Angela Hicks: The Woman Who Helped Solve a 35-Year-Old Mystery

Angela Hicks: The Woman Who Helped Solve a 35-Year-Old Mystery

Angela Hicks never expected to become a key figure in a decades-old child disappearance case. But her memories, bravery, and decision to speak out changed everything. In 1984, 12-year-old Jonelle Matthews vanished from her home in Colorado.

For over 30 years, the case went cold—until Angela, the ex-wife of Steven Pankey, stepped forward. Her story is one of emotional survival, domestic abuse, and unshakable courage. This article follows Angela’s life, how she broke free from control, and how her voice finally brought justice for a long-lost child.

A Life Changed By A Controlling Marriage

Angela Hicks grew up in Colorado and met Steven Pankey while working in a communications center. They married in the late 1970s. What started as a hopeful beginning soon became a life full of fear and silence. Angela said Steven didn’t let her drive, read newspapers, watch TV, or listen to music. She wasn’t even allowed to talk to her own family.

“I felt like a prisoner,” Angela later shared. “He controlled everything—what I read, where I went, even what I thought.” They had two children together. Despite the abuse, she stayed for over two decades. In 2001, she finally found the strength to leave.

A Girl Disappears In The Night

In December 1984, a 12-year-old girl named Jonelle Matthews vanished from her home after a school concert. Her dad came home and found her missing. There were strange signs, like snow around the windows being raked.

The case shocked the town and became one of the first to feature a missing child on a milk carton. Angela didn’t know it then, but this moment would haunt her marriage and eventually become the key to bringing her ex-husband to justice.

The First Clues That Something Was Wrong

Angela began to feel something wasn’t right the day after Jonelle disappeared. Steven suddenly decided the family would drive to California for the holidays—no warning, no explanation. During the trip, he kept listening to the radio, obsessed with the case.

When they came back, he dug holes in the backyard. Angela also remembered a car being set on fire—something she couldn’t explain. At first, she didn’t say anything. But over time, more strange details added up.

“He once said, ‘Do you think I would hurt her when she looked so much like you?’” Angela recalled. That line stayed with her for years.

A Note, a Secret, and a Break in the Case

In the late 1990s, Angela found a note in Steven’s handwriting. It talked about raked snow—something only the police would have known. Angela took it seriously. She gathered the note and other memories and brought them to law enforcement. But for years, nothing happened. It wasn’t until decades later that the case moved forward.

In 2019, workers found Jonelle’s remains while digging for a pipeline. A bullet wound to the head confirmed what many feared. The case was reopened, and Angela’s testimony was finally taken seriously.

A Trial That Changed Everything

In 2020, Steven Pankey was charged with Jonelle’s kidnapping and murder. Angela took the stand in court. She shared years of painful memories—his obsession with the case, his controlling behavior, and the strange events around Jonelle’s disappearance. Her story helped build the case piece by piece.

The first trial ended without a decision. But in 2022, a second trial brought justice. Steven was found guilty of felony murder and kidnapping. He was sentenced to life in prison. Angela’s bravery had helped put him behind bars.

Angela’s New Chapter

Today, Angela Hicks lives a quiet life in Idaho. She runs a property management company that she started in the late 1980s. Her personal life hasn’t been easy—one of her sons was tragically killed in 2008. But she keeps going, finding peace in her work and the knowledge that she helped give answers to another family.

In 2024, her story reached millions through a docuseries called The Girl on the Milk Carton, which featured her crucial role in solving the case. For many viewers, Angela was more than just a witness—she was a survivor and a hero.

Final Words

Angela Hicks didn’t set out to become a hero. But her strength, her honesty, and her willingness to speak up made a huge difference. She helped bring justice to Jonelle Matthews after 35 long years. Her story is a powerful reminder that truth can still come to light even when years go by. And sometimes, the quietest voices are the ones that finally break the silence.