Governor candidate found guilty of murdering a girl who was missing since 1984

After the disappearance of a 12-year old girl, nearly 40 years ago, a former politician was convicted in murder.

Stephen Banki was the Constitutional Party candidate for Idaho governor in the last election. He was charged with kidnapping murder and false reporting of the 1984 disappearance Johniel Matthews.

Banki, 71, was sentenced for life in prison with parole possible after 20 years.

Matthews was 12 years old at the time of her disappearance. She was taken from her Greeley, Colorado home.

When she returned from singing at a Christmas pageant, investigators discovered that she had been kidnapped at gunpoint.

The issue was briefly brought to national attention by Ronald Reagan, then-President of the United States, who named Matthews as part of a campaign for national media coverage on the missing children’s problems.

Matthews was then photographed on milk cartons all over the country as part the National Child Safety Council.

Matthews had been missing 35 years, until her remains were found by oil workers in 2019. She died from a single gunshot wound to her skull.

Banki was indicted by the grand jury and then arrested in 2020. Although there was no DNA evidence linking Banki to the crime, investigators found his obsession with the cold case to be suspicious.

According to the indictment Banke “willfully inserted itself into the investigation many times over the years, claiming to be aware of the crime that had become inconsistently and criminalized over the time.”

Police also stated that Banki had vowed to lead them to Matthews’ body if he was allowed immunity from prosecution. These statements were used by the prosecution against him.

Attorney General Michael Rourke stated that it was not something innocent people do in his closing arguments.

Angela Hicks Banky’s ex-wife also testified against him. Hicks described him a strict, religious Christian who did not listen to the radio or read books.

Hicks claimed Matthews disappeared after her husband made her listen to radio news stories about it. She also bought newspapers with stories about Matthews.

Prosecutors suggested that Matthews was motivated by his hatred of Sunny View’s Church of the Nazarene – where Matthews lived with her family.

Throughout the trial, Banki maintained his innocence. During sentencing, Banki only made one brief statement to court: “I am a Christian, and I will be in Heaven. I am innocent. This is not justice for Junel.”