STEVE PANKEY [Idaho Statesman political ad]: I'm one of the people who wants to represent you. I believed, at the time, he might have involvement, Olson said. Pankey said he has great empathy for the Matthews family. Pankey was charged Monday morning with child abuse resulting in death and abuse of a corpse in the case. But Pankeys younger sister also testified her brother softened and described the recent nice things he did prior to his arrest, like his trips to Pakistan and visiting his mother in a nursing home. And then on July 23, 2019, nearly 35 years after Jonelle's disappearance, police finally had that breaking news to share. Hicks shared a story Monday about witnessing her husband drive past the church following his removal. The selection changes often, but if you love good Buying or selling a home is the largest financial investment most people ever make. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. He says Norris Drake, whose mother lived across the street from Jonelle, is the killer. It was Steven Pankey who started talking to just about anyone who would listen, including CBS affiliate KMVT. Jonelle Matthews' mother, father, and sister were the first to testify at the trial for her suspected killer, Steve Pankey. Count four: making false reports to authorities. Darla Jentzsch: I'm so fortunate that we were neighbors. She reported seeing Drake sit in his vehicle for a while, as if he was staring at something. That night, Daviet and her brother Dave were home, while Drake borrowed Daves truck to go to his mothers house. Law enforcement records show that Pankey had other unrelated run-ins with Greeley police. He testified about a call he got back in 2019, about a bizarre claim Pankey made in a letter to the media. Doreen Schechter is the producer-editor. Pankey was arrested for the kidnapping and murder of Jonelle in Oct. 2020. BOISE (Idaho Statesman) A former candidate for Idaho governor says he is under investigation in the killing of a 12-year-old girl in Colorado 35 years ago. Viorst will bring in new witnesses Thursday. All right? After an Aug. 13, 2013, phone call with the suspect, he still did not make a report, but Viorst said Olson wasnt in charge of investigating Pankey. Pankey, who resided in Idaho in the years leading up to his arrest, was a 33-year-old used car salesman living in Greeley with his then-wife and young son at the time of Jonelle's disappearance. Jim Matthews: The number one interrogator west of the Mississippi. Richard Schlesinger: Oh, to cover them up. at their state convention, he claimed that they tried to do an exorcism on him. STEVE PANKEY [to KMVT]: Don't spit in my face. It was updated on August 6.]. When Pankey was near the urn, Sakulenzki recalled he said something, but she didnt remember the exact words he used. Idaho Falls news, Rexburg news, Pocatello news, East Idaho news, Idaho news, education news, crime news, good news, business news, entertainment news, Feel Good Friday and more. WebCommonly after shootings, we hear families of the victims call for more gun control. During her testimony last week, she stated her and Jonelle allegedly saw an orange-red car that agitated and startled her 12-year-old friend. The only physical evidence were those footprints in the fresh snow. Wells had to reword her questions to receive only yes or no responses about the witness reports. Jim Matthews: He was not a youth worker at our church. And two days later they were back. After Pankey left home, she said she was close with him, but they didnt remain in contact. Steve Pankey went the other way after his youngest son, Carl, a 20-year-old college student "Always seemed to kind of be the life of the party," Jim Matthews fondly recalled of Jonelle. No one had seen or heard anything, and the Matthews home, which was now a crime scene, offered few clues. Darla Jentzsch: We all lived with our front doors open. DAY 18 | LIVE UPDATES: Witness describes pink, foamy substance found on Tammy Daybells mouth as 911 calls are played in court, High school assistant softball coach charged after allegedly sexually abusing student athlete, Teen accused of fatal rock throwing took picture of victims car as a memento, affidavits say, Two people in custody after morning traffic stop in Idaho Falls ends with car in canal, NWS issues flood warning for river, street department offers sandbags. During the tense moment in the courtroom, Hicks said Viorsts commentary in the ViacomCBS 48 Hours program that aired in March sounded shady and rubbed her the wrong way. As per reports, the 14-year-old was kidnapped and reportedly killed somewhere in Greeley, Colorado. 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Republican candidate for Governor in Idaho Steve Pankey ran on being a Trump supporter who espoused traditional core values with a biblical and constitutional perspective. He is now on trial for murdering a 12 year old girl. "And you always knew Jonelle was around [laughs]. In 2001, Pankey's wife filed for divorce, and he moved to Shoshone, Idaho, where in 2004 without any experience with law enforcement, other than being arrested, he ran for sheriff. Anthony Viorst: It's not a good way. Reward offered as manhunt for Texas shooting suspect reaches "dead end", Louisiana's health care deserts put women, babies at risk, doctors say, How a tall Texan became an unlikely Australian rules football star, Second convoy of U.S. citizens fleeing Khartoum arrives at Port Sudan, ISIS chief killed by Turkey's intelligence agency, Erdogan says, General Mills issues Gold Medal flour recall over salmonella concerns, Investors sue Adidas over Kanye West Yeezy deal, Tornado flips cars, downs trees after touching down in South Florida, Shaquil Barrett's 2-year-old daughter dies in drowning accident. In July 2019, Jonelles remains were found at an oil and gas site in rural Weld County, and it was determined she died from a gunshot wound to the head. By 2002, the divorce was finalized. And as of now, nobody has been convicted of murdering Jonelle. "One lie leads to another.". It was December 1984 when 12-year-old Jonelle Matthews vanished from her family's Greeley, Colorado home. He said he has repeatedly told them that he wont speak without his attorney. On October 12, 2020, police arrested Steven Pankey for kidnapping and first-degree murder. Until a man living in Twin Falls Idaho, Steven Pankey, became a person interest. The defense attorney strived to bring this evidence into Pankeys defense from the testimony of Andrea Yost, the ex-wife of Drakes roommate in 1984 and a woman with whom he developed a romantic relationship. In response, Mark testified his father did not change and their relationship remained the same. Ryan Horsley: To halt any investigation, to halt him getting arrested. Before interviewing Drake on the record, Olson spoke with Drake, and he revealed he had knowledge about raked-over shoe prints in the backyard of the Matthews home the night Jonelle went missing. DA MICHAEL ROURKE [to reporters]: It is with great honor today that we announce that the grand jury indicted an individual named Steven Dana Pankey for the kidnapping and murder of Jonelle Matthews. Authorities last week searched the Twin Falls home of 68-year-old Steve Pankey, serving him a warrant that said investigators had probable cause to believe he kidnapped and killed Jonelle Matthews in 1984. He was surprised when they didnt. Richard Schlesinger: And he was using, what, a garden rake? Richard Schlesinger: What did you think of him? He faces two first-degree murder charges, two violent crime charges, and one second-degree kidnapping charge. As a follow up, investigators interviewed people including Drake, his mother, his sister, his first wife, possibly his first wifes father, Connie Daviet, who was his roommates sister, Dave Daviet, who was Drakes roommate, and Yost. After prosecutors finished up their direct examination of Pankeys ex-wife Angela Hicks, defense attorney Anthony Viorst had his chance to speak with the witness on Tuesday. Despite 9:30 p.m. being the time Jonelles father arrived home to discover his daughter missing, Viorst indicated Drake could have left earlier than his mother reported. STEVE PANKEY [to KMVT]: I knew more than I wanted to know, OK. STEVE PANKEY [to KMVT]: I told the FBI I want to talk to you. STEVEN PANKEY: I had never imagined Angie would be as big a liar as I am. In the interview played in court, Olson was the first one to bring up the shoe prints. Mayor Gates thinks there's plenty of evidence against Pankey. Russel Ross and Pastor James Christys names surfaced during the formation of Pankeys file. Pankey depicted this notion of enemies when he made Christy the villain in his fiction writings, according to assistant district attorney Robb Miller. At least they did until that night December 20. But Pankey might have been more than just curious. "And one of the things notated in his handwriting on this piece of legal paper was snow outside the Matthews house was raked," she told jurors. It may or may not have something to do with the Jonelle Matthews case. His girlfriend severely killed him in 2008 in Phoenix. She says that shocked her because Pankey had forbidden radio and television use in their house, about a year earlier. His 1980 Toyota Corolla was packed to visit family in California for the Christmas holiday. He's had periodic sort of spats with people because he is an irascible, prickly guy. Pankey was even unaware of the gender and names of her children, according to a statement he made in January 2021, Miller said. In a matter of three days, on October 12, 2020, police arrested Pankey for kidnapping and first-degree murder in Jonelle's case. Anthony Viorst: That is arguably the one piece of evidence that arguably ties Mr. Pankey to the crime. First Lady Lindsey Graham #TheView pic.twitter.com/qBNs4GjqEI. The objections resulted in several sidebars, one about a possible conversation Daviet had with Drake and another conversation she had with Englewood police. Richard Schlesinger: And you drove off thinking what? On the stand, Olson stated Francis account from the night Jonelle went missing was the only information that led to an open lead in the 1984 case. WebPankey, 71, is on trial for the 1984 kidnapping and murder of Jonelle Matthews. Richard Schlesinger: The problem is there's no physical evidence. It had been nearly four decades since Jonelle Matthews was kidnapped from her home and murdered. Angela Hicks says her then-husband came home and seemingly out of the blue, announced they were leaving on that trip to California and they were leaving quickly. And I was an elementary principal. With no real evidence of what happened to the 12-year-old, the case went cold. After the two-and-a-half hour interview, Drake indicated he would return back to discuss the case more, but he never did. Ryan Horsley:It just seemed strange. The bucket of bizarre means a lot to me. Hicks testified to Pankey forcing her to cut off communication with her own father, making her stay home with the kids and not letting her drive a car, in addition to other examples of his overbearing nature. Hicks also told Viorst she had phone troubles due to changes in 5G coverage in her area, and texts might not have gone through. What happened to Carl Pankey? Marshals Service and Montgomery County Police. According to attorney Anthony Viorst, the person who killed Jonelle was someone she knew. 48 Hours: Steve Pankey was arrested for the 1984 murder of Jonelle Mathews. Pankey says it was lies that led to him being charged with murder, but not his lies; his ex-wife Angela Hicks' lies fueled by her need for revenge. As per reports, the 14-year-old was kidnapped and reportedly killed somewhere in Greeley, Colorado. Viorst claims that he is Jonelle's killer. STEVEN PANKEY A month, three weeks, two months, I don't know, before December. DA MICHAEL ROURKE: The evidence in this case will prove that the defendant is guilty of murder in the first degree and second-degree kidnapping. As a result, Steve Pankey was arrested and taken under custody. The Sun Valley Police Department was taking this information to form a file on Pankeys possible involvement in the case to send over to the Greeley Police Department. She described being forced to listen to news accounts about Jonelle's disappearance, and she told jurors about finding a piece of paper in Pankey's trash. Sometimes he was happy and other times he was moody. Hicks said she found torn-up paper about Jonelle in the trash can. Anthony Viorst: It has nothing to do with this case. There were two campaigns for governor, one for municipal council, one for lieutenant governor and three runs for county sheriff. Hicks had no recollection of Pankey being away the night Jonelle went missing or that night being different from other nights since her husband would come home anytime between 4-11 p.m. on most days, Hicks told Viorst. Fred Smith knows real estate. However, no DNA evidence was extracted from it, making the evidence against Pankey circumstantial. WebThe Pankey family name was found in the USA, and the UK between 1840 and 1920. Pankey himself would take the stand. Pankey told the Statesman he was sure that after police had his DNA, they would stop investigating him. He testified that in the past he had lied about his knowledge of the case. Mayor John Gates: I remember that night like it was yesterday. As a child, Mark recalled his father never owning, talking about or shooting guns. She responded he had visions of grandeur, and it ran in their family. And she later said it was nonconsensual. And yet he picks up the phone. Mayor John Gates: I could see that goin' either way. And on October 13, 2021, a jury was seated and ready to hear the case. Mayor John Gates: This is some of the most bizarre stuff I've ever heard, and I've been around the block. She found his behavior strange because he never addressed her question, according to Sakulenzki. They describe mostly minor and non-violent allegations, like creating a nuisance and harassment. Ryan Horsley: I was kind of confused because our local sheriff actually went to our church. As of Thursday, no criminal charges had been filed. She further stated Pankey seems to want the attention.. On Dec. 20, 1984, 12-year-old Jonelle Matthews went missing from her Greeley home after singing in a school choir concert. Their son, Carl, was murdered in Phoenix in 2008. Richard Schlesinger: Were you a close family? The first trial ended in a mistrial after the jury could not reach a unanimous WebPankey and Hicks lose their son In 2002, Hicks and Pankey finalized their divorce, and on July 4, 2008, their son Carl was murdered. During Statler's testimony, he indicated he received a call from Pankey three weeks after Jonelle's disappearance. Kelly Werthmann: To not have that definitive answer It's frustrating. The case drew national attention. Jim Matthews: We knew that we wanted to give her a dignified burial and I'm not a real emotional person. The Pankey family bounced around from state to state for a while. Kelly Werthmann: This was a moment that this community had been waiting for a long time.