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

[sbcjester21]

RSBM
Fourth could be accidental? What if she was being physically moved somewhere, one arm around her and the other holding the weapon pointed at her head. Resisting that would pull her backwards and potentially down.

I'm having a hard time visualizing this. In order to shoot her in the forehead, he'd have to be facing her. To be forcibly moving her, and have a gun pressed to her forehead, he'd have to be holding her by the neck dragging her backwards. Not impossible, but a strange way to move someone who's alive, and presumably doesn't want to get shot.

Further, falling backwards, would cause the bullet to traverse from down to up given the angle of weapon to a falling person, while facing each other. Unless I'm completely misunderstanding what you mean.

If you have the means, send me a video of what you're trying to say. I may post a video re-enactment of the 3 I propose.

 

[Niner]

Any word on his extradition to Colorado? Nothing in the Weld County court site yet....

 

[crhedBngr]

Any word on his extradition to Colorado? Nothing in the Weld County court site yet....

SP is still on the Idaho Inmate Roster as I type this.

I am including the link per TOS requirements - sorry that non-US citizens may not be able to access the data.

https://apps.adacounty.id.gov/sheriff/reports/inmates

 

[crhedBngr]

@sbcjester21 : Thanks for your informative post about soil conditions in winter.

I worked with a man who lived in the Denver area. He told us there were times when he mowed his grass year round.

JMVHO.

 

[sbcjester21]

Does anyone have Pankey’s address from 1984?

 

[evilwise]

I honestly don't have a clue if he did it or not. He's just so weird it's very hard to form an opinion on him but that Greely news article covering his behavior in the late 70s and early 80s did paint a picture of a younger and, at the time, increasingly angry/violent weirdo.

 

[Cat01]

Hi. I'm new here, but I've been lurking since Jonelle was found. I have many thoughts and information, but for now, I just want to pipe in on one thing that people here swear by, but I feel is inherently false.

/Rant
The idea that you can't dig into "frozen" ground. This is not true. Depending on weather patterns in Greeley for the month of Dec 1984 (which I have not been able to find) the ground may not even had been frozen. Fresh snow does not automatically = frozen ground. Also, soil doesn't freeze all that deep in temperate climate zones. The upper crust is hard yes, but once you get past that, it's not any more difficult than it would be any other time of year, other than the fact that the air temperature is cold. A determined person CAN dig a hole in early winter. I know this because I have done such work. It's difficult and it sucks, but it certainly can be done. If you doubt me, winter is closing in. In Dec, go out and try to dig a hole. If you have a normal amount of strength, you should find once you get the hole started, it gets much easier. I will also submit here, that the soil in that area is extremely soft. Almost sandy. You can dig a hole 4ft deep in under an hour. In adverse weather conditions, call it 2 hours to dig a hole deep enough that the body isn't likely to be found or dug up by animals. Also, I have yet to find an article that says the body was so deep as to require heavy equipment. Heavy equipment found her yes, but that was completely by chance and there's nothing citing that it would've been a requirement.

/End Rant

Also, the list of the usual alternate suspects have ALL been thorough vetted, and of them all Pankey is the only one who is a realistic candidate. As with what a few others have said though, be careful in calling Pankey guilty before trial. That's not how America is supposed to work. The state has to PROVE he's guilty. Of the publicly released evidence, there is NO physical evidence to link him to the crime. Everything is circumstantial. The state is always going to make the accused LOOK guilty. That's their job! But people are wrongly convicted all time. I'm not saying that's the case here, but just be cautious in throwing stones. That said, regardless if he's really the killer or not, I think he's going to be found guilty and will die in prison. So hopefully he's the one, and not just some <modsnip> who got "lucky" in guessing a crime scene clue.

Also, here's a video of the entire announcement of Pankey's indictment. The audio has been improved so the questions are a little easier to hear.

I will try to look up the weather patterns for that time in 1984. C

Hi. I'm new here, but I've been lurking since Jonelle was found. I have many thoughts and information, but for now, I just want to pipe in on one thing that people here swear by, but I feel is inherently false.

/Rant
The idea that you can't dig into "frozen" ground. This is not true. Depending on weather patterns in Greeley for the month of Dec 1984 (which I have not been able to find) the ground may not even had been frozen. Fresh snow does not automatically = frozen ground. Also, soil doesn't freeze all that deep in temperate climate zones. The upper crust is hard yes, but once you get past that, it's not any more difficult than it would be any other time of year, other than the fact that the air temperature is cold. A determined person CAN dig a hole in early winter. I know this because I have done such work. It's difficult and it sucks, but it certainly can be done. If you doubt me, winter is closing in. In Dec, go out and try to dig a hole. If you have a normal amount of strength, you should find once you get the hole started, it gets much easier. I will also submit here, that the soil in that area is extremely soft. Almost sandy. You can dig a hole 4ft deep in under an hour. In adverse weather conditions, call it 2 hours to dig a hole deep enough that the body isn't likely to be found or dug up by animals. Also, I have yet to find an article that says the body was so deep as to require heavy equipment. Heavy equipment found her yes, but that was completely by chance and there's nothing citing that it would've been a requirement.

/End Rant

Also, the list of the usual alternate suspects have ALL been thorough vetted, and of them all Pankey is the only one who is a realistic candidate. As with what a few others have said though, be careful in calling Pankey guilty before trial. That's not how America is supposed to work. The state has to PROVE he's guilty. Of the publicly released evidence, there is NO physical evidence to link him to the crime. Everything is circumstantial. The state is always going to make the accused LOOK guilty. That's their job! But people are wrongly convicted all time. I'm not saying that's the case here, but just be cautious in throwing stones. That said, regardless if he's really the killer or not, I think he's going to be found guilty and will die

well

@sbcjester21 : Thanks for your informative post about soil conditions in winter.

I worked with a man who lived in the Denver area. He told us there were times when he mowed his grass year round.

 

[Cat01]

I have to respectfully disagree with the comments about frozen ground. Specifically to the assertion that sandy ground is softer.

The type of soil affects how the ground will store heat. Loose soils like sand have more space for water. In loose soils with large particles, ice forms more easily. Dense soils with small particles do not have as much space for water. Clay, for example, does not freeze as easily as sand.

The highest average temperature the 5 days prior was 24 degrees. The lowest was 5 degrees. There was 2 inches of snow on the ground except on the 20th the night the body allegedly was buried there was only 1 inch of snow on the ground. So if some snow melted that would cause water to seep into the ground. Water freezes. I stand by my initial comment that It would be dang difficult to dig a hole with a shovel in 10 degree weather at night.
I will concede that I suppose it would be possible but that’s quite a feat for the average person.

 

[crhedBngr]

Does anyone have Pankey’s address from 1984?

SP_Article_10_17_20.pdf

According to the above Greeley Tribune article, SP lived at 6086 10th St. in Greeley, CO

Pankey, who lived at 6086 10th St., about two miles from the
Matthews’ home, has stated he didn’t know about Jonelle’s
disappearance until Dec. 26 of that year.

JMVHO.

 

[Niner]

SP is still on the Idaho Inmate Roster as I type this.

I am including the link per TOS requirements - sorry that non-US citizens may not be able to access the data.

https://apps.adacounty.id.gov/sheriff/reports/inmates

Nope

- can't access - here's the message I get:
Oops!
Something went wrong.
You do not have access to view this page.

If this was an error, please report to Ada County support.

 

[sbcjester21]

SP_Article_10_17_20.pdf

According to the above Greeley Tribune article, SP lived at 6086 10th St. in Greeley, CO



JMVHO.

Cool, thanks. I'm late to the spanky party, so I'm trying to catch up. All of my research was specific to the circumstances of her disappearance and recovery.

 

[crhedBngr]

Nope

- can't access - here's the message I get:
Oops!
Something went wrong.
You do not have access to view this page.

If this was an error, please report to Ada County support.

@Niner : Aren't you under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) law? Is that why you can't access this?

General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) – Official Legal Text

 

[Swedish Sleuth]

SP_Article_10_17_20.pdf

According to the above Greeley Tribune article, SP lived at 6086 10th St. in Greeley, CO



JMVHO.

In 1984 this was on the very outskirts of town. The house sits back some from 10th st. There’s a Sonic on corner now, in 1984 it was a popular restaurant bar Raffertys.
SP mentioned a Weld County patrol car turning around in his driveway, I believe he said the night Jonelle disappeared. I can easily see this being a turn around point for them. There was a few businesses on same (south side) side of street.
Jonelle’s house was in Pheasant Run subdivision. In 1984 was the newest subdivision on west side of Greeley, maybe
6 years old.
Franklin middle school sits on 47th between 4th st and 10th st. Jonelle’s school and the school mentioned by LE where Pankey would watch children. (I’d like to know more on that).

 

[Niner]

@Niner : Aren't you under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) law? Is that why you can't access this?

I believe so - and then there's another EU rule where I can't access some articles from the U.S.

It gets very frustrating at times....

 

[Swedish Sleuth]

SP_Article_10_17_20.pdf

According to the above Greeley Tribune article, SP lived at 6086 10th St. in Greeley, CO



JMVHO.

In 1984 this was on the very outskirts of town. The house sits back some from 10th st. There’s a Sonic on corner now, in 1984 it was a popular restaurant bar Raffertys.
SP mentioned a Weld County patrol car turning around in his driveway, I believe he said the night Jonelle disappeared. I can easily see this being a turn around point for them. There was a few businesses on same (south side) side of street.
Jonelle’s house was in Pheasant Run subdivision. In 1984 was the newest subdivision on west side of Greeley,
maybe 6 years old.
Franklin middle school sits on 47th between 4th st and 10th st. Jonelle’s school and the school mentioned by LE where Pankey would watch children. (I’d like to know more on that).

In 1984 this was on the very outskirts of town. The house sits back some from 10th st. There’s a Sonic on corner now, in 1984 it was a popular restaurant bar Raffertys.
SP mentioned a Weld County patrol car turning around in his driveway, I believe he said the night Jonelle disappeared. I can easily see this being a turn around point for them. There was a few businesses on same (south side) side of street.
Jonelle’s house was in Pheasant Run subdivision. In 1984 was the newest subdivision on west side of Greeley, maybe
6 years old.
Franklin middle school sits on 47th between 4th st and 10th st. Jonelle’s school and the school mentioned by LE where Pankey would watch children. (I’d like to know more on that).

It did cross my mind that Jonelle was buried to the east of Greeley and SP lived on west side.

 

[crhedBngr]

I believe so - and then there's another EU rule where I can't access some articles from the U.S.

It gets very frustrating at times....

I can imagine!

We'll do our best to keep you updated on SP's case.

JMVHO.

 

[crhedBngr]

In 1984 this was on the very outskirts of town. The house sits back some from 10th st. There’s a Sonic on corner now, in 1984 it was a popular restaurant bar Raffertys.
SP mentioned a Weld County patrol car turning around in his driveway, I believe he said the night Jonelle disappeared. I can easily see this being a turn around point for them. There was a few businesses on same (south side) side of street.
Jonelle’s house was in Pheasant Run subdivision. In 1984 was the newest subdivision on west side of Greeley, maybe
6 years old.
Franklin middle school sits on 47th between 4th st and 10th st. Jonelle’s school and the school mentioned by LE where Pankey would watch children. (I’d like to know more on that).


It did cross my mind that Jonelle was buried to the east of Greeley and SP lived on west side.

This image of SP's former residence is dated 2019.

If SP was busy burying evidence there, he had a LOT of ground in which to do it!

JMVHO.

 

[Swedish Sleuth]

This image of SP's former residence is dated 2019.

If SP was busy burying evidence there, he had a LOT of ground in which to do it!

JMVHO.

That’s what I was thinking!

 

[sbcjester21]

I will concede that I suppose it would be possible but that’s quite a feat for the average person.

If I'd just killed a 12 y/o I would imagine myself plenty motived to get rid of the body in a timely manner. While I think the choice of burial odd, considering the brutality of the killing, if that was my choice, I'd be motived to get it done quickly. I would've thought just dumping her into a river would be much easier. Or Milton Reservoir which is only a mile away.

This winter, if weather cooperates to replicate similar conditions, I will film a demonstration of a 48 year old digging a hole in the snow. However, I can't replicate the soil, as it is entirely clay in my area. But the conditions still shouldn't be that dissimilar.

 

[Swedish Sleuth]

Unless it was premeditated and grave was dug ahead of time.
Rockfarmers post on using car as possible cold storage is a thought also. Did he leave Jonelle in a car he was selling while he went to California, bury her when he got back and then burned car to destroy evidence???