Understanding The Jonelle Matthews Case: The True Story Behind The Girl On The Milk Carton

For over 30 years, the mystery surrounding the disappearance of a young girl from Colorado remained unresolved until construction workers stumbled upon a chilling find.

Jonelle Matthews vanished in a perplexing case in 1984, just days prior to Christmas, capturing national attention and concern as she was one of the first missing children featured on a milk carton.

The timeline from the moment the 12-year-old vanished from her Greeley, Colorado, home—approximately 60 miles north of Denver—to the shocking 2020 arrest of her alleged killer is explored in a two-part true crime documentary titled The Girl on the Milk Carton, set to air on Sunday, August 25, 2024, at 7 p.m. ET/PT.

1. Who was Jonelle Matthews?

Jonelle was the cherished adopted child of Jim and Gloria Matthews, and she was younger than her sister, Jennifer.

“She exhibited remarkable physical strength and was quite headstrong,” reflected Jonelle’s mother. “From her early years, she was clear about her desires… and made it known.”

At the time of Jonelle’s disappearance, Jim Matthews was the principal at Platte Valley Elementary in Kersey, about 10 miles from Greeley, and had previously worked as an administrator at a Christian school.

The Matthews family was considered tight-knit, regularly attending church together. According to her childhood friend, Deanna Ross, Jonelle enjoyed typical 1980s pastimes like biking, slumber parties, and following boy bands like Menudo.

“She was lively and quite loud,” said Ross. “Her personality was theatrical and dramatic; she effortlessly commanded attention.”

Is Girl On The Milk Carton Based On A True Story — The Girl on the Milk Carton | Source: IMDb

2. What Happened The Night Jonelle Matthews Disappeared?

On the evening of December 20, 1984, Jonelle and Deanna performed in their middle school’s honor choir, showcasing Christmas carols on a local cable broadcast.

While Jonelle’s father attended a basketball game for her sister, Jennifer, her mother was visiting a sick family member in California. Deanna’s father transported Jonelle to her split-level house in Greeley at around 8 p.m., noting the garage door was ajar.

Roughly 30 minutes later, Jonelle answered a call, leaving a message for her father. Her disappearance is pinpointed to the time between 8:30 p.m. and Jim’s return about an hour later to an empty home.

Jim grew worried only when Jennifer returned at 10 p.m. without any news of Jonelle.

As detailed by The Colorado Sun, Jim discovered the television and heater running by Jonelle’s chair, alongside a pair of her stockings left on the couch, with her shoes taken off.

“About thirty minutes into being home, I felt an unsettling instinct since our daughters always informed us about their plans, usually leaving a note or calling,” Jim recounted to The Colorado Sun.

The Greeley police found few clues apart from unusual footprints in the snow outside the house, with The Denver Gazette noting an attempt to cover tracks using a rake, later revealed during the prosecution.

This year marked the establishment of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, which debuted the Missing Children Milk Carton Program in December 1984, coinciding with Jonelle’s disappearance.

3. When Were Jonelle Matthews’ Remains Found?

More than 35 years after her disappearance, Jonelle Matthews’ remains were finally discovered.

On July 23, 2019, workers searching for a pipeline in a remote area southeast of Greeley, approximately 20 miles from her home, uncovered skeletal remains, including a skull adorned with orthodontic braces, according to Oxygen.com. Jonelle had dressed in a plaid skirt and sweater vest for her Christmas performance, and the remnants matched her clothing.

Two days later, authorities confirmed the bones were Jonelle’s, revealing evidence that she had suffered a gunshot wound to the head.

On October 9, 2020, a grand jury indicted Steven Dana Pankey, an early person of interest in the case, on charges of kidnapping and murder. Pankey lived nearby and was a member of the same church as the Matthews family.

Pankey had aspirations of running for governor in Idaho, having made two unsuccessful attempts (one in 2014 and another in 2018), and displayed an alarming fixation on Jonelle’s case. Evidence from electronic devices showed he had repeatedly searched for details regarding her disappearance.

The arrest affidavit revealed Pankey’s knowledge of specific details, such as the rake used to disguise footprints—information police had purposefully withheld from the media.

Furthermore, Pankey mentioned in a 2013 letter that “approximately a week after the incident, I noticed that a blanket or comforter had also vanished from the Matthews’ residence… certain events are hard to forget.”

The insights of Pankey’s former wife will be featured in The Girl on the Milk Carton, airing on Sunday, August 25, 2024.

“His ex-wife, a significant witness in the prosecution, courageously shares her experience living with a disturbed fantasist and ruthless murderer, unveiling key evidence that contributed to his conviction,” according to the special’s summary.

4. About The Girl On The Milk Carton

Five days before Christmas in 1984, the tragic case of 12-year-old Jonelle Matthews began when she disappeared from her living room in Greeley, Colorado. In the effort to locate her, Jonelle became one of the first missing children whose image was placed on a milk carton, but this publicity failed to bring her back. Nearly 35 years since her kidnapping, her remains were discovered over 20 miles from where she lived.

In a bizarre turn of events, a true-crime enthusiast and former gubernatorial candidate—fixated on Jonelle’s case for decades—became the primary suspect. The enigmatic Steve Pankey had interjected himself into the inquiry, volunteering gruesome details about Jonelle’s murder in hopes of striking a deal.

Pankey’s ex-wife comes forward as a crucial witness in the prosecution against him, bravely recounting her experience with a manipulative fantasist and a depraved killer, while revealing pivotal evidence that ultimately led to his indictment.

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