Murder of Jonelle Matthews - Wikipedia He interacted with Vega briefly at the shop's counter and then sat a table. [4] Steven Pankey was sentenced to life imprisonment on October 31, 2022, after his arrest in 2020. Weld judge sentences Greeley man to 60 years for October 2020 murder The man saw signs of someone being dragged as well as surveillance footage showing someone taking Vega. New information from Greeley police has revealed some gruesome details about the sexual assault and murder of Angelica 'Angie' Vega. Shortly after 8:30 PM, Jonelle answered a phone call and took a message for her father. On surveillance, Vallejos was seen moving her body to the backseat of the vehicle. After, Vallejos removed a dark-colored cover from a nearby couch using the hatchet. Now, a memorial is set up outside of the nutrition shop with flowers and photos of Vega. The person reported seeing a body covered in the backseat. Video surveillance obtained by police showed a 24-year-old murder suspect waiting for customers to leave a business before brutally killing a 22-year-old worker with a hatchet. 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. [5] Greeley gang leader will 'never walk the streets again' - FOX31 Denver March 3, 2023 at 2:15 p.m. Zachary Miller (Boulder County Sheriff's Office) The Boulder man accused of beating another man to death with a pipe in 2020 was once again ordered to undergo a sanity . Besides, she was highly dedicated to her husband and their relationship meant the world to Heather. Homicides are rising at a record pace in the United States. If you need anything, we're here," Bowie said. Officers responded to the convenience store and found Vegas body. Moreover, the people who saw the murder also claimed that the killer showed no compassion, and it seemed like a personal attack. Police said the missing woman was found dead in the backseat. Afterward, Vallejos took Vega's car keys and pulled her car closer to the business's front door. 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. [2] Vierra had used a search consultant to help locate Jonelle. Meet the news team or contact us. She cherished life and those in it! Weld District Court Judge Julie Hoskins handed down a mandatory life sentence in the Colorado Department of Corrections Thursday morning to 67-year-old Jesus Romero. 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Some parts 2023 Advameg, Inc. Crime rate in Greeley, Colorado (CO): murders, rapes, robberies, assaults, burglaries, thefts, auto thefts, arson, law enforcement employees, police officers, crime map. You are just minutes from Greenwood & Myers Mortuary is the first choice for many families when they are seeking funeral services in Boulder. According to the arrest affidavit, surveillance cameras showed Vallejos enter Noco Nutrition at 5:36 p.m. with a backpack over his shoulder. He then leaves and pulls his car closer to the business. [21] In 2018, Pankey had campaigned for the Idaho Republican Party's nomination for the position of governor of Idaho. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Please enter valid email address to continue. Suspect Marcos Vallejos, 24, has been arrested and booked. Every picture of Vega at the memorials shows her smile. The tree died after a few years and a plaque inscribed with Jonelle's name disappeared. However, unable to get an idea about possible suspects, authorities interviewed Heathers co-workers, who gave the police their first breakthrough. 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. Introduction. In metropolitan areas across the country, the increase in homicides last year eclipsed the national surge in some cases, many times over. Man charged with murder after police find body outside Greeley home You are just minutes from Greenwood & Myers Mortuary is the first choice for many families when they are seeking funeral services in Boulder. Moreover, officers also found a Grim Reaper mask in the truck the accused was driving, further strengthening their case. Greeley, Colorado, is one of only four large U.S. metro areas where murders more than tripled in the last year. In the minutes that followed, Vallejos made spontaneous and unsolicited statements that he killed someone. Vallejos retrieved the piece of paper he left at the table earlier, folded it and placed it at the end of the counter. Here is a look at the states where gun sales are surging. A little over two and a half hours later the womans car was found less than five minutes down the road at the Kum and Go gas station at 20th Street and 71st Avenue. GREELEY, Colo. (KDVR) Officers found a body outside a Greeley home shortly after midnight Saturday. "I hope maybe her family can see that there are people who care even though we didn't know her," Walker said. Police arrested a suspect, identified as Marco Vallejos. Greeley Police Commander Roy Smith stated that Pankey "had made repeated efforts to speak with detectives" about the Matthews case, but refused to answer questions when detectives traveled to Twin Falls on August 15, 2019. Arrest affidavit reveals timeline of gruesome sexual assault, murder in Police determined Jaramillo left the scene in a Dodge. [21], The police announced that Pankey had long been a person of interest in the case. 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. Paramedics arrived to take the victim to North Colorado Medical Center. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. We interviewed our tech expert, Jaime Vazquez, to learn more about accessible smart home devices. At 1:51 a.m. July 24, Evans police responded to a stabbing in a garage in the 4000 block of Mariposa Lane. When the police initially approached Shawna, she insisted on her innocence and denied being involved in Heathers murder. Big Sky Tournament: UNC men's, women's basketball have tough road in Boise. In a matter of three days, on October 12, 2020, police arrested Pankey for kidnapping and first-degree murder in Jonelle's case. David . However, from the looks of it, the cops seemingly had an immediate breakthrough as there were several eyewitnesses to the murder. A final cause and manner of death await the conclusion of autopsy reports., Greeley police said Saturday that all three had apparent gunshot wounds and that evidence at the scene suggests that this was a murder-suicide.. A young woman found dead in the back of her vehicle Friday night in Greeley has been identified, and a suspect is in custody. At his son's funeral, Hicks reportedly heard Pankey say, "I hope God didn't allow this to happen because of Jonelle Matthews. By the time first responders arrived at the murder scene, Heather was lying in a pool of blood on the ground. SmartAssets free tool matches you with up to three financial advisors who serve your area, and you can interview your advisor matches at no cost to decide which one is right for you. Higher means more crime, U.S. average is 270.6. Here is a look at the states where gun sales are surging. GREELEY, Colo. ( KDVR) The family of a 22-year-old woman who was killed Friday night has identified her as Angie Vega. Arrest affidavit reveals timeline of gruesome sexual assault, murder in Greeley, sexual assault and murder of Angelica 'Angie' Vega. If youre ready to find an advisor who can help you achieve your financial goals, get started now. Vallejos also claimed he had no rights and didnt understand them. Footage of the murder of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer rattled confidence in American law enforcement and sparked nationwide protests. He then dragged Vega a few feet before sexually assaulting her, records said. Give Light and the People Will Find Their Own Way. Woman killed in Greeley identified, suspect in custody | 9news.com Interestingly, Shawna was arrested on the same day as Heathers murder, and the police found her driving her husbands truck. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Weld County Sheriff, DA announce arrest in 1979 murder of Evelyn Kay "We're here for you. Twenty-four-year-old Marcos Vallejos was arrested shortly after and charged with sexual assault and first-degree murder. Seconds later, he was back in the frame without the hatchet. Officers helped tend to the victim's injuries until Evans fire personnel arrived. Vega was seen on security cameras cleaning and preparing to close the store. [21] He was held without bail at the Ada County Jail in Boise until he was extradited to Colorado. The 2019 Greeley crime rate fell by 9% compared to 2018. Heather Garraus Murder: Latest Recycling of a Colorado Crime Story Discuss Greeley, Colorado (CO) on our hugely popular Colorado forum. We want safety, so the powers that be put more lights up here. The incident angered Shawna greatly, and authorities discovered that she had been sending threatening messages to Ignacio and Heather for quite some time. The suspect is Jessica Reeves-Burrola, according to jail records. "Its really scary to know that she was doing her job and someone so innocent can be taken for no reason, no reason at all.. Jonelle Matthews case: Suspect indicted for murder in 1984 Greeley cold Officers responded to the store and found Vegas glasses in the parking lot, as well as blood on the sidewalk near the front entrance. He was wearing a white shirt, dark pants and had a black backpack. 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. According to the Greeley Police Department (GPD), officers were called to the 4900 block of 23rd Street Road just. Apparent murder-suicide in Greeley leaves 3 dead | 9news.com While it may be years before the precise causal factors are identified, many U.S. cities are bearing the brunt of the rash of deadly violence. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The friend said Vega would take her siblings out to dinner one day a month to spend time with them. During his interview with a detective, Vallejos made statements about Jesus Christ, Sophia, Mexicans, Mormons, magnets and politics, records said. However, Ignacio soon realized his mistake, and apart from breaking up with Shawna, even gave up his parental rights. 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. The 59-year-old halfway house counselor had spent years doing drugs before a stint in jail, then rehab set him on the straight and narrow. She was funny! Greeley Police responded to the business for a wellness check after they were tipped off that someone might have broken in and the woman who was scheduled to close was missing. When officers arrived, they found a wounded man on the ground with. Therefore, Shawna was arrested and charged with murder. 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. Vegas body was inside that car. She said theyre pushing for better safety in this area. Anyone with information about the case is asked to contact Detective Radin at (970) 350-9671. Homicide is Soaring in the Greeley, CO Metro Area Samuel Stebbins Homicides are rising at a record pace in the United States. Vega and her vehicle were both missing. Use at your own risk. Internal Affairs, a podcast spinoff from the long-running news program Dateline NBC, is correspondent Josh Mankiewicz's six-episode exploration of a Colorado crime: the 2007 murder in Greeley of . DU loses to North Dakota in Summit tourney opener, Makar cleared to return 2nd time from concussion protocol, 77 inches of snow fall at Colorado ski area in 9 days, 'She was always smiling': Family remembers woman killed at Greeley smoothie shop. He shuffled papers in and out of his black backpack and wrote on them for an hour. She was found dead in. August 30, 2022 / 1:01 PM Greeley murder: Man gets maximum sentence for 2020 killing | 9news.com Vega was allegedly sexually assaulted and killed. 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. The day of January 23, 2007, was a normal one at the Garraus household as Heather left for work as scheduled. GREELEY, Colo. Content Warning: This article includes topics that may be sensitive for some readers, including sexual assault. [15] As recently as 2018, Greeley Police had been re-contacting witnesses and applying the latest forensic advances in their investigation. Surprisingly, the killer was dressed in a black robe and was hiding their face with a grim reaper mask. [21], Pankey knew he was a person of interest in September 2019 when he was interviewed by the Idaho Statesman. [5], Jonelle Matthews was born at Cottage Hospital in Santa Barbara, California, on February 9, 1972, to 13-year-old Terri Vierra. According to our research of Colorado and other state lists, there were 381 registered sex offenders living in Greeley, Colorado as of March 03, 2023. 2A 23-year-old will spend 60 years behind bars for shooting and killing a Greeley man in October 2020. Whether movers in Fort Collins are helping you Trevor Reid covers public safety issues for the Greeley Tribune. [22][23], On October 13, 2020, Pankey was indicted on charges of first-degree murder and kidnapping in Jonelle's death. "[13], Jennifer Mogensen, Jonelle's older sister, said her family experienced "some closure" when they learned that Jonelle was murdered and she considers Pankey's arrest "another gift to our family". [16] She appears in the International Center for Unidentified and Missing Persons' database. A witness told police they saw a lot of blood and a hatchet at the business before police arrived. Vega was allegedly sexually assaulted and killed. With snow on the ground, Jonelle's father thought it unlikely that she would go far without shoes. The criminal indictment said that he "intentionally inserted himself in the investigation many times over the years claiming to have knowledge of the crime which grew inconsistent and incriminating over time". Greeley Police said they were called just before 8 p.m. Friday to a report of suspicious activity at Noco Nutrition, in the 1900 block of 59th Avenue. All in the family: Greeley man's murder featured on Dateline Three people are dead after an apparent murder-suicide in Greeley Saturday. During the interview in the field and at the police station, officers said that Vallejos made several incoherent or nonsensical statements. A little after 10:30 p.m., police found Vega's vehicle a little over a mile away, near 71st Avenue and 20th Street. [3] Her remains were discovered on July 24, 2019, by construction workers putting in a new pipeline 15mi (24km) from her home. When detectives examined the surveillance video, they learned Vallejos entered the business at 5:36 p.m. while other customers were inside. Vega's family posted a statement on Facebook that read in part: "Angelica Vega was a Daughter a grand daughter a sister a niece a cousin a friend. 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. He took his backpack but left a piece of paper at the table. [2], Years after Jonelle's disappearance, her parents moved to the Philippines. There were 16 homicides reported in the area in 2020, up 220% from five in 2019. He said he and his wife were home on the night of Jonelle's disappearance. The Moving can be an exciting experience. According to the Greeley. City-data.com does not guarantee the accuracy or timeliness of any information on this site. Suspect indicted for murder in 1984 disappearance and death of Greeley's Jonelle Matthews The remains of the 12-year-old girl were discovered in a rural Weld County field last year Some experts speculate that each of these factors likely played a role in rising homicide rates nationwide. Vallejos was arrested on suspicion of first-degree murder and sexual assault. Police responded to the convenience store and found the victim, later identified as Vega, deceased at 10:59 p.m. Vallejos was eventually found walking near the convenience store with the victim's car keys and a single sheet of paper. He returned seconds later with his right hand covered in blood before going outside to pull Vegas vehicle closer to the business. A wanted 34-year-old man is facing charges for first-degree assault and attempted murder after a late night hangout ended in a stabbing and severe injuries late last month in Evans. Coroner identifies 3 found dead at home in Greeley - KMGH She was pronounced dead at 10:59 p.m. Police found Vallejos backpack in the front seat of the car. Marcos Vallejos, 24, is being charged with murder in the first degree and sexual assault. Notifications can be turned off anytime in the browser settings. He also had a laceration to the left pectoral muscle and several puncture wounds along his left side. Pankey repeatedly claimed to have knowledge of the crime and had asked "for immunity in exchange for information". However, refusing to give up, officers arrested her best friend, Michelle Moore, who came clean after being charged with being an accessory after the fact and admitted that Shawna was responsible for murdering Heather. The Moving can be an exciting experience. [13] Hicks said they returned to Greeley on December 26 and that Pankey took an unusual interest in the disappearance. 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. The Angie Zapata Murder: Violence Against Transgender People - GLAAD The worker contacted another person to go check out the business. Their father began to worry and called police. At this point, Vega was draped in a blanket. She said that on their return trip, Pankey "uncharacteristically listened to the radio, searching for news of the girl's disappearance". 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. Jaramillo has several active warrants, but has not been taken into custody for the July 24 stabbing. People who knew her described her as a wonderful and kind individual who welcomed everyone with a smile and was always ready to extend a helping hand. [14] She was mentioned in the Congressional Record for the United States House of Representatives on April 2, 1985, page 7224. Eventually, Vallejos followed her behind the counter and attacked her from behind with a hatchet. 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