Idaho Man Arrested, Charged in Jonelle Matthews Cold Case

Published on October 13, 2020

Steven Pankey Mugshot

GREELEY, Colo. (Weld County D.A.) – The Weld grand jury has issued an indictment for a 69-year-old man for the death of a 12-year old girl who went missing in 1984.

Steven Pankey is accused of kidnapping Jonelle Matthews from her Greeley home in December of 1984, before shooting and killing her. He has been charged with the following:

COUNT ONE: MURDER IN THE FIRST DEGREE – AFTER DELIBERATION (F1)

COUNT TWO: MURDER IN THE FIRST DEFREE – FELONY MURDER (F1)

COUNT THREE: SECOND DEGREE KIDNAPPING (F3)

COUNT FOUR: CRIME OF VIOLENCE COUNT FIVE: CRIME OF VIOLENCE

Detectives with the Greeley Police Department were present when officers from the Meridian, Idaho Police Department arrested the defendant Monday morning.

Pankey is currently in custody in Idaho at the Ada County Jail. A court date in Colorado has not yet been set.

Because this is an active investigation, no further comment or additional information is available at this time.

Tagged as: