murders in greeley, colorado
He said he and his wife were home on the night of Jonelle's disappearance. An initial examination determined that she was dead, while an autopsy later confirmed that the Colorado State Employees Credit Union employee had died of multiple bullet wounds. All other forms of violent crime also increased in Greeley last year, contributing to a near-nation leading 50% surge in the violent crime rate nearly 10 times the nationwide increase. [18], Excavators installing a pipeline discovered human remains at 4:50 PM on Tuesday, July 23, 2019, near the intersection of County Roads 34.5 and 49 at coordinates .mw-parser-output .geo-default,.mw-parser-output .geo-dms,.mw-parser-output .geo-dec{display:inline}.mw-parser-output .geo-nondefault,.mw-parser-output .geo-multi-punct{display:none}.mw-parser-output .longitude,.mw-parser-output .latitude{white-space:nowrap}401423N 1043609W / 40.239848N 104.602514W / 40.239848; -104.602514, about 15mi (24km) southeast of Jonelle's home. At the time of her murder, Heather Garraus was 37-years-old and happily married to Ignacio Garraus, a police officer in the Greeley Police Department. Paramedics arrived to take the victim to North Colorado Medical Center. 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. A witness told police they saw a lot of blood and a hatchet at the business before police arrived. The friend said Vega would take her siblings out to dinner one day a month to spend time with them. The jury found him guilty on a charge of false reporting", "Steve Pankey's Defense Poses Theory That Another Man Killed Jonelle Matthews In 1984", "Steve Pankey found guilty of kidnapping, felony murder in Jonelle Matthews case", "Man Sentenced to Life in Prison for Jonelle Matthews' 1984 Murder", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Murder_of_Jonelle_Matthews&oldid=1140455492, December 1984 events in the United States, Pages using infobox person with multiple organizations, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, Member of Sunny View Church of the Nazarene and Franklin Middle School Choir, Jennifer Mogensen (sister), Terri Vierra-Martinez (biological mother), This page was last edited on 20 February 2023, at 04:04. 2023 Cinemaholic Inc. All rights reserved. People from the community came by all day Saturday to pay their respects. Afterward, Vallejos took Vega's car keys and pulled her car closer to the business's front door. Based on DNA evidence, the Weld County Coroner's Office positively identified the remains as being those of Jonelle Matthews. Vallejos failed to show up for a court date in March. 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. The usually peaceful city of Greeley, Colorado, was forced to witness a horrifying homicide when Heather Garraus was murdered in cold blood as she left her place of work. With snow on the ground, Jonelle's father thought it unlikely that she would go far without shoes. It adjusts for the number of visitors and daily workers commuting into cities. [15] As recently as 2018, Greeley Police had been re-contacting witnesses and applying the latest forensic advances in their investigation. On Friday night, Vega's mother reported her missing after she didn't return home by 7:35 p.m. after she was scheduled to close the family business at 7 p.m. [13][21] According to the 2020 indictment statement, shortly following their return to Greeley, Pankey started digging in their yard. You are just minutes from Greenwood & Myers Mortuary is the first choice for many families when they are seeking funeral services in Boulder. Vega was allegedly sexually assaulted and killed. At the time of her disappearance, Jonelle's father was the principal of Platte Valley Elementary School in Kersey, Colorado.[6]. The case began Feb. 10 when a snowplow driver reported spotting a smoldering log and burned body along Old Flowers and Pingree Park roads about 40 miles west of Fort Collins in Larimer County. A news release from the coroners office notes they were family. Vallejos retrieved the piece of paper he left at the table earlier, folded it and placed it at the end of the counter. Please look at the time stamp on the story to see when it was last updated. [12][13], The disappearance attracted interest from the public, including the president of the United States and members of Congress. This is an archived article and the information in the article may be outdated. GREELEY, Colo. (KDVR) The family of a 22-year-old woman who was killed Friday night has identified her as Angie Vega. When produced in court, Shawna maintained her innocence but was soon convicted of first-degree murder. "We're here for you. Upon arrival, officers found the victim on the floor of the garage while two witnesses were providing help to the severely injured man. Randy Baker's Wife, Kelly, Found Him Dead On The Floor. Officers said Vallejos threw a brick through the window of the Greeley Church of Latter Day Saints and went inside. Mar. Surprisingly, the killer was dressed in a black robe and was hiding their face with a grim reaper mask. [3] Her remains were discovered on July 24, 2019, by construction workers putting in a new pipeline 15 mi (24 km) from her home. Moreover, officers also found a Grim Reaper mask in the truck the accused was driving, further strengthening their case. To learn more about ChatGPT and how we can inspire students, we sat down with BestReviews book expert, Ciera Pasturel. 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. 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". The COVID-19 pandemic shut down schools and left millions of Americans out of work. We want safety, so the powers that be put more lights up here. During his interview with a detective, Vallejos made statements about Jesus Christ, Sophia, Mexicans, Mormons, magnets and politics, records said. Officers responded to the store and found Vegas glasses in the parking lot, as well as blood on the sidewalk near the front entrance. Her family said at work, she wrote a message on every cup to cheer up customers. According to the Greeley. Officers found three people dead inside the home. Powered by WordPress.com VIP. Lets delve into the details surrounding the crime and find out more, shall we? The Matthews notified Vierra about what happened and the families became friends. 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. Gabriel Faudoa, 34, is facing charges of first-degree murder after deliberation, first-degree felony murder, aggravated robbery with a weapon and aggravated vehicle theft. The Greeley chief of police attributes the spike to disruptions caused by the pandemic, including the release of some inmates from jails and prisons to improve social distancing measures within the facilities. Hicks claimed to have heard Pankey muttering in response, accusing the minister of being a false prophet. The Moving can be an exciting experience. The case is the subject of a new Dateline episode that aired Monday night at 9 p.m. GREELEY, Colo. Randy Baker was 59 when his wife Kelly found him dead inside . [21] Pankey had claimed that on the evening of Jonelle's abduction, a rake was used to cover up tracks left in the snow. 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. Angie always put her mother and siblings first!". Interestingly, Shawna was arrested on the same day as Heathers murder, and the police found her driving her husbands truck. According to the witnesses, the assailant who attacked Heather spoke in a womans voice and even blamed the victim for ruining her life. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. 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. 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. Ketia Daniel, founder of BHM Cleaning Co., is BestReviews cleaning expert. [27] He received a sentence of 20 years to life in prison. Family members identified the woman killed as 22-year-old Angelica "Angie" Vega. Suspect Marcos Vallejos, 24, has been arrested and booked. In fact, the show also stated that Shawna and Ignacios affair led to a child, and the former wanted him to divorce his wife and move in with her. You are just minutes from Greenwood & Myers Mortuary is the first choice for many families when they are seeking funeral services in Boulder. International Center for Unidentified and Missing Persons', "Jonelle Matthews investigation: Chronicling the 34-year search for missing Greeley 12-year-oldThe vivacious 12-year-old disappeared in 1984. The Moving can be an exciting experience. The victim, identified by her family as Angie Vega, was allegedly sexually. but it can also be stressful. Give Light and the People Will Find Their Own Way. Vallejos returned to the cameras view to retrieve the hatchet and take it back to the office area. - A Greeley man was sentenced to the rest of his life in prison this week for murdering a woman in 2018. According to the arrest affidavit, surveillance cameras showed Vallejos enter Noco Nutrition at 5:36 p.m. with a backpack over his shoulder. If youre an investor looking to minimize expenses, consider checking out online brokerages. 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 New information from Greeley police has revealed some gruesome details about the sexual assault and murder of Angelica 'Angie' Vega. Vallejos also claimed he had no rights and didnt understand them. [25] The prosecution argued that Pankey's behavior and statements incriminated him in the murder, but Pankey's defense attorney argued that his "obsessive interest" in the case could be attributed to Asperger syndrome. At 1:51 a.m. July 24, Evans police responded to a stabbing in a garage in the 4000 block of Mariposa Lane. At about that time, a car stored on their property caught fire and the burned car "was disposed of at a salvage yard". If you need anything, we're here," Bowie said. Vallejos briefly interacted with Vega at the counter before sitting down at a nearby table. 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. Pankey's trial began on Thursday, October 14, 2021, ultimately ending in a mistrial on November 4, 2021, due to a hung jury. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. Once the mystery attacker reached Heather, they ordered her to go down on her knees and began shooting incessantly at close range. At 6:25 p.m., Vallejos got up from his table and walked to the restroom. Besides, she was highly dedicated to her husband and their relationship meant the world to Heather. The caller said Vega was supposed to close the business at 7 p.m. Before calling police, a worker saw video surveillance and noticed the place looked like a mess. David . A family friend said Vega had a heart of gold and worked hard to help her mom and siblings in every way she could. The incident angered Shawna greatly, and authorities discovered that she had been sending threatening messages to Ignacio and Heather for quite some time. He then leaves and pulls his car closer to the business. but it can also be stressful. [21], Pankey gave an interview to the Times-News and said he was being framed by the police because of his sexuality, identifying himself as a "celibate homosexual". [13] Steven Pankey was 69 years old at the time of his indictment. 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. As a result, she was sentenced to life in prison in 2008 and still remains behind bars at the Denver Womens Correctional Facility in Denver, Colorado. Surprisingly, the killer was dressed in a black robe and was hiding their face with a grim reaper mask. 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 . She was found dead in her car after she went missing from her place of work at NOCO Nutrition. However, Ignacio soon realized his mistake, and apart from breaking up with Shawna, even gave up his parental rights. Greeley resident Leandra Walker never met Vega or her family, but she left flowers and a poem at the store. During this time, Vega put things away and cleaned up the counter. A few moments later, he left his table and walked around the counter to the restroom out of the cameras view. She had a beautiful bright smile that could light up a room! That's about a mile from where the attack happened. The number of homicides stood at 2. All data in this story is at the metro area level from the FBI. A customer also told her someone broke into the business and there was blood on the floor. She was very unique and had a heart of gold! Suspect Marcos Vallejos, 24, has been arrested and booked into Weld County Jail on charges of first-degree murder and sexual assault. Eventually, Vallejos followed her behind the counter and attacked her from behind with a hatchet. 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She also said this trip was unexpected. A Greeley detective accessed the interior video surveillance from NOCO Nutrition. Please enter valid email address to continue. At his son's funeral, Hicks reportedly heard Pankey say, "I hope God didn't allow this to happen because of Jonelle Matthews. She was beautiful smart loving and caring young lady filled with so much joy! The police arrived at 10:15 PM and found footprints in the snow, indicating that someone had been looking in the windows. [21] He was held without bail at the Ada County Jail in Boise until he was extradited to Colorado. [13] Hicks said they returned to Greeley on December 26 and that Pankey took an unusual interest in the disappearance. GREELEY, Colo. Content Warning: This article includes topics that may be sensitive for some readers, including sexual assault. Randy Baker had already been through hard times and was fighting for his life when he was shot dead just inside his Greeley, Colorado home in June 2017. 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[March 7, 1985]: I learned about Jonelle Matthews of Greeley, Colorado. Greeley, Colorado, is one of only four large U.S. metro areas where murders more than tripled in the last year. Upon retrial, Pankey was found guilty of the kidnapping and murder of Jonelle by a Weld County jury on October 31, 2022.