outside its doors to screen people for COVID-19 prior to entering the medical center.

Both UCHealth and NCMC had to make the heartbreaking decision to not allow any visitors into their facilities. The move resulted in doctors and nurses comforting and holding the hands of patients who died from the virus as family members said their goodbyes by phone.

While hospitals stressed over the shortage of beds and ventilators, nurses, doctors, paramedics and other front-line workers and first responders fretted over a rising shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE) like gloves, masks and gowns.

In early May, Weld County purchased more than $400,000 worth of PPE for front-line workers and first responders. The purchase included 12,800 isolation gowns, 60,000 surgical masks, 20,000 KN95 masks and 900 boxes of nitrile gloves.

Aims Community College and Greeley-Evans School District 6 collaborated to donate more than 1,100 mask bands while groups worked their sewing machines nonstop to make hundreds of cloth masks for frontline workers.

Genesis Plastics Technology transitioned from producing things like food packaging and light fixtures to cranking out medical-grade plastic face shields.

— Go and Do reporter Tamara Markard

The virus and the beef plant

When the pandemic came to Weld County, the JBS meatpacking plant wasn’t the first place the virus infiltrated. But the county’s largest employer, where employees worked shoulder-to-shoulder inside a giant concrete monolith off U.S. 85 northeast of town, became one of COVID-19’s first real tinderboxes of the spring — and remains among the largest to this day.

GREELEY, CO – OCTOBER 06:A plant worker walks past the JBS sign at the JBS Greeley Beef plant in Greeley Oct. 6, 2020. (Alex McIntyre/Staff Photographer)

The Brazilian-owned beef producer, which not only employees several thousand area workers, but also has its international corporate headquarters in Greeley, initially insisted, from the CEO’s own lips to the Greeley Tribune, that the plant was “100%” safe from the virus, even as cases grew inside the facility. https://www.greeleytribune.com/2021/01/03/last-year-in-the-greeley-tribune/ 4/11 2/17/2021 Last year in the Greeley Tribune – Greeley Tribune

Just days later, the state health department had ordered the plant temporarily closed, as multiple employees — an eventual total of six in the plant — died of the virus and evidence pointed to an uncontrolled spread inside the Greeley facility.

Nearly 300 people inside the plant — neighbors of ours — would contract the virus by the time the outbreak was declared over in October, and battles between the union that represents most of the workers inside and the company are ongoing, and allegations over lip-service- level safety protocols have emerged as well. The company has denied summarily all these claims.

But, more concerning, perhaps, is the fact that a new outbreak has come to the plant, this one beginning, per state data, Nov. 17. Seventy- three confirmed cases among employees have been reported in that time, and while it’s not the 294 confirmed cases and six deaths that ravaged the plant in the spring and summer, it’s a reminder that the virus isn’t going away yet.

— News editor Cuyler Meade

The pandemic comes to Weld County Jail

In early April, seven inmates of the Weld County Jail worked with the ACLU of Colorado to file a class action lawsuit against Weld County Sheriff Steve Reams, alleging unsafe jail conditions due to inaction regarding the pandemic. A U.S. District Court judge ruled in a preliminary injunction against Reams in May, requiring several steps to respond to the pandemic.

GREELEY, CO – DECEMBER 03:The Weld County North Jail Complex, located at 2110 O St., is seen in Greeley Dec. 3, 2020. (Alex McIntyre/Staff Photographer)

Reams, who listed 80 different actions his agency took to prevent viral spread, called it the most personally disappointing ruling in his six years as sheriff.

Construction at the jail collided with the ruling for a short time this year, resulting in tighter arrest standards than before. The standards notoriously resulted in two men accused of shooting at each other in a Walmart parking lot in Greeley not being booked into the jail.

The ACLU and Reams reached a settlement announced in December, which expanded on the preliminary injunction. Reams said almost all of the steps laid out in the settlement were steps his agency was taking before the lawsuit began.

— Public safety reporter Trevor Reid

The social life in an age of social distancing

If the COVID-19 pandemic taught us anything, it was how to socialize virtually and embrace online technology.

Dwight Yoakam, Hardy and Lecrae a few of the artists set to take the stage during the 2021 Greeley Stampede. (Greeley Tribune file photo) https://www.greeleytribune.com/2021/01/03/last-year-in-the-greeley-tribune/ 5/11 2/17/2021 Last year in the Greeley Tribune – Greeley Tribune

As coronavirus cases rose across Weld County and the country, events like concerts, fairs, parades and any kind of gathering were constantly being rescheduled, postponed or canceled.

The Greeley Blues Jam, Arts Picnic and weekly Friday Fests were some of the first events to be canceled due to the pandemic. The Greeley Stampede quickly followed suit by nixing the rodeo, carnival and concert series, opting for an online shoebox parade and socially distant fire works show.

While the Union Colony Civic Center canceled its 2020 season, the Greeley Philharmonic Orchestra took to providing the community free outdoor performances — socially distanced of course — as well as an online Christmas concert.

The holiday season also looked different this year with the city’s popular Festival of Trees and Greeley Lights the Night Parade switched for the drive-thru Holiday Lane at Island Grove event.

In addition to event and activities, the virus put a damper on in-door dining and social gatherings at restaurants and bars throughout the county.

Breweries like WeldWerks Brewing Co. and Brix Brew and Tap, along with 477 Distillery and Syntax Distilling were forced to convert operations to takeout only for beer and drinks while restaurant turned to food delivery services like GrubHub, Door Dash and NOSH to provide customers with food from their favorite eateries.

— Go and Do reporter Tamara Markard

The business side

Few sectors of society were more profoundly impacted nationwide by the COVID-19 pandemic than small businesses were. And the local small-business sector certainly wasn’t an exception.

GREELEY, CO – APRIL 01:An oil and gas drilling rig and well owned by KP Kauffman Company, Inc. stands in a field north of 10th Street and west of 95th Avenue as the sun sets over west Greeley Wednesday, April 1, 2020. (Alex McIntyre/[email protected])

The first major blow toward small businesses came March 16 when Gov. Jared Polis ordered restaurants, bars, theaters and other non- essential businesses to close, forcing many business owners to lay off staffs.

Restaurants had to shift toward delivery and takeout orders, while other small shops moved toward an online-only storefront. Some of these small businesses weren’t completely equipped to transition to an exclusively digital presence and had to cease operations completely during this time.

A handful of local businesses had to shut their doors for good, but most persevered before receiving a reprieve in May when Polis’s “safer at home” order allowed restaurants and other businesses to phase in in-person patronage.

However, in November, the Colorado Department of Public Health moved Weld County’s COVID-19 dial to level red, designed to again suspend in-person dining and heavily restrict capacity among other businesses. Some local businesses again reverted to a delivery/takeout/online model, while others kept their doors open as the Weld County Board of Commissioners indicated intentions to ignore the state’s mandate.

Heading into 2021 and beyond, small businesses will continue to face significant challenges and an uncertain fate in the midst of the pandemic.

Ditto for the oil and gas industry, which was already facing challenges pre-pandemic because of the new oil and gas law, SB 19-181. The law increases regulations on the industry and directs state officials to focus primarily on health and safety when approving new permits.

The COVID-19 pandemic added to a rough year for the industry, causing many operators to lay off dozens of workers locally and cut other costs.

— Growth and development reporter Bobby Fernandez https://www.greeleytribune.com/2021/01/03/last-year-in-the-greeley-tribune/ 6/11 2/17/2021 Last year in the Greeley Tribune – Greeley Tribune The belly of the beast, assisted-living facilities and nursing homes

Among the largest group of victims of the COVID-19 pandemic were nursing home and assisted-living facility residents and staff.

GREELEY, CO – MAY 08:Ashley Lancaster, a nurse at Fairacres Manor, poses for a portrait outside the nursing home in Greeley Friday, May 8, 2020. Lancaster has been a nurse at the facility for the last three years, but has worked there for 10. (Alex McIntyre/[email protected])

COVID-19 ravaged these care facilities nationwide.

The COVID-19 Tracking Project reported long-term care facilities accounted for 38% of U.S. COVID-19 deaths as of Dec. 24.

In Colorado, the project noted more than 16,000 total cases in long-term care facilities — including both nursing homes and assisted-living residences — with 1,450 deaths in 274 locations.

“We know that the populations in these facilities are among the most vulnerable and are at highest risk of severe illness from this virus,” said Rachel Herlihy, state epidemiologist with the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment in the spring.

In Greeley, Fairacres Manor on 18th Avenue was the source of the worst outbreak in the state during the height of the pandemic in the spring, according to a story from The Denver Post.

Centennial Healthcare Center on 29th Avenue Place was also the site of a severe outbreak in the spring according to CDPHE data.

“It was scary — it just hit us really fast,” said Fairacres Certified Nursing Assistant Mary Meraz in the Denver Post story. “Everybody pitched in…We tried to comfort the residents who were getting really sick. Their families couldn’t be there for them so it was really hard.”

— Education reporter Anne Delaney

The beginning of the end — a vaccine

A bright spot in 2020 was the promise of a vaccine for COVID-19.

GREELEY, CO – DECEMBER 17:Jessie Ritter, clinical pharmacist at UCHealth Greeley, preps doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for use on the first day of vaccinations at UCHealth Greeley Hospital in Greeley Dec. 17, 2020. Each vial must be inverted several times and diluted before doses can be drawn into syringes for administering the vaccine. (Alex McIntyre/Staff Photographer)

“We believe vaccine is the beginning of the end of the pandemic,” said Banner Health Chief Clinical Officer Dr. Marjorie Bessel in early December.

Rolled out in mid-December, the vaccine from pharmaceutical companies Pfizer and Moderna were approved for emergency-use by the Food and Drug Administration earlier this month come with incredibly high efficacy rate — in the 94% and 95% range, which a local health official called “remarkable.” https://www.greeleytribune.com/2021/01/03/last-year-in-the-greeley-tribune/ 7/11 2/17/2021 Last year in the Greeley Tribune – Greeley Tribune

Here in Colorado, the state just Wednesday introduced a revised vaccination timeline.

The timeline has been updated to prioritize residents age 70 and up, teachers, grocery store employees, postal worker and other frontline workers including essential officials in state government and frontline journalists.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported as of Dec. 30, more than 246,000 doses of vaccine had been administered in Colorado with more than 74,000 people receiving a first dose.

— Education reporter Anne Delaney

And all the rest

Beyond the COVID-19 pandemic, there were plenty of other headline-grabbing stories that took place in 2020. Here’s a quick look at some of them:

The Election — Republicans again won every seat on the Weld County Board of Commissioners. Republicans won several other key local races. Those victors included: Ken Buck (4th congressional district), Tonya Van Beber (State House District 48), Mike Lynch (House District 49), Barbara Kirkmeyer (State Senate District 23), Dan Woog (House District 63) and Michael Rourke (unopposed, Weld County District Attorney). Democrat Mary Young kept her seat as Colorado State Legislator for District 50. At the state level, democrat John Hickenlooper defeated Republican U.S. Sen. Cory Gardner for a seat in the U.S. Senate. Arrest of Steve Pankey — On Oct. 12, Steve Pankey was arrested and accused of the 1984 kidnapping and murder of 12-year-old Jonelle Matthews. Following a hearing Wednesday, he learned he will have no reduction or change to his bond. His arraignment is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. Feb. 3 in Division 11 of Weld District Court. Black Lives Matter movement in Greeley — Following a nationwide trend, people took to the streets of Greeley to speak out against social injustice, police brutality and the recent deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and others killed by police. Among the demonstrations, more than 300 people gathered at Monfort Park in June. Kamada arrested — On June 30, former Weld District Court judge Ryan Kamada pleaded guilty to a federal felony charge for obstructing an investigation into a cocaine trafficking ring in northern Colorado. He resigned from the bench in August 2019. He was disbarred this summer and will be sentenced in the federal criminal case in February. Greeley Tribune sold — On March 1, MediaNews Group purchased the Greeley Tribune from longtime owner Swift Communications. MediaNews Group is one of the largest newspaper businesses in the United States, also owning The Denver Post, Loveland Reporter-Herald, Longmont Times-Call, Boulder Daily Camera and other Colorado media outlets. Increase in violent crimes — Greeley saw a spike in shootings and other violent crimes in 2020. In the past year, Greeley police responded to seven reports of homicides across the city, two of which involved two victims, according to the department’s Community Crime Map on LexisNexis. In 2019, police responded to just two homicides. In the past decade, the department’s record high for homicides in a single year is five, which was in 2017. State champions — Even with the COVID-19 pandemic severely disrupting high school sports throughout the state — including bringing an abrupt end to the boys and girls basketball postseasons in March and wiping out the spring season altogether — Weld County programs racked up the hardware in 2020. Eaton won three team state titles this year, in wrestling, softball and football. Valley earned a share of the 3A wrestling title with Eaton. Windsor won the 4A wrestling title. Frontier Academy won the boys cross country title. Also, numerous Weld athletes won individual wrestling titles at the state tournament in February: Windsor’s Dominick Serrano (4A, 132 pounds), Vance Vombaur (4A, 138), Cody Eaton (4A, 160), Tristan Perez (4A, 170) and Isaiah Salazar (4A, 182); Roosevelt’s Miles Beam (4A, 195); Weld Central’s Roberto Estrada (3A, 106); Fort Lupton’s Jacob Duran (3A, 126); Valley’s Isaiah Rios (3A, 138) and Jaziah Whaley (3A, 160); Eaton’s Ryan Dirksen (3A, 145); University’s Emanuel Munoz-Alcala (3A, 285).

— Growth and development and prep sports reporter Bobby Fernandez

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Greeley Tribune staff https://www.greeleytribune.com/2021/01/03/last-year-in-the-greeley-tribune/ 8/11 2/17/2021 Last year in the Greeley Tribune – Greeley Tribune About this post: This is an editorial expressing the opinion of the Greeley Tribune staff. Do you have an opinion you’d like to express? Submit a letter of 300 words or less to [email protected], or go to www.greeleytribune.com/contribute and find the link for letters to the editor.

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NEWSCRIME AND PUBLIC SAFETY

No change in Steve Pankey’s bond afteDATEr jud FILED:ge re Februaryviews 24, 2021 3:45 PM ‘astounding’ grand jury transcript

GREELEY, CO – JULY 21:The Weld County Courthouse stands near downtown at the Weld County Centennial Center in Greeley July 21, 2020. (Alex McIntyre/Staff Photographer)

By TREVOR REID | [email protected] | Greeley Tribune PUBLISHED: December 30, 2020 at 2:59 p.m. | UPDATED: January 3, 2021 at 9:50 a.m.

Steve Pankey, who’s accused of the 1984 kidnapping and murder of 12-year-old Jonelle Matthews, will have no reduction or change to his bond following a hearing Wednesday afternoon in Weld District Court.

Pankey, 69, appeared in court before Judge Timothy Kerns on Wednesday with his attorney Anthony Viorst, a Denver-based defense attorney. At Pankey’s bond hearing in early December, Viorst asked Kerns to reconsider the $5 million cash-only bond that was set in the case, saying it was practically no bond.

Viorst repeated that he doesn’t believe the proceedings of the Weld County Grand Jury, which unanimously indicted Pankey, met evidence standards required in court. Viorst challenged statements by Weld Assistant District Attorney Robb Miller in the bond hearing alleging Pankey had the means to post a seven-figure bond.

https://www.greeleytribune.com/2020/12/30/no-change-in-steve-pankeys-bond-after-judge-reviews-astounding-grand-jury-transcript/ 1/3 2/17/2021 No change in Steve Pankey’s bond after judge reviews ‘astounding’ grand jury transcript – Greeley Tribune

Steven Dana Pankey. (Weld County Sheriff’s Office/For Greeley Tribune)

If Kerns wouldn’t change the bond, Viorst asked for an explanation about what makes Pankey a flight risk and how he presents any safety concerns for the community. Viorst said Pankey had no prior felonies nor convictions for failing to appear in court and added Pankey offered a DNA sample and waived the extradition proceedings. Viorst also pointed to Pankey’s high-profile attempts for Idaho’s gubernatorial seat and run for sheriff as examples of him not hiding from authorities.

Kerns responded he doesn’t believe Pankey waiving the extradition proceedings necessarily meant Pankey was working with authorities as much as accepting the realities of those proceedings.

Viorst cited a 1963 court case claiming a grossly excessive bail was tantamount to not being given bail, but Miller responded that case involved a burglary charge and not first-degree murder. Miller cited Pankey as having a lengthy history of intimidating witnesses, particularly women, and added that police put up pole cams outside Pankey’s ex-wife’s house to ensure her safety.

Kerns said he reviewed the transcript from the grand jury proceedings and found it to be “particularly astounding.” He declined to walk through each and every piece of information, but acknowledged Pankey has assets above $1 million and said he believes Pankey is a flight risk.

Kerns cited Pankey falsely claiming to be a minister the month after Jonelle’s disappearance as one example of “layers and layers of efforts to avoid prosecution,” even when Pankey wasn’t the subject of an investigation. Kerns added Pankey has made multiple requests over the years for deals of immunity in the case.

Viorst asked to set Pankey’s arraignment in about 30 days, given the sheer volume of discovery in the case. He indicated Pankey intends to plead not guilty. Miller said they believe jury selection will take a minimum of three weeks

Jim Matthews, Jonelle’s father, said in court he believed Pankey’s bond was fair.

Viorst also asked to put on the record that Pankey has a history of skin cancer and has areas on his skin he’s concerned about. Viorst said he wanted to ensure Pankey is treated in a reasonable manner medically so his health is not placed at risk.

Pankey’s arraignment is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. Feb. 3 in Division 11 of Weld District Court.

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Trevor Reid Trevor Reid covers public safety issues for the Greeley Tribune. Connect with Trevor at (970) 392-4492, [email protected] or @treid71 on Twitter.

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OPINIONEDITORIALS

Greeley Tribune Opinion: As another anDATEnive FILED:rsary February pass 24,es 2021, 3:45 PM resolution could be close in case of Jonelle Matthews

GREELEY, CO – OCTOBER 13:Weld County District Attorney Michael Rourke speaks during a press conference announcing the arrest and indictment of Steve Pankey outside the Weld County Courthouse in Greeley Oct. 13, 2020. Pankey has been indicted on several counts in the 1984 death of Jonelle Matthews. (Alex McIntyre/Staff Photographer)

By GREELEY TRIBUNE EDITORIAL BOARD | [email protected] | December 27, 2020 at 7:00 a.m.

It’s not uncommon for certain criminal acts to stand out. 94

Even in a city the size of Greeley, it’s normal for crimes of a certain nature to grab attention and, if only for a short while, make residents of that area take notice.

However, sometimes a single act becomes something more. It becomes so ingrained, such a part of the culture, it almost seems like it’s become a part of a community’s fabric — a time stamp left to perpetually provide perspective on the passing of time for those who were around for it.

For over 35 years, that moment in Greeley has been the December 1984 disappearance of then-12-year-old Jonelle Matthews.

Jonelle was a 12-year-old girl attending seventh grade at Franklin Middle School in Greeley. She disappeared Dec. 20, 1984, after performing in a Christmas concert with the Franklin Middle School Honor Choir in Greeley. She was last seen about 8 p.m. that night when she was dropped off at her home at 320 43rd Ave. Court by a friend and her friend’s father. https://www.greeleytribune.com/2020/12/27/greeley-tribune-opinion-as-another-anniversary-passes-resolution-could-be-close-in-case-of-jon… 1/3 2/17/2021 Greeley Tribune Opinion: As another anniversary passes, resolution could be close in case of Jonelle Matthews – Greeley Trib…

And for almost three-and-a-half decades, that was as much closure as Jonelle’s family, law enforcement or the Greeley community would get.

Many efforts were mounted, by law enforcement and community members alike. Rewards were offered, leads uncovered and pursued.

But the same questions remained cruelly unanswered.

Like most of the rest of the country, Greeley in the early 1980s was just beginning to realize the plight faced by missing and exploited children. On a national level, Jonelle’s case was one that helped shed light on the problem. She was, both literally and metaphorically, one of the first faces on a milk carton.

However, as that widespread attention began to wane or shift to other, newer cases, the Greeley community never forgot about Jonelle.

Each year, the anniversary of her disappearance was remembered throughout the community. Law enforcement kept pursuing leads and refreshing their approach in case there was an angle they hadn’t seen. Members of the community never missed an opportunity to help, whether it was conducting searches in the early days of the case or passing out flyers decades later.

That’s probably why the case — which spawned Greeley’s very own “where were you when” moment over the years — never strayed very far from our collective mindset. It means something to so many of us, even if hopes of resolution seemed to fade as the years passed by.

Those hopes, however, were fully revived in late July 2019, when oilfield workers digging a pipeline about one quarter of a mile northwest of Weld County Road 49and Weld 34 1/2 reported to law enforcement they had discovered human remains.

The moment those remains were identified as Jonelle’s, there was some resolution regarding many of the major questions surrounding her disappearance — the unanswered questions that had haunted her family, law enforcement and the community for almost 35 years. This past October offered the chance for even more resolution when law enforcement arrested and charged former Greeley resident Steve Pankey with Jonelle’s murder.

We didn’t think we could be any more impressed with how law enforcement had handled this case over the years. Then we read the Pankey indictment and found a new level of appreciation.

We want to offer Greeley Police a huge “thank you” for the excellent work they did for so long on a case that meant so much to so many. The trial has yet to start in earnest, but based on that indictment it seems like the final bit of resolution might not be far off for Jonelle’s family as well as the community.

It’s important to note, though, that no verdict can give Jonelle back to her family or give the Greeley community back the sense of innocence it lost when she was taken. No matter what happens, that tragedy will forever be a part of our history in Greeley.

However, we do hope a conviction changes, even just a bit, the legacy the case of Jonelle Matthews leaves for Greeley. Rather than simply a reminder of the world’s cruel nature, we hope Dec. 20 becomes a reminder that, even in the face of such tragedy, perseverance can yield justice.

— Greeley Tribune Editorial Board is made of the following members: Jerry Martin, editor; Cuyler Meade, news editor; Lindsay Haines, events manager; Eli Horyza, distribution manager. Martin can be contacted at [email protected]. Editorial responses can be submitted to [email protected].

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Greeley Tribune Editorial Board About this post: This is an editorial expressing the opinion of the Greeley Tribune Editorial Board. Do you have an opinion you’d like to express? Submit a letter of 300 words or less to [email protected], or go to www.greeleytribune.com/contribute and find the link for letters to the editor.

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NEWSCOLORADO NEWS

Resolution closer than ever in Jonelle MDATEatth FILED:ews ’February case 3 24,6 2021 3:45 PM years after her disappearance

Jonelle Matthews, 12, center wearing blue vest with a red shirt, went missing Dec. 20, 1984. One of the last times she was seen was during a Franklin Middle School Honor Choir concert. (Greeley Police Department/For The Tribune)

By TREVOR REID | [email protected] | Greeley Tribune December 20, 2020 at 5:30 a.m. 95

Jonelle Matthews’ disappearance from her Greeley home 36 years ago today caught national attention, a spotlight that has been refocused on Greeley now that a suspect is in jail and is being prosecuted.

The Greeley of 1984 isn’t the same Greeley today, having grown to a population of more than 110,000 from a little more than 57,000. With many new residents and the departure of many others over the years, Greeley has been through its fair share of changes. Though it wasn’t then quite so small a town that everybody knew each other, according to current mayor John Gates, it has become a different community in fundamental ways. But some ways haven’t changed.

“Greeley’s always been caring,” Gates said. “And I remember that they certainly were as it revolved around the Matthews, helping the family and the police and searching to try to locate her.”

Those efforts included multiple funds offering rewards for information that could help find Jonelle, hundreds of volunteers searching the county, and people from across the state contacting police with information about possible sightings.

In December 1984, Jonelle was a 12-year-old girl attending seventh grade at Franklin Middle School in Greeley. Her parents moved to Greeley from California in 1978, about six years after they adopted her, so her father, Jim Matthews, could start a new job at Dayspring Christian Academy. He later became principal of Platte Valley Elementary School in Kersey, where he was working in 1984. https://www.greeleytribune.com/2020/12/20/resolution-closer-than-ever-in-jonelle-matthews-case-36-years-after-her-disappearance/ 1/4 2/17/2021 Resolution closer than ever in Jonelle Matthews’ case 36 years after her disappearance – Greeley Tribune

Jonelle sang in the choir in school and at church. The night she went missing, Dec. 20, 1984, Jonelle performed at a Franklin honor choir concert at IntraWest Bank, then at 1025 9th Ave., in Greeley. The performance was broadcast live by Cablevision. Jim dropped Jonelle off at the concert to watch her older sister, Jennifer, play a basketball game at Greeley Central High School. Jonelle’s mom, Gloria, had taken off to Los Angeles to surprise her parents for Christmas.

Russ Ross, a family friend, took Jonelle home before bringing home his own daughter, a friend of Jonelle’s. Ross dropped Jonelle off about 8:15 p.m. that night at her home at 320 43rd Avenue Court. Jim returned home about 9:30 p.m., finding Jonelle’s shoes and favorite pillow on the floor next to a heater. When Jennifer returned home about 30 minutes later and said she didn’t know where Jonelle was either, Jim called his pastor, who told Jim to call the police. Officers arrived about 15-20 minutes later.

Terri Kaiser, 50, of Emporia, Kansas, was 14 and attending high school when Jonelle went missing. Her mother was a teacher at Platte Valley Elementary School, where Jim was principal. Kaiser remembered waiting in the car for her mom to finish up after-school work before they headed home the day after Jonelle went missing.

“I went out to the car and waited, and I waited,” Kaiser said. “My mom normally doesn’t take that long, so she ran out really fast. She said, ‘Mr. Matthews’ daughter is missing. All they found was her shoes, and nobody saw anything last night, so we’re getting information about it.’ And she went inside.”

Kaiser remembered thinking initially that there was a miscommunication over Jonelle. Kaiser said she had done a report for school that year on missing children, so a more sinister reality set in over the following days.

“It clicked pretty quick within the first few days this wasn’t just something overblown by the parents’ alarm,” she said.

Jim Matthews later held an assembly with the elementary, junior high and high schools to try to bring an end to rumors about Jonelle’s disappearance. Kaiser said rumors included “ridiculous stuff” like allegations Jonelle’s birth parents took her from the Matthews.

Jonelle’s disappearance was one of a few notable incidents around that time, with the double murder of a Windsor couple having been reported almost two months earlier and the disappearance of a 20-year-old woman attending the University of Northern Colorado a couple months later. Kaiser’s parents told her she wasn’t to go out unless she was going with a group.

“It shook the community,” Gates said. “It was clear fairly early on that there was some foul play.”

Gates was a police officer with the Greeley Police Department when Jonelle went missing and said he was briefly at the scene that night. He later became a spokesman for the department, fielding calls over the years for stories on the anniversary of Jonelle’s disappearance. Two years ago, police announced they were taking a fresh look at the case. In July 2019, oil and gas workers digging a pipeline found her remains on remote land east of Greeley, about one quarter of a mile northwest of Weld County roads 34.5 and 49.

Jonelle’s parents hosted a closure celebration August 2019 at The Adventure: Seventh-day Adventist Church, 4100 20th St., in Greeley. A more intimate service was held the day after at Jonelle’s gravesite in Linn Grove Cemetery, 1700 Cedar Ave., in Greeley. Even though her remains were found, a suspect still hadn’t been announced more than a year later.

In October, the Weld District Attorney and Greeley police announced the Weld County Grand Jury indicted Steve Dana Pankey, 69, who was arrested on kidnapping and murder charges. His bond has been set at $5 million, cash only. A status conference is scheduled in the case 2 p.m. Dec. 30.

Kaiser said it was surprising to hear an arrest was made in the case, but that Pankey seemed to fit the profile on a deeper dive: someone who ties back into the family to some degree, Pankey having gone to the Matthews’ church around the time they attended the church, and someone who wouldn’t have initially seemed like the type to kill an innocent girl.

Kaiser said she’s relieved for the Matthews family to get answers about what happened, but she’s unsettled by the decades Pankey remained on the loose.

“If he got away with it and it’s been this long, than how many others are there?” she asked.

Gates said police never let the case go, even as various leads died down over the years. He commended police and the district attorney’s office for their investigations and work on the case, as well as the workers who uncovered Jonelle’s remains.

“I hope for everybody’s sake the indictment comes to a positive resolution,” Gates said. “I’ve read the indictment and there isn’t too much doubt in my mind who committed the acts, but that’s not up to me.”

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Trevor Reid Trevor Reid covers public safety issues for the Greeley Tribune. Connect with Trevor at (970) 392-4492, [email protected] or @treid71 on Twitter.

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NEWSCRIME AND PUBLIC SAFETY

Judge sets Jonelle Matthews murder suDATEspe FILED:ct St eFebruaryve 24, 2021 3:45 PM Pankey’s bond at $5M

Steven Dana Pankey. (Weld County Sheriff’s Office/For Greeley Tribune)

By TREVOR REID | [email protected] | Greeley Tribune PUBLISHED: December 4, 2020 at 10:07 a.m. | UPDATED: December 4, 2020 at 4:58 p.m. 96

Weld District Court Judge Timothy Kerns on Friday morning set a $5 million cash-only bond for Steve Pankey, who’s accused of kidnapping and murdering Jonelle Matthews in December 1984.

Anticipating the defense attorneys would challenge the evidence against Pankey, Assistant District Attorney Robb Miller laid out several pieces of evidence in the transcript of the Weld County Grand Jury’s indictment that pointed to Pankey as Jonelle’s murderer. Miller began by discussing a witness who testified Pankey in 1999 discussed knowledge about a rake being used to manipulate footprints in the snow outside the Matthews’ home.

Pankey appeared in court with Denver-based defense attorney Anthony Viorst, who later challenged Miller’s evidence in the case, saying the information Miller presented was all about Pankey and not about Jonelle’s murder.

Pankey inserted himself into the case repeatedly over the years, often claiming to have knowledge of the case, Miller continued. In January of 1985, Pankey went into the Greeley Police Department and claimed he was an ordained Baptist minister and that a parishioner came forward with information about the case, according to Miller. Police determined Pankey had never been an ordained minister and that he was trying to get information about the case.

https://www.greeleytribune.com/2020/12/04/judge-sets-jonelle-matthews-murder-suspect-steve-pankeys-bond-at-5m/ 1/4 2/17/2021 Judge sets Jonelle Matthews murder suspect Steve Pankey’s bond at $5M – Greeley Tribune

Miller said that in 1986, Pankey was accused of harassing someone who accused him of rape nearly a decade before. In the case, Pankey changed the subject to Jonelle’s disappearance at some point, saying police needed to look at the alleged rape victim and Russ Ross, a friend of the Matthews family who dropped Jonelle off before she was taken. Pankey moved out of the state shortly after, leaving the family’s belonging in Colorado, his ex-wife told police.

Miller also discussed an alibi letter Pankey sent to the district attorney’s office in 2011. The letter contained many details of Pankey’s family trip following Jonelle’s disappearance. Much of the minutiae contained within the letter was not consistent with information obtained by investigators, including Pankey claiming to have gotten gas at a Texaco when there wasn’t one in Greeley at the time and Pankey claiming not to have owned more than one car when he was a car salesman with several cars at the time.

“I’m not sure why anyone would write my office an alibi letter unless they needed an alibi,” Miller said.

Pankey also filed several court documents in unrelated cases over the years. In a 1999 document, Pankey said investigators wouldn’t solve Jonelle’s disappearance without Pankey’s cooperation, Miller said. In 2003, he said he had privileged information and that he wanted a deal to give a location for finding Jonelle’s body without needing to give any names, according to Miller.

After laying out evidence, Miller went on to discuss why he was seeking a $10 million cash-only bond. He reviewed a history of allegations that Pankey harassed witnesses and stalked various people. In 1977, Miller said, Pankey was accused of interstate harassment of a rape victim. Miller said the case was dismissed, but times were different. Family of the victim also said Pankey had called and harassed them even after the case’s dismissal.

In addition to a concern for the community’s safety, Miller said Pankey was a flight risk, with Pankey having a trust created for him in 2013 and millions of dollars in assetts. Pankey had also lived in several states over the years and spent a brief amount of time in Pakistan. Viorst later said Pankey has lived in Idaho since 1989 and said he doesn’t believe there’s evidence to suggest otherwise.

Viorst said Pankey was an “irascible” and “prickly” guy who sometimes does inappropriate things or things that seem a bit strange. The strangest thing of all, Viorst said, was that it appears Pankey wanted to be charged with a crime he didn’t commit.

Viorst said Pankey was obsessed with Jonelle’s murder “for whatever reason,” later adding Pankey had a “true crime obsession.” Viorst asked the court to review the indictment and consider whether there’s even probable cause to suspect Pankey murdered Jonelle.

Viorst challenged Miller’s evidence and said he doesn’t believe it would be admissible at trial. He said Pankey isn’t a flight risk, considering his desire to get involved with the case. Viorst asked for a bond of no more than $50,000, calling a $10 million cash-only bond “just ridiculous” and effectively no bond.

Kerns found there was a concern for flight risk, considering Pankey faces a possible life sentence with the possibility of parole in 25 years. Kerns agreed he didn’t want to set the functional equivalent of no bond and set it at $5 million, cash only.

Viorst expressed his displeasure and asked that Kerns reconsider. Kerns said he will review the transcript of the indictment and then decide whether he’ll reconsider bond.

The bond provisions include not allowing Pankey to leave the state without written exception, GPS tracking, no contact with any named witnesses and no ability to acquire firearms. He was also required to surrender his passport.

A status conference was set for 2 p.m. Dec. 30.

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Trevor Reid Trevor Reid covers public safety issues for the Greeley Tribune. Connect with Trevor at (970) 392-4492, [email protected] or @treid71 on Twitter. https://www.greeleytribune.com/2020/12/04/judge-sets-jonelle-matthews-murder-suspect-steve-pankeys-bond-at-5m/ 2/4 2/17/2021 Judge sets Jonelle Matthews murder suspect Steve Pankey’s bond at $5M – Greeley Tribune

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https://www.greeleytribune.com/2020/12/04/judge-sets-jonelle-matthews-murder-suspect-steve-pankeys-bond-at-5m/ 4/4 2/17/2021 36yearslater,WindsorpolicediscussfewdetailsinSorensondouble-murdercoldcase–GreeleyTribune

NEWSCRIMEANDPUBLICSAFETY

36yearslater,WindsorpolicediscussfewdetailsinDATE FILED: February 24, 2021 3:45 PM Sorensondouble-murdercoldcase

InthisNov.6,1984,Tribunefilephoto,WeldCountyCoronerPaulStoddardinvestigatesthedoublemurderofDorisandAllenSorensonattheir Windsorhome.(GreeleyTribunearchives)

ByTREVORREID|[email protected]|GreeleyTribune PUBLISHED:November5,2020at5:57p.m.|UPDATED:November5,2020at6:27p.m.

Windsorpolicecontinuetoinvestigatea36-year-olddoublemurderthatclaimedthelivesofahusbandandwifewhowerewell-known jewelrystoreownersinthetown.

ThemorningofNov.5,1984,WindsorpolicefoundthebodiesofAllen,79,andDorisSorenson,66,intheirWindsorhomeat519LocustSt. Then-WindsorPoliceChiefJohnMichaelssaiditwasdefinitelyadoublehomicideandnotamurder-suicide,accordingtoaGreeleyTribune newsbrieffromlaterthatday.Otherdetails,includingtheSorensons’identities,weremostlywithheld.Today,manydetailsarestillbeing withheldaspoliceinvestigate.

For27years,theSorensonsownedandoperatedSorensonJewelersat404MainStreet.Thoughthecouplelargelykepttothemselves, friendsknewthemasacaringcouplewhoweregeneroustoothers,oftenanonymously,accordingtoaTribunereportfromthecouple’s memorialservice.

https://www.greeleytribune.com/2020/11/05/36-years-later-windsor-police-discuss-few-details-in-sorenson-double-murder-cold-case/ 1/5 2/17/2021 36yearslater,WindsorpolicediscussfewdetailsinSorensondouble-murdercoldcase–GreeleyTribune

AllenandDorisSorensonownedSorensonJewelersinWindsorandwerewellknownacrosstownbeforetheyweremurderedOct.31,1984.(Greeley Tribunearchives)

WindsorDetectiveJohnGrashornsaidpeoplenoticedtheyhadn’tseentheSorensonsinthedaysleadinguptoNov.5,leadingpoliceto checkoutthestore.

“Thewaythestorewasfoundledofficerstogototheresidence,”Grashornsaid.

There,policefoundthecoupleandtheirdoghadbeenmurdered.GrashornsaidpolicearenotdisclosinghowtheSorensonswerekilledat thistimefortheintegrityoftheinvestigation.Grashornsaidhewasn’tawareofpolicefindinganydamagetothehome,butthathecouldn’t disclosewhatitemsmayhavebeentaken.

PolicedeterminedtheSorensonsweremurderedonOct.31.Severaloldnewspaperswerestrewnontheirfrontporchanddriveway, indicatingnoonehadpickedthemupindays.Grashornsaidit’sunknownwhetherthecouplehadanytrickortreaters.Policewon’t disclosewhetheranythingindicatedifthecouplewastargetedorifitwasrandom,accordingtoGrashorn.

Manyofthepeoplepoliceinvestigatedinconnectionwiththemurdershavesincedied,Grashornsaid,limitinginvestigators’abilityto continueportionsoftheinvestigation.Grashornwouldn’tsaywhetherpolicebelievetherewasonesuspectormultiplesuspects.

Aboutayearbeforethemurders,onOct.30,1983,burglarstargetedSorensonJewelers,takingmorethan$27,000.Threepeoplewere arrestedinconnectionwiththeburglary.Twowereinjailatthetimeofthemurdersandathirdwasonbond.

Grashornsaidhecouldn’telaborateonwhethertherehavebeenanyrecentdevelopmentsorinvestigativeeffortsonthecase.Healsosaid hecouldn’telaborateonwhethertherecentarrestinthe1984JonelleMatthewscasehasgivenpolicehopeforfindingsuspectsinthe Sorensoncase.StevenDanaPankey,69,wasarrestedinOctoberonsuspicionhetook12-year-oldJonelleMatthewsfromherGreeley homeonDec.20,1984,andshotherdead.

AnyonewithinformationthatcouldberelevanttotheSorensons’murderscancontactGrashornat(970)674-6445.

https://www.greeleytribune.com/2020/11/05/36-years-later-windsor-police-discuss-few-details-in-sorenson-double-murder-cold-case/ 2/5 2/17/2021 36yearslater,WindsorpolicediscussfewdetailsinSorensondouble-murdercoldcase–GreeleyTribune

https://www.greeleytribune.com/2020/11/05/36-years-later-windsor-police-discuss-few-details-in-sorenson-double-murder-cold-case/ 3/5 2/17/2021 36yearslater,WindsorpolicediscussfewdetailsinSorensondouble-murdercoldcase–GreeleyTribune

AGreeleyTribunenewsbrieffromNov.5,1984,showedpolicequicklydeterminedAllenandDorisSorensonwerebothkilledandthatitwasnota murder-suicide.(GreeleyTribunearchives)

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https://www.greeleytribune.com/2020/11/05/36-years-later-windsor-police-discuss-few-details-in-sorenson-double-murder-cold-case/ 5/5 2/17/2021 Steve Pankey’s first Weld court appearance in Jonelle Matthews case set for Friday – Greeley Tribune

NEWSCRIME AND PUBLIC SAFETY

Steve Pankey’s first Weld court appearaDATEnce FILED:in Jo Februarynelle 24, 2021 3:45 PM Matthews case set for Friday

Steven Dana Pankey. (Weld County Sheriff’s Office/For Greeley Tribune)

By TREVOR REID | [email protected] | Greeley Tribune PUBLISHED: October 29, 2020 at 9:54 a.m. | UPDATED: October 29, 2020 at 5:53 p.m.

Steven Dana Pankey, who was arrested earlier this month in connection with the 1984 murder of Jonelle Matthews, is scheduled to make his first court appearance in the case Friday.

Pankey, 69, has an appearance on arrest warrant scheduled 8:30 a.m. Friday. The court will read the charges on which was Pankey indicted, which include first-degree murder after deliberation, first-degree felony murder and second-degree kidnapping, as well as sentence enhancers for using a weapon in the commission of a violent crime.

At 6:50 p.m. Wednesday, Pankey arrived at the Weld County Jail, where he is being held without bond.

Steven Dana Pankey arrest: What we know about the Idaho man accused of kidnapping, 98 murdering Jonelle Matthews in 1984

https://www.greeleytribune.com/2020/10/29/steve-pankeys-first-weld-court-appearance-in-jonelle-matthews-case-set-for-friday/ 1/3 2/17/2021 Steve Pankey’s first Weld court appearance in Jonelle Matthews case set for Friday – Greeley Tribune

In December 1984, Jonelle was a 12-year-old student at Franklin Middle School, where Pankey is accused of having watched children walk home. In the summer of 1978, the Matthews began attending Sunny View Church of the Nazarene. Pankey stopped attending the church about that time, after accusing members of the church of assaulting him earlier that year. Months before the alleged assault, another member of the church accused Pankey of rape. She later had the case dropped.

Pankey is accused of taking Jonelle from her home the night of Dec. 20, 1984, before Jonelle’s father arrived home from a basketball game Jonelle’s sister was playing. Pankey was armed with a firearm and shot Jonelle during the course of the kidnapping, according to the Weld County Grand Jury’s indictment of Pankey.

The indictment noted Pankey intentionally inserted himself into the investigation into Jonelle’s disappearance over the years, claiming to have knowledge of the crime that became incriminating over time. He also discussed a piece of evidence previously withheld from the public: a rake was used to hide shoe impressions in the snow the night Jonelle went missing.

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StevenDanaPankeyarrest:WhatweknowabouttheIdahoDATE FILED: February 24, 2021 3:45 PM manaccusedofkidnapping,murderingJonelleMatthewsin 1984

GREELEY,CO–OCTOBER13:WeldCountyDistrictAttorneyMichaelRourkespeaksduringapressconferenceannouncingthearrestand indictmentofStevePankeyoutsidetheWeldCountyCourthouseinGreeleyOct.13,2020.Pankeyhasbeenindictedonseveralcountsinthe 1984deathofJonelleMatthews.(AlexMcIntyre/StaffPhotographer)

ByTREVORREID|[email protected]|GreeleyTribune October17,2020at4:00p.m.

StevenDanaPankeyintentionallyinsertedhimselfintotheinvestigationofJonelleMatthews’disappearanceovertheyearsandclaimedto haveknowledgeofthecrimethatgrewinconsistentandincriminatingovertime,accordingtotheWeldCountyGrandJury’sindictmentof Pankey.

Pankey,69,ofMeridian,Idaho,wasindictedthismonthonkidnappingandmurdercharges.HewasarrestedMondayandawaits extraditiontoWeldCountytofacethecharges.TheGreeleyTribunereviewedrecordsonPankey,aswellaspublicstatementshe’smade, tofindoutmoreabouthisbackground,histimelivinginWeldCountyandanyconnectionstoJonelle’sdisappearancethenightofDec.20, 1984.TheTribunetriedcontactingPankeyinFebruaryasapersonofinterestbeforehisarrest,butPankeyrefused,saying,“Idon’tthink yourpaperisveryfairtome.” 99 https://www.greeleytribune.com/2020/10/17/steven-dana-pankey-arrest-what-we-know-about-the-idaho-man-accused-of-kidnapping-murde… 1/10 2/17/2021 StevenDanaPankeyarrest:WhatweknowabouttheIdahomanaccusedofkidnapping,murderingJonelleMatthewsin1984…

Pankeywasborn1951inVentura,California,acoastalcitynorthwestofLosAngeles.AccordingtoPankey’scampaignwebsiteforIdaho governor—aseathesoughtin2014and2018—hisfatherwasaYouthforChristleader.A1993self-publishedfictionalbookbyPankey called,“Graveyards:TheUntoldStory,”containsmanyautobiographicalelements,usingrealnamesofGreeleyresidentsPankeyknew. ThecharacterwhoseemstorepresentPankey’sfatherisdepictedasdedicatedtohiswork,givinglittleattentiontohischildren.Pankey wroteonhiscampaignwebsitethathisfathertaughttraditional1950s“ChristianLibertymindedcorevalues.”

Ina51-minuteinterviewwithKTVB,anNBC-affiliatedstationoutofBoise,Idaho,Pankeysaidhisfamilyhasalonghistoryof“homosexuals andhellfire/brimstoneBaptists.”Hesaidhisunclewaskilledin1946whileinpolicecustodyonsuspicionofaconsensualhomosexualact.

PankeygraduatedfromLaPuenteAlternativeHighSchool,accordingtohiscampaignwebsite.OnJan.14,1975,heenlistedwiththeU.S. ArmyinDenver,accordingtomilitaryrecordsobtainedbytheTribune.HewasdischargedexactlyoneyearlaterinFortCampbell, Kentucky.Afterhisdischarge,PankeytoldKTVB,he“leftthegaylifestyle”and“repentedforthat,”suggestinghisdischargemighthave beenrelatedtohomosexualactivity.

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StevenDanaPankeyenlistedintheU.S.ArmyonJan.14,1975.Hewasdischargedoneyearlater.(NationalArchivesandRecords Administration/ForGreeleyTribune)

Pankeyin1976foundemploymentasasecurityguardattheNorthernColoradoDetectiveAgency,14279thSt.,inGreeley.A15-year-old studentanda16-year-oldstudentatJohnEvanstoldpolicePankeymacedthematthetunnelaftertheyrefusedtoshowhimtheirhands. Pankeycounteredthatitwasselfdefense.

Onhiscampaignwebsite,PankeysaidhegraduatedfromAimsCommunityCollegewithaminorincriminaljustice.AskedbytheTribuneto confirmandprovideatimelineofPankey’sstudies,thecollegehasyettoprovideananswer.

PankeyappearedtohavefinancialissuesthroughtheyearshestayedinGreeley.AtrailerparkownerfiledactionagainstPankeyfordebts andinNovember1976reportedthatPankeywascallinghimrepeatedlyandsayingnothingormakingthreats,including,“Beforeyouget meincourt,I’lltakecareofyou.” https://www.greeleytribune.com/2020/10/17/steven-dana-pankey-arrest-what-we-know-about-the-idaho-man-accused-of-kidnapping-murde… 3/10 2/17/2021 StevenDanaPankeyarrest:WhatweknowabouttheIdahomanaccusedofkidnapping,murderingJonelleMatthewsin1984…

ByDecember1976,PankeywasworkingasacarsalesmanforEdwardsChevrolet,13108thAve.,accordingtoTribuneadsfromthattime. PankeytoldKTVBhebecameayouthpastorin1977atSunnyViewChurchoftheNazarene,thenlocatedat410020thSt.,inGreeley—a claimthechurchhasdisputed—andthathestarteddatingafellowchurchmemberthreeyearshisjunior.TribunearchivesshowPankey playedthetaxcollectorinaproductionputonbythechurch.Thewomanhestarteddatingwasbilledassingingaspecialpart.Thatwoman hadanabortionafterPankeyimpregnatedher,hetoldKTVB,andhetoldherhewasgoingtotellthechurch.

ThewomanaccusedPankeyofrapingheronSept.24,1977,filingareporttwodayslater,accordingtocourtrecords.Pankeynamesthe womaninhis1993book,inwhichhedepictsheras“extremelyknowledgeableaboutsex.”Thecharacteralsomakesafalserape accusationandgetsanabortion.ThewomanhadthecasedroppedinNovember,afterwhichPankeyfiledalawsuitagainsther.

PankeytoldKTVBhestoppedgoingtothechurchaftertherapeaccusation,butpolicerecordsshowhereportedanassaultMay24,1978, atthechurch.HelistedhisemploymentatthetimeasWarrenTrucking.AmemberofthecongregationtoldpolicePankeydisruptedchoir practiceeventhoughhewasnolongeramemberofthechoir,thoughhewasstillamemberofthechurch,accordingtorecords.The indictmentstatesPankeycontinuedattendingthechurchuntilaboutJuneof1978.Aboutthattime,theMatthewsfamilymovedtoGreeley fromCaliforniaandstartedtoattendthechurch.

“Shortlyafterthedaterapecharge,Iwasgivenprivilegedinformed(sic)regardingdisturbingintentionsrelatingtoSunnyViewChurchof TheNazarenemembers.Ileftthechurch,”Pankeywroteinapublicletterin2019.“In1978,churchmembersbecameJonelleMatthews (sic)trustedadults.”

StevePankeyin1993self-publishedafictionalworkwithautobiographicalelementscalled,“Graveyards:TheUntoldStory.”(ForGreeleyTribune)

In“Graveyards,”PankeydepictstheAugust1977murderofMaryPierce,callingher“MaryArrow,”butalsooncereferringtoheras“Mary Pierce-Arrow.”Inthebook,thekidnappingandmurderofPiercewassetupbytheRev.JamesT.Christy,thesamenameastherealpastor oftheSunnyViewChurchoftheNazarene,whichisalsonamedinthebook.Inthebook,Christyheadsasecretsocietycalledthe“Inner Circle,”whichthemaincharacterjoinsandlaterexposes.Pankeyalsodescribesthechurchinonepublicstatementasa“(nowdefunct) WhiteNationalistcult.”

InDecember1978,Pankeywasemployedby7UpBottlingCompanyfordeliveryandrepairs.Pankeyaccusedthen-GreeleyPoliceOfficer, now-GreeleymayorJohnGatesoftryingtogetPankeyfiredfrom7Upin1979,whenPankey’swifewaspregnantwiththeirfirstchild. PankeysaidGatestoldmanagementthatPankeyhada“homosexualhistory”andthathe’dbeenaccusedofdaterape.Gates’father ownedthebuildingthe7Upwaslocatedin,accordingtoastatementbyPankey.

Pankeyjoinedtheunionandwasaccusedoforganizingtogetotherstojoin.Heaccusedareamanager,latersalesmanager,RussRossof retaliatingbycuttingPankey’sroutesandmistreatinghim.PankeyfiledalawsuitwiththeNationalLaborRelationsBoardinJune1980.He wonthecaseinthesummerof1981.ItwouldnotbethelasttimePankeyhadarun-inwithRoss,accordingtorecords.Inapublicletter from2019,PankeydescribesRossashavingbeen“StevePankey’sabusivesupervisor.”

“GatesandRosshadanongoingthingforPankey,”hewrote.

In1982,PankeywascitedafteraverbaldisagreementwithtwopeopleatthefrontdoorsofaKmartat282910thSt.Rossislistedasa witnessinthecase,inwhichPankeywasorderedtopayKmartabout$15restitution.

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Twoyearslater,PankeyexchangedseveralharassmentcomplaintswithfamilymembersduetoadisputeovertheownershipofPankey’s home.

“ForayearnowSPankeyhasbeenharassingme,”Pankey’sauntwroteinareport.“Heismynephewandgainedcontrolonsome propertyIreleased.Hewantedthetenantsofthispropertyremovedatthattimeandbecameunhappytheywerenotimmediatelyremoved. SincethenSPankeyhasfollowedmetothebank,tothepostoffice,etc.OnonedayIreceived58phonecallsfromhim.”

FamilyaccusedhiminApril1984ofmakingrepeatedphonecalls.Inareportforthatcomplaint,MountainBellSecurityshowedtherewere threecallsmadefromtheWeldMentalHealthCenter,130611thAve.Inastatementconnectedtothedispute,awomanwroteherparents letPankeylivewiththem.ShesaidinthestatementPankeytriedrapingherwhenshewasateenandthatPankeyhadstayedatamental hospitalinthepast.AportionofPankey’sself-publishedbookissetinapsychiatricward.

StevePankeyinDecember1984,themonthJonellewaskidnappedandmurdered.(WeldDistrictAttorney’sOffice/ForGreeleyTribune)

Jonelle’sdisappearance

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JimandGloriaMatthewswerelivinginCamarillo,California,aboutanhournorthofLosAngeles,whentheydecidedtotryadopting.In March1972,theyadoptedJonellejustsixweeksafterherbirth.AfterJimMatthewstaughtforthreeyearsinBeirut,thefamilyreturnedto California.In1978,JimtookajobatDayspringChristianAcademyinGreeley,wherethefamilymovedandstartedattendingSunnyView ChurchoftheNazarene.

InDecember1984,Jonellewasa12-year-oldseventhgraderatFranklinMiddleSchool.Shesanginthechoirinschoolandatchurch. PankeywatchedstudentswalkhomefromFranklinMiddleSchool,accordingtothegrandjury’sindictment.Theindictmentdoesn’toffer anyfurtherdetailsaboutwhenPankeywasobservingstudentsorhowlawenforcementcametolearnthis.

AGreeleyTribunenewsbriefonDec.16,1984,announcedaFranklinMiddleSchoolchoirconcerttheweekJonellewentmissing.StevePankey,who isaccusedofkidnappingandmurderingJonelle,isaccusedofwatchingFranklinMiddleSchoolchildrenwalkhomefromschoolintheWeldCounty GrandJury’sindictmentofPankey.(GreeleyTribunearchives) https://www.greeleytribune.com/2020/10/17/steven-dana-pankey-arrest-what-we-know-about-the-idaho-man-accused-of-kidnapping-murde… 6/10 2/17/2021 StevenDanaPankeyarrest:WhatweknowabouttheIdahomanaccusedofkidnapping,murderingJonelleMatthewsin1984…

OnSunday,Dec.16,anewsbriefwaspublishedintheTribuneadvertisingaconcertbytheFranklinMiddleSchoolchoirandstringsfrom 6:30-8:30p.m.Mondayattheschoolgymnasium.It’snotclearwhetherJonellesangattheMondayconcert,butshedidsingataFranklin honorchoirperformanceThursdaynightatIntraWestBank,10259thAve.,inGreeley.Theperformancewasbroadcastedliveby Cablevision.

Thedaybeforetheconcert,financialissuesappearedtocausetroubleforPankey.HewasarrestedWednesday,Dec.19,1984,atNorbel CreditUnion,12209thAve.,onsuspicionofharassmentandtrespassing.Pankeyrefusedtoleaveunlesshegot“hismoney,”accordingto records,butthetellerwouldnotreleaseitforfinancialreasons.ThemanageraskedPankeyifhewasgoingtopay$1,200inback paymentsowedtothebank,accordingtorecords.RecordsshowPankeywasrepeatedlywarnedtoleavethetelleralone,buthecontinued toapproachuntilhewasarrested.

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JonelleMatthewsispicturedhereatcenter.(GreeleyPoliceDepartment/ForTheTribune)

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TheMatthewsfamilymetabout5:30p.m.Thursday,Dec.20,1984.Afterthemeeting,Gloria,Jonelle’smom,headedforaflighttoLos AngelestosurpriseherparentsforChristmas.Jennifer,her16-year-oldsister,leftforGreeleyCentralHighSchool,whereshewasplaying abasketballgamethatnight.JimandJonellegrabbedaquickburgerdinneratMcDonald’sbeforetheconcert.AfterdroppingJonelleofffor thechoirconcert,JimwenttotheGreeleyCentralbasketballgame.

Aftertheconcert,Ross,whowasafamilyfriend,droppedJonelleoffabout8:15p.m.atherhomeat32043rdAvenueCourt,beforetaking homehisowndaughter,whowasafriendofJonelle’s.HewasthelasttoreportseeingJonellealive.Pankeystatedinapublicletterthat RosswasamemberoftheSunnyViewChurchoftheNazareneandthatRosshad“special,specificknowledgethatJonellewastobe homealoneforaspecificperiodoftime.”

Jimreturnedhomeafterthegameabout9:30p.m.HefoundJonelle’sshoesandfavoritepillowonthefloornexttoaquartzheater.After Jenniferreturnedhomeabout10p.m.andsaidshedidn’tknowwhereJonellewas,Jimcalledhispastor,Christy.ChristytoldJimtocallthe police,whoarrivedabout15-20minuteslater.

Accordingtotheindictment,PankeytookJonellefromherhomebeforeJimarrived.Hewasarmedwithafirearmandshotherduringthe courseofthekidnapping,theindictmentstates.TheunredactedautopsyreportshowsJonellediedofasinglegunshotwoundtothehead.

Afterthemurder

Pankey,wholivedat608610thSt.,abouttwomilesfromtheMatthews’home,hasstatedhedidn’tknowaboutJonelle’sdisappearance untilDec.26ofthatyear.HesaidhisfamilywasatBigBearLakefromDec.21-26.AngelaHicks,thenPankey’swife,describedthetripas beginningDec.22andsaiditwas“unexpected,”accordingtotheindictment.ShealsosaidPankey“dumped”thefamilydogspriortothe trip.Hewas“uncharacteristically”listeningtotheradioonthedrivehome,searchingfornewsofJonelle’sdisappearance.Whenthey arrivedhomeonDec.26,accordingtoHicks,Pankeyimmediatelybegandiggingintheiryard.Acarontheirpropertyabouttwodayslater burstintoflames.Pankeythendisposedofitatalocalsalvageyard,accordingtotheindictment.

TheindictmentalsostatesPankeysentlawenforcementin2013an“alibi”documentdetailingplansforthetripthatcontainedfalse statementsandsuperfluousdetails.

Pankeyhasstatedhisfather-in-lawonDec.27madeacommentaboutacopwhotoldPankey’sfather-in-lawthatheneededabodytobe buried.PankeysaidhemetwithaspecialagentoftheFederalBureauofInvestigationinJanuary1985becausethecommentdisturbed him.

Pankeyinonepublicletterprovidedatheoryofwhathappened,suggestingJonellemighthavebeeninjuredwhilewithatrustedadultand diedonthewaytotheemergencyroom.Theadultoradultsthencontactedacopfriend,Pankeytheorized,startinganunethicalplanto concealwhathappened.

“For35years,theJonelleMatthewscasehasneverbeenaboutJonelleMatthews,it’sbeenaboutwhiteGreeleycopscoveringforthebad actofawhitecop,”Pankeywrote.

Theindictment,however,listsanumberofincriminatingstatementsPankeyhasmadeintheyearssinceJonelle’sdisappearance, including:

DemonstratingfamiliaritywithJonelle’sneighborhoodinaninterviewinMarch1985,whenPankeystatedtwopoliceofficerslivedin thesameblockasJonelle. Discussingacrucialpieceofevidencepreviouslywithheldfromthepublic:arakewasusedtohideshoeimpressionsinthesnow. ArguingiftheIdahoSupremeCourtruledinacertainfashion,“Itisreasonablefortheappellanttobelievehewouldgetthedeath penaltyforrevealingthelocationofJonelleMatthews’body,”ina1999pleading. Writing,“Withoutadeal,thiscasewillneverbesolved.” RepeatedlydemandingimmunityinexchangeforinformationheclaimedtohaveaboutJonelle’smurder. AssertinginanApril2003pleading,“ThefamilyshouldbeinformedthatJennell(sic)diedbeforecrossing10st.(sic),andnottogive thefamilyhope.” InanAug.15,2013,letter,hestated,“AboutaweekafterthefactIrealizedablanket,orcomforter,orquilt,alsodisappearedfromthe Matthewshouse.…Someexperiencesarehardtoforget.ButImustrealizejusticeisn’talwaysservedandmoveon.”

TheindictmentalsonotesacoupleofincriminatingstatementsHicksreported:

Duringanearly1985churchservice,Pankeybeganmuttering,“Falseprophet,”whentheministerannouncedJonellewouldbefound safeandreturnedhome. In1999,PankeytoldHicks,“Youdon’tthinkIcouldhavehurther,doyou?Shelookedjustlikeyou.” In2008,atPankey’smurderedson’sfuneral,Pankeysaid,“IhopeGoddidn’tallowthistohappenbecauseofJonelleMatthews.”

Jonelle’sremainswerefoundinJuly2019buriedonremotelandeastofGreeley,aboutonequarterofamilenorthwestofWeldCounty roads34.5and49.TheindictmentnotesPankeylivedabout10milesnorthoftheburialsitein1980,at27965WeldCountyRoad47.5.

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InSeptember2019,policeexecutedasearchwarrantonPankey’shomeinTwinFalls,Idaho.Pankeyhadrepeatedlysearchedfor informationaboutJonelleontheinternet,andtrieddeletingallevidenceofthesearchesafterGreeleydetectivescontactedhimearlierthat year,accordingtotheindictment.

AccordingtoonlineIdahocourtrecords,DeputyPublicDefenderErinJohnelleHeuringisrepresentingPankeyinhisextraditionhearing.A reviewhearingisscheduledfor8:30a.m.Friday,Oct.23.

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Unredacted autopsy report: Jonelle MaDATEtthew FILED:s kil Februaryled wi t 24,h 2021 3:45 PM single gunshot wound to the head

Authorities investigate the scene July 24, 2019, where Jonelle Matthews’ remains were found. Oilfield workers discovered the remains the day before.(Greeley Tribune file photo)

By TREVOR REID | [email protected] | Greeley Tribune PUBLISHED: October 16, 2020 at 1:38 p.m. | UPDATED: October 16, 2020 at 6:29 p.m. 100

The Weld County Coroner’s Office on Friday released the unredacted autopsy report for Jonelle Matthews, who was killed after going missing in 1984.

The report indicates Jonelle, then 12, was killed with a single gunshot wound to the head. The report was released following Monday’s arrest of Steve Pankey, 69, of Meridian, Idaho, who is accused of kidnapping and murdering Jonelle. A redacted copy was released in June after a Weld District Court Judge ordered its release following arguments by Denver attorney Steve Zansberg, who represented the Greeley Tribune and CBS Denver.

The report describes the discovery of Matthews’ remains July 23, 2019, at an oil and gas site about one quarter of a mile northwest of Weld County roads 49 and 34 1/2. After field workers excavating land for oil and gas lines found the remains, which were clothed, according to the unredacted report. The remains were taken to McKee Medical Center for examination.

Jonelle was pronounced dead at 6:48 p.m. July 23, 2019, according to the report. Michael Burson, a forensic pathologist, and Karen Jazowski, autopsy assistant, performed the postmortem examination. The unredacted report offers an analysis for a single gunshot wound to the skull. “Internal structures” were not available for examination due to the prolonged postmortem interval and decomposition.

A bullet entered the left frontal bone of the skull, about 1.3 inches below the top of the head and about 1.4 inches left of the midline. The bullet exited out of the left occipital bone, downward at the back of the head. Based on the trajectory of the wound, the bullet perforated and lacerated the entire left cerebral hemisphere, from the frontal lobe to the occipital lobe.

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“Based on the history provided and the autopsy findings, the cause of death is a gunshot wound to the head,” the report states. “The manner of death is homicide.”

Pankey is being held without bond at the Ada County Jail in Idaho, where he will await extradition to Weld County to face charges for first- degree murder after deliberation, first-degree felony murder and second-degree kidnapping, as well as sentence enhancers for using a weapon in the commission of a violent crime. According to online Idaho court records, Deputy Public Defender Erin Johnelle Heuring is representing Pankey in his extradition hearing. A review hearing is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. Oct. 23.

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