Forensic Files

What happened the night 12-year-old Jonelle Matthews disappeared?

48 Hours

  • Aug 7, 2022
  • 2:03
  • Short

It is every parent’s worst nightmare: A father comes home and realizes his 12-year-old daughter was nowhere to be found. Decades later, the still-grieving family hopes to bring the man suspected in Jonelle Matthews’ disappearance to justice.

Crime. Social justice. Impact. "48 Hours" investigates the most intriguing crime and justice cases that touch on all areas of the human experience including greed and passion. "48 Hours," which premiered in 1988, has developed a rich history of original reporting and impact journalism that has helped exonerate wrongly convicted people, caused cold cases to be reopened and solved, and along the way changed lives.

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Brief Summary

Janelle Matthews disappeared in 1984, sparking a community search and family distress in Greeley, Colorado.

Key points

  • The Disappearance of Janelle Matthews. In 1984, twelve-year-old Janelle Matthews went missing just before Christmas, leaving her family in despair.

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