Decades-Old Mystery of Jonelle Matthews Murder Finally Solved

GREELEY, Colo. — In a chilling tale that has haunted Colorado for over three decades, 12-year-old Jonelle Matthews was reported missing from her home just days before Christmas in 1984. Her case remained cold until 2019, when her remains were discovered during a pipeline installation.

Jonelle vanished on December 20, 1984, after returning home from a Christmas concert. Her father, Jim Matthews, found her missing when he returned from a basketball game. Her mother, Gloria Matthews, was out of state caring for a sick relative. “You could tell Jonelle had been there,” Jim recalled. Footprints in the snow outside their home added to the mystery.

For years, suspicion fell on Steven Pankey, a local man connected to the Matthews’ church, who evaded police attention. He was only arrested in 2020, after a renewed investigation was launched in 2015. Pankey was convicted of felony murder and kidnapping in 2022 and sentenced to life in prison.

“During those decades, generations of Greeley police officers have never forgotten Jonelle,” said the Greeley Police Department in a statement following Pankey’s arrest. The police had been living “in torment over the possibilities of what may have occurred.”

Pankey, who had previously inserted himself into the investigation, exhibited strange behavior regarding Jonelle’s disappearance. His ex-wife said she collected evidence against him for years. Despite his claims of innocence, the prosecution presented compelling evidence during his trial.

In 1984, Jonelle was a vibrant middle school student who loved sports and singing. Adopted from Los Angeles, she had a family that cared deeply for her. Her disappearance drew national attention, including her eventual feature in the Missing Children Milk Carton Program.

The case went cold until 2019 when workers found her remains about 20 miles from her home. An autopsy revealed she had been shot in the head. Prosecutors argued that Pankey had taken Jonelle from her home and was aware of the efforts to obscure evidence, such as tampering with footprints.

Pankey was first tried in 2021, which ended in a mistrial, but he was again found guilty in 2022. After the sentencing, Gloria Matthews expressed her pain, saying she could not forgive Pankey. “God is the only one who can forgive evil,” she said, holding a picture of Jonelle. Pankey is currently incarcerated at the Arkansas Valley Correctional Facility in Ordway, Colorado, and is set for parole eligibility in 2040.