TAKEN LIVES AND FORCED FAMILIES TO JUMP FROM BALCONIES. >>> I AM DAVE AGUILERA WITH YOUR TRICK-OR-TREAT FORECAST, AND WHEN OUR NEXT COOLDOWN IS EXPECTED. >>> A CASE BEFORE THE U.S. SUPREME COURT COULD CHANGE AFFIRMATIVE ACTION AS WE KNOW IT. THE NEWS STARTS NOW. >>> OUR TOP STORY FOR YOU TONIGHT, JUSTICE FOR A FAMILY DECADES AFTER THE DISAPPEARANCE AND DEATH OF A 12-YEAR-OLD GIRL. JONELLE MATTHEWS VANISHED FROM GREELEY IN 1984. HER REMAINS WERE NOT FOUND UNTIL A FEW YEARS AGO. DILLON THOMAS JOINS US LIVE RIGHT NOW WHERE JURORS RETURNED THE GUILTY PLEA AGAINST THE MAN CHARGED IN HER MURDER. DILLION? >> Reporter: TODAY, FAMILIES AND FRIENDS OF JONELLE MATTHEWS CRIED TEARS OF JOY AND SORROW BEHIND ME. 40 YEARS AFTER HE MURDERED JONELLE MATTHEWS, STEVE PANKEY WAS NOT ONLY CONVICTED, BUT SENTENCED TO LIFE BEHIND BARS. THE FAMILY PRAYS THE DA OFFICE AND LAW ENFORCEMENT NEVER GAVE UP ON THE PURSUIT FOR JONELLE MATTHEWS. STEVE PANKEY SAYS THEY GOT ANYTHING BUT. >> Reporter: MONDAY MORNING, STEVE PANKEY WALKED INTO A COURTROOM BUT LEARNED HIS FATE. >> WE FIND STEVE PANKEY GUILTY OF MURDER IN THE FIRST DEGREE. >> Reporter: HE WAS IN A PRISONERS JUMPSUIT WHEN IT CAME TO SENTENCING. LIFE IN PRISON WITH THE POSSIBILITY OF PAROLE AFTER 20 YEARS. >> I WANT TO CRY. >> Reporter: HE MURDERED 12- YEAR-OLD JONELLE MATTHEWS. HER FAMILY HAS CLOSURE. >> IT WAS A MIRACLE. I HAVE TO GIVE GOD CREDIT FOR THAT. UNTIL THE BODY WAS FOUND WE WERE CONSIGNED TO THE FACT WE MAY NEVER KNOW WHAT HAPPENED TO HER. >> Reporter: HER PARENTS SAID MONDAY'S VERDICT BROUGHT A FLOOD OF EMOTIONS FROM DECADES OF BUILT-UP PAIN. >> RELIEF, CLOSURE, FINALITY FOR OUR FAMILY, AND PRAISING GOD FOR HIS HELP IN THIS AS WELL. >> Reporter: HER PARENTS AND SISTER WERE AROUND TO ADDRESS THE COURT WHERE THEY SPENT THEIR TIME CALLING ON STEVE PANKEY TO SEEK FORGIVENESS, BUT NOT FROM THEM. >> I CANNOT FORGIVE HIM FOR HOW HE KILLED JONELLE MATTHEWS. GOD IS THE ONLY ONE WHO CAN FORGIVE EVIL. I FEEL THIS IS EVIL. >> Reporter: HE ONLY HAD THREE THINGS TO SAY. >> I AM A CHRISTIAN. I WILL BE IN HEAVEN . I AM INNOCENT. AND THIS IS NOT JUSTICE FOR JONELLE MATTHEWS. >> WE WILL NOT LET THIS OBSESS US AND HAUNT US. WE HAVE THE VERDICT WE WANT NOW. STEVE PANKEY IS A HUMAN BEING. HE HAS A SOUL. IT IS STILL NOT TOO LATE FOR HIM TO GET THINGS RIGHT WITH GOD. >> Reporter: AFTER NEARLY 38 YEARS OF WAITING AND TWO YEARS OF TWO TRIALS, THE FAMILY OF JONELLE MATTHEWS TELLS US THEY ARE WORKING ON GETTING TO THE POINT OF FORGIVENESS, SOMETHING THEY HAVE NOT RULED OUT YET.