CBS 48 Hours Who is the prime suspect in Jonelle Matthews murder case and where is he now × Follow Us Create Notifications New User posted their first comment this is comment text Link Approve Reject & ban Delete Log in Manage your profile Editing Story Queue Video Queue Editing Stats Writer Home SEO Redirection Admin Gaming Wiki Edits Taxonomy Home Edit Site Menu Mapping Dashboard Tag Pages Community Social Feed Queue Feed Center Notification Center Affiliate Home Manage Pages Bottom Tagline Dash Timeless Stories Logout SK POP Feature CBS 48 Hours Who is the prime suspect in Jonelle Matthews murder case and where is he now By Vishnu Warrier Modified 05 Aug 2022 Follow Us Comment Share CBS 48 Hours (Image via CBS News/Jim and Gloria Matthews) The shocking disappearance and murder of 12-year-old Jonelle Matthews is the focus of CBS' latest episode of 48 Hours. A brief synopsis of the episode on CBS News states: "A former candidate for governor is accused of kidnapping a 12-year-old girl. Does his decades-long fascination with the case mean he’s a true-crime junkie or a murderer? '48 Hours' correspondent Richard Schlesinger reports.'' Jonelle Matthews' remains were discovered almost 35 years later, and in October 2020, a man named Steven Pankey was arrested for kidnapping and murdering the 12-year-old girl. Read further ahead to find out more about Steven Pankey. CBS 48 Hours - Jonelle Matthews murder case Who is Steven Pankey Steven Pankey lived close to Jonelle Matthews' home back in 1984 when the girl went missing a few days before Christmas. As per CBS News, Pankey, along with his family, shifted to several other states in the years after Jonelle's disappearance and eventually settled in Idaho. Pankey reportedly worked as a car salesman and a security guard before making his foray into politics when he moved to Idaho. Over the years, Pankey has had a tussle with the law. He was once arrested for ''creating a nuisance and harassment'' at a bank. Pankey was involved in the Jonelle Matthews investigation, providing police with information about the 12-year-old's disappearance. CBSColorado@CBSNewsColoradoSteve Pankey Questioned By Prosecutors In Jonelle Matthews Murder Trial denver.cbslocal.com/2021/10/29/jon…11Steve Pankey Questioned By Prosecutors In Jonelle Matthews Murder Trial denver.cbslocal.com/2021/10/29/jon… https://t.co/U7QuXxVlKZ According to CBS News, Pankey said that he'd lost interest in the case when the police did not respond to his letters. But things took a shocking turn when Jonelle's remains were discovered in July 2019. A month later, authorities searched Pankey's home and reportedly took his laptop, cell phones, and ''a bunch of pictures,'' as per an interview with KMTV. Steven Pankey was indicted by a Weld County grand jury and was subsequently arrested on charges of kidnapping and first-degree murder in October 2020. He pleaded not guilty to the charges. Anthony J. Viorst, Pankey's lawyer at the time, contended that Pankey was someone who liked attention, but was not a killer. He told 48 Hours: ''Mr. Pankey loves the limelight. He just does, for whatever reason.'' Arguably the most incriminating piece of evidence, according to the indictment, was his knowledge of a rake at Jonelle Matthews' home that was used to remove footprints in snow. However, his lawyer argued that he was told about the rake by the authorities. CBS 48 Hours Jonelle Matthews murder case What happened at Steven Pankey s trial 48 Hours@48hoursIn the case of missing 12-year-old, Jonelle Matthews, Idaho politician Steve Pankey was so interested in the case that he made himself a person of interest … cbsn.ws/3vXpz9j353In the case of missing 12-year-old, Jonelle Matthews, Idaho politician Steve Pankey was so interested in the case that he made himself a person of interest … cbsn.ws/3vXpz9j https://t.co/t07Bd0cIo8 A pivotal moment during the trial happened when Pankey's ex-wife took the stand and told jurors that he'd made her listen to the news coverage of Jonelle Matthews' disappearance on the radio and that she'd found a piece of paper in the dustbin, which mentions that the snow was raked outside Jonelle's home. Pankey confessed during the trial that he'd feigned knowledge about the case. He said (obtained via CBS News): ''The truth is that I made a lot of stuff up out of bitterness....It was just me trying to be a big man, be in the case, OK? I had no knowledge." He was found guilty of lying about knowledge of the case. But jurors were deadlocked on the kidnapping and murder charges, as a result of which the judge ordered a mistrial. He's reportedly incarcerated at the Weld County jail, with his next trial expected to begin on October 4, 2022. Poll : 0 votes Quick Links More from Sportskeeda Edited by Atul S × Feedback Thank You! Be the first one to comment Follow Us Share Show More Comments GIF Comment in moderation 0 0 Reply x Edit Delete Delete the comment? No thanks Delete GIF Cancel Update GIF Cancel Reply ❮ ❯ GIF Comment in moderation 0 0 Reply x Edit Delete Delete the comment? 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