A Colorado cold case is now closed after a jury found a failed Idaho 2018 governor candidate guilty of the felony murder of Jonelle Matthews.
According to a Facebook post, Steven Pankey, 71 was convicted of kidnapping in Colorado and the felony murder Jonelle Matthews committed in December 1984. Post from the Weld County District Attorney’s Office.
Pankey was convicted for felony murder, second degree kidnapping and false reporting to authorities. According to Denver 7 News. According to the local news outlet, he was sentenced in Denver to life imprisonment and possible parole within 20 years.
“Reaching a guilty verdict today marks the end of our earthly justice for Jonelle, but it’s only the beginning of your journey,” said Matthews’ sister, Jennifer Morgensen, according to Denver 7 News.
Jonelle Matthews vanished Dec. 20, 1984 after returning home from a choir concert. She was never seen again. reported. After oil and natural gas workers from Weld county found her remains, they were recovered in 2014. According to the news outlet she was found in the same clothes that she went missing in, and had suffered a gunshot wound on her head.
According to Coloradoan, Pankey was closely following the police investigation into Jonelle’s disappearance and would make incriminating statement over the years. According to the news outlet, he was arrested a year later when they discovered her remains.
“This is not about the defendant, this is about Jonelle,”According to the Coloradoan Michael Rourke was the Weld County District Ange. “This is an effort of 38 years of incredible policework by the Greeley Police Department and an incredible amount of work by the attorneys in my office.”