Plot Synopsis

THE GIRL ON THE MILK CARTON is a two-part documentary that explores the story of 12-year-old Jonelle Matthews -- one of the first missing children to be featured on a milk carton -- who vanished and left behind a cold case that would echo through decades...until an unlikely hero brought forth evidence crucial to solve it. Five days before Christmas 1984, Jonelle disappeared from her family home in the small town of Greeley, CO. With her family devastated and the community shaken by fear, Greeley police turned to the FBI for help. As leads ran cold, a determined grassroots movement emerged, refusing to let Jonelle be forgotten. Their tireless efforts caught the attention of the White House, prompting President Ronald Reagan to shine a national spotlight on Jonelle's fate and champion the missing children's national milk carton campaign in the hope that one day Jonelle would find her way home. For 35 years Jonelle's disappearance remained one of Colorado's unrivaled cold cases. In 2019, a grim discovery 20 miles from her home changed everything: Jonelle's remains were unearthed, transforming a missing person case into a murder investigation. While this development finally offered answers, it also confirmed the heartbreaking truth the family had long feared but never wanted to face.

Two decades before Jonelle's remains were found, Angela Hicks was living with a dark suspicion. Her then-husband, a true-crime enthusiast and Idaho gubernatorial candidate, had exhibited behavior that made her believe he was involved in Jonelle's disappearance. Despite Angela's efforts to prove her suspicions, her story went unheard for years. It wasn't until a former classmate of Jonelle's sister, now a detective, was assigned to the cold case and vowed to solve it that Angela's secret came to light. In a reckoning like no other, Angela bravely came forward to share her story, breaking free from 20 years of silence and fear. As the Matthews family's quest for justice hung in the balance, Angela's testimony proved crucial in uncovering the long-hidden truth.

Both installments of THE GIRL ON THE MILK CARTON debuted on Sunday, August 25, 2024 from 7-9:15pm ET/PT on Oxygen:

"A Devastating Disappearance" (7-8pm): Days before Christmas 1984, 12-year-old Jonelle Matthews vanishes from her home. As shock grips Greeley, Colo., local detectives turn to the FBI, President Reagan and a national milk carton campaign for answers. All along, the truth lies closer to home.

"A Monster Revealed" (8-9:15pm): Nearly 35 years after Jonelle Matthews' disappearance, a chilling discovery reignites the hunt for her killer, whose secrets are finally unmasked. An unlikely hero comes forward and a historic trial forces a reckoning.