Twelve-year-old Jonelle Matthews went missing on December 20, 1984. Her remains went undiscovered for more than 35 years. Last July, decades after the case had gone cold, pipeline construction workers uncovered her body outside Greeley, Colorado. The cause of death was a single gunshot wound to the head.
Now, Weld County District Attorney Michael Rourke has indicted two-time Idaho gubernatorial candidate, Steven D. Pankey, for Jonelle’s abduction and murder. Pankey, 69, was a youth pastor at the church the Matthews attended in Greeley.
Fox News’ Stephanie Pagones has more:
In the decades since Pankey lived in Colorado, he has run as a Constitution Party candidate for Idaho governor in 2014 and in the Republican primary in 2018. It’s the same year authorities said he became a person of interest in the girl’s death.
Pankey previously told the Times-News in Twin Falls, Idaho, that he was being framed in the case. He said his family had few connections to Jonelle or her family.
The two families did worship at the same church in Greeley, and Pankey had made statements to police revealing “intimate knowledge about the commission of the crime” that was not public information, Rourke said.
Pankey had watched children from Jonelle’s middle school walk home, according to charging documents. In 2008, his former wife heard him say at his son’s funeral: “I hope God didn’t allow this to happen because of Jonelle Matthews,” prosecutors wrote.
Jonelle’s disappearance even came to the attention of then-President Ronald Reagan, whose administration launched a nationwide effort bringing awareness to missing children. Milk cartons across the country contained Jonelle’s picture at one point. All the while, her family continued their desperate search.
EDITORS NOTE: We at AAN appreciate you and your support of our work to counter the mainstream media narrative. Please share our news with your friends and family and encourage them to sign up for our newsletter.
Advertisement
Support Senator Lindsey Graham!
Hang his As…Noone should touch, abuse or harm a baby, child
She was a Daughter and a child
No bond
No bail
Death Row
Hang him and everyone like his Evil Soul
No delays or appeals just kill the pervert and send him to Hell they are waiting for him.
In Congress there is A lot incl.men and women involved with Pizza Gate aka. Child Sex Trafficking
Yoi need to investigate DCF aka CPS
The only justice for this young girls family would be to put this guy to sleep forever. I would like to see him in prison for the rest of his days in solitary confinement with no contact with the outside world. Make that p r i c k suffer an eternity with no one else around
Add a picture of the victim on each wall, and the ceiling of his cell, to remind him of what he did, so he can dwell on it for the rest of his miserable existence.
He needs to be in prison where he will be given justice for life they will take care of him
Get a rope.
How can people who commit crimes like this go on living as if nothing happened? Not only that but also run for political office? We know all about Politicians and most of them are not warranting any respect from us!
If he is truly guilty, one way or another he will pay for it, either now, or after he dies. God will see to it. I believe that young lady’s soul is now in heaven and one day she will be reunited with her family. There is way to much of this happening in our country, along with the sex trafficking of young children. God Himself will not withhold judgment for ever for the guilty party, at the right time He will administer His justice!!!
Horrible. I graduated from UNC Greeley in 1983. I remember this case. It hits home.
Before we unfairly convict and execute this man. He deserves a thorough, fair an unbiased investigation including presentation before a grand jury then tried by
a jury of his peers.Then if found guilty. he will be sentenced according to the law.
Remember this is the AMERICAN way.
… be sure your sin will find you out.
Numbers 32:23
any one know how vets fix bulls into steers and nice tool that crunches the balls for any man who rapes women or kids. crunch he should be shot like he did to that young girl. i do remember president ronald reagan saying something about a child that was missing i am sorry for her family that had to go threw that sorry for there lost
Hunter Biden has implicated in this murder scheme too.