Weld County Courthouse. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Greeley Police said they were called just before 8 p.m. Friday to a report of suspicious activity at Noco. Jennifer McRae is a digital media producer. [3] Her remains were discovered on July 24, 2019, by construction workers putting in a new pipeline 15mi (24km) from her home. [13] She also said that after their return, Pankey forced her to read to him newspaper articles concerning the case. [16] She appears in the International Center for Unidentified and Missing Persons' database. GREELEY, Colo. Content Warning: This article includes topics that may be sensitive for some readers, including sexual assault. By Bryan Pietsch Oct. 13, 2020 DENVER For more than three decades, the disappearance of Jonelle Matthews hung over the city of Greeley, Colo., where the 12-year-old was taken from her family's. He got into her car and then left the parking lot at 6:47 p.m. At 10:34 p.m., a resident saw Vegas car parked at a convenience store on 71st Avenue and 20th Street, about a mile from NOCO Nutrition, according to arrest records. On Oct. 29, 2020, Greeley officers responded to a shooting around 3 a.m. in the 1100 block alley between 11th and 12th streets. As a result, she was sentenced to life in prison in 2008 and still remains behind bars at the Denver Womens Correctional Facility in Denver, Colorado. He told officers he was the guy they were looking for, according to arrest records. Police said Saturday they were investigating incident as possible murder-suicide, Yellow crime tape blocks off an area. At 1:51 a.m. July 24, Evans police responded to a stabbing in a garage in the 4000 block of Mariposa Lane. While Vega was motionless on the floor, Vallejos laid the weapon on the counter and walked back toward the restroom and office area. [14] She was mentioned in the Congressional Record for the United States House of Representatives on April 2, 1985, page 7224. Based on DNA evidence, the Weld County Coroner's Office positively identified the remains as being those of Jonelle Matthews. Every picture of Vega at the memorials shows her smile. She said that on their return trip, Pankey "uncharacteristically listened to the radio, searching for news of the girl's disappearance". but it can also be stressful. Shawna Louise Buntz Nelson (pictured, left) was always looking for love. The incident angered Shawna greatly, and authorities discovered that she had been sending threatening messages to Ignacio and Heather for quite some time. [21], On October 13, 2020, Steven Pankey was indicted on charges of murdering and kidnapping Matthews. She was very unique and had a heart of gold! She was found dead in. She is being held in Weld County Jail without bond on charges of . However, from the looks of it, the cops seemingly had an immediate breakthrough as there were several eyewitnesses to the murder. [2], Years after Jonelle's disappearance, her parents moved to the Philippines. Officers searched for him in the area and saw him walking a few blocks away. Officers found three people dead inside the home. A family friend said Vega had a heart of gold and worked hard to help her mom and siblings in every way she could. Paramedics arrived to take the victim to North Colorado Medical Center. Homicides are rising at a record pace in the United States. Now, a memorial is set up outside of the nutrition shop with flowers and photos of Vega. Suspect Marcos Vallejos, 24, has been arrested and booked. Jonelle Matthews was a 12-year-old American girl who disappeared near Greeley, Colorado, on December 20, 1984. We're praying for your family. The last customer left at 6:13 p.m. and drove away at 6:16 p.m. Less than 10 minutes later, at 6:25 p.m., police said that the video shows Vallejos walking away from the table with his backpack but leaving a sheet of paper on the table. When the police began investigating Heathers death, they turned to the eyewitnesses who were present on the scene and recorded their accounts. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. According to a recent FBI report, there were a total of 21,570 murders committed in 2020, the most of any year in the last two and a half decades and up nearly 30% from 2019 the largest annual increase on record. New information from Greeley police has revealed some gruesome details about the sexual assault and murder of Angelica 'Angie' Vega. [21], The police announced that Pankey had long been a person of interest in the case. At 6:25 p.m., Vallejos got up from his table and walked to the restroom. In metropolitan areas across the country, the increase in homicides last year eclipsed the national surge in some cases, many times over. She had goals and loved adventures! If you need anything, we're here," Bowie said. New information from Greeley police has revealed some gruesome details about the sexual assault and murder of Angelica 'Angie' Vega. She was pronounced dead at 10:59 p.m. Police found Vallejos backpack in the front seat of the car. At 1:51 a.m. July 24, Evans police responded to a stabbing in a garage in the 4000 block of Mariposa Lane. Jonelle's sister married and moved out of Colorado. The man saw signs of someone being dragged as well as surveillance footage showing someone taking Vega. The staff at CBS News Colorado is Covering Colorado First. Pankey and his former wife lived about three miles from the Matthews home and he had been a youth pastor at the church the Matthews family attended. Gabriel Faudoa, 34, is facing charges of first-degree murder after deliberation, first-degree felony murder, aggravated robbery with a weapon and aggravated vehicle theft. Moreover, the people who saw the murder also claimed that the killer showed no compassion, and it seemed like a personal attack. . According to court documents, in November, Vallejos was arrested on suspicion of second-degree burglary and criminal mischief, which are both misdemeanors. [5] [21] Pankey had claimed that on the evening of Jonelle's abduction, a rake was used to cover up tracks left in the snow. Upon arrival, officers found the victim on the floor of the garage while two witnesses were providing help to the severely injured man. Despite the increase, the local homicide rate of 4.8 per 100,000 people remains below the national rate of 6.5 per 100,000. Please enter valid email address to continue. A customer also told her someone broke into the business and there was blood on the floor. Anyone with information about the case is asked to contact Detective Radin at (970) 350-9671. [22][23], On October 13, 2020, Pankey was indicted on charges of first-degree murder and kidnapping in Jonelle's death. The Moving can be an exciting experience. NBC News Dateline: Internal Affairs chronicles the brutal murder and shows how through efficient police investigation, law enforcement officers were to bring the perpetrator to justice. When officers arrived, they found Vega's glasses in the parking lot and blood on the sidewalk in front of the business. According to the witnesses, the assailant who attacked Heather spoke in a womans voice and even blamed the victim for ruining her life. Randy Baker had already been through hard times and was fighting for his life when he was shot dead just inside his Greeley, Colorado home in June 2017. You are just minutes from Greenwood & Myers Mortuary is the first choice for many families when they are seeking funeral services in Boulder. Vallejos also claimed he had no rights and didnt understand them. [4] Steven Pankey was sentenced to life imprisonment on October 31, 2022, after his arrest in 2020. According to the show, Shawna was married to Ken Nelson, a Weld County sheriffs deputy, but also had an affair with Heathers husband, Ignacio, for several years. Eyewitnesses present on the scene mentioned that the figure was dressed in a dark robe and had a Grim Reaper mask on their face to conceal their identity completely. He interacted with Vega briefly at the shop's counter and then sat a table. Homicide is Soaring in the Greeley, CO Metro Area Samuel Stebbins Homicides are rising at a record pace in the United States. "The incident remains under investigation by the Greeley Police Department, which will provide further information as it becomes available," Chief Deputy Coroner Joey Weiner said. According to the court documents, the video shows Vallejos going to the counter and speaking to Vega before he sits at a nearby table and shuffles papers in and out of his backpack, drawing and writing on them. All data in this story is at the metro area level from the FBI. [21] He was held without bail at the Ada County Jail in Boise until he was extradited to Colorado. He cut a cover off a couch inside the shop, wrapped her body in the cover, put her in the backseat of her own vehicle and drove away, the affidavit states. He was wearing a white shirt, dark pants and had a black backpack. The video shows Vallejos sexually assaulting Vega. Police continue to investigate the shooting. Upon arrival, officers found the victim on the floor of the garage while two witnesses were providing help to the severely injured man. Vallejos failed to show up for a court date in March. Police said the missing woman was found dead in the backseat. DENVER The Weld County Coroners Office on Thursday identified the three people found dead inside a home in Greeley in what police said was a possible murder-suicide. [15] As recently as 2018, Greeley Police had been re-contacting witnesses and applying the latest forensic advances in their investigation. According to the arrest affidavit, Vega's mother told police that the business looked like a mess from the surveillance footage and she had also received a call from a customer that the business had experienced a break-in and that there was blood on the floor. "I hope maybe her family can see that there are people who care even though we didn't know her," Walker said. August 30, 2022 / 1:01 PM Later, police said he referred to his right arm as the one that kills people. The case began Feb. 10 when a snowplow driver reported spotting a smoldering log and burned body along Old Flowers and Pingree Park roads about 40 miles west of Fort Collins in Larimer County. About 5:30 p.m. Nov. 27, 1979, two of Kay Day's coworkers on their way home found her red 1977 Datsun station wagon parked on the eastbound shoulder in the 5700 block of 20th Street, just southwest of the college campus. They asked anyone with more information about the case to call Detective Onderlinde at 970-350-9676. David . The victim eventually stopped breathing and his pulse could not be detected, according to Evans police. She found it on the job, working as a 911 dispatcher, and falling in love with Sheriff's deputy Ken Nelson. He then leaves and pulls his car closer to the business. Footage from about 6:13 p.m. captured Vallejos watching the last customer leave the business. Mogensen's father was reportedly "especially excited to see justice". Lets delve into the details surrounding the crime and find out more, shall we? The Greeley chief of police attributes the spike to disruptions caused by the pandemic, including the release of some inmates from jails and prisons to improve social distancing measures within the facilities. At his son's funeral, Hicks reportedly heard Pankey say, "I hope God didn't allow this to happen because of Jonelle Matthews. He took his backpack but left a piece of paper at the table. Jump to a detailed profile, search site with google or try advanced search. He has his first court appearance 3:30 p.m. Wednesday. On Monday, Weld Judge Vincente Vigil imposed the maximum sentence of 60 years in the . On Friday night, Vega's mother reported her missing after she didn't return home by 7:35 p.m. after she was scheduled to close the family business at 7 p.m. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. Please look at the time stamp on the story to see when it was last updated. Jonelle's shoes and shawl were near a heater in the family room, a place she often sat. With snow on the ground, Jonelle's father thought it unlikely that she would go far without shoes. For 11 minutes, he was out of the cameras view, arrest records said. Afterward, Vallejos took Vega's car keys and pulled her car closer to the business's front door. The number of homicides stood at 2. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. [4] Steven Pankey was sentenced to life imprisonment on October 31, 2022, after his arrest in 2020. The documents detail the rest of the video, which includes Vallejos taking Vega, dragging her on a couch cover to her vehicle and placing her in the rear of the vehicle. In fact, the show also stated that Shawna and Ignacios affair led to a child, and the former wanted him to divorce his wife and move in with her. You are just minutes from Greenwood & Myers Mortuary is the first choice for many families when they are seeking funeral services in Boulder. "She was part of our community.". The victim had a deep laceration from behind his left ear extending to the base of his skull. Vegas body was inside that car. Footage of the murder of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer rattled confidence in American law enforcement and sparked nationwide protests. Three people are dead after an apparent murder-suicide in Greeley Saturday. 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[13] Steven Pankey was 69 years old at the time of his indictment. A news release from the coroner's office notes they were family. On April 14, 2009, the two-week trial for the murder of Angie Zapataan 18-year-old transgender womanis scheduled to begin in Greeley, Colo. Due to this landmark case's complexities and its significance for LGBT people, it is of utmost importance that media coverage of the tragic death of Angie Zapata be inclusive, accurate, and respectful of a community that is too often . When officers arrived, they found a wounded man on the ground with. Vallejos was booked into the Weld County Jail on first-degree murder and sexual assault charges. Hicks claimed to have heard Pankey muttering in response, accusing the minister of being a false prophet. However, unable to get an idea about possible suspects, authorities interviewed Heathers co-workers, who gave the police their first breakthrough. [2] Vierra had used a search consultant to help locate Jonelle. Besides, she was highly dedicated to her husband and their relationship meant the world to Heather. The ratio of all residents to sex offenders in Greeley is 273 to 1. [27] He received a sentence of 20 years to life in prison. GREELEY, Colo. (KDVR) A 22-year-old woman was murdered Friday night at NOCO Nutrition at the end of her shift. About 11:30 a.m. Saturday, Greeley police responded to a home in the 4900 block of 23rd Street Road, where they found three people shot dead: Richard Kraus, 83, Patricia Kraus, 80, and Alan Kraus, 61, all of Greeley. [13] Hicks said they returned to Greeley on December 26 and that Pankey took an unusual interest in the disappearance. He laid the weapon on the couch and placed Vega on the cover. Surprisingly, the killer was dressed in a black robe and was hiding their face with a grim reaper mask. Steve Pankey, a former longshot candidate for Idaho governor, has been indicted on Oct. 13, 2020, in the murder of Jonelle Matthews, a 12-year-old Colorado girl who went missing in 1984. In the minutes that followed, Vallejos made spontaneous and unsolicited statements that he killed someone. She was funny! [3] Her remains were discovered on July 24, 2019, by construction workers putting in a new pipeline 15 mi (24 km) from her home. About 7:52 p.m. Friday, a caller reported to Greeley police that 22-year-old Angie Vega never returned home after working an evening shift at NOCO Nutrition, a health drink bar in the 1990 block of 59th Avenue. President Ronald Reagan mentioned Jonelle Matthews in a speech on March 7, 1985, from Room 450 of the Old Executive Office Building. A little after 10:30 p.m., police found Vega's vehicle a little over a mile away, near 71st Avenue and 20th Street. Her remains were found this week", "Jonelle Renee Matthews (12) Greeley CO, 1984", "Remains ID'd as those of Colorado girl missing 34 years", "Idaho Man Convicted in 1984 Murder of 12-Year-Old Colorado Girl", "After haunting Colorado for three decades, there is new hope in the Jonelle Matthews case", "Jonelle Matthews discovery provides closure for family, but new chapter is only just begun", "Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI)COLD CASE FILESJonelle Matthews", "Greeley girl's disappearance still a mystery after 25 years", "Colorado girl's disappearance still a mystery", "Jonelle Matthews disappearance anniversary: Timeline of events", "After 30 Years, They've Found Jonelle Matthews. The spike in homicides came during a tumultuous year. Suspect Marcos Vallejos, 24, has been arrested and booked. Police responded to the home after a caller requested police check on a family member due to getting concerning text messages. Jaramillo has several active warrants, but has not been taken into custody for the July 24 stabbing. In the last 5 years Greeley has seen decreasing violent crime and decreasing property crime. [7][8][9] Her father was at his other daughter's basketball game[9] and her mother had traveled out of state to be with Jonelle's ill grandfather. Deputies arrested him about an hour after finding his mother, 66-year-old June Martinez Faudoa, killed in her home just outside Eaton.