Found Deceased CO - Jonelle Matthews, 12, Greeley, 20 Dec 1984 *arrest 2020*

[Swedish Sleuth]

I'm assuming. If they had statements like that decades ago, then they are even more incompetent that I give them credit for.

For sure. If they had that info maybe still not enough to indict.
I wonder what was going on in 2013 that SP talked about giving LE his alibi

 

[crhedBngr]

Cat01 - do you think she was buried at a later time when ground was warmer?

Do think Jonelle was murdered by someone close to her or the church was involved?
Your thoughts could never be irrelevant or meaningless. I’m sorry if there is anything I posted to make you feel that way. Your posts have been thought provoking.

Here is the video coverage when she was found. Her remains don't appear to have been buried that deeply. (See white square underneath white and red easy-up canopies.

Who knows how deeply the perp tried to dig when burying her?

JMVHO.

 

[Swedish Sleuth]

Here is the video coverage when she was found. Her remains don't appear to have been buried that deeply. (See white square underneath white and red easy-up canopies.

Who knows how deeply the perp tried to dig when burying her?

JMVHO.

No it sure doesn’t unless the equipment went over it several times but still doesn’t appear deep

 

[Richard]

Jonelle Matthews

 

[Swedish Sleuth]

Does anyone know where SP is this morning? I thought he was in Ada County jail in Idaho. He doesn’t come up on inmate roster there or Weld County

 

[CDB]

Here is the video coverage when she was found. Her remains don't appear to have been buried that deeply. (See white square underneath white and red easy-up canopies.

Who knows how deeply the perp tried to dig when burying her?

JMVHO.

I think it is impossible to tell how deeply she was originally buried.

When you look around the ezup you can see how the ground has been scraped by bulldozers. It is entirely possible they removed several feet of overburden. They also could have scraped only a few inches. The ground shows signs of heavy excavation and leveling efforts at the time of her discovery.

My personal experience about digging a hole in frozen ground; it is all a matter of the depth of the soil freeze. I used to use a pickax to break up to about 3 to 4 inches of frozen ground, then you could proceed quite reasonably. No doubt it was brutal work, and short of the threat of punishment from my ranching father, I would have passed on the experience.

Recalling those few cold digs I did in my youth reminded me of the other trick we did on the ranch when the ground was frozen. We would light a fire on top of the area, stoke it overnight, then dig where the fire had been. Just a wild thought, obviously no supporting evidence, maybe, that was the reason for the car fire, to hide that needed soil thaw.

Just my own rambling thoughts and experience, so MOO.

 

[crhedBngr]

Does anyone know where SP is this morning? I thought he was in Ada County jail in Idaho. He doesn’t come up on inmate roster there or Weld County

I just checked the Idaho site, and got a "not found" response.

I guess we keep checking Weld County.

 

[CDB]

I just checked the Idaho site, and got a "not found" response.

I guess we keep checking Weld County.

Google Maps lists the drive from Boise to Greely as between 11.5 and 13.75 hours, so my guess is there will be a day of transportation for the trip back.

 

[watcher9]

Nope

- can't access - here's the message I get:
Oops!
Something went wrong.
You do not have access to view this page.

If this was an error, please report to Ada County support.

FYI - It said at the top to put in first letter of last name. I put in a "P" and the list came up. He is no longer there but you might want to try it just to see if you are really locked out.

 

[Niner]

FYI - It said at the top to put in first letter of last name. I put in a "P" and the list came up. He is no longer there but you might want to try it just to see if you are really locked out.

It doesn't even bring up the site - so can't put a "P" anywhere....

 

[Swedish Sleuth]

It doesn't even bring up the site - so can't put a "P" anywhere....

I’ve checked both jails and Idaho Doc/Colorado DOC throughout the day - nothing. I think he must be in transit.

 

[sbcjester21]

So, I've made a re-enactment video. It's not particularly professional looking, but it gets the point across. Hopefully this helps everyone visualize what happened.

 

[crhedBngr]

So, I've made a re-enactment video. It's not particularly professional looking, but it gets the point across. Hopefully this helps everyone visualize what happened.

This is helpful. Thank you for that.

JMVHO.

 

[Cat01]

Sw

Cat01 - do you think she was buried at a later time when ground was warmer?
Do think Jonelle was murdered by someone close to her or the church was involved?
Your thoughts could never be irrelevant or meaningless. I’m sorry if there is anything I posted to make you feel that way. Your posts have been thought provoking.

swedish sleuth...no nothing you did. No worries

The news reports state the equipment used to unearth her body was scraping 8-10 inches of debris with each pass. That article mentions a hole the circumference of a basketball hoop. It is not clear, was that the hole she was buried in? Like she would have been standing up in a hole over 5 feet deep?. I would have to believe if that’s the case, an auger could have been used. Or did someone just clear out an area that wide when the photo was taken? Can anyone verify how she was found buried?

Digging a hole that night would be extremely difficult, but I concede possible. Based on the temperature in the days prior I believe the ground to be frozen at the depth of at least 8 inches to a foot. That’s just my opinion. There is my auger theory...but with a shovel in the dark on a cold night in the middle of an open field, that’s quite a feat.

I tend to think the crime was premeditated. Jonelle was home alone for one hour...if...the timeline is to be believed. What are the odds a child predator just happened along at that time? Which leads me to believe that the hole was dug prior to the abduction. She could have been buried there after the night of the abduction too I suppose. But this doesn’t seem likely. Pankey drove to California at 5 am the following morning.

My sister in law has experience counseling sex offenders in Greeley. She said it is highly unlikely for someone to murder a 12 years old girl and not have any priors involving children and it would be just as unlikely they would be able to control the urge to reoffend. I don’t think this was a sexually motivated crime.

So....what was Pankey’s motive? What would cause a man to shoot an innocent girl in the head?

 

[Swedish Sleuth]

It doesn't even bring up the site - so can't put a "P" anywhere....

I’ve checked both jails and Idaho Doc/Colorado DOC throughout the day - nothing. I think he must be in transit.

Sw


swedish sleuth...no nothing you did. No worries

The news reports state the equipment used to unearth her body was scraping 8-10 inches of debris with each pass. That article mentions a hole the circumference of a basketball hoop. It is not clear, was that the hole she was buried in? Like she would have been standing up in a hole over 5 feet deep?. I would have to believe if that’s the case, an auger could have been used. Or did someone just clear out an area that wide when the photo was taken? Can anyone verify how she was found buried?

Digging a hole that night would be extremely difficult, but I concede possible. Based on the temperature in the days prior I believe the ground to be frozen at the depth of at least 8 inches to a foot. That’s just my opinion. There is my auger theory...but with a shovel in the dark on a cold night in the middle of an open field, that’s quite a feat.

I tend to think the crime was premeditated. Jonelle was home alone for one hour...if...the timeline is to be believed. What are the odds a child predator just happened along at that time? Which leads me to believe that the hole was dug prior to the abduction. She could have been buried there after the night of the abduction too I suppose. But this doesn’t seem likely. Pankey drove to California at 5 am the following morning.

My sister in law has experience counseling sex offenders in Greeley. She said it is highly unlikely for someone to murder a 12 years old girl and not have any priors involving children and it would be just as unlikely they would be able to control the urge to reoffend. I don’t think this was a sexually motivated crime.

So....what was Pankey’s motive? What would cause a man to shoot an innocent girl in the head?

Cat01 - good to see you back

8-10 inches is quite a bit to uncover even if it was once over. I wonder how many times it passed over Jonelle’s grave. The auger theory very interesting. Looking back it seemed strange just mentioning the hole.
If she was buried standing up or kneeling the hole would had to been dug ahead (I think).
Another thing - can you remember anything being said if they found her entire skeleton?
After 35 years do bones deteriorate enough Jonelle could fit entirely in that little casket?

It’s truly amazing Jonelle was found.

I pray there is 100% proof SP did this.

 

[Swedish Sleuth]

Still no record found for SP Idaho or Colorado DOC or jails ??????

 

[sbcjester21]

Another thing - can you remember anything being said if they found her entire skeleton?
After 35 years do bones deteriorate enough Jonelle could fit entirely in that little casket?

To the best of my knowledge, the only thing to survive largely intact was the skull and lower jaw. The rest was crushed by the heavy machinery.

I don't recall off the top of my head where I read this, but I believe it's true.

 

[sbcjester21]

Another thought... If we want to say he dug the hole ahead of time... Maybe he intended it for Russell Ross

 

[Swedish Sleuth]

Another thought... If we want to say he dug the hole ahead of time... Maybe he intended it for Russell Ross

That never entered my mind but it’s definitely a thought!

 

[Swedish Sleuth]

*******UPDATE***********


PANKEY, STEVENarrested:10/28/20 at 18:50
Arresting Agency: WELD COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE
Booking Number: 20-11922
DOB: 06/24/51
Gender: Male
Check Custody Status
Arrested for: 183102 - MURDER IN THE FIRST DEGREE
Bail: $0.00
Arrested for: 183102 - MURDER IN THE FIRST DEGREE
Bail: $0.00
Arrested for: 183302 - KIDNAPPING SECOND DEGREE
Bail: $0.00