However, the grand jury found him guilty for false reporting only as he walks free. The bucket of bizarre means a lot to me. And on October 13, 2021, a jury was seated and ready to hear the case. A recorded video was conducted during the Nov. 19, 1989 interview of Drake, and fragments of the video were played Wednesday morning. Past statements from the Drake family gave investigators a timeline to Norris Drakes alibi. The police and court records of what happened with the charges are no longer available. The comments made him suspicious given Jonelles disappearance, he said, so he reported them to the FBI rather than to local police. The presentation confirmed there was no probable cause to bring the case to prosecution due to a lack of evidence, Olson said. Sakulenzki remembers asking who he was talking about when he made the statement. First published on March 27, 2021 / 11:03 PM. Pankey was even unaware of the gender and names of her children, according to a statement he made in January 2021, Miller said. Hicks told Viorst she never had any suspicions of Pankey having a sexual interest in anyone other than adults. Jim and Gloria Matthews had moved to Greeley just six years earlier, to raise their young daughters Jennifer and Jonelle. Mayor John Gates: I remember that night like it was yesterday. Steve Pankey claims that seven days after Jonelle disappeared, his father-in-law a groundskeeper at a Greeley cemetery shared some disturbing information. They never released the information about the rake. She recalled Pankey had a change of heart about Christy after Pankey was asked to leave the church. His mother also introduced the knowledge that the rake came from the garage of the home, he said in the 1989 video. Everything to know about his ex-wife and son. Anthony Viorst: Well, here's what I'll say, Richard. We're leaving before daylight tomorrow morning to go to Big Bear for Christmas.". STEVE PANKEY ["Unfound" podcast]: In 1977, I was a youth pastor at the church. LOCAL NEWS REPORT: 12-year-old Jonelle Matthews disappeared from her Greeley home. He had compulsions, including touching walls multiple times before he left the room and coming back to re-touch the walls, as well as pacing. For 23 years, Hicks was married to 71-year-old Steve Pankey, who was found guilty of kidnapping and murdering 12-year-old Jonelle Matthews in 1984. Pankey said he had brushes with the law in Colorado before Jonelles disappearance that led police to mistrust him. Jonelle's father Jim says the fast-breaking news about Pankey surprised him. Drake and Yost lived together from 1985-1987. Once the interviews with Drake and people he associated with him came to an end, law enforcement executed a search warrant of the Drake residence. Mayor John Gates: The most strong evidence to me is the way Mr. Pankey conducted himself from the time this happened up until his indictment. First Lady Lindsey Graham #TheView pic.twitter.com/qBNs4GjqEI. Pankey told the Statesman he was sure that after police had his DNA, they would stop investigating him. to some extent, we're going to just have to face that. Deanna Ross: As a community, it rocked Greeley. Pankey was a secretive man during their marriage, Hicks said. 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. And he said, no, not to his knowledge. 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. Anthony Viorst, Pankey's former attorney, says Pankey craves attention but is not a murderer. Cross-examination from Wells highlighted there were no matching shoe prints between the Drake residence and the Matthews residence to the prints found in the back of home. He mentioned Jonelle in a speech about missing children. Barr explained what Pankey was like as a kid, claiming her brother had problems, including: Barr admitted to paying for Pankeys bills and seeing a subscription to broadcasts about cold case murders, which Viorst has used as an argument to defend Pankeys obsession in the Jonelle case as part of a larger true crime obsession. He said his mother allegedly said multiple sets of shoe prints, which belonged to kids who came to kidnap Jonelle, were found in the backyard of the home. He told that if his Republicans gain control of the 56-year-old Lord David Frost shocked the British people after his sudden departure from his position as the Brexit minister. Pankey, 71, is on trial for the second time for her kidnapping and murder. Last year, his first trial ended with a hung jury on the kidnapping and murder charges, but he was convicted for false reporting after he admitted to lying to law enforcement about the case during his testimony. Rochelle Davy, formerly known as Rochelle Baxley, was with Jonelle Matthews on the bus the night she disappeared. His girlfriend severely killed him in 2008 in Phoenix. Russel Ross and Pastor James Christys names surfaced during the formation of Pankeys file. Count four: making false reports to authorities. Jim Matthews: He was not a youth worker at our church. How Many Games Are Played In The First Round Of The NHL Playoffs. Anthony Viorst: It's not a good way. At first, he thought Jonelle was at a friend's house, but after calling around and waiting about a half hour to an hour, Jim says he called police. But police clearly think it's more than that and seem to be looking closely at Pankey's past possibly including a case from 1977, when a 26-year-old Pankey was charged with sexually assaulting a woman he met in church. Jim Matthews: No, because I know my daughter well enough that number one, it's Christmas time. I had no knowledge," Pankey said. It may or may not have something to do with the Jonelle Matthews case. And she could not go on with hers. Ryan Horsley: Yeah. Steven Dana Pankey took Jonelle Matthews from her family home, 320 43rd Avenue Court, without her consent and against her will on December 20, 1984 between Her remains were discovered on July 24, 2019, and the trial for her and we submit that he never knew where the body was because he didn't do this. Anthony Viorst: So, here's what I'll say It's our position that it was divulged by law enforcement. 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. Norris Drake. But he said he met with an FBI agent at the Greeley police station shortly after he returned, because he heard from his father-in-law, who worked for a cemetery, that someone had asked about getting rid of a body. That was one of many lies, says Pankey, meant to target people he hated, like his father-in-law, and Mayor John Gates. The objections resulted in several sidebars, one about a possible conversation Daviet had with Drake and another conversation she had with Englewood police. And I was an elementary principal. The rake came, "right out of my garage," Jim Matthews told "48 Hours.". But Jonelle was far from forgotten. Nothing. Anthony Viorst: There's no physical evidence whatsoever to connect Mr. Pankey to this crime. Jonelle was reported missing from her home in Greeley, north of Denver, on Dec. 20, 1984, after returning from performing a Christmas concert with her classmates, according to the Denver Post. A construction crew found remains while excavating in rural Weld County, which includes Greeley, for a pipeline. His father was a Youth for Christ leader, and Pankey claimedthat he came from a family with a long history of He was a person who sure was interested in the case. Despite Viorsts difficulty advancing in his examination, Yosts testimony revealed the following information about Drake: In 1989, Yost had an interview with Greeley Police Detective Keith Olson in which she made statements that Drake looked at young girls in binoculars. During cross-examination, Viorst argued Pankey was not secretive when it came to the idea police were persecuting him for information, and how she testified she didnt suspect him to have involvement until 1999. Her remains were discovered on July 24, 2019, and the trial for her murder began. There was one occasion where he made comments about how attractive younger girls were at the pool. Darla Jentzsch: I'm so fortunate that we were neighbors. At the time, Pankey was a youth minister at Sunny View Church of the Nazarene in Greeley. STEVEN PANKEY: He told me that a cop had contacted him and said that he had a body he wanted to be buried. The day before the service, Hicks and Vanessa Sakulenzki, Hicks half-sister, were standing near the urn when Pankey approached. 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. STEVE PANKEY [to KMVT]: I contacted the FBI. And except for that meeting with the FBI, Pankey said he has never been formally interviewed by police about Jonelles disappearance, although they have tried. Prosecutors say only the Matthews family, investigators and presumably the killer knew about them. And then I'd say other things and he'd say, "well, that's bull nobody's going to buy that.". The man, who tried to threaten Justice Brett Kavanaugh with his life, was arrested with the joint efforts of the U.S. The department issued a statement Friday in which it called Pankey a person of interest in the murder investigation of Jonelle Matthews.. He gave the Statesman a copy of the search warrant, signed on Sept. 3 by Idaho Magistrate Judge Calvin Campbell. Her murder went unsolved for 35 years until they found her body in 2019. Around that same time, Steven Pankey, his young son and his wife, who was pregnant with their second son, also left Greeley. Its the new home of High Plains Bank in Wiggins. KELLY WERTHMANN: Did you kill Jonelle Matthews? Steve Pankey was once a candidate for governor of Idaho. It builds a really, really strong circumstantial case, in my mind. For Pankey, it might have started getting a little hot under the limelight, if you will, when the state's star witness, Angela Hicks, took the stand. In total, he said the word rake 11 times, compared to Drake saying it twice, Wells said. Viorst believed it was possible for Drake to have left directly after the show ended to commit the crimes against Jonelle. She explained her brother was upset Drake had not returned his truck before midnight, the time both siblings went to bed. Then they had another one with the local police. Kelly Werthmann: People were ready. Pankey is a person of interest in a cold case homicide out of On July 23, 2019, the remains of Jonelle Matthews were discovered by an excavation crew digging a pipeline in a rural area southeast of Greeley, Colorado. Produced by Judy Rybak. Jonelle Mathews left her home on December 20, 1984, and didn't return back ever again. And they may have to do it all again. The video showed Drake being questioned about his knowledge of the controlled evidence. Jim was eventually cleared, leaving no suspects or leads. Pankey said he also has volunteered to take a polygraph test. Tuesday, Hicks testified that a day before his memorial service, she witnessed a bizarre moment. Connie Daviet, who was staying at her brothers house the night of Jonelles disappearance, was a key witness on Wednesday. Mark told Viorst he had no recollection of a red-orange car, which multiple people testified seeing Pankey drive, including Hicks. She found his behavior strange because he never addressed her question, according to Sakulenzki. The retrial of Steven Pankey is scheduled for October 4, 2022. Mayor Gates thinks there's plenty of evidence against Pankey. As the trial proceeded, Viorst questioned Hicks about the amount of cars the family had over the years, as well as how many guns Pankey had in his possession. Richard Schlesinger: Were you a close family? Mayor John Gates: It's not to me, ah, Richard. Norris Drake died in 2007, but many thought Viorst's theory about him helped Pankey's case. STEVEN PANKEY: That's the first time I heard that there was a missing child. Oct. 18When Steve Pankey's son was murdered in 2008, his ex-wife heard him say in front of the urn, "I hope God didn't allow this to happen because of Jonelle Matthews." Angela Hicks, Pankey's former spouse, took the stand for her second day of testimony Monday morning. In another jaw-dropping move, in that same letter Pankey also named himself as a person of interest, while still insisting he's innocent. DA Michael Rourke: He wasn't a person of interest. Deputy District Attorney Lacy Wells asked Sakulenzki about multiple occasions in the past when she reported Pankey to law enforcement, which resulted in an objection from Viorst. Jim Matthews: I just kept telling him, I said, "Listen, I'm telling you the truth. Claire St. Amant is the development producer. He had abducted her on Dec 20th, 1984 from her home after she came home from a Christmas concert. Jonelle became one of the first missing children whose photo appeared on milk cartons across America. There were two campaigns for governor, one for municipal council, one for lieutenant governor and three runs for county sheriff. STEVEN PANKEY: In the little jail cubicle before coming up here, I was praying and I was thinking, God, maybe I shouldn't testify Because I'd be just telling more lies. he's ran for governor two times. In the matter of the burning car, Pankey allegedly told Hicks he knew the car was going to catch on fire, so he moved it to the back property. ANTHONY VIORST: Norris Drake had an interest in young girls who had recently reached puberty, exactly what Jonelle was, exactly. at their state convention, he claimed that they tried to do an exorcism on him. According to his own website, his father was a Youth For Christ Leader. About two years after 12-year-old Jonelle Matthews vanished from her home in Greeley, Colorado, her family made the painful decision to pack up and leave town. But Pankey might have been more than just curious. Unfortunately, we are not able to find out his current whereabouts. When it comes to landscape Did you know Your Butcher, Frank has super tasty delicatessen salads? When Drake woke up the next day, he came upstairs and asked if the Daviets had heard about Jonelles disappearance. Jim Matthews recalls arriving home at about 9:30 p.m. and found that his daughter wasn't there. In 2008, he thought about running in Twin Falls, where he went to church with Ryan Horsley, a political consultant. Carter and Pankey will begin at Stephens on Sept. 1. He was criminally charged, but the charge was later dismissed by prosecutors. And yet he picks up the phone. Jim Matthews: For the longest time I knew exactly what they were doing, and I respected it. "Always seemed to kind of be the life of the party," Jim Matthews fondly recalled of Jonelle. The most Pankey families were found in USA in 1880. Pankey is a representative of the Republican Party. STEVEN PANKEY: It was just me trying to be a big man, be in the case, OK? In September 2019, just weeks after discovering the remains of 12-year-old Jonelle Matthews, the case that had been so cold for so long quickly heated up. Prosecutors have announced they are ready for a new trial, because they still believe Jonelle was killed by Steven Pankey. 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. After Pankey left home, she said she was close with him, but they didnt remain in contact. Steve Pankey is charged and on trial for her death. She further testified Viorst left her a voicemail saying she had to cooperate with him. When Viorst asked her if she felt he was threatening or rude in the more recent times the two have talked, Yost responded: Recently, youve been nicer.. She made a correction to these statements during Wednesdays trial that he actually watched his adult neighbor, Susan. Barr testified she was told by an expert that the gun was un-fireable.. Steve Pankey went the other way after his youngest son, Carl, a 20-year-old college student "48 Hours" interviewed Pankey's attorney Anthony Viorst as he was preparing for trial. CHIEF MARK JONES [to reporters]: To the Matthews family, I pray that this news brings you some closure and hope as we continue to pursue justice for Jonelle and your family. Viorst tried asking Yost about Drakes attraction towards younger girls and comments he had made during their relationship. Pankey was found guilty in the murder of 12-year-old Jonelle Matthews in Greeley in 1984. The best home improvement jobs deserve the best materials. Jonelle Matthews' friends Darla Jentzsch and Deanna Ross remember growing up with Jonelle. She says that shocked her because Pankey had forbidden radio and television use in their house, about a year earlier. in my dreams she always came home. In fact, the day before Jonelle disappeared, Pankey was arrested at a bank for harassment and criminal trespass. Nancy Kramer is the executive story editor. But the most talkative person in this case had yet to be heard from. STEVEN PANKEY: It was a polite way of flipping them the bird. Authorities searched a home in Twin Falls, Idaho. The selection changes often, but if you love good Buying or selling a home is the largest financial investment most people ever make. Hicks confirmed nothing was ever found on their property after law enforcement searched where Pankey was digging in their yard. Viorst and Hicks discussed Pankeys anti-establishment views, believing law enforcement was actively out to get him and having occasional run-ins with the police. WebPankey and Hicks lose their son In 2002, Hicks and Pankey finalized their divorce, and on July 4, 2008, their son Carl was murdered. He said she lived across the street from his mothers home, according to Daviets testimony. Prior to appearing in court Wednesday, Yost informed Viorst she had no desire to testify and felt like she didnt have anything to say that would make a difference in this case. The trial starts back up at 8:30 a.m. Wednesday with a new witness on the stand. After hiding her panic from Pankey as her mind flooded with his past odd behavior after Jonelle went missing, she decided to go to the Sun Valley police station. During cross-examination, Wells argued there were no reports or recordings of this discussion, so the court has no way of knowing what was discussed between the two. Pankeys youngest son, Carl, a 20-year-old college student, was shot and killed by his girlfriend in 2008 in Phoenix. Gloria Matthews: We are going to know that she was murdered [crying]. Pankey denies he ever did that, but Kevin says Pankey's son Mark was so unhappy living at home that the Schneiders took him in for about six years. WebThe Pankey family name was found in the USA, and the UK between 1840 and 1920. The detective said there was very little record of the investigation. Its the new home of High Plains Bank in Wiggins. That, of course, doesn't exist. it just seemed really weird that he didn't have a grievance against our local sheriff And so just seemed like he was just running just to run. In 1999, Hicks was collecting evidence, newspapers and legal files, and made a cassette statement on her accounts. However, Olson said he called and left a voicemail after obtaining the first letter. Greeley Mayor and former police officer John Gates knew Steven Pankey, and says he was not considered a person of interest in the early days when Jonelle first disappeared. Kelly Werthmann interviewed Pankey for CBSDenver over FaceTime. But he didn't give up the information. But new evidence in the trial indicated when Pankey was a janitor at a school, he asked his wife to write a short story for him to give to a 17-year-old girl who was a student at the school. Sometimes he was happy and other times he was moody. 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. Like that story he once told law enforcement about his father-in-law. Drake became noticeably upset by questions regarding the hold-back evidence and said he felt bad because he didnt see anything and he was right there.. Jim Matthews: We had never heard the name Steve Pankey. JUDGE TIMOTHY KERNS: I realize the jury was unable to reach a verdict on the other counts and that is a perfectly acceptable way for a trial to conclude. After hearing testimony from multiple witnesses, Steven Pankey took the stand. On July 4, 2008, the couples youngest son, Carl, was murdered at age 20, and their family came together to celebrate his life with a memorial service. Kelly Werthmann: This was a moment that this community had been waiting for a long time. His son was friends with Pankey's son, Mark. He said he has repeatedly told them that he wont speak without his attorney. Most of his reports were lost when files switched over to a computer filing program at the Greeley Police Department, including the search warrant and most of the interviews other than Drakes. The woman eventually asked that the case be dismissed. Anthony Viorst: That's the kind of thing that's happened to Mr. Pankey over the years. On the night Jonelle vanished, Drake was unaccounted for for several hours. But Jim Matthews, who joined that same church not long after Pankey left, says there's another commandment Pankey seems to be having trouble with: thou shalt not bear false witness. STEVEN PANKEY: So, the truth is that I made a lot of stuff up out of bitterness. Anthony Viorst: I can't answer that because I can't get into his head but, but I do think it's a combination of sort of obsessive-compulsive behavior and you know, perhaps even mental illness. He says Norris Drake, whose mother lived across the street from Jonelle, is the killer. About 9:30 p.m., Jonelles father returned home from his other daughters basketball game to find Jonelle missing. There were no fingerprints and if there was DNA, law enforcement was still several years from being able to analyze it. Although, later in life, Pankey started collecting guns, including an older gun given to him by his sister, Teri Barr. but he took her he shot her. The red-orange car was allegedly seen by Jonelle and her friend on the bus heading back from the choir concert on Dec. 20, 1984. Wells objected several times in Viorsts direct examination of Daviet, with many of Viorsts questions deemed leading and relying on hearsay evidence. STEVE PANKEY [Idaho Statesman political ad]: I'm one of the people who wants to represent you. 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. Following a lengthy bench conference Tuesday, new evidence was introduced by Miller for a limited purpose that can be considered in regards to other factors, but cannot be considered in Pankeys conviction. You can't let this consume you. Showbiz Corner This story was originally published September 13, When Steven Pankey swore to tell the truth and nothing but the truth, Gloria and Jim Matthews were hoping to finally get to the truth, about their daughter, Jonelle's, murder. That was just one day after Jonelle disappeared. Anthony Viorst: That is arguably the one piece of evidence that arguably ties Mr. Pankey to the crime. 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. Once her remains were identified, the police department issued a news release saying that the case was now a homicide investigation.