Ep 15. Who Killed Jonelle Matthews?

On December 20, 1984, 12-year-old Jonelle Matthews disappeared without a trace from her family's home in Greeley, Colorado, after performing with her school choir at a Christmas concert. The case remained cold for nearly 35 years until a chilling discovery was made in July 2019.

In this episode of 48 Hours, titled "Who Killed Jonelle Matthews?", correspondent Erin Moriarty takes viewers on a journey through the investigation that has gripped the Colorado community for decades. Moriarty speaks with family members, law enforcement officials, and experts about the case, piecing together the events leading up to Jonelle's disappearance and the tireless efforts of investigators to find her killer.

The episode begins by introducing Jonelle and her family, who were described as a close-knit and loving group. The night of her disappearance, Jonelle had just performed with her school choir and was excited to return home to celebrate with her family. When her parents returned home after running errands, they found the front door unlocked and Jonelle's shoes by the door, but their daughter was nowhere to be found.

From there, Moriarty explores the early stages of the investigation, which involved combing the family's home and surrounding area for evidence and interviewing potential witnesses. In the months following Jonelle's disappearance, the case became a national news story, with a $20,000 reward offered for information leading to Jonelle's safe return.

Despite an extensive investigation by local law enforcement and the FBI, no significant leads arose in the case until 2019. That's when a construction crew working on a pipeline project in rural Weld County discovered human remains that were later determined to be those of Jonelle Matthews. The discovery reignited the investigation, prompting a renewed effort to find her killer.

Throughout the episode, Moriarty speaks with experts about the challenges investigators have faced in solving the case, including the lack of physical evidence and the passage of time. She also explores potential suspects in the case, including a man who had lived near the Matthews family at the time of Jonelle's disappearance and who had a history of sexual assault.

As the investigation continues to unfold, Moriarty speaks with family members about their hopes for justice for Jonelle and their belief that someone out there knows what happened to their daughter. The episode ends with an update on the case, which remains open and active.

Overall, "Who Killed Jonelle Matthews?" offers a sobering look at the devastating impact of the loss of a child and the tireless efforts of law enforcement to bring justice to families who have suffered unimaginable loss.