Jonelle Matthews, a 12-year-old girl from the United States, vanished near Greeley, Colorado, on December 20, 1984. Her remains were located on July 24, 2019, by construction workers who were installing a new pipeline approximately 15 miles from her residence. On October 31, 2022, Steven Pankey received a life sentence following his arrest and trial for the murder of Matthews.
Disappearance
On the night of December 20, 1984, Matthews participated in a Christmas concert at the IntraWest Bank of Denver as a member of the Franklin Middle School Choir from Greeley. At the time, her father was attending her sister's basketball game, while her mother was out of state tending to a sick family member. After receiving a ride home from her friend DeeAnna Ross and DeeAnna's father, Matthews arrived at her Greeley home at 8:15 PM. Shortly after 8:30 PM, she answered a phone call and took a message for her father, marking the last known communication anyone had with her.
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