Earlier this week, skeletal remains turned up at an oil and gas site in rural Weld County, Colorado. Today it was announced that they were identified as twelve-year-old Jonelle Renee Matthews, who disappeared from Greeley, Colorado on December 20, 1984.
The Greeley Tribune was anonymously sent photos of the remains, which they said they would not be showing to anyone, but which they did describe in their article. Per the description, “tattered red- and blue-colored clothing” was found with the body, and Jonelle was wearing a blue jacket and a red blouse when she was abducted, so it sounds like she’s been dead since very shortly after her disappearance. Perhaps that very same night.
I am sure she was identified by dental record, DNA would not be that fast
I was going to email you when I saw, so I am glad you saw this. Poor girl can rest in peace now.
I wonder who knew she was home alone. She had been dropped off by a friend and one of their parent, after the concert. Also, I would think if she was participating in a concert that her parents would have attended.
The “concert” might have been a choir program that was not a “big deal” at the time, hence the parents’ lack of attendance.
From just what we know publicly, we can at least determine that the offender had a vehicle (or access to one…you can’t move the body without a vehicle). That alone should help LE, though they’re very close lipped on this case.
Her mother I believe was out of town visiting her mother and her father was at her older sisters basketball game.
Condolences to the family. Does anyone know how far away the area is from her home? I read the links but it wasn’t mentioned.
God rest her soul.
I think I read it was fairly close within ten miles, I wonder if the Father who dropped her off with the daughter, watched her go in her home like we are suppose to do no matter how old you are or whom you are? I often think that People hit people and get scared and do away with the remains, it would be so easy with a child.
She definitely made it inside the house if that’s what you mean. They were able to prove that.