Ex-Candidate for Idaho Governor Charged in 1984 Cold Case Murder of a 12-year-old girl

69-year-old man who ran for governor of Idaho twice in the past has been charged to the death of then 12-year-old Colorado girl in 1984. The Weld County district attorney’s office announced that the grand jury indicted Steven Pankey for the killing of Jonelle Matthews. He is accused of kidnapping Matthews from her home in Greeley, Colorado in December 1984, and to have shot and killed her.

He is charged with first degree murder – after deliberation, first degree murder – felony murder, second degree kidnapping, and two counts of crime of violence.

He was arrested on Monday in Meridian Idaho and is being held without bail at the Ada County Jail. Colorado court date has not yet been scheduled.

Pankey had run for governorship of Idaho in 2014 and 2018 on the Constitution Party line to win the Republican nomination.

Matthews’ body was only recently found in July 2019 by a construction crew unearthing project for a pipeline installation.

Her death was ruled as homicide.

Pankey awaits trial, and it is not yet clear whether he has an attorney representing his case.

Coree ILBO/CoreeDaily.com copyright (c) 2013-2020, All rights reserved.

This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or part with out the express written permission.