Jonelle

Does this young deputy look familiar? This is Sheriff Justin Smith with his K9 partner back in 1994. K9 Janelle was a female bloodhound trained in tracking and served until 2000. K9 Jonelle was named in honor of Jonelle Matthews, a 12 year old girl who disappeared in Greeley in 1984. Sadly, this young girl was never found. During K9 Jonelle’s career, she successfully tracked suspects and missing persons up to a mile away from their last seen point. According to Sheriff Smith, “Jonelle was a tremendous partner. She served the citizens of Larimer County well and honored her namesake, Jonelle Matthews, through her dedication.”

Decades later, advances in investigative work brought long-awaited answers. In 2019, Jonelle Matthews’ remains were discovered, and through continued investigation and DNA found on her remains, her killer, Steven Pankey, was identified, arrested, and ultimately convicted of felony murder and second-degree kidnapping. He was sentenced to life in prison, bringing a measure of justice after more than 35 years.

Today, K9 Jonelle’s legacy lives on as a symbol of perseverance, service, and the unwavering commitment of law enforcement and K9 teams. While she did not play a role in solving Jonelle Matthews’ case, her name served as a constant reminder of a missing child who was never forgotten. Her story reflects why investment in K9 programs matters—because behind every search is a family waiting for answers, and a continued commitment to keeping missing persons at the forefront until those answers are found.