Episode
Footprints in the Snow
1:23:23
Published: Tue Feb 21 2023
Description
The missing persons case of 12-year-old Jonelle Matthews in Colorado remains a mystery for more than 3 decades until detectives narrow in on a suspect whose bizarre behavior after her disappearance hints at something much more sinister. Dennis Murphy reports.
Chapters
Janelle Matthews disappeared from her home with no signs of a struggle or physical evidence.
00:00 - 00:44 (00:44)
Summary
Janelle Matthews disappeared from her home with no signs of a struggle or physical evidence. The case rocked her community and left police with few leads.
EpisodeFootprints in the Snow
PodcastDateline NBC
The story describes the tragedy that happened in Greeley, Colorado just before Christmas in 1984, where a child was murdered and the community was left in shock.
00:44 - 04:52 (04:07)
Summary
The story describes the tragedy that happened in Greeley, Colorado just before Christmas in 1984, where a child was murdered and the community was left in shock.
EpisodeFootprints in the Snow
PodcastDateline NBC
Janelle Matthews disappeared from her home in Colorado in 1984 after returning from a Christmas concert.
04:52 - 11:40 (06:48)
Summary
Janelle Matthews disappeared from her home in Colorado in 1984 after returning from a Christmas concert. Police found no signs of struggle and her shoes were surprisingly found inside the house, leaving her parents and the community in a state of shock and confusion.
EpisodeFootprints in the Snow
PodcastDateline NBC
The community, family, and police in Greeley are working tirelessly to find a missing person and spread the word to increase the chances of a safe return home.
11:40 - 17:14 (05:34)
Summary
The community, family, and police in Greeley are working tirelessly to find a missing person and spread the word to increase the chances of a safe return home. New information has been withheld from the press to aid in the search efforts.
EpisodeFootprints in the Snow
PodcastDateline NBC
The family of Janelle Matthews, who went missing in 1984 and was killed, received a confession from a man accused of the crime.
17:14 - 24:21 (07:07)
Summary
The family of Janelle Matthews, who went missing in 1984 and was killed, received a confession from a man accused of the crime. However, the confession was false and highlights how easily people can be led to falsely confess during interrogations.
EpisodeFootprints in the Snow
PodcastDateline NBC
The police receive a tip about Norris Drake, a possible suspect in the kidnapping of Janelle Matthews, from an acquaintance who is suspicious about his behavior that night.
24:21 - 32:30 (08:08)
Summary
The police receive a tip about Norris Drake, a possible suspect in the kidnapping of Janelle Matthews, from an acquaintance who is suspicious about his behavior that night. Drake's ex-girlfriend also informs detectives about his fetish for pre-teens, providing further evidence against him.
EpisodeFootprints in the Snow
PodcastDateline NBC
Police investigate a lead in the Janelle Matthews case, but without physical evidence or a confession, they struggle to build a solid case against a suspect.
32:30 - 41:11 (08:41)
Summary
Police investigate a lead in the Janelle Matthews case, but without physical evidence or a confession, they struggle to build a solid case against a suspect.
EpisodeFootprints in the Snow
PodcastDateline NBC
Detective Prill worked for 15 months on the case file of missing Janelle Matthews, but it was a call with Panky's ex-wife that finally helped to crack the case and bring justice to Janelle's family.
41:11 - 49:25 (08:13)
Summary
Detective Prill worked for 15 months on the case file of missing Janelle Matthews, but it was a call with Panky's ex-wife that finally helped to crack the case and bring justice to Janelle's family.
EpisodeFootprints in the Snow
PodcastDateline NBC
The Panky family moved to different states before settling in Idaho, where Panky ran for several offices, including two extremely long shot campaigns for governor, while detectives kept a suspicious eye on him regarding Janelle's disappearance.
49:25 - 52:53 (03:28)
Summary
The Panky family moved to different states before settling in Idaho, where Panky ran for several offices, including two extremely long shot campaigns for governor, while detectives kept a suspicious eye on him regarding Janelle's disappearance.
EpisodeFootprints in the Snow
PodcastDateline NBC
Eric Panky was the prime suspect in the disappearance of Janelle Matthews and filed a court petition saying the arrest was an attempt to force him to become an informant in Janelle's case.
52:53 - 59:30 (06:36)
Summary
Eric Panky was the prime suspect in the disappearance of Janelle Matthews and filed a court petition saying the arrest was an attempt to force him to become an informant in Janelle's case.
EpisodeFootprints in the Snow
PodcastDateline NBC
Detective Prill presented a 75 page timeline of everything Steven Panky had said about Janelle Matthews over three decades as evidence to a grand jury for her murder charge.
59:30 - 1:04:37 (05:07)
Summary
Detective Prill presented a 75 page timeline of everything Steven Panky had said about Janelle Matthews over three decades as evidence to a grand jury for her murder charge.
EpisodeFootprints in the Snow
PodcastDateline NBC
The defense attempted to discredit the state's star witness by questioning her motive for speaking out 15 years later.
1:04:37 - 1:09:38 (05:00)
Summary
The defense attempted to discredit the state's star witness by questioning her motive for speaking out 15 years later. They argued that there was no physical evidence to connect Panky to the crime, making him innocent.
EpisodeFootprints in the Snow
PodcastDateline NBC
The defense strategy in the Casey Anthony trial aimed to give the jury an alternate suspect to think about and challenge Angela's credibility.
1:09:38 - 1:15:39 (06:00)
Summary
The defense strategy in the Casey Anthony trial aimed to give the jury an alternate suspect to think about and challenge Angela's credibility. The goal was to evoke the image of the gun being pointed at the little girl's head in the jury's mind.
EpisodeFootprints in the Snow
PodcastDateline NBC
Stephen Dana Panky is found guilty of murder in the first degree after a surprise witness is allowed to testify in court.
1:15:39 - 1:20:50 (05:11)
Summary
Stephen Dana Panky is found guilty of murder in the first degree after a surprise witness is allowed to testify in court. Panky had previously been accused of rape by another witness, but the charges were not pressed.
EpisodeFootprints in the Snow
PodcastDateline NBC
The Matthews family finds closure and justice for the loss of their daughter as they witness the conviction of her killer and speak out during the trial, although they struggle with the concept of forgiveness.
1:20:50 - 1:23:20 (02:29)
Summary
The Matthews family finds closure and justice for the loss of their daughter as they witness the conviction of her killer and speak out during the trial, although they struggle with the concept of forgiveness.