Man indicted on murder, kidnapping charges in connection with 1984 murder of Jonelle Matthews

Steven Pankey, 69, had been called person of interest in case before indictment

STORY.A FORMER IDAHOGUBERNATORIALCANDIDATE ANDCURRENT TWINFALLS COUNTYSHERIFF CANDIDATEIS FACING FIRST-DEGREE MURDERCHARGES.POLICE SAY STEVEPANKEY WASINDICTED IN THEDECADES-OLDKILLING OF ACOLORADO GIRL.PANKEY RAN AS ACONSTITUTIONPARTY CANDIDATEFOR GOVERNORBACK IN 20-14 ANDAGAIN AS AREPUBLICAN IN THELAST PRIMARY..HE TOLD THE IDAHOSTATESMAN HE ISUNDERINVESTIGATION INCONNECTION TO THEDEATH OF 12-YEAR-OLD JONELLEMATTHEWS.MATTHEWSDISAPPEARED BACKIN DECEMBER OF 19-84.HER REMAINS WEREFOUND LASTSUMMER IN A RURALAREA IN COLORADO.REPORTS SAYPANKEY -- BACK THEN-- LIVED ONLY A FEWMILES FROM THEGIRL'S HOME INGREELEY.ARMED WITH ASEARCH WARRANT,AUTHORITIESSEARCHED PANKEY'STWIN FALLS HOMELAST YEAR - SAYINGTHEY HAD PROBABLECAUSE TO BELIEVEHE KIDNAPPED ANDKILLED THE GIRL.THE INDICTMENTSTATES THAT PANKEYKNEW ABOUT KEYEVIDENCE THATPOLICE HAD KEPTSECRET, NAMELYTHAT A RAKE WASUSED TO USED TODESTROY SHOEIMPRESSIONS IN THESNOW.THE 69 YEAR OLDFACES ADDITIONALCHARGES OF FELONYMURDER ANDSECOND DEGREEKID