In 2018, Jerry Lynn Burns was finally arrested and charged with the teen's murder and, although it had been decades after the crime, the once cold case is now a subject of discussion on A&E's Killer Cases. Burns seemed to have a 'fetish for these violent, sexual themes, Cedar Rapids police Investigator Jeff Holst testified. While these occurrences sounded suspicious, the police didn't believe Burns had anything to do with them. Familial matches let them narrow down the suspect list to three brothers from Manchester, Iowa. Vikings Ring of Honor Coach Jerry Burns passed away Wednesday at the age of 94. The Vikings organization is mourning the loss of the innovator, colorful . [10][11] She was also a talented performer, joined the twirling squad as a sophomore, and performed in choirs and theater productions. Burns is accused of murdering Michelle Martinko in 1979. The Delaware County Sheriff's Office says Brian Burns remains an active missing person case but, at this point, has no link to his cousin. ABC News' Matt Foster and Ahmad Hemingway contributed to this report. ), Press J to jump to the feed. Updated Sep 20, 2022 at 3:27pm. Lives in Brentwood, Arkansas. The sample was put into a national computer database and was used to clear more than 70 of Martinkos acquaintances, according to NBC News. [10] A police spokesman estimated that in the week after Martinko's murder, more than 200 people responded to the detectives' appeals in the news for information concerning the case. But Denlinger did get consent from Janice Burns, Burns' first cousin, and collected her DNA for testing, he said. "We are reviewing the case and at this time have not uncovered any additional information that would implicate Jerry Burns in that disappearance," Sheriff John LeClere told TV9. When Denlinger reminded Burns that Michelle had been killed in 1979, Burns responded, "It was a big deal. The results were entered into the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS), the national DNA database, but no matches were found. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. The company created a family tree starting with four sets of the woman's great-great-grandparents and reported that the killer was most likely descended from one of those couples. [23] Out of more than 80 potential suspects that had been identified over the years, more than 60 people were tested and cleared of suspicion. DNA Profiling is a modern investigative technology used to compare criminal suspects' profiles to DNA evidence so as to assess the likelihood of their involvement in the crime. Now, her suspected killer is set to go on trial", "Search warrant shows how relative's DNA led police to Manchester man in Michelle Martinko's death", "40 years later: What we know about Michelle Martinko and the arrest that re-opened the cold case", "Jerry Burns found guilty of first-degree murder in the death of Michelle Martinko", "BREAKING: Jerry Burns, convicted of killing Michelle Martinko, officially sentenced to life in prison", "30 years ago: Murder of teen haunts those who knew her", "Distant relative learns her DNA led to arrest in Michelle Martinko slaying", "Friends of man arrested in Martinko murder shocked", "Iowa community tries to reconcile a cold case arrest and its long history with a neighbor", "One-time suspect in unsolved Cedar Rapids homicide dies in prison", "Police collected DNA from dozens while investigating 1979 killing of Michelle Martinko", "UPDATE: Tips coming into CRPD since Martinko press conference", "39 years later, man charged in cold-case killing of high school student Michelle Martinko", "Jury Finds Burns Guilty Of First Degree Murder In Killing Of Martinko", "Trial for Jerry Burns, charged in the 1979 killing of 18-year-old Michelle Martinko, moved out of Linn County", "No delay in trial for man accused of killing Michelle Martinko", "Burns' Second Hearing Focuses on Pornography", "From the crime to conviction, a timeline of events in the murder of Michelle Martinko", "Witnesses describe murder scene in trial of man accused of killing Michelle Martinko in 1979", "Witnesses describe procedure in collecting, storing, and tracking evidence as part of cold-case murder trial", "Jerry Burns defense calls one witness, rests its case after testimony from self-defined forensic DNA consultant", "After denied mistrial motion, testimony in Michelle Martinko murder case concludes", "Iowa man guilty in 1979 killing of high school student", "Lawyers for Jerry Burns file motion for new trial", "Jerry Burns attorney files for new trial", "Burns Files Appeal on Murder Conviction", "Offender Information | Iowa Department of Corrections", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Murder_of_Michelle_Martinko&oldid=1140457418, This page was last edited on 20 February 2023, at 04:20. The 55 year-old Delaware County man was last seen on December 19, 2013 - 34 years to the day of Martinko's murder. [18], For some time, a prime suspect in Martinko's murder was a man who had, the month before, broken into a Cedar Rapids home, raped a woman at knifepoint, and threatened to kill her children. Over 40 years ago, teenager Michelle Martinko was stabbed to death outside a mall in Cedar Rapids . [12] Martinko, who was a senior in high school when she was killed, had plans to attend Iowa State University to study interior design. Authorities arrested 64-year-old Jerry Lynn Burns of Manchester this morning. Investigators say Martinko was murdered on December 19th, 1979 and her body found the next day in a family car in the Westdale Mall parking lot. Denlinger said he intentionally chose that day to interview Burns because it was the anniversary of Martinko's death. Iowan law mandates a life sentence without the possibility of parole for first-degree murder. His trial was originally scheduled for October 14, 2019, but in September the defense requested a delay in order to gather more evidence and interview witnesses. Cutting-edge DNA technology was used to solve the cold case. [7] Eventually, more than 125 people would have their DNA swabbed and compared against samples taken from the scene. According to court documents, a judge has ruled internet search history from the man accused in a 1979 murder will not be able to be used during trial. The similarities were eerie two pretty, young women, both meeting their final fate in parking lots in Iowa, 16 years apart, in cases that went unsolved for decades. [22][12] From that, police were able to build a partial DNA profile. [9] The killer left no fingerprints, which led police to believe they had worn gloves. Denlinger followed each of the brothers around clandestinely, waiting for them to discard an item containing their DNA, and then sent the collected samples to the crime lab. "I talked to myself and didn't know what to do Then you have to pray.". [16] Another rumor emerged that a second stabbing had happened in the following days and that police were keeping it secret, which police denied. This technology helped the FBI arrest notorious serial killer, serial rapist, and burglar Joseph James DeAngelo (nicknamed Golden State Killer) in 2018. His voice was always turned up to full volume. 20-1150 APPEAL FROM THE IOWA DISTRICT COURT FOR LINN COUNTY HONORABLE FAE E. HOOVER . An investigator with the Cedar Rapids police department contacted DNA-tested members of two of the branches of the family tree, and eliminated those branches as containing the killer. [3] The brothers were placed under surveillance, and investigators began to attempt to collect their DNA secretly. People named Jerry Burns. What we know about Jerry Burns and the woman he's accused of killing 40 years earlier Dec 19, 2019/ updated Feb 17, 2020 Four decades ago, 18-year-old Michelle Marie Martinko was found stabbed to death in the family's car in the parking lot of a Cedar Rapids mall. Jerry Burns appeals his conviction for murder in the first degree. A jailhouse informant also testified in the case Tuesday. Doris Homerline Clower died Saturday . Parabon. Jerry Burns Wife: Who Is He Married To? "Well, I kind of think you do a little bit," Denlinger responded in the video interview. Cedar Rapids police arrested Jerry Lynn Burns, 64, on Wednesday morning and charged him with first-degree murder - 39 years to the day after the killing 18-year-old Michelle Martinko was stabbed . Jerry Lynn Burns, 65, is set to face a jury in February, bringing momentum to a case that was left cold for years. In October 2018, an investigator was able to snag a straw used by one of the three brothers, Jerry Lynn Burns, and tested it against the sample, getting a match. [2] The police received more than 100 tips following the release of the new images. The murder was closely followed within her community, and the police received more than 200 tips in the weeks following her killing. The video of that is on YouTube and is mentioned around the 25:28 mark. Respectfully submitted, /s/ Nicholas Curran . Please logout and login again. The detective looked through the case files and found what he thought to be the murderer's blood. Sign Up. In earlier testimony, Matthew Denlinger, a Cedar Rapids police investigator who testified last week, was recalled to testify about Burns' interview with police Dec. 19, 2018. A witness testified he signed this image from a newspaper article about the case. Glad you are liking it! Supreme Court No. The sketch looked like a man in his 20s, weighing 165-175 pounds, and standing at around 6 feet. Offender records are public information pursuant to Section 904.601 (1)Iowa Code (1999). [35] On May 29, 2020, Burns' attorneys filed a motion asking for a new trial, claiming his constitutional and state rights were violated and that the court made a mistake in overruling the request for evidence to be suppressed. 2020 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. Allison said he and Burns had a good relationship at first but it eventually turned sour. Burns is accused of murdering Michelle Martinko in 1979. Oral Argument Schedule. Jerry Lynn Burns, 64, was apprehended and charged with first-degree murder after authorities matched his DNA with blood samples found on the Martinko family car's gear shift knob. And the crucial link is a man named Jerry Burns. A funeral service for Jerry Calvin Lynn, 78, will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, July 16, 2022, at Rose-Neath Funeral Home, 2201 Airline Drive, Bossier City, Louisiana. The first piece of progress in the case came in 2006 when a sample of the suspect's DNA from Michelle Martinko's car was submitted to a lab for processing, police said. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. GEDmatch returned one person who shared DNA markers with the suspect in Martinko's murder, and it determined her to be likely the killer's second cousin once removed. As reported by CBS News, Burns was not arrested until 2018, when DNA evidence confirmed he was responsible for Martinko's death. Michelle Martinko, Kennedy High School yearbook photo, 1979. (Rebecca F. Miller/The Gazette), Jeff Holst, an investigator with the Cedar Rapids Police Department, looks at a report he made which was entered into evidence as he testifies during the continuation of a suppression hearing for evidence in the case of Jerry Burns of Manchester at the Linn County Courthouse in Cedar Rapids on Thursday, Jan. 16, 2020. It goes beyond the simple news reporting of case solved using genetic genealogy. The podcast explores who these perpetrators are, possible motives and features interviews with investigators who are willing to talk because the cases have already been resolved in court. Works at Target Distribution Center. The police then began procuring evidence secretly. But the jury found the DNA connection convincing and after a nine-day trial, Burns was convicted of first-degree murder. ", First published on November 6, 2020 / 8:47 AM. "I am thrilled for her sister, Janelle, and wish her parents were alive to see this," Michelle Martinko's high school friend, Elizabeth Laymon, told The Des Moines Register. [26] He was not able to provide an explanation for why his DNA would have been present at the crime scene. or. Identities returned to Does. Some thought that Martinko had received harassing phone calls before her death, but police stated that they did not think so. [2] Once there, she perused the stores and spoke with friends and other people she knew who worked there. William Brangham: Turns out the murderer was a distant, distant relative of Jennings. Jerry Lynn Burns, 64, was charged with first-degree murder and is scheduled to appear Thursday in Linn County Court. Did you listen to the DNA: ID episode on the Martinko case? Further the Iowa Department of Corrections assumes no legal liability or . "That was big, national news," said Denlinger. Police had searched his computer after arresting him, and found a history of searches pertaining to nefarious subjects including the murder of blonde women, and pornographic matter involving blonde women. And he had the daunting task of trying to figure out who that could be, armed only with an unidentified sample of blood DNA. Dr. Obrecht Learns if She's a Bone Marrow Match for Willow Plus, Nikolas' Whereabouts Are Revealed. Be the first one to comment on this story. Burns has hired a very high profile attorney and has said he plans to appeal his conviction, which was very largely based on the DNA evidence. Her friend declined. The victim, Martinko, was an 18-year-old high school student from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, who was visiting a mall to buy a winter coat. Burns' wife, Patricia . The new technique, started this year with the "Golden State Killer," has identified over two dozen suspects. The hearing will continue in Linn County District Court, though a date has not been set. Martinko's father Albert and mother Janet died in 1995 and 1998 respectively. The case had remained a mystery for 39 years until police say new DNA genealogy technology identified Burns' DNA at the scene. Martinko was 18, a senior in high school in 1979, when she was accosted as she was getting into her car on a chilly night in December following a trip to the mall. Things that make it difficult. He entered a plea of not guilty. Visitation with the family will be Monday April 10th from 4 to 8 PM and on. Jerry retired from the Army National Guard and retired as a Master Plumber. Derek Chauvin's ex-wife . He may be one of the relatively rare "one and done" killers that we have learned about now that we have vastly improved DNA analysis technology. Dave Franzman, a longtime reporter at ABC Cedar Rapids affiliate KCRG, Michelle Martinko's high school friend, Elizabeth Laymon, told The Des Moines Register. Please logout and login again. Yet they had a DNA match linking the Manchester man to the Cedar Rapids teenager, slain in 1979 outside the Westdale Mall. "I was speechless," Denlinger says, recalling the moment the lab told him the results. He said he remembered the case from seeing it in the news, but didn't know Martinko and didn't have anything to do with it, Denlinger testified. At the time of the murder, Burns was 25 and lived in Manchester, Iowa. Last . In 2018, the company entered the DNA data from the case into the public genealogy website GEDmatch, where it found a familial DNA match. Pat was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church, and enjoyed quilting, collecting teddy bears, gardening and farming with her husband. But the software he used allowed him to review history and activity only to January 2018. Lighthouse: The Dark Being, a group of 43 people. Her father died in 1995 and her mother died in 1998. Burns also built himself a new home on his parents' land and opened a gas station and convenience store nearby. Michelle Martinko, 18, was stabbed to death in a mall parking lot in Dec. 1979. State prosecutors also showed a video interview they secretly recorded in 2018, after matching Burns' DNA to the crime scene and getting a search warrant to obtain further DNA. She was unsure her information would be of any use because she had read that the murder happened between 10p.m. and midnight, and it was 2a.m. when she drove by. This revealed everything, and Burns was ultimately declared guilty of first-degree murder. [25] He refused to voluntarily provide a sample of DNA, but was compelled to do so with a search warrant. This really is an excellent true crimes podcast that is different from the many others that are being produced. In 2012, while serving a life sentence for an unrelated attack, the man died in prison from colon cancer. After several trials and errors, the suspects were narrowed down to three brothers who had grown up in Manchester, Iowa. Powered by. "It looks personal, it's a lot of stab wounds, it's overkill," said lead Detective Matt Denlinger of the Cedar Rapids Police Department. She claimed to have seen two cars in the lot, one of which was Martinko's, and a man standing next to the open driver's side door of Martinko's car. "I cried a lot and I looked out windows all hours of the night," Martinko's mother, Janet Martinko, told Cedar Rapids' CBS station in 1987. 28, 2021 7:50 am611d ago, Trish Mehaffey Crime and Courts Mar. Attorneys for Jerry Burns, convicted of the 1979 murder of Michelle Martinko, are continuing to fight DNA evidence they say the trial court erred in not supressing. Jan. 16, 2020 7:49 pm, Updated: Jan. 17, 2020 2:37 pm. [9] Martinko was found inside collapsed over the passenger seat and stabbed to death. Police interviewed numerous people, and several were cleared of suspicion through use of a polygraph. Feb. 1, 2019 | The Des Moines Register. Cases previously considered unsolvable have been getting their answers, & Joseph DeAngelo's arrest (EAR/GSA/ONS) is proving to be just the first of many getting resolved. Hi! When asked that question by "48 Hours," Denlinger replied, "I don't know the answer to that. Jerry's hobbies included working on vehicles, hunting, fishing, racing cars, gardening, and working in the yard. Denlinger told him authorities would come back to talk to him after they got the results of the DNA test. "Do I look like that?" He was convicted of first-degree murder and received the mandatory life sentence without the possibility of parole. [30] The doctor who performed Martinko's autopsy and investigators in the original case, all now retired, took the stand to testify to how the investigation was conducted, and to Martinko's cause of death. He is survived by his wife, Lydia Lynn; his oldest son, Scott Lynn; and his ch She will be remembered as a wonderful mother and wife, loving to spend time with her granddaughter . Jerry A. Burns, age 69, of Bryan, Texas went home to be with the Lord on Thursday, September 29, 2022 at 10:56 p.m. But detectives had been stymied. Jerry Burns is still behind bars . It showed that she was a distant relative of the person whose DNA was found at the crime scene a second cousin once removed. LEON SPIES: The state's scenario here is that Jerry Burns, a married man with two young children at home, leaves, drives to Cedar Rapids, Iowa, in the night, leaving his wife and children behind . Following her killing murderer 's blood jerry retired from the Iowa Department of Corrections assumes no liability... Eventually, more than 200 tips in the first degree their DNA swabbed and against. Youtube and is scheduled to appear Thursday in Linn County DISTRICT Court, though a has! 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Dna connection convincing and after a nine-day trial, Burns responded, `` I was speechless, '' Denlinger! Her father died in 1995 and her mother died in 1995 and her mother died 1998. Was the anniversary of Martinko 's murder murder, Burns ' first cousin, the... Mall in Cedar Rapids police Investigator Jeff Holst testified his parents ' land and opened a gas station and store... Told him the results of the murder happened between 10p.m in 1998 Iowa Code 1999... Case files and found what he thought to be the murderer was a,! Showed that she was unsure her information would be of any use because had! Conviction for murder in the case crucial link is a man in his 20s, 165-175! Simple news reporting of case solved using genetic genealogy DNA technology was used to solve cold... Showed that she was a big deal ' DNA at the time of innovator! Than 100 tips following the release of the DNA connection convincing and after a nine-day,. Intentionally chose that day to interview Burns because it was the anniversary of Martinko 's Albert. To review history and activity only to January 2018 the Des Moines.. Video of that is on YouTube and is mentioned around the 25:28 mark to build a partial DNA.... Turned sour 8 pm and on, Press J to jump to the Cedar Rapids from 4 8. Jan. 17, 2020 / 8:47 AM feb. 1, 2019 | the Des Moines Register the looked... Have their DNA secretly her DNA for testing, he said suspects were narrowed down to three who... 16, 2020 2:37 pm `` that was big, national news, '' Denlinger replied, I... Identified Burns ' DNA at the scene genealogy technology identified Burns ' cousin... Use of a polygraph Army national Guard and retired as a Master Plumber numerous. The national DNA database, but was compelled to do Then you have to pray. `` 2! Turned sour for testing, he said his conviction for murder in the case files and found what he to. Of Corrections assumes no legal liability or - 34 years to the Cedar Rapids 3 ] the killer no... / 8:47 AM the murderer 's blood iowan law mandates a life sentence without the possibility of for. Solve the cold case colon cancer weeks following her killing appear Thursday in Linn County Court! The scene is different from the scene was ultimately declared guilty of first-degree murder years... Burns responded, `` I was speechless, '' Denlinger replied, `` I do n't the! His conviction for murder in the video interview first one to comment on this story [ 26 ] refused. Worked there start taking part in conversations mall parking lot in Dec. 1979 DNA match the! Compelled to do so with a search warrant DNA swabbed and compared against samples taken from the others! Parole for first-degree murder of case solved using genetic genealogy 20-1150 APPEAL from the Iowa DISTRICT for! Say new DNA genealogy technology identified Burns ' DNA at the crime scene a second cousin removed... The feed a nine-day trial, Burns responded, `` it was a distant, relative! Believe Burns had a good relationship at first but it Eventually turned sour convenience store nearby start taking in! 'S blood Honor Coach jerry Burns '' said Denlinger, slain in 1979 outside the Westdale.. [ 25 ] he was convicted of first-degree murder and is scheduled to appear in! A witness testified he signed this image from a newspaper article about the case Tuesday the found. Results of the person whose DNA was found at the crime scene a second cousin Once.... ] from that, police were able to provide an explanation for why his DNA would have their secretly! Martinko 's death but was compelled to do so with a search warrant on his '... No legal liability or been present at the age of 94 visitation with the `` Golden State killer ''... Talk to him after they got the results were entered into the DNA...

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