I don't know about Norris, but I haven't read or heard any compelling evidence that Pankey abducted and murdered Jonelle.
GUILTY CO - Jonelle Matthews, 12, found deceased, Greeley, 20 Dec 1984 *arrest 2020* #2
- Thread starter SheWhoMustNotBeNamed
- Start date
I don't know about Norris, but I haven't read or heard any compelling evidence that Pankey abducted and murdered Jonelle.
PommyMommy
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OCT 25, 2022
www.greeleytribune.com
A former fellow inmate of 71-year-old Steve Pankey, a man on trial for kidnapping and murdering 12-year-old Jonelle Matthews, testified Monday that he heard the defendant say the girl was dead before he crossed railroad tracks.
[...]
... Greeley police detective Mike Prill crafted a 70-page timeline of Pankey’s activities up until 2019 that included all of the details, statements and documentation that highlight him as the culprit, which prosecutors argued by bringing Prill to stand again Monday.
But one day Pankey approached Callas’ cell and said he needed forgiveness and asked if they could pray together. Pankey rarely talked about his case, Callas said, so this was the first time he ever gained any knowledge from him.
Callas asked if he was referring to Jonelle after Pankey revealed he “did some bad things.” Pankey nodded before he began praying for forgiveness in relation to Jonelle. Callas testified he then pried more by asking if he killed her and Pankey responded, “That’s between me and God.”
In March 2021, Callas said their pod watched a CBS 48 Hours special about who killed Jonelle. Callas noted Pankey kept pointing out all the things the special got wrong.
[...]
The final time Callas heard Pankey make remarks about Jonelle was when his neighboring cellmate pounded on the wall and told him through the back wall to come and listen to a conversation he was having with Pankey.
When Callas arrived toward the front glass of his cell, he heard Pankey say, “She was dead before I crossed the railroad tracks.”
[...]
[...]
Prill said the media never published anything about the two police officers who lived on Jonelle’s street in 1984 because it was unknown by people outside of her neighbors. However, Pankey established having “intimate knowledge” of Jonelle’s case in many letters to the district attorney from 1993-1999, including that Jonelle had two officers living on her street, she was dead and she was killed before crossing 10th Street.
Pankey sent these particular letters in an effort to gain immunity, according to Prill. One of Pankey’s letters said: “My purpose is to resolve what happened to JM not to put a notch on a cop belt.”
He also wrote to the Supreme Court of Idaho on Sept. 2, 1999, about a fear he had that involved getting the “death penalty” for revealing the location of her body. In June 2011, a letter to the district attorney’s office once again indicated Jonelle was dead eight years before she was located.
“We don’t know this,” Prill said on the stand about Jonelle’s status at the time Pankey began insinuating her death. “He does.”
In an April 10, 2013 letter, Pankey called Jonelle the “late Ms. Matthews” and said she was 100% a victim and not culpable for her death, which no one at the Greeley Police Department ever assumed, according to Prill.
An “alibi letter” to Keith Olson, who led the investigation into Jonelle’s disappearance in 1989 and later served as Weld District Attorney’s Office Chief Investigator, also caught Prill’s eye during his investigation. The letter, written by Pankey on Aug. 7, 2013, detailed what he did throughout the day on Dec. 20, 1984, including checking his mail, getting gas, buying Pepsi, driving a white car and more.
[...]
Steve Pankey trial: Witness highlights Pankey’s knowledge of Jonelle’s death before remains found
A former inmate of 71-year-old Steve Pankey, a man on trial for kidnapping and murdering 12-year-old Jonelle Matthews, testified Monday that he heard the defendant say the girl was dead before he c…
www.greeleytribune.com
[...]
... Greeley police detective Mike Prill crafted a 70-page timeline of Pankey’s activities up until 2019 that included all of the details, statements and documentation that highlight him as the culprit, which prosecutors argued by bringing Prill to stand again Monday.
Pankey’s comments from custody
[...]But one day Pankey approached Callas’ cell and said he needed forgiveness and asked if they could pray together. Pankey rarely talked about his case, Callas said, so this was the first time he ever gained any knowledge from him.
Callas asked if he was referring to Jonelle after Pankey revealed he “did some bad things.” Pankey nodded before he began praying for forgiveness in relation to Jonelle. Callas testified he then pried more by asking if he killed her and Pankey responded, “That’s between me and God.”
In March 2021, Callas said their pod watched a CBS 48 Hours special about who killed Jonelle. Callas noted Pankey kept pointing out all the things the special got wrong.
[...]
The final time Callas heard Pankey make remarks about Jonelle was when his neighboring cellmate pounded on the wall and told him through the back wall to come and listen to a conversation he was having with Pankey.
When Callas arrived toward the front glass of his cell, he heard Pankey say, “She was dead before I crossed the railroad tracks.”
[...]
Pankey inserts himself through documentation
When Rourke examined Prill on Monday, he tuned into the materials collected during a search of Pankey’s condo in September 2019, specifically the over 1,000 documents with mention of Jonelle’s case.[...]
Prill said the media never published anything about the two police officers who lived on Jonelle’s street in 1984 because it was unknown by people outside of her neighbors. However, Pankey established having “intimate knowledge” of Jonelle’s case in many letters to the district attorney from 1993-1999, including that Jonelle had two officers living on her street, she was dead and she was killed before crossing 10th Street.
Pankey sent these particular letters in an effort to gain immunity, according to Prill. One of Pankey’s letters said: “My purpose is to resolve what happened to JM not to put a notch on a cop belt.”
He also wrote to the Supreme Court of Idaho on Sept. 2, 1999, about a fear he had that involved getting the “death penalty” for revealing the location of her body. In June 2011, a letter to the district attorney’s office once again indicated Jonelle was dead eight years before she was located.
“We don’t know this,” Prill said on the stand about Jonelle’s status at the time Pankey began insinuating her death. “He does.”
In an April 10, 2013 letter, Pankey called Jonelle the “late Ms. Matthews” and said she was 100% a victim and not culpable for her death, which no one at the Greeley Police Department ever assumed, according to Prill.
An “alibi letter” to Keith Olson, who led the investigation into Jonelle’s disappearance in 1989 and later served as Weld District Attorney’s Office Chief Investigator, also caught Prill’s eye during his investigation. The letter, written by Pankey on Aug. 7, 2013, detailed what he did throughout the day on Dec. 20, 1984, including checking his mail, getting gas, buying Pepsi, driving a white car and more.
[...]
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Wednesday, October 26th:
*Trial continues (Day 13) (@ 8:30am MT) – CO – Jonelle Renee Matthews (12) (went missing on Dec 20, 1984 after entering her home at 8pm, Greeley, found July 23, 2019 by construction workers at an oil & gas site in rural part of Weld County near County Road 49 & County Road 34½) – *Steven Dana Pankey (33 @ time of crime/69/now 71) indicted (10/9/20), arrested & charged (10/12/20 in Meridian, ID.) with 1st degree murder after deliberation, 1st degree felony murder, 2nd degree kidnapping, with sentence enhancers for using a weapon in a violent crime & 2 counts of crime of violence. Plead not guilty. $5M cash-only bond. Bond reduction denied (11/8/21).
Mistrial declared for counts 1 thru 3. Guilty on count 4, false reporting to authorities.
Re-Trial began on 10/4/22 & ended 10/6/22 with jury selection. Trial began on 10/7/22. (thru 11/4/22).
Info on warrant. First trial info & court info from 8/18/20 thru 9/29/22 & Jury Selection Day 1-3 (10/4 to 10/6/22) & Trial Day 1-10 (10/7 to 10/20/22) (no trial on 10/21/22) reference post #213 here:
https://www.websleuths.com/forums/t...eley-20-dec-1984-arrest-2020-2.595001/page-11
10/24/22 Monday, Trial Day 11: State witnesses: Inmate Patrick Callas, former cell mate of Pankey's. Greeley police detective Mike Prill.
For more info see post #222 (article) here:
https://www.websleuths.com/forums/t...eley-20-dec-1984-arrest-2020-2.595001/page-12
Trial continues on Tuesday, 10/25/22.
10/25/22 Tuesday, Trial Day 12: State witnesses: Greeley police detective Mike Prill returns on stand. No other info available.
Trial continues on Wednesday, 10/26/22.
*Trial continues (Day 13) (@ 8:30am MT) – CO – Jonelle Renee Matthews (12) (went missing on Dec 20, 1984 after entering her home at 8pm, Greeley, found July 23, 2019 by construction workers at an oil & gas site in rural part of Weld County near County Road 49 & County Road 34½) – *Steven Dana Pankey (33 @ time of crime/69/now 71) indicted (10/9/20), arrested & charged (10/12/20 in Meridian, ID.) with 1st degree murder after deliberation, 1st degree felony murder, 2nd degree kidnapping, with sentence enhancers for using a weapon in a violent crime & 2 counts of crime of violence. Plead not guilty. $5M cash-only bond. Bond reduction denied (11/8/21).
Mistrial declared for counts 1 thru 3. Guilty on count 4, false reporting to authorities.
Re-Trial began on 10/4/22 & ended 10/6/22 with jury selection. Trial began on 10/7/22. (thru 11/4/22).
Info on warrant. First trial info & court info from 8/18/20 thru 9/29/22 & Jury Selection Day 1-3 (10/4 to 10/6/22) & Trial Day 1-10 (10/7 to 10/20/22) (no trial on 10/21/22) reference post #213 here:
https://www.websleuths.com/forums/t...eley-20-dec-1984-arrest-2020-2.595001/page-11
10/24/22 Monday, Trial Day 11: State witnesses: Inmate Patrick Callas, former cell mate of Pankey's. Greeley police detective Mike Prill.
For more info see post #222 (article) here:
https://www.websleuths.com/forums/t...eley-20-dec-1984-arrest-2020-2.595001/page-12
Trial continues on Tuesday, 10/25/22.
10/25/22 Tuesday, Trial Day 12: State witnesses: Greeley police detective Mike Prill returns on stand. No other info available.
Trial continues on Wednesday, 10/26/22.
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Thank you @PommyMommy for the recent article. Just wondering why I can't find the same article when I searched this morning...
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You can't pull it up at all? It's still there for me but I had to provide an email address after viewing so many articles. MOO
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No - I can see your post of the article - and see the article. I was just wondering when I search in google that article doesn't come up for me - just old articles from days ago trial sessions.
I appreciated you posting stuff that is happening in court!
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OCT 25, 2022
www.greeleytribune.com
A video played for the court Tuesday of Steve Pankey testifying last October that he made up stories for more than three decades about having information involving 12-year-old Jonelle Matthews’ disappearance.
[...]
Pankey’s testimony was played for the court Tuesday with his former defense attorney Anthony Viorst examining his client. Viorst withdrew from the case after the mistrial due to a lack of time and energy to go through a lengthy trial again.
[...]
Pankey’s manipulative agenda, Rourke argues
[...]
Rourke noted Pankey’s close association to the location of Jonelle’s remains because Pankey lived in two homes near the site. Pankey, however, argued everyone has lived 10 miles from a crime scene. Rourke fired back that Pankey was the first person to assume Jonelle was dead decades before her body was found.
When Greeley police began asking questions in 2019, Pankey then started crafting a story of being “framed” by law enforcement who had ties with the church. The real blame was placed on his dead father-in-law and police officers, Rourke said about Pankey’s story.
But if it was all made up, why did he feel “unprepared” when the detectives showed up at his home to chat in August 2019, Rourke asked. Pankey created an “action plan” folder on his laptop, but it never mentioned anything about how he made up stories, Rourke added.
[...]
Loathing police, Sunny View Church
Pankey admitted to having a deep hatred for law enforcement, mentioning it multiple times when Viorst asked for background on Pankey’s early life.
First, he talked about his fear of a police officer when he was around the age of 4. Rourke found this testimony to go hand-in-hand with Pankey’s agenda and crafted narrative because his statements about his first impressions of law enforcement were almost verbatim of a line from his book.
Pankey then went on to tell a story about how his hatred stemmed from white cops abusing minorities in the 1960s. When he worked at a mortuary and traveled to calls with ambulances, he sat and watched a cop screaming in pain for help following a car collision that left his leg mangled, he testified.
[...]
The defense then dove into the alleged conversation between Pankey and the father of his ex-wife, Angela Hicks, on Dec. 27, 1984. In multiple interviews, Pankey relayed his father-in-law came to his property and told him a police officer arrived at the cemetery, where Hicks’ dad worked, saying he needed to bury a body.
In last year’s trial, Pankey testified this question is where it gets “hard” because he took an oath to be truthful. He confessed that the story was made up.
Pankey disclosed he had second thoughts about testifying because he “would just be telling more lies.”
[...]
Not only did he form falsehoods in retaliation for Sunny View, but he also admitted he reached out to law enforcement to “get even with them” by claiming he had information with a request for immunity all because of his resentment against cops.
Pankey referred to this as “his revenge” and “pure hatred” with the idea that he had the information police wanted but they couldn’t have it.
[...]
Throughout the years, Pankey said, he kept lying about having information through all of the letters he sent to Weld County and Idaho officials, some of which requested immunity in return for his knowledge.
[...]
In other letters, he presented slight information about details of her disappearance, including that a blanket was taken from the Matthews home and that Jonelle was dead before crossing 10th Street.
But, again, Pankey testified he was lying. He also told the court that Hicks had lied about Pankey’s involvement over the years.
Pankey said the 1984 family trip to California was planned out, saying on the night of Jonelle’s disappearance, his car was packed and ready to leave the next morning. But Hicks said she had no idea the trip was happening, which is why their family spent all of Dec. 21, 1984, rushing to pack to leave the following morning.
Pankey said a neighbor had a fire prior to December 1984, and they gave Pankey their burnt vehicle. He denied an actual car was ever on fire on his property. Hicks testified she saw Pankey standing near a burning vehicle a few days after they returned home from California.
[...]
Throughout 2017-2019, Pankey’s search history showed he consistently searched for information about Jonelle and the Greeley Police Department investigation. Prior to the collection of his devices, Pankey also began creating files related to Jonelle’s case on his laptop where he saved news articles, important dates in relation to Jonelle and more.
[...]
The searches continued for months, as he also viewed YouTube videos about murdered girls and women and searched things such as the distinction between manslaughter and murder.
[...]
By July 23, 2019, when Jonelle’s remains were found, Prill detected a shift in Pankey’s searches. In the days following, the searches about Jonelle became insistent on every media outlet and application such as Safari, Google and YouTube.
At 10:34 a.m. July 24, 2019, the first known article announced remains were found in Weld County. Later, Weld County Sheriff Steve Reams announced they were “human” remains. The news came out the following day that the body found was in fact Jonelle’s.
In his day planner, Pankey dated when Jonelle was found and that he learned of her disappearance the night her remains were found, but Prill said no information was released in the media until the next day.
[...]
Three days after a Greeley Tribune article came out about her remains being found, Pankey commented on the story, “Without a deal, this case may never be solved.”
In August 2019, Pankey cleared his computer and activated auto delete on his device.
Pankey’s testimony continues 8:45 a.m. Wednesday in Weld District Court.
Steve Pankey trial, Day 12: Prosecutors play Pankey’s 2021 testimony
A video played for the court of Steve Pankey testifying last October that he made up stories for more than three decades about having information involving 12-year-old Jonelle Matthew’s disappearan…
www.greeleytribune.com
[...]
Pankey’s testimony was played for the court Tuesday with his former defense attorney Anthony Viorst examining his client. Viorst withdrew from the case after the mistrial due to a lack of time and energy to go through a lengthy trial again.
[...]
Pankey’s manipulative agenda, Rourke argues
[...]
Rourke noted Pankey’s close association to the location of Jonelle’s remains because Pankey lived in two homes near the site. Pankey, however, argued everyone has lived 10 miles from a crime scene. Rourke fired back that Pankey was the first person to assume Jonelle was dead decades before her body was found.
When Greeley police began asking questions in 2019, Pankey then started crafting a story of being “framed” by law enforcement who had ties with the church. The real blame was placed on his dead father-in-law and police officers, Rourke said about Pankey’s story.
But if it was all made up, why did he feel “unprepared” when the detectives showed up at his home to chat in August 2019, Rourke asked. Pankey created an “action plan” folder on his laptop, but it never mentioned anything about how he made up stories, Rourke added.
[...]
Loathing police, Sunny View Church
Pankey admitted to having a deep hatred for law enforcement, mentioning it multiple times when Viorst asked for background on Pankey’s early life.
First, he talked about his fear of a police officer when he was around the age of 4. Rourke found this testimony to go hand-in-hand with Pankey’s agenda and crafted narrative because his statements about his first impressions of law enforcement were almost verbatim of a line from his book.
Pankey then went on to tell a story about how his hatred stemmed from white cops abusing minorities in the 1960s. When he worked at a mortuary and traveled to calls with ambulances, he sat and watched a cop screaming in pain for help following a car collision that left his leg mangled, he testified.
[...]
The defense then dove into the alleged conversation between Pankey and the father of his ex-wife, Angela Hicks, on Dec. 27, 1984. In multiple interviews, Pankey relayed his father-in-law came to his property and told him a police officer arrived at the cemetery, where Hicks’ dad worked, saying he needed to bury a body.
In last year’s trial, Pankey testified this question is where it gets “hard” because he took an oath to be truthful. He confessed that the story was made up.
Pankey disclosed he had second thoughts about testifying because he “would just be telling more lies.”
[...]
Not only did he form falsehoods in retaliation for Sunny View, but he also admitted he reached out to law enforcement to “get even with them” by claiming he had information with a request for immunity all because of his resentment against cops.
Pankey referred to this as “his revenge” and “pure hatred” with the idea that he had the information police wanted but they couldn’t have it.
[...]
Throughout the years, Pankey said, he kept lying about having information through all of the letters he sent to Weld County and Idaho officials, some of which requested immunity in return for his knowledge.
[...]
In other letters, he presented slight information about details of her disappearance, including that a blanket was taken from the Matthews home and that Jonelle was dead before crossing 10th Street.
But, again, Pankey testified he was lying. He also told the court that Hicks had lied about Pankey’s involvement over the years.
Ex-wife lies, according to Pankey
[...]Pankey said the 1984 family trip to California was planned out, saying on the night of Jonelle’s disappearance, his car was packed and ready to leave the next morning. But Hicks said she had no idea the trip was happening, which is why their family spent all of Dec. 21, 1984, rushing to pack to leave the following morning.
Pankey said a neighbor had a fire prior to December 1984, and they gave Pankey their burnt vehicle. He denied an actual car was ever on fire on his property. Hicks testified she saw Pankey standing near a burning vehicle a few days after they returned home from California.
[...]
‘Manic’ search history
Viorst asked Pankey about his internet searches about Jonelle increasing in 2019. Pankey claimed it occurred after his phone call with Greeley Police Detective Robert Cash, but search history data showed that not to be true, according to Prill’s testimony.Throughout 2017-2019, Pankey’s search history showed he consistently searched for information about Jonelle and the Greeley Police Department investigation. Prior to the collection of his devices, Pankey also began creating files related to Jonelle’s case on his laptop where he saved news articles, important dates in relation to Jonelle and more.
[...]
The searches continued for months, as he also viewed YouTube videos about murdered girls and women and searched things such as the distinction between manslaughter and murder.
[...]
By July 23, 2019, when Jonelle’s remains were found, Prill detected a shift in Pankey’s searches. In the days following, the searches about Jonelle became insistent on every media outlet and application such as Safari, Google and YouTube.
At 10:34 a.m. July 24, 2019, the first known article announced remains were found in Weld County. Later, Weld County Sheriff Steve Reams announced they were “human” remains. The news came out the following day that the body found was in fact Jonelle’s.
In his day planner, Pankey dated when Jonelle was found and that he learned of her disappearance the night her remains were found, but Prill said no information was released in the media until the next day.
[...]
Three days after a Greeley Tribune article came out about her remains being found, Pankey commented on the story, “Without a deal, this case may never be solved.”
In August 2019, Pankey cleared his computer and activated auto delete on his device.
Pankey’s testimony continues 8:45 a.m. Wednesday in Weld District Court.
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Thursday, October 27th:
*Trial continues (Day 14) (@ 8:30am MT) – CO – Jonelle Renee Matthews (12) (went missing on Dec 20, 1984 after entering her home at 8pm, Greeley, found July 23, 2019 by construction workers at an oil & gas site in rural part of Weld County near County Road 49 & County Road 34½) – *Steven Dana Pankey (33 @ time of crime/69/now 71) indicted (10/9/20), arrested & charged (10/12/20 in Meridian, ID.) with 1st degree murder after deliberation, 1st degree felony murder, 2nd degree kidnapping, with sentence enhancers for using a weapon in a violent crime & 2 counts of crime of violence. Plead not guilty. $5M cash-only bond. Bond reduction denied (11/8/21).
Mistrial declared for counts 1 thru 3. Guilty on count 4, false reporting to authorities.
Re-Trial began on 10/4/22 & ended 10/6/22 with jury selection. Trial began on 10/7/22. (thru 11/4/22).
Info on warrant. First trial info & court info from 8/18/20 thru 9/29/22 & Jury Selection Day 1-3 (10/4 to 10/6/22) & Trial Day 1-12 (10/7 to 10/25/22) (no trial on 10/21/22) reference post #223 here:
https://www.websleuths.com/forums/t...eley-20-dec-1984-arrest-2020-2.595001/page-12
10/25/22 Tuesday, Trail Day 12: Additional info: Pankey’s testimony from last October (his 1st trial) was played for the court Tuesday with his former defense attorney Anthony Viorst examining his client. Viorst withdrew from the case after the mistrial due to a lack of time & energy to go through a lengthy trial again.
10/26/22 Wednesday, Trial Day 13: State witnesses: Greeley police detective Mike Prill returns on stand for rest of Pankey's video to be played. No other info available. Trial continues on Thursday, 10/27/22.
*Trial continues (Day 14) (@ 8:30am MT) – CO – Jonelle Renee Matthews (12) (went missing on Dec 20, 1984 after entering her home at 8pm, Greeley, found July 23, 2019 by construction workers at an oil & gas site in rural part of Weld County near County Road 49 & County Road 34½) – *Steven Dana Pankey (33 @ time of crime/69/now 71) indicted (10/9/20), arrested & charged (10/12/20 in Meridian, ID.) with 1st degree murder after deliberation, 1st degree felony murder, 2nd degree kidnapping, with sentence enhancers for using a weapon in a violent crime & 2 counts of crime of violence. Plead not guilty. $5M cash-only bond. Bond reduction denied (11/8/21).
Mistrial declared for counts 1 thru 3. Guilty on count 4, false reporting to authorities.
Re-Trial began on 10/4/22 & ended 10/6/22 with jury selection. Trial began on 10/7/22. (thru 11/4/22).
Info on warrant. First trial info & court info from 8/18/20 thru 9/29/22 & Jury Selection Day 1-3 (10/4 to 10/6/22) & Trial Day 1-12 (10/7 to 10/25/22) (no trial on 10/21/22) reference post #223 here:
https://www.websleuths.com/forums/t...eley-20-dec-1984-arrest-2020-2.595001/page-12
10/25/22 Tuesday, Trail Day 12: Additional info: Pankey’s testimony from last October (his 1st trial) was played for the court Tuesday with his former defense attorney Anthony Viorst examining his client. Viorst withdrew from the case after the mistrial due to a lack of time & energy to go through a lengthy trial again.
10/26/22 Wednesday, Trial Day 13: State witnesses: Greeley police detective Mike Prill returns on stand for rest of Pankey's video to be played. No other info available. Trial continues on Thursday, 10/27/22.
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OCT 26, 2022
www.greeleytribune.com
Weld County District Attorney Michael Rourke asked Steve Pankey on the stand in October 2021 if Jonelle was begging for her life when he shot her in the forehead.
[...]
A recording of that exchange was played Wednesday during prosecutors’ presentation of Pankey’s testimony in his 2021 trial, as Greeley Police Detective Mike Prill also completed his testimony.
[...]
Pankey’s defense attorney Peter Harris cross-examined Prill, one of the two lead detectives in the case, about Pankey’s interest in other murder cases and the numerous conspiracies he crafted over the years.
[...]
[...]
Up until late October 2020, Jonelle’s autopsy results were sealed so Pankey had no knowledge of how she was killed until he gained the prosecutors’ discovery. Once he had access to the autopsy, Pankey began discussing his guns in code with his sister during their jail calls, Rourke argued.
In several jail calls between October 2020 to March 2021, Pankey and his sister referenced his guns as the “the nine” and “the 10,” which Pankey confirmed on the stand. He said in the call that nine of his guns were given to his Idaho lawyer and one was kept in his sister’s possession.
Rourke asked Pankey in the 2021 testimony why he would feel the need to use code while talking about guns, and Pankey muttered something about unreasonable interference.
[...]
But prosecutors presented that Pankey’s search history about other cases was not as persistent in comparison to Jonelle’s disappearance. Prill emphasized that after her remains were found, Pankey spent July 24-28, 2019, searching the internet for her name without stopping. Pankey didn’t go to bed for two days straight during that period because he was searching the internet about Jonelle’s case, Prill said.
[...]
Before the Matthews family joined Sunny View, Pankey was excommunicated and held “bitter” feelings toward many members, specifically Ross, the Matthews’ family friend who dropped Jonelle off at her home that night. Ross was also Pankey’s boss before Pankey was fired from a job in Greeley.
As a way to get back at Sunny View, Pankey testified last year that he began telling lies about Jonelle’s disappearance, and the lies grew bigger and bigger over the years.
While Harris kept referring to Pankey’s claims about Sunny View’s involvement in deaths as “conspiracies,” Prill said he thought Pankey was just “misdirecting investigations.”
And when Harris brought up Pankey’s “strange,” behaviors, writings and search history, Prill said he wouldn’t call them strange, rather Pankey appeared like someone who committed a murder.
[...]
Pankey’s trial continues 9:30 a.m. Thursday.
Steve Pankey trial, Day 13: Prosecutors rest case after presenting Pankey’s 2021 testimony
In several jail calls between October 2020 to March 2021, Pankey and his sister referenced his guns as the “the nine” and “the 10,” which Pankey confirmed on the stand. He said in the call that nin…
www.greeleytribune.com
[...]
A recording of that exchange was played Wednesday during prosecutors’ presentation of Pankey’s testimony in his 2021 trial, as Greeley Police Detective Mike Prill also completed his testimony.
[...]
Pankey’s defense attorney Peter Harris cross-examined Prill, one of the two lead detectives in the case, about Pankey’s interest in other murder cases and the numerous conspiracies he crafted over the years.
[...]
Jail calls
Over the course of Pankey’s time in custody, prior to last year’s trial, Pankey had several jail calls with his sister prosecutors presented to the jury.[...]
Up until late October 2020, Jonelle’s autopsy results were sealed so Pankey had no knowledge of how she was killed until he gained the prosecutors’ discovery. Once he had access to the autopsy, Pankey began discussing his guns in code with his sister during their jail calls, Rourke argued.
In several jail calls between October 2020 to March 2021, Pankey and his sister referenced his guns as the “the nine” and “the 10,” which Pankey confirmed on the stand. He said in the call that nine of his guns were given to his Idaho lawyer and one was kept in his sister’s possession.
Rourke asked Pankey in the 2021 testimony why he would feel the need to use code while talking about guns, and Pankey muttered something about unreasonable interference.
[...]
‘Born-again true crime junkie’
The defense’s argument Wednesday wanted to paint Pankey as a person who loves true crime and conspiracy theories. Starting with the Sunny View Church and law enforcement before diving deeper into other popular, well-known murder cases.But prosecutors presented that Pankey’s search history about other cases was not as persistent in comparison to Jonelle’s disappearance. Prill emphasized that after her remains were found, Pankey spent July 24-28, 2019, searching the internet for her name without stopping. Pankey didn’t go to bed for two days straight during that period because he was searching the internet about Jonelle’s case, Prill said.
[...]
Before the Matthews family joined Sunny View, Pankey was excommunicated and held “bitter” feelings toward many members, specifically Ross, the Matthews’ family friend who dropped Jonelle off at her home that night. Ross was also Pankey’s boss before Pankey was fired from a job in Greeley.
As a way to get back at Sunny View, Pankey testified last year that he began telling lies about Jonelle’s disappearance, and the lies grew bigger and bigger over the years.
While Harris kept referring to Pankey’s claims about Sunny View’s involvement in deaths as “conspiracies,” Prill said he thought Pankey was just “misdirecting investigations.”
And when Harris brought up Pankey’s “strange,” behaviors, writings and search history, Prill said he wouldn’t call them strange, rather Pankey appeared like someone who committed a murder.
[...]
Pankey’s trial continues 9:30 a.m. Thursday.
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OCT 27, 2022
www.greeleytribune.com
The lead investigator in the Jonelle Matthews case five years after her disappearance in 1984 testified Thursday he never ruled out an alternate suspect proposed by defense attorneys.
After prosecutors rested their case against 71-year-old Steve Pankey on Wednesday, defense attorneys Jessica Brazil and Peter Harris called three witnesses to the stand Thursday to hone in on Norris Drake as the person of interest in 12-year-old Jonelle Matthews’ case. Drake died in 2007.
[...]
With earlier testimony from Peggy Drake, Norris’ sister, and previous statements from Drake’s mother, prosecutors have argued the timeframe excludes Drake as a suspect.
[...]
In December 1984, Drake’s mother told police that her son left between 9-9:30 p.m. She also reported she saw him sitting in his car and staring at something before leaving the neighborhood. Drake told police in 1989 that he saw a vehicle driving slowly down the street before leaving the neighborhood that night.
[...]
Throughout all of the conversations surrounding Jonelle with Drake, Daviet said all she remembered was him mentioning something about sliding patio doors at the Matthews’ home and that he babysat for their family.
The Matthews family testified earlier he never babysat for their daughters. In a 1989 interview played for the court earlier this month, Drake told police he didn’t know Jonelle and wouldn’t be able to recognize her or her sister.
Deputy District Attorney Lacy Wells asked if Daviet remembered Drake making any comments about the inside of the Matthews home, but she had no recollection.
[...]
Many of Harris’ questions received objections from Wells for speculation and hearsay, which Kerns frequently sustained.
Olson conducted an interview with Drake for more than six hours in November 1989. At the time, Drake said he knew that the shoeprints found in the snow at Jonelle’s home on the night she went missing were raked over.
Law enforcement in 1984 had previously decided to use the raked-over prints as hold-back evidence, meaning it was not released to the public in hopes a suspect would indicate knowledge of the hidden fact.
Olson testified the first person in his investigation to come forward with a familiarity of the hold-back evidence was Drake. Daviet heard Drake talk about the raked-over prints as well, according to Olson.
Olson said the longer evidence is kept a secret, the more likely it will be divulged later down the line and spread to multiple people.
During cross-examination, Olson confirmed Drake said he learned about the rake marks from his mother. Wells brought up a 1989 interview with Drake’s mom, who talked about the hold-back evidence as well.
[...]
Before his retirement, Olson went on to serve as Weld District Attorney’s Office chief investigator, where he received numerous letters from Pankey about the case. Although he has seen letters from Pankey, Harris asked if he still had concerns that Drake is the culprit.
“I wouldn’t say concerns … he just was a suspect that was never cleared,” Olson said.
[...]
Pankey declined to testify Thursday afternoon before the defense rested their case.
Closing arguments begin at 9:30 a.m. Friday in Weld District Court.
Steve Pankey trial, Day 14: Defense rests its case after highlighting alternate suspect
Pankey declined to testify Thursday afternoon before the defense rested their case.
www.greeleytribune.com
After prosecutors rested their case against 71-year-old Steve Pankey on Wednesday, defense attorneys Jessica Brazil and Peter Harris called three witnesses to the stand Thursday to hone in on Norris Drake as the person of interest in 12-year-old Jonelle Matthews’ case. Drake died in 2007.
[...]
With earlier testimony from Peggy Drake, Norris’ sister, and previous statements from Drake’s mother, prosecutors have argued the timeframe excludes Drake as a suspect.
[...]
In December 1984, Drake’s mother told police that her son left between 9-9:30 p.m. She also reported she saw him sitting in his car and staring at something before leaving the neighborhood. Drake told police in 1989 that he saw a vehicle driving slowly down the street before leaving the neighborhood that night.
Drake shares theories
Connie Daviet testified Thursday her brother, David, was letting Drake live with him in 1984. She spent the night at her brother’s house on Dec. 20, 1984, she testified.[...]
Throughout all of the conversations surrounding Jonelle with Drake, Daviet said all she remembered was him mentioning something about sliding patio doors at the Matthews’ home and that he babysat for their family.
The Matthews family testified earlier he never babysat for their daughters. In a 1989 interview played for the court earlier this month, Drake told police he didn’t know Jonelle and wouldn’t be able to recognize her or her sister.
Deputy District Attorney Lacy Wells asked if Daviet remembered Drake making any comments about the inside of the Matthews home, but she had no recollection.
[...]
Is Drake still a suspect?
The defense recalled Keith Olson, who led the investigation into Jonelle’s disappearance in 1989, to the stand Thursday morning to discuss how he never ruled out Drake as a suspect.Many of Harris’ questions received objections from Wells for speculation and hearsay, which Kerns frequently sustained.
Olson conducted an interview with Drake for more than six hours in November 1989. At the time, Drake said he knew that the shoeprints found in the snow at Jonelle’s home on the night she went missing were raked over.
Law enforcement in 1984 had previously decided to use the raked-over prints as hold-back evidence, meaning it was not released to the public in hopes a suspect would indicate knowledge of the hidden fact.
Olson testified the first person in his investigation to come forward with a familiarity of the hold-back evidence was Drake. Daviet heard Drake talk about the raked-over prints as well, according to Olson.
Olson said the longer evidence is kept a secret, the more likely it will be divulged later down the line and spread to multiple people.
During cross-examination, Olson confirmed Drake said he learned about the rake marks from his mother. Wells brought up a 1989 interview with Drake’s mom, who talked about the hold-back evidence as well.
[...]
Before his retirement, Olson went on to serve as Weld District Attorney’s Office chief investigator, where he received numerous letters from Pankey about the case. Although he has seen letters from Pankey, Harris asked if he still had concerns that Drake is the culprit.
“I wouldn’t say concerns … he just was a suspect that was never cleared,” Olson said.
[...]
Pankey declined to testify Thursday afternoon before the defense rested their case.
Closing arguments begin at 9:30 a.m. Friday in Weld District Court.
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Friday, October 28th:
*Trial continues (Day 15)-Closing Arguments (@ 9:30am MT) – CO – Jonelle Renee Matthews (12) (went missing on Dec 20, 1984 after entering her home at 8pm, Greeley, found July 23, 2019 by construction workers at an oil & gas site in rural part of Weld County near County Road 49 & County Road 34½) – *Steven Dana Pankey (33 @ time of crime/69/now 71) indicted (10/9/20), arrested & charged (10/12/20 in Meridian, ID.) with 1st degree murder after deliberation, 1st degree felony murder, 2nd degree kidnapping, with sentence enhancers for using a weapon in a violent crime & 2 counts of crime of violence. Plead not guilty. $5M cash-only bond. Bond reduction denied (11/8/21).
Mistrial declared (10/2021) for counts 1 thru 3. Guilty on count 4, false reporting to authorities.
Re-Trial began on 10/4/22 & ended 10/6/22 with jury selection. Trial began on 10/7/22. (thru 11/4/22) all @ 8:30a State rested their case on 10/26/22. Defense started their case on 10/27/22 & rested on 10/27/22.
Info on warrant. First trial info & court info from 8/18/20 thru 9/29/22 & Jury Selection Day 1-3 (10/4 to 10/6/22) & Trial Day 1-12 (10/7 to 10/25/22) (no trial on 10/21/22) reference post #228 here:
https://www.websleuths.com/forums/t...eley-20-dec-1984-arrest-2020-2.595001/page-12
10/26/22 Wednesday, Trial Day 13: State witnesses: Greeley police detective Mike Prill returns on stand for rest of Pankey's video to be played when he was on the stand in October, 2021 at his first trial. No other info available. State rested their case. Trial continues on Thursday, 10/26/22.
For more info see post #229 (article) here:
https://www.websleuths.com/forums/...eley-20-dec-1984-arrest-2020-2.595001/page-12
10/27/22 Thursday, Trial Day 14: Defense witnesses: Connie Daviet, her brother David let Drake live with him in 1984. Keith Olson, who led the investigation into Jonelle’s disappearance in 1989. One more person testified but I have no name. Pankey declined to take the stand. Defense rested their case. Closing arguments start at 9:30am on Friday, 10/28/22.
For more info see post #230 (article) here:
https://www.websleuths.com/forums/...eley-20-dec-1984-arrest-2020-2.595001/page-12
*Trial continues (Day 15)-Closing Arguments (@ 9:30am MT) – CO – Jonelle Renee Matthews (12) (went missing on Dec 20, 1984 after entering her home at 8pm, Greeley, found July 23, 2019 by construction workers at an oil & gas site in rural part of Weld County near County Road 49 & County Road 34½) – *Steven Dana Pankey (33 @ time of crime/69/now 71) indicted (10/9/20), arrested & charged (10/12/20 in Meridian, ID.) with 1st degree murder after deliberation, 1st degree felony murder, 2nd degree kidnapping, with sentence enhancers for using a weapon in a violent crime & 2 counts of crime of violence. Plead not guilty. $5M cash-only bond. Bond reduction denied (11/8/21).
Mistrial declared (10/2021) for counts 1 thru 3. Guilty on count 4, false reporting to authorities.
Re-Trial began on 10/4/22 & ended 10/6/22 with jury selection. Trial began on 10/7/22. (thru 11/4/22) all @ 8:30a State rested their case on 10/26/22. Defense started their case on 10/27/22 & rested on 10/27/22.
Info on warrant. First trial info & court info from 8/18/20 thru 9/29/22 & Jury Selection Day 1-3 (10/4 to 10/6/22) & Trial Day 1-12 (10/7 to 10/25/22) (no trial on 10/21/22) reference post #228 here:
https://www.websleuths.com/forums/t...eley-20-dec-1984-arrest-2020-2.595001/page-12
10/26/22 Wednesday, Trial Day 13: State witnesses: Greeley police detective Mike Prill returns on stand for rest of Pankey's video to be played when he was on the stand in October, 2021 at his first trial. No other info available. State rested their case. Trial continues on Thursday, 10/26/22.
For more info see post #229 (article) here:
https://www.websleuths.com/forums/...eley-20-dec-1984-arrest-2020-2.595001/page-12
10/27/22 Thursday, Trial Day 14: Defense witnesses: Connie Daviet, her brother David let Drake live with him in 1984. Keith Olson, who led the investigation into Jonelle’s disappearance in 1989. One more person testified but I have no name. Pankey declined to take the stand. Defense rested their case. Closing arguments start at 9:30am on Friday, 10/28/22.
For more info see post #230 (article) here:
https://www.websleuths.com/forums/...eley-20-dec-1984-arrest-2020-2.595001/page-12
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@PommyMommy - thanks for that last 2 articles! I noticed in the 2nd one for yesterday did not list the 3rd witness for the defense. They only mentioned 2 of them... oh well!
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Case of 12-year-old Jonelle Matthews disappearance goes to jury for second time
A jury is deliberating for the second time whether Steven Pankey is responsible for the 1984 disappearance and death of 12-year-old Jonelle Matthews in Greeley.
Oct. 28, 2022
A jury is deliberating for the second time whether Steven Pankey is responsible for the 1984 disappearance and death of 12-year-old Jonelle Matthews in Greeley.
[.....]
The second jury began deliberating early Friday afternoon after attorneys gave their closing statements. They adjourned without reaching a verdict and will reconvene on Monday morning.
“In 1984, Greeley was a small cow town. The type of place you would leave your house unlocked; your cars unlocked; garage doors open. Where you’d stay out plying until the streetlights came on,” said said Weld County assistant district attorney Robb Miller.
[.....]
Defense attorneys for Pankey seek to show he didn’t have any direct connection with Matthews’ family, and that circumstantial evidence in the case doesn’t convincingly link him to the crime.
“How can an innocent person get convicted?” said Pankey’s defense attorney Jessica Brazil. “When there is no physical evidence that Steve Pankey was ever at the scene of the crime, either at Jonelle Matthews’ home or at the grave site. … The prosecution stands here with that, and still asks you to convict.”
PommyMommy
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OCT 28, 2022
www.greeleytribune.com
[...]
... Pankey chose not to testify in this year’s trial.
Weld Assistant District Attorney Robb Miller led into closing arguments with a familiar narrative of Greeley as a small town in 1984, where people felt safe to leave their homes and cars unlocked as children played outside until the street lights came on. After Dec. 20, 1984, the night Jonelle was reported missing, the city lost some of its innocence, he said.
Since Pankey kidnapped and murdered Jonelle that night, Miller said, Pankey was able to move freely from town to town as he taunted and manipulated law enforcement. Jonelle’s father, mother and sister, meanwhile, spent sleepless nights wondering what happened to the outspoken, vivacious middle school student.
[...]
In 1993, Pankey wrote a book depicting Christy and the Sunny View church as villains responsible for the murder of a young woman in Greeley. He went on to accuse police in Idaho of making a file on him and accused the state of trying to make him an informant.
Pankey in court filings said he was the only one who could help and that he was a master manipulator, Miller said.
Pankey then began sending letters to the Weld District Attorney’s Office, including a detailed alibi letter. Before her remains were found, Pankey said Jonelle was dead before crossing 10th Street. He also described a blanket, quilt or comforter as missing from the Matthews home and wrote, “Some experiences are hard to forget.”
Pankey went on to run for political offices while in Idaho, including a bid for sheriff. Miller said Pankey’s platform included getting rid of hold-back evidence — information law enforcement tries to keep private in the hopes the culprit will divulge information that should be known by a select few — and giving plea deals to informants.
Prosecutors used Pankey’s knowledge of shoeprints in the snow that had been raked over at the scene as a piece of evidence against him, as that detail was maintained as hold-back evidence.
[...]
After burying Jonelle, Pankey saw a mention of her disappearance on the front page of the Greeley Tribune, Miller posited, and the family dogs were sniffing around. Pankey got rid of the dogs and later burned evidence inside the car, Miller said, referencing testimony from Hicks about Pankey getting rid of the family dogs with no notice before a last-minute trip to visit Pankey’s family in California — a trip Pankey had previously said they weren’t going on.
Miller reminded the jury they’re instructed to use common sense and that prosecutors must show proof beyond a reasonable doubt Pankey committed the crimes, not beyond all doubt. The doubt can’t be imaginative or speculative, Miller said, saying the defense’s alternate suspect was just that.
Miller highlighted details about Pankey’s inserting himself into the case, inconsistencies in his statements and Hicks’ testimony — adding Hicks hadn’t thought about the case until the mid-1990s when she didn’t get a paycheck from her boss, who was also her landlord. The boss explained the money was used for their rent which hadn’t been paid.
[...]
Miller finished by referencing Pankey’s 2021 testimony about Pankey leaving a sheriff’s deputy writhing in pain for eight to 12 minutes while working in an ambulance and refusing to render aid to the deputy over a dislike for police in general at that time.
“What would he do to someone who directly excommunicated him and fires him from his job?” Miller asked. “This man kidnapped and murdered Jonelle Matthews because of his hatred for the Sunny View church. … Jonelle was at the wrong place, at the wrong time, and he kidnapped and murdered her.”
Defense attorney Jessica Brazil delivered the defense’s closing arguments, stating “this case, this prosecution” is how an innocent person gets convicted. She criticized a lack of physical evidence in the case and no evidence Pankey would go from holding a grudge, writing angry letters and suing people — his usual method of responding to people he didn’t like — to abducting and killing a child he didn’t know.
Brazil described Pankey as a believer of conspiracies, anti-government and anti-police. He’s socially awkward, introverted and not a people-person, and he doesn’t communicate well, she said.
“That’s who he is. That’s the perspective you need to be looking at,” Brazil said.
[...]
Brazil then criticized the investigation, noting police at the time found no fingerprints, made no effort to get molds of the shoeprints outside the home and took only about 40 photos of the scene. She also dismissed Pankey’s use of code while he was in jail and talking about his guns with his sister as an attempt to keep police from using his gun ownership against him while checking to make sure valuable possessions were accounted for.
Referencing an old gun police found when they searched Pankey’s home prosecutors implied could have been the murder weapon, Brazil said the notion that they suspected it was the murder weapon and didn’t make an effort or have probable cause to seize it and do testing didn’t add up.
[...]
Brazil returned to discussing Drake as a suspect, arguing he “absolutely could have done this crime.” She noted the lead investigator in the case in 1989, who did the most thorough review of Drake as a possible suspect, never ruled him out — directly conflicting with testimony Prill gave about others having ruled Drake out. In 2018, Brazil noted, Cash delivered a presentation on the case for the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, presenting Drake as an alternate suspect.
Drake was the first person to mention the hold-back evidence to police, Brazil said, including mentioning it to someone on the drive over to his mother’s house the next morning.
The difference between Pankey and Drake, Brazil said, is that Drake was dead by the time Jonelle’s remains were found.
[...]
Weld District Attorney Michael Rourke delivered the rebuttal before the case was sent to the jury, highlighting again that Pankey’s statements about the case have evolved over the years.
Rourke attacked the alternate suspect theory with a couple observations. Though a witness testified that Drake said he had babysat Jonelle, Drake told the lead investigator in 1989 that never happened — something the investigator confirmed. As for Drake’s knowledge of the shoeprints, Rourke said, Drake said they went to a sliding glass door. Rourke reviewed photos of the Matthews home — which did not have a sliding glass door.
Rourke reviewed more than a dozen witnesses whose stories aligned to point to Pankey as the suspect — and said even dismissing them, just Hicks’ testimony indicates Pankey is guilty.
[...]
Rourke closed by talking about a jailhouse informant’s testimony about Pankey silently admitting to killing Jonelle — testimony the defense dismissed as untrustworthy because the witness may have just wanted better treatment from prosecutors.
“Pat, I need forgiveness,” Rourke recalled the testimony about Pankey approaching the informant.
“For what?” the informant asked.
“For that little girl,” Pankey allegedly responded.
“Did you kill her?”
“That’s between me and God,” Pankey answered, before lowering his head and nodding, according to the testimony.
“While that is true — it is between him and his god — it’s also the question for you — did he kill her?” Rourke said to the jury. “He answered it for you.”
[...]
Jury enters deliberations after closing arguments in Steve Pankey trial
A Weld County jury is determining whether to convict Steve Pankey for the kidnapping and murder of 12-year-old Jonelle Matthews in 1984 after both parties in the case delivered their closing argume…
www.greeleytribune.com
... Pankey chose not to testify in this year’s trial.
Weld Assistant District Attorney Robb Miller led into closing arguments with a familiar narrative of Greeley as a small town in 1984, where people felt safe to leave their homes and cars unlocked as children played outside until the street lights came on. After Dec. 20, 1984, the night Jonelle was reported missing, the city lost some of its innocence, he said.
Since Pankey kidnapped and murdered Jonelle that night, Miller said, Pankey was able to move freely from town to town as he taunted and manipulated law enforcement. Jonelle’s father, mother and sister, meanwhile, spent sleepless nights wondering what happened to the outspoken, vivacious middle school student.
[...]
In 1993, Pankey wrote a book depicting Christy and the Sunny View church as villains responsible for the murder of a young woman in Greeley. He went on to accuse police in Idaho of making a file on him and accused the state of trying to make him an informant.
Pankey in court filings said he was the only one who could help and that he was a master manipulator, Miller said.
Pankey then began sending letters to the Weld District Attorney’s Office, including a detailed alibi letter. Before her remains were found, Pankey said Jonelle was dead before crossing 10th Street. He also described a blanket, quilt or comforter as missing from the Matthews home and wrote, “Some experiences are hard to forget.”
Pankey went on to run for political offices while in Idaho, including a bid for sheriff. Miller said Pankey’s platform included getting rid of hold-back evidence — information law enforcement tries to keep private in the hopes the culprit will divulge information that should be known by a select few — and giving plea deals to informants.
Prosecutors used Pankey’s knowledge of shoeprints in the snow that had been raked over at the scene as a piece of evidence against him, as that detail was maintained as hold-back evidence.
[...]
After burying Jonelle, Pankey saw a mention of her disappearance on the front page of the Greeley Tribune, Miller posited, and the family dogs were sniffing around. Pankey got rid of the dogs and later burned evidence inside the car, Miller said, referencing testimony from Hicks about Pankey getting rid of the family dogs with no notice before a last-minute trip to visit Pankey’s family in California — a trip Pankey had previously said they weren’t going on.
Miller reminded the jury they’re instructed to use common sense and that prosecutors must show proof beyond a reasonable doubt Pankey committed the crimes, not beyond all doubt. The doubt can’t be imaginative or speculative, Miller said, saying the defense’s alternate suspect was just that.
Miller highlighted details about Pankey’s inserting himself into the case, inconsistencies in his statements and Hicks’ testimony — adding Hicks hadn’t thought about the case until the mid-1990s when she didn’t get a paycheck from her boss, who was also her landlord. The boss explained the money was used for their rent which hadn’t been paid.
[...]
Miller finished by referencing Pankey’s 2021 testimony about Pankey leaving a sheriff’s deputy writhing in pain for eight to 12 minutes while working in an ambulance and refusing to render aid to the deputy over a dislike for police in general at that time.
“What would he do to someone who directly excommunicated him and fires him from his job?” Miller asked. “This man kidnapped and murdered Jonelle Matthews because of his hatred for the Sunny View church. … Jonelle was at the wrong place, at the wrong time, and he kidnapped and murdered her.”
Defense attorney Jessica Brazil delivered the defense’s closing arguments, stating “this case, this prosecution” is how an innocent person gets convicted. She criticized a lack of physical evidence in the case and no evidence Pankey would go from holding a grudge, writing angry letters and suing people — his usual method of responding to people he didn’t like — to abducting and killing a child he didn’t know.
Brazil described Pankey as a believer of conspiracies, anti-government and anti-police. He’s socially awkward, introverted and not a people-person, and he doesn’t communicate well, she said.
“That’s who he is. That’s the perspective you need to be looking at,” Brazil said.
[...]
Brazil then criticized the investigation, noting police at the time found no fingerprints, made no effort to get molds of the shoeprints outside the home and took only about 40 photos of the scene. She also dismissed Pankey’s use of code while he was in jail and talking about his guns with his sister as an attempt to keep police from using his gun ownership against him while checking to make sure valuable possessions were accounted for.
Referencing an old gun police found when they searched Pankey’s home prosecutors implied could have been the murder weapon, Brazil said the notion that they suspected it was the murder weapon and didn’t make an effort or have probable cause to seize it and do testing didn’t add up.
[...]
Brazil returned to discussing Drake as a suspect, arguing he “absolutely could have done this crime.” She noted the lead investigator in the case in 1989, who did the most thorough review of Drake as a possible suspect, never ruled him out — directly conflicting with testimony Prill gave about others having ruled Drake out. In 2018, Brazil noted, Cash delivered a presentation on the case for the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, presenting Drake as an alternate suspect.
Drake was the first person to mention the hold-back evidence to police, Brazil said, including mentioning it to someone on the drive over to his mother’s house the next morning.
The difference between Pankey and Drake, Brazil said, is that Drake was dead by the time Jonelle’s remains were found.
[...]
Weld District Attorney Michael Rourke delivered the rebuttal before the case was sent to the jury, highlighting again that Pankey’s statements about the case have evolved over the years.
Rourke attacked the alternate suspect theory with a couple observations. Though a witness testified that Drake said he had babysat Jonelle, Drake told the lead investigator in 1989 that never happened — something the investigator confirmed. As for Drake’s knowledge of the shoeprints, Rourke said, Drake said they went to a sliding glass door. Rourke reviewed photos of the Matthews home — which did not have a sliding glass door.
Rourke reviewed more than a dozen witnesses whose stories aligned to point to Pankey as the suspect — and said even dismissing them, just Hicks’ testimony indicates Pankey is guilty.
[...]
Rourke closed by talking about a jailhouse informant’s testimony about Pankey silently admitting to killing Jonelle — testimony the defense dismissed as untrustworthy because the witness may have just wanted better treatment from prosecutors.
“Pat, I need forgiveness,” Rourke recalled the testimony about Pankey approaching the informant.
“For what?” the informant asked.
“For that little girl,” Pankey allegedly responded.
“Did you kill her?”
“That’s between me and God,” Pankey answered, before lowering his head and nodding, according to the testimony.
“While that is true — it is between him and his god — it’s also the question for you — did he kill her?” Rourke said to the jury. “He answered it for you.”
[...]
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Monday, October 31st:
*Trial continues (Day 16)/Jury Deliberations (Day 2)-VERDICT WATCH! (@ 8:30am MT) – CO – Jonelle Renee Matthews (12) (went missing on Dec 20, 1984 after entering her home at 8pm, Greeley, found July 23, 2019 by construction workers at an oil & gas site in rural part of Weld County near County Road 49 & County Road 34½) – *Steven Dana Pankey (33 @ time of crime/69/now 71) indicted (10/9/20), arrested & charged (10/12/20 in Meridian, ID.) with 1st degree murder after deliberation, 1st degree felony murder, 2nd degree kidnapping, with sentence enhancers for using a weapon in a violent crime & 2 counts of crime of violence. Plead not guilty. $5M cash-only bond. Bond reduction denied (11/8/21).
Mistrial declared for counts 1 thru 3. Guilty on count 4, false reporting to authorities.
Re-Trial began on 10/4/22 & ended 10/6/22 with jury selection. Trial began on 10/7/22. (thru 11/4/22) all @ 8:30a State rested their case on 10/26/22. Defense started their case on 10/27/22 & rested on 10/27/22. Jury began deliberations (10/28/22) ~1pm to 5pm. Total: ~4 hours.
Info on warrant. First trial info & court info from 8/18/20 thru 9/29/22 & Jury Selection Day 1-3 (10/4 to 10/6/22) & Trial Day 1-14 (10/7 to 10/27/22) (no trial on 10/21/22) reference post #231 here:
https://www.websleuths.com/forums/t...eley-20-dec-1984-arrest-2020-2.595001/page-12
10/28/22 Friday, Trial Day 15/Jury Deliberations Day 1: Closing arguments by Weld Asst. DA Robb Miller & defense attorney Jessica Brazil & Weld DA Michael Rourke delivered the rebuttal. Jury instructions were given & jury started deliberations early afternoon (~1pm to 5pm).
For more info see post #233 & 234 (articles) here:
https://www.websleuths.com/forums/...eley-20-dec-1984-arrest-2020-2.595001/page-12
Trial continues with jury deliberations on Monday, 10/31/22.
*Trial continues (Day 16)/Jury Deliberations (Day 2)-VERDICT WATCH! (@ 8:30am MT) – CO – Jonelle Renee Matthews (12) (went missing on Dec 20, 1984 after entering her home at 8pm, Greeley, found July 23, 2019 by construction workers at an oil & gas site in rural part of Weld County near County Road 49 & County Road 34½) – *Steven Dana Pankey (33 @ time of crime/69/now 71) indicted (10/9/20), arrested & charged (10/12/20 in Meridian, ID.) with 1st degree murder after deliberation, 1st degree felony murder, 2nd degree kidnapping, with sentence enhancers for using a weapon in a violent crime & 2 counts of crime of violence. Plead not guilty. $5M cash-only bond. Bond reduction denied (11/8/21).
Mistrial declared for counts 1 thru 3. Guilty on count 4, false reporting to authorities.
Re-Trial began on 10/4/22 & ended 10/6/22 with jury selection. Trial began on 10/7/22. (thru 11/4/22) all @ 8:30a State rested their case on 10/26/22. Defense started their case on 10/27/22 & rested on 10/27/22. Jury began deliberations (10/28/22) ~1pm to 5pm. Total: ~4 hours.
Info on warrant. First trial info & court info from 8/18/20 thru 9/29/22 & Jury Selection Day 1-3 (10/4 to 10/6/22) & Trial Day 1-14 (10/7 to 10/27/22) (no trial on 10/21/22) reference post #231 here:
https://www.websleuths.com/forums/t...eley-20-dec-1984-arrest-2020-2.595001/page-12
10/28/22 Friday, Trial Day 15/Jury Deliberations Day 1: Closing arguments by Weld Asst. DA Robb Miller & defense attorney Jessica Brazil & Weld DA Michael Rourke delivered the rebuttal. Jury instructions were given & jury started deliberations early afternoon (~1pm to 5pm).
For more info see post #233 & 234 (articles) here:
https://www.websleuths.com/forums/...eley-20-dec-1984-arrest-2020-2.595001/page-12
Trial continues with jury deliberations on Monday, 10/31/22.
Last edited:
Seattle1
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GUILTY
Blair Miller
@blairmiller
A Weld County jury found Steven Pankey guilty of felony murder and second-degree kidnapping in the 1984 killing of 12-year-old Jonelle Matthews.
denver7.com
Jury finds Steven Pankey guilty of felony murder, kidnapping in Jonelle Matthews cold case
A Weld County jury on Monday found Steven Pankey guilty on three counts, including felony murder, in the 1984 kidnapping and killing of 12-year-old Jonelle Matthews.
10:35 AM · Oct 31, 2022·
Blair Miller
@blairmiller
A Weld County jury found Steven Pankey guilty of felony murder and second-degree kidnapping in the 1984 killing of 12-year-old Jonelle Matthews.
denver7.com
Jury finds Steven Pankey guilty of felony murder, kidnapping in Jonelle Matthews cold case
A Weld County jury on Monday found Steven Pankey guilty on three counts, including felony murder, in the 1984 kidnapping and killing of 12-year-old Jonelle Matthews.
10:35 AM · Oct 31, 2022·
BethAnn777
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Wow, wow, wow! Can’t believe it! Justice is served.
Niner
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WOW - I can't either! I thought it might turn out like the first trial!! Glad to see this guilty verdict!!
Niner
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Looks like he will be sentenced this afternoon!
from the article posted above:
He is scheduled to be sentenced Monday afternoon at 1:30 p.m.
edited to add from the article:
The jury found Pankey guilty of felony murder (class 1 felony), second-degree kidnapping with a deadly weapon (class 3 felony) and false reporting to authorities (class 3 misdemeanor). He is scheduled to be sentenced Monday afternoon at 1:30 p.m.
The jury found Pankey not guilty of first-degree murder after deliberation. possibility of parole.
from the article posted above:
He is scheduled to be sentenced Monday afternoon at 1:30 p.m.
edited to add from the article:
The jury found Pankey guilty of felony murder (class 1 felony), second-degree kidnapping with a deadly weapon (class 3 felony) and false reporting to authorities (class 3 misdemeanor). He is scheduled to be sentenced Monday afternoon at 1:30 p.m.
The jury found Pankey not guilty of first-degree murder after deliberation. possibility of parole.