Naman Shrestha
The episode titled ‘Footprints in the Snow’ of NBC’s ‘Dateline’ chronicles the decades-long disappearance and murder case of 12-year-old Jonelle Matthews, who went missing a few days before Christmas 1984. The mystery and questions surrounding her sudden disappearance were answered several decades later in 2019, as her remains were discovered in a field in Greeley, Colorado. In the midst of all this, while the community was rattled to its core, Jonelle’s family, which consisted of her parents, James and Gloria Matthews, and her sister, Jennifer, suffered the most. With the help of insightful interviews with the deceased girl’s loved ones, the documentary also focuses on her family’s pain and experiences after the tragedy.
Jonelle Matthews’ Family Were Devastated by Her Loss
Jonelle Matthews was born to 13-year-old Terri Vierra-Martinez, on February 9, 1972, in California. A couple of months later, Jonelle was adopted and embraced by the loving pair of parents, James “Jim” Matthews and Gloria Matthews. They already had a daughter named Jennifer, who took on the role of an elder sister to Jonelle. A few years later, in 1978, the Matthews family left their house in California and relocated to Greeley, Colorado. More than a decade later, the family was shocked when Jonelle went missing on December 20, 1984, after a Christmas concert.
Hoping to find her alive, they kept pushing the investigation and did what they could to help the authorities. When the investigation led only to dead ends, she was legally declared dead a decade after her disappearance. Several decades later, in 2019, the Matthews family found some answers regarding Jonelle’s whereabouts as her remains were found in a Greeley field, a few miles away from their house. Soon, the investigation led the authorities to her killer, Steve Pankey, who was arrested and indicted in October 2020.
Gloria and James Matthews’ Lives Revolve Around Their Friends and Family
When their daughter’s killer, Steve Pankey, was finally found guilty of kidnapping and murder of Jonelle Matthews on October 31, 2022, after the first trial resulted in a mistrial, Gloria and James found relief and closure for the family and thanked God for his help. In court, both spent much time addressing the court and the perpetrator. Gloria stated, “I cannot forgive him for how he killed Jonelle. God is the only one who can forgive evil. And, I feel this is evil.” After thanking the team of prosecutors who helped get their daughter justice, Jim said, “We are not going to let this obsess and haunt us. We got the verdict that we want. But Steve Pankey is a human being, and he has a soul. And it’s not too late for him to get right with God. He’s still waiting for you, you are still breathing, you still have a chance.”
The San Fernando Valley State College graduate, Jim Matthews, and his wife, Gloria Broese Matthews, settled in Costa Rica after their retirement. Previously, Jim used to work at Dayspring Christian Academy and Platte Valley Elementary School in Kersey, Colorado, as a Principal. After finding closure, both of them seemed to have moved on while celebrating their late daughter’s life every opportunity they get. Leading a rather peaceful life in Costa Rica, Gloria and James spend time together as well as their friends, regularly hosting get-togethers with them and traveling. Moreover, they still maintain a healthy bond with their other daughter, Jennifer Mogensen, who has also given them the pleasure of becoming doting grandparents to her child.
Jennifer Mogensen is a Devoting Wife and Doting Mother Today
After Steve Pankey was convicted and sentenced for murdering Jonelle Matthews, Jennifer Mogensen was interviewed by The Independent. She opened up about how it has impacted her: “This closure, this verdict, and just going home knowing that when we leave Greeley, a big part of our life, our big part of our story, has a conclusion … that just feels really good.” When asked about what she thought of his claims of innocence, she said she believed he was an evil person who “can’t let go of things and holds grudges and doesn’t like people in authority over him.” Jennifer also said that he would also have to answer to the higher being eventually.
She added, “I am grateful for earthly justice. But if (conviction and sentencing) did not happen for our family, I could rest and be at peace knowing that he would have to answer some day…I’m not fixated by him. I am not going to harbour just anger towards him, because I will not give him another victim. And I think, when you are saturated with anger towards somebody, you’re giving that person another victim. And I won’t do that.” While keeping her sister’s memories alive in different ways with her parents, Jennifer has been married to the love of her life, Benji, with whom she shares a son named Cody.
The Morgensens love to travel and explore new places together, especially those close to nature. In her free time, she also loves catching up with her friends and parents. As far as her professional career is concerned, she reportedly works as a Speech Therapist at A Step Ahead, which is an organization aimed at helping families of infants or toddlers with special needs by enhancing their development and relationships. From what we can tell, she has been residing somewhere in Washington State with her husband and son.
Read More: Jonelle Matthews Murder Details and Investigation Timeline
