A Colorado jury found former Idaho candidate for Governor Steve Pankey guilty this morning of first degree murder and 2nd degree kidnapping for the 1984 death of 12 year old Jonelle Matthews. Then just a few hours ago, he was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 20 years. Janelle's mom said she's trying to forgive him, but can't. I cannot forgive him. For how he killed. Janelle, you will not hear me say his name again. This is about Janelle. This is not about the defendant. This was the second time this case went to trial after a jury could not reach a consensus last year resulting in a mistrial. Jonelle Matthews went missing on December 20th, 1984 after she was dropped off at her Greeley, Co home. The case stumped investigators for decades until July of 2019 when oil workers found her body in a Weld County oil field. A grand jury indicted Steve Pankey on 1st degree murder and 2nd degree kidnapping charges in October 2020. Pankey was convicted of. False reporting in his 2021 trial, but not on the more serious charges. Analysts were unable to recover any usable DNA from Jonell's remains or clothing, which were buried in that oil field for more than three decades. They instead relied on circumstantial evidence and Pankey statements and odd behavior over the years to paint him as the killer.