Naman Shrestha
When 12-year-old Jonelle Matthews suddenly went missing after a Christmas concert on December 20, 1984, in Colorado, the entire community participated in the search for her. However, decades went by before her remains were discovered, and the investigators were led to the perpetrator, Steven Dana Pankey. In the episode titled ‘Footprints in the Snow’ of NBC’s ‘Dateline,’ the entire case is covered in detail, including the capture of Steve and the trials that led to his punishment.
Steve Pankey Displayed Signs of Suspicious Behavior Around the Time of Jonelle Matthews’ Disappearance
In 1951, Steven “Steve” Dana Pankey was born to Ruth and Dana Pankey Jr. in Ventura, California. In his 20s, Steve used to live with some members of his extended family in the Greeley area in Weld County, Colorado. But when he joined the Army, he was transferred to Louisiana’s Fort Johnson, which was previously known as Fort Polk. After serving the nation for about a year or so, he returned to Greeley, where he was employed as a salesman at a Chevrolet car dealership. He was a member of Sunny View Church of the Nazarene until the summer of 1978, as he was reportedly excommunicated from the church.
In the years leading to the disappearance and murder of Jonelle Matthews, Steve allegedly used to watch minor students walk home from Franklin Middle School, where Jonelle was a student. He also faced allegations of rape from a local college girl named Deb Moon. At the time of Jonelle’s disappearance on the fateful night of December 20, 1984, he used to live with his then-wife, Angela Hicks, and a young son just a couple of miles away from the Matthews household. As per Angela’s accounts, Steve also took his family on an unexpected trip to California a couple of days after Jonelle went missing. Upon their return, he also reportedly dug up his own yard and disposed of his car at the local salvage yard after it mysteriously caught fire.
Steve Was Indicted on Several Counts in Connection With Jonelle’s Murder
Over the years, Steve “intentionally inserted himself in the investigation many times over the years, claiming to have knowledge of the crime, which grew inconsistent and incriminating over time.” It was also alleged that he used to make odd statements about Jonelle. According to the investigation, he also seemed to have knowledge of a key piece of evidence, which wasn’t revealed to the public. Despite the suspicion, the detectives could not gather any solid evidence against him to connect him to the crime. Meanwhile, Steve settled in Idaho, where he ran for governor in 2014 and 2018. On July 23, 2019, the remains of Jonelle Matthews were finally discovered in a Weld County field, a few miles away from her house.
The discovery of remains renewed the authorities’ interest in Steve Pankey, who was considered a person of interest. When he refused to cooperate, they executed a search warrant of his Idaho house in September 2019. A year later, on October 12, 2020, he was arrested on suspicion of being involved in the kidnapping and killing of Jonelle Matthews. Eventually, he was indicted on charges of first-degree murder, second-degree kidnapping with a weapon, felony murder, and two related crimes of violence charges. Meanwhile, he maintained his innocence, claiming that he had never met Jonelle and only learned about the case after returning from his trip to California.
Steve Pankey is Currently Incarcerated at a Colorado Prison Facility
Following his indictment, Steve Pankey pleaded not guilty to all the charges against him on February 3, 2021. His first trial commenced in October 2021, but it ended in a mistrial after the jury failed to reach a unanimous decision on charges of first-degree murder, felony murder, and second-degree kidnapping. However, he was convicted of false reporting. A year later, his retrial began, which finally led to him being proven guilty of his crimes. On October 31, 2022, the jury found him guilty of felony murder and second-degree kidnapping, but not of first-degree murder after deliberation. During the victim impact statements, Jonelle’s father, Jim Matthews, addressed the killer directly.
He said, “As these two trials have shown, you have been obsessed with your actions, and your consciousness could not let you forget. You have been a prisoner of your own mind. You’ve claimed to be a Christian on many occasions. There’s still hope for you. It is not too late to confess your sins, which is the first step to your forgiveness. The second step is to repent or turn away from your evil ways…It’s up to you, and it’s not too late, Steve Pankey.” Right before his sentencing, Steve also took the stand and stated, “I am a Christian, I will be in heaven. I am innocent, and this is not justice for Jonelle.” He was sentenced to 20 years to life in prison, with his earliest parole eligibility date scheduled for 2040. As of today, he is serving his sentence at Arkansas Valley Correctional Facility in Ordway, Colorado.
Read More: Where is Jonelle Matthews’ Family Now?
