Found Deceased CO - Jonelle Matthews, 12, Greeley, 20 Dec 1984 *arrest 2020*

[BethAnn777]

I think a few key things we can’t overlook.

Jim knew she was at home at some point around 830 and didn’t have her shoes etc. She doesn’t have a car obviously and it was 10 degrees and dark out. No friends next door. She was also advised to be at home after her concert since she was told she couldn’t go to the basketball game. He said both his kids would have left a note.

I get that he wouldn’t walk in and call the police within 5 minutes, but I find it strange for how he waited that long to even worry about her.

That we are aware of - No fingerprints. No blood. No forced entry. Hell of a clean abduction.

All valid points.

He said she would have left a note, but she didn’t. The fact that he admits that is another thing in his favor for having nothing to do with Jonelle’s disappearance. If he harmed her, why admit she wouldn’t leave without a note? Keeping his mouth shut about the usual way things are done would help it appear as more likely that she ran away.

Jonelle leaves on the space heater, her things are left laying around, there’s no note, he can’t find her. Where some may think abduction others may think logical explanation. For example, the friend who dropped her off came back five minutes later. Knocked on the door, Jonelle answered, friend told her that they were going out for supper and since they knew she was home alone why not come along? Jonelle hurries because the friends dad is waiting. She throws on a different pair of shoes and goes. Completely forgot to write a note. We know this isn’t what happened, just saying Jim’s mind likely went to other scenarios before worst case scenario.

Regarding no fingerprints, blood, sign of a struggle, etc.- could be as simple as her killer showing up at the door and never even going in the house. There were footprints in the snow so he was probably peeping. He felt pretty confident she was home alone. Rings the door bell, asks if her parents are home, she says no, he grabs her, covers her mouth, picks her up, takes her to his car. Just one of many scenarios I can think of.

I’m really starting to wonder if the garage door being open was a coincidence?

 

[gregjrichards]

No attacking. Just wasn’t what I had asked, but ty for clarifying. Everyone’s a suspect until her murderer is found. IMO

Respectfully everyone is not a suspect under a murderer is found. As @BethAnn777 has said Websleuths is a victim friendly forum and we need to be careful and show respect and kindness to the family members of any victims. We cannot publicly accuse family members of any wrongdoing. This is under the terms of service we as members must adhere to all all times whenever we post here.

It is different in cases where victim’s family members have been named as suspects or persons of interests by law enforcement then we can carefully question why they did x, y and z but that is not he case here. Can you imagine having your loved one murdered and then have your actions publicly called into question online when you have done nothing wrong and how that would feel?

 

[SAMS]

Respectfully everyone is not a suspect under a murderer is found. As @BethAnn777 has said Websleuths is a victim friendly forum and we need to be careful and show respect and kindness to the family members of any victims. We cannot publicly accuse family members of any wrongdoing. This is under the terms of service we as members must adhere to all all times whenever we post here.

It is different in cases where victim’s family members have been named as suspects or persons of interests by law enforcement then we can carefully question why they did x, y and z but that is not he case here. Can you imagine having your loved one murdered and then have your actions publicly called into question online when you have done nothing wrong and how that would feel?

I have not said he killed her. I am only throwing out scenarios and theories like we all do here on friendly WS. Thanks!

 

[SAMS]

DBM

 

[SAMS]

Respectfully everyone is not a suspect under a murderer is found. As @BethAnn777 has said Websleuths is a victim friendly forum and we need to be careful and show respect and kindness to the family members of any victims. We cannot publicly accuse family members of any wrongdoing. This is under the terms of service we as members must adhere to all all times whenever we post here.

It is different in cases where victim’s family members have been named as suspects or persons of interests by law enforcement then we can carefully question why they did x, y and z but that is not he case here. Can you imagine having your loved one murdered and then have your actions publicly called into question online when you have done nothing wrong and how that would feel?

Perhaps I worded that wrong. But without sleuthing the dad, no one has been cleared. MOO

 

[Mysteries1974]

Let’s clarify something here. I’ve made many mistakes with accusing someone in a case with no evidence and trust me the outcome is not good. I feel absolutely horrible about it sometimes. But we must consider every and all leads in Jonelle’s case, even the ones that came shortly after her alleged abduction and killing. Even if it means suspecting relatives. I’m not saying that Jim was involved, as a matter of fact I don’t think he was involved at all but rather Jonelle was taken by a non family member while at home. We can’t, however, say that anyone killed or did something specific to a victim without evidence or a admission/confession. I hope this helps.

 

[crhedBngr]

May the New Year bring an arrest.

 

[Cat01]

Hmm, why do you say that, @Cat01? What are you thinking?

<modsnip>

I find the location of JM’s remains very interesting. Very close to the elementary school near Kersey. In fact, at the time of JM’s disappearance, the person would have had to be very familiar with the area as it was very rural and remote.

 

[crhedBngr]

Apparently, nothing in the news after the December article.

Steve Pankey, Person Of Interest In Jonelle Matthews Case, Hopes Girl's Killer Is Found

 

[PayrollNerd]

There's another perp that hurt a little girl in Greeley, CO. I wonder if they could do this same technique in this case. If they found DNA where Jonelle was found or on her body/clothing.

Greeley police use DNA to create image of suspect’s face in 2001 cold case

 

[Suglo]

Bump!

 

[evilwise]

There's another perp that hurt a little girl in Greeley, CO. I wonder if they could do this same technique in this case. If they found DNA where Jonelle was found or on her body/clothing.

Greeley police use DNA to create image of suspect’s face in 2001 cold case

This case was a rape where a kit was immediately done and evidence was preserved. Jonelle was in the ground for 30 years. Unless she tore out one of her assailants teeth and kept it with her all this time there isn't going to be any of their DNA left intact.

 

[Luckyzmom]

The timing of what occurred the night JM disdapeared would seem to indicate a stalker or someone known to JM and or family member/ members . JMO
So much time has passed,wonder how much LE has to work with, such a terrible crime makes it difficult for family and friends and community to heal and hope the fact that JM was found brings a bit of comfort . MOO

 

[Richard]

Jonelle Renee Matthews
RESOLVED

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Jonelle, circa 1984

• Missing Since 12/20/1984
• Missing From Greeley, Colorado
• Classification Non-Family Abduction
• Sex Female
• Race White
• Age 12 years old
• Distinguishing Characteristics Caucasian female.

Details of Disappearance

Jonelle disappeared from her home in Greeley, Colorado on December 20, 1984; she was presumed abducted by unidentified intruder(s). In July 2019, her skeletal remains were found at an oil and gas site in rural Weld County, Colorado. Her murder is under investigation.

Investigating Agency

• Greeley Police Department 303-350-9670

Source Information

• The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children
• Child Protection Education of America
• Christianity Today
• The Denver Post
• The Longmont Daily Times-Call
• The Child Seek Network
• The Greeley Tribune
• Families of Homicide Victims and Missing Persons
• The Pensacola News Journal
• The Denver Channel
• Jonelle Renee Matthews – The Charley Project

 

[evilwise]

If I'm going to speculate on what happened last year, there was some kind of circumstantial evidence discovered with Jonelle's body that led investigators to take another hard look at Pankey. I will even go further to speculate it was something along the line of fibers (synthetic ones that wouldn't have decomposed) that they were hoping would match fibers from something he still owned all these years later, a coat perhaps. It seems they didn't. I wonder if they properly archived (or even took) that kind of evidence from Pankey's car way back then - if he even came back from his "family vacation" with the same car he left in.

 

[PayrollNerd]

If I'm going to speculate on what happened last year, there was some kind of circumstantial evidence discovered with Jonelle's body that led investigators to take another hard look at Pankey. I will even go further to speculate it was something along the line of fibers (synthetic ones that wouldn't have decomposed) that they were hoping would match fibers from something he still owned all these years later, a coat perhaps. It seems they didn't. I wonder if they properly archived (or even took) that kind of evidence from Pankey's car way back then - if he even came back from his "family vacation" with the same car he left in.

I was thinking gloves. The weather would have necessitated gloves of some type. Kitchen gloves, painting gloves, winter driving gloves, yard work gloves, something had to be covering their hands due to the cold.

 

[evilwise]

I was thinking gloves. The weather would have necessitated gloves of some type. Kitchen gloves, painting gloves, winter driving gloves, yard work gloves, something had to be covering their hands due to the cold.

Sure. Cold weather clothing in general, there's a chance a person might keep for 30 years. Probably not though.

 

[Leader6518]

Indeed, G. See my eta above, I actually added a few minutes ago that in the video above he claims to not have known or heard of the family.

Great thoughts btw.

He said in one of the videos linked above (the one where he is in the pink shirt) that he had to leave that church about a year before Jonelles family started attending. He has a different spin on his charges and he makes some disparaging remarks about Jonelle and her friends.

We know from LE that perps will insert themselves in an investigation for several reasons. One, is to see what LE knows. For others, it’s part of the thrill of killing.
At best, I think he is a nut job. At worse, a serial killer. This is all MOO.

 

[Fred Jones]

Former Idaho Gubernatorial Candidate and Person of Interest in the 1984 Jonelle Matthew murder Steve Pankey is running for Twin Falls County Sheriff.

KMVT News interviewed him about running and him wanting to clear his name.

 

[Fred Jones]

Unfound Podcast did a 3 1/2 Hour interview with Person of Interest Steve Pankey recently. Podcast Host, Edward Dentzel, pulls no punches and asks him almost every possible question. He also discloses that Pankey privately donated a generous amount to the Podcast before later revealing who he was and requesting an interview.