RAW: Steve Pankey sentenced to life in prison for 1984 murder of Jonelle Matthews

By Veronica Simmons On Nov 3, 2022

Steve Pankey was found guilty by a jury of first-degree felony murder and second-degree kidnapping in the 1984 death of 12-year-old Jonelle Matthews.

Pankey was found not guilty of first-degree murder after deliberation.

Jonelle was last seen on Dec. 20, 1984, when she was dropped off at her Greeley home following a Christmas concert. When her father returned home about an hour later, Jonelle was not there.

Jim Matthews, Jonelle’s father, said during victim impact statements that the family has been haunted by the case since her death 38 years ago.

Before the judge announced the sentence, Pankey made a quick statement expressing his disagreement with the result of the trial.

Pankey previously went to trial in the same case last fall, but the jury could not reach a consensus on charges of first-degree murder, felony murder and second-degree kidnapping. A mistrial was declared on those counts; however, jurors did convict Pankey of false reporting.

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