RAW: Steve Pankey sentenced to life in prison for 1984 murder of Jonelle Matthews

and with that Mr work your honest people would like to First invite Jim Matthews to address the court thank you judge would you like him at the podium or where would you like Mr Matthews wherever they're comfortable with the podium is fine if that's where he wishes okay good afternoon Mr Matthews good afternoon judge Kearns if I had the opportunity to address the defendant this is what I'd say for the past two years UC Panky have been in jail for the murder of our daughter Janelle you've been free for almost 35 years without paying for this crime this crime has haunted our family all these years but as these two trials have shown you have been obsessed with your actions and your conscience could not let you forget you have been a prisoner in your own mind you've claimed to be a Christian on many occasions we've heard about your church attendance heard you quote scripture and seen a Bible in your home however there are two major components that are reflected in the life of a Christian one is head knowledge of God and his son and the second is heart knowledge of Jesus and his father the manifestation of this heart knowledge comes from a loving comes from loving your neighbor as yourself but all we've heard is that in in these two trials is you hating the police you hating the people at Sunnyview Church even the pastor and you've even transferred this hate to people you didn't even know in in that incident in the ambulance but there's still hope for you it is not too late to confess your sins which is the first step to your forgiveness the second step is to repent or turn away from your evil ways if you do this God is faithful and full of grace and mercy to truly forgive you the Gates of Heaven Can still be open to you and you can escape from eternal hell or damnation it's up to you and it's not too late Steve panky God is waiting thank you judge Kern o people would invite up Gloria Matthews thank you foreign thank you judge Kearns if I had an opportunity to address the defendant this is what I would say so many thoughts go through my mind every time I hear Janelle Janelle Matthews ask Mom I remember much yes she's feisty yes she's opinionated but she's also tenderhearted sensitive and loving I cannot at this moment say that I forgive you see panky how you end at Janelle's life God will forgive you we all know that but he's waiting for repentance and a heart that wants forgiveness I hope in the days ahead you will hear and obey what God is telling you and that his word will penetrate your heart your honor our last witness would be Jennifer mogensen who would invite her up at this time foreign judge Kearns I'd like to express my gratitude to you over the past two years I've sat in your courtroom through pre-trial motions first the first trial and then again these past few weeks thank you for running your court with Justice Integrity fairness to both sides and kindness I prayed for a fair child so that when it was over there'd be no questions as to the ethics inside this courtroom and I believe that occurred to the jurors man my heart has gone out for you you've had to sit for long hours listen and process so much information been away from your jobs and families and I know it's been a long month for you you listened intently asked smart questions and I thank you for your service lastly my utmost gratitude to the Greeley Police Department from 1984 to the present and the Weld County District Attorney's office so many hours from dedicated professionals have gone into bringing Justice for Janelle the hours began on December 20th 1984 and within the 37 and a half years to bring it to completion so many have worked tirelessly detective cash detective Prill Mr Rourke Mr Miller Miss Wells miss archibek and miss white there are no words to adequately describe how I feel but just know my admiration and gratitude for you and your dedication to Justice comes from the bottom of my heart thank you so very much judge if I had an opportunity to address the defendant this is what I'd say thank you it's an interesting process to try and put into words how the most painful event in my life impacted me I can focus on the what-ifs the relationships that we're not allowed to mature or even happen I was not given the opportunity to move past the sibling rivalry relationship with Janelle and mature with her into adulthood my husband never met his sister-in-law my son never met his aunt it's natural that I've mourned not having generic graduations my wedding birth of my son or even to share in the mundane day-to-day events of life when you murdered Janelle on December 20th 1984 you took this from me I keep reflecting how parallel our lives have run as your life changed on December 20th 1984 as well my parents and I were thrown into a reality of moving forward while trying to find Janelle you moved on as well consciously or subconsciously but you were looking back waiting to see if you'd get cut if anyone would find out that you killed Janelle my parents and I had to wait 12 634 days before we were gifted the information of knowing what had happened to Janelle we received closure from Janelle being a missing person to now knowing she was a victim of homicide this information opened new wounds but we were grateful for knowledge and the ability to lay Janelle to rest you learned of her remains being found too and 35 years of cowardly hiding out thinking her murder was behind you your world was shaken again my family moved forward through the judicial process and you had to continue looking back over your shoulder for another 447 days until that morning on October 12 2020 when you were arrested and to use your words your sin had found you out and you couldn't outrun the consequences of murdering Janelle any longer I've learned about you the judicial system and how the wheels of Justice turn fairly or not in the year leading up to the first trial then we waited yet another year to begin this second trial receiving the guilty verdict today marks the end of our Earthly Justice Journey for Janelle but it's only the beginning of your journey of the accountability of the death of my sister and there is one more day of accountability still yet to come only you and your God will be present for that thank you your honor that concludes the evidence we have for the Court's consideration this afternoon Mr Harrison's Brazil any statements or evidence what we have Mr Pinky judge we don't have anybody besides Council who wants to mix comments to the court very well thank you your honor in cases like this I always find it exceedingly difficult to find the right words after hearing about the impact that this has had on a victim's family that is particularly true this afternoon when I listened to the words of a family who had searched for answers for almost 38 years this court knows better than anyone the impact that this crime had on this community this court can sit here today and see the courtroom pact with individuals who cared very deeply about this little girl in this particular case one year ago almost one year ago to the day I stood up in front of the jury right wrong or indifferent and said that the search for justice ends for Janelle today I know I couldn't say that this time because of some recent case law but it truly does end on this day what I want to share with the court is something that will not be readily apparent to this court after the verdict this morning we had an opportunity to go back to my office meet with the Matthews family answer questions and and kind of prepare them for their comments today but we also called Angela Hicks and we also called Dev moon this is what they had to say Angela Hicks says I feel safe not happy not sad but I feel safe what an incredibly powerful statement that is from a woman who has come down and testified against her ex-husband twice she finally feels safe prior to the second trial we had called Miss McDonald and asked her if she would be willing to participate should this court offer or allow the evidence of her victimization in this trial and what she told us at that time I think resonated with all five of us who were in the room at the time she said I feel that I am the Janelle Matthews that was able to get away let that sink in for a minute to think about what that woman has carried with her all these years and particularly coming and testifying on that stand about just a part of what had happened to her today when we spoke to her what she said to us was it was such an honor to speak on behalf of Janelle this court has but one sentence to impose and I would suggest to you that it is truly the appropriate sentence for someone who has walked this Earth for nearly 38 years knowing what he had done and escaping Justice your honor today just as truly ends for Janelle thank you thank you Mr Mark foreign judge Mr Panky as he raised two kids he lost a child he's a religious man I'm not in a position right now to say all the um things I think could be said but I would ask for your honor to take into consideration him as a man and we understand the court has to do what it has to do thank you thank you Mr Harris Mr banking you're not required to make a statement but if you wish to you're welcome to is there anything you'd like to say sir yes I I am a Christian I will be in heaven I am innocent and this is not Justice for Janelle let me start out by saying this the Matthew's family and mogas and family families of faith that have shown incredible Greece courage sitting through this trial two trials but even prior to that the information I have in terms of dealing with a tragedy um it's unspeakable to think of the loss of a daughter and a sister particularly in that manner unknown answers for so long you know who the who is and you know the why on behalf of the state of Colorado you have our condolences and our hope I don't know if closure is really the right word since some sense of finality for your daughter and your sister I don't know what happens from here I understand the Appellate process will play itself out our jurors worked hard and I commend them and take care of a few formalities first Mr work with respect to restitution judge at this point I am not in a position to be able to address restitution what I would like to be able to do is file a notice of restitution within 60 days with the with the authorization of the Court um I know that there is going to be some um but I am not ready to address the restitution issue today any objection of that procedure from the defense if you can make a record regarding the nature of the restitution I think that would be sufficient I think largely the nature of the restitution would be any funeral and burial expenses that the Matthews incurred in the burial of Janelle and perhaps any lost wages that were suffered as a result of being here that would be the extent of it I believe I know that the timeline for restitution requests at sentencing have changed just a little bit so I think that six days would give the defense enough time with 30 days if there's any objections I'm gonna have to short it up and that's fine I was going to say it 60 days is probably too long if the court would give me 30 days I can comply with getting something filed one way or another within 30 days all right I'll get 30 days for the people 30 days for the defense to be clear the court is ordering restitution on today's date the amount of which will be determined at a later date we'll have that hearing within 91 days of today's date if requested yes sir as to count four or we'll close that count out with credit for time served as to count three that is merging with count two Mr banking consistent with the authority and the statutory requirements at the time of the offense the court is imposing life possibly a parole after 20 years there is statutory fees and costs Corporal wave ADC fees the court will presumably wave any further advisement regarding appeals understanding his counsel and I presume that process will start the owner I we did speak with Wendy Frolic who indicated that the proper procedure would be for us to request um for the court to appoint the public defender's office in formal papyrus under roll 12b and um we're happy to reach out to them as well and I'm sure they can follow up with a written filing and they'll do a conflict checked check if there is still a conflict then we'll come back to ABC if there's not it'll stay with the public defender's office for appellate purposes thank you and is the court um authorizing under 12b to proceed informal property yes thank you it's been a long time I hear what you said Mr Matthews don't be clear I heard clearly what both you said yeah my condolences send to the court s of recess