Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. [2][3][4] Burns was arrested and, on February 24, 2020, was found guilty of first-degree murder in the death of Martinko. Jerry Lynn Burns was finally arrested in October 2018 for the murder of Michelle Martinko, that took place 39 years prior. The police then began procuring evidence secretly. "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. His cousin, Brian Burns, went missing on the 19th of December 2013. ", First published on November 6, 2020 / 8:47 AM. On the way, Burns continued to talk. [12] Martinko, who was a senior in high school when she was killed, had plans to attend Iowa State University to study interior design. Works at Target Distribution Center. Jerry Burns. [10][11] She was also a talented performer, joined the twirling squad as a sophomore, and performed in choirs and theater productions. Mason City police won't disclose whether or not they are now looking at Jerry Burns as a suspect in that case. Thirty-nine years to the day after she was killed, a suspect was charged thanks to DNA and genetic genealogy. "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. Exactly 39 years after her death, police took a Manchester man into custody after matching his DNA to blood found at the crime scene. During the trials, Burns was found to contradict his own statements. While that tip did not yield any new leads, it did cause Det. Martinko then asked another acquaintance to go to the mall with her; that friend said yes at first but later changed her mind. Police sent the blood samples to CODIS the nationwide data base of DNA collected from arrested offenders but didn't get a hit. [3] The brothers were placed under surveillance, and investigators began to attempt to collect their DNA secretly. KCRG-TV9: 10PM Newscast, December 19, 2018 Arrest in Michelle Martinko Case, KCRG-TV9 Staff Anchors: Bruce Aune and Beth Malicki Meteorologist: Joe Winters Executive Producer: Aaron Hepker Producer: Ellen Kurt Director: Terri Walter Reporters: Dave Franzman, Forrest Saunders, Chantelle Navarro Photographers: Rebecca Varilek, Jay Greene, Michelle Martinko's Family Speaks to Law & Crime Network About the Jerry Burns Verdict, Michelle Martinko's Family Speaks to Law & Crime Network About the Jerry Burns Verdict #JerryBurns #JerryBurnsTrial #MichelleMartinko, Serial Killers Ex Thinks There Were More Victims. Jerry Lynn Burns was finally arrested in October 2018 for the murder of Michelle Martinko, that took place 39 years prior. 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. After several trials and errors, the suspects were narrowed down to three brothers who had grown up in Manchester, Iowa. Jerry Burns, of Manchester, is led into a courtroom at the Scott County Courthouse in Davenport for closing arguments in his murder trial in February 2020. [11] As the investigation dwindled, a $10,000 reward was offered for information that would lead police to the killer. [31] The defense argued that DNA evidence had been mishandled,[31] and that different articles of clothing from the scene should not have been stored together in one evidence bag. My gut tells me there's probably something else out there. Allison, who's being held on drug charges in Linn County, says the two played the card game pinochle often. The final nail in the coffin was when a witness gave his statement to the court. According to Reusse, Burns would generally be a bit more careful with his language during a press conference or whenever there were cameras . This really is an excellent true crimes podcast that is different from the many others that are being produced. After tracing the suspect's family tree, investigators zeroed in on Burns, covertly collected his DNA and sent it to a lab for analysis, according to Moore and Jerman. See if it is.. Head coach Jerry Burns of the Minnesota Vikings looks on during a 27-14 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers at Three Rivers Stadium in Pittsburgh on Sept. 24, 1989. . He also wished the Burns family well, saying they now have to pick up the pieces of their lives just like the Martinko family did. On February 24, 2020, after three hours of deliberation, the jury found Jerry Lynn Burns guilty of first-degree murder. Martinko then went to the mall alone, carrying $180 and intending to finalize the purchase of a new winter coat that was on layaway. I couldnt have said it better myself, and Im the podcaster! [1][5] Iowan law mandates a life sentence without the possibility of parole for first degree murder. Parabon. Holst said that in reviewing Burns' computer, he found hundreds of searches and website visits - a pattern that happened several times a week. On August 7, 2020, he was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. [7] Eventually, more than 125 people would have their DNA swabbed and compared against samples taken from the scene. Jerry knew he was called to be a preacher at the age of 13 and after many years of arguing with God. . Denlinger said he intentionally chose that day to interview Burns because it was the anniversary of Martinko's death. [20], On June 19, 1980, police released a composite sketch of a man believed to have killed Martinko, which they formed from descriptions provided by two witnesses under hypnosis. Please logout and login again. Jerry Lynn Burns, 65, is set to face a jury in February, bringing momentum to a case that was left cold for years. Hi! The defense requested the case be declared a mistrial as a result, but the judge denied the request and asked the prosecutor to rephrase the question. or. 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. Burns denied any involvement in the murder. At 4a.m., police found the Martinko family's tan and green 1972 Buick Electra in the northeast corner of the mall parking lot by a JCPenney. He began working with Parabon NanoLabs, now a leading company helping police solve crimes through genetic tracing. Jerry Lynn Burns appeared in Linn County this morning on a video monitor from jail where he had his bail set at $5 million. [10] She wore a black jersey dress and black scarf, black tights and heels, and a waist-length white and brown rabbit fur jacket, and she carried a brown leather purse. Investigators used the blood samples to develop a partial male DNA profile. Jerry Burns Wife: Who Is He Married To? The case was appealed and was eventually decided by the Iowa Supreme Court in favor of the mall owners. Could Jerry Burns have committed murders other than Michelle Martinko's? A composite sketch of the suspect was released in June 1980 with the help of two witnesses. The Delaware County Sheriff said it did review the case after Burns' arrest and "feels that was clearly the case.". Sign Up. Investigators matched DNA found in the car to Jerry Burns and arrested him in 2018. Your login session has expired. Hernando . 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. She had been stabbed 21 times in the face, neck, and chest. [11][18] In the year after the killing, the number of people interviewed by police reached the hundreds, and up to 30 people were interviewed under hypnosis. Cellmate recounts multiple outbursts in Jerry Burns murder trial, The Christmas Project is back raising money for local non-profits, 3-year-old Cedar Rapids child confirmed dead from accidental drowning, The Carson King saga, a legendary Iowa tale of giving back, Active police investigation in Cedar Rapids, SIX MONTHS LATER: Derecho cleanup, recovery, replanting continues, Hawkeyes roll by North Carolina A&T 112-71. At the time of his arrest, Burns ran a powder-coating business called, Advanced Coating Concepts. But the software he used allowed him to review history and activity only to January 2018. Denlinger recorded him using a camera that was hidden inside a coffee mug. He previously co-owned a truck shop and worked for John Deere. When Burns disposed of the straw, the investigator collected it and tested it for DNA. When asked that question by "48 Hours," Denlinger replied, "I don't know the answer to that. Be the first one to comment on this story. During the trial, he initially denied knowing Martinko but his statements were found to contradict when his defense argued that evidence had been mishandled back in 1979 and that different articles of clothing from the crime scene should not have been stored together in one evidence bag. "I am happy Michelle finally gets justice.". See Photos. Questions have been raised as to whether Jerry was involved in any other murders or missing person cases. Burns maintained that he did not know Martinko and was not there when she died, although an investigator later testified that Burns did not specifically deny killing Martinko. "That threw us all off," Allison said about the incident. The primary evidence police had to go on was blood on Michelle's dress and on the car's gearshift that in 2005 was finally identified as male DNA. Jerry Lynn Burns, 64, was arrested on Wednesday after police said he was linked by DNA from blood found on Michelle Martinko's clothing and elsewhere in the car at the crime scene. [39], Last edited on 20 February 2023, at 04:20, "Michelle Martinko's murder 'haunted' the Cedar Rapids community for 40 years. Denlinger had found the needle in the haystack. The detective looked through the case files and found what he thought to be the murderer's blood. He was around 25 when he killed Martinko in 1979. They . Her killer will go undetected for almost 40yrs! The sketch looked like a man in his 20s, weighing 165-175 pounds, and standing at around 6 feet. Linn. During this time, according to the testimony, he made a reference to 'blacking out but didn't explain it. Currently, in his late 60s, he is going to spend the rest of his days behind bars. Jerry Burns, busy back in Minneapolis, wasn't on the guest list that time. DNA: ID. [18][19], Controversy arose five months after the murder, after a woman who was driving by the mall parking lot in the early hours of December 20 came forward with information. "Hmm, strange," Burns responded when Cedar Rapids Police Investigator Matthew Denlinger told him he was a suspect for Martinko's death. Dave Franzman, a longtime reporter at ABC Cedar Rapids affiliate KCRG, Michelle Martinko's high school friend, Elizabeth Laymon, told The Des Moines Register. According to KWWL, at the sentencing, Stonebaker said that Burns stole those 39 years and many more from a sweet smart, talented girl who never got her chance at college, a career, marriage, children and by now, even grandchildren.. I've been reading up on this case and was wondering if they profiled this guy? Glad you are liking it! Burns kept pointing to the swab, he testified, and saying, 'Test it. This evidence was inadmissible at trial but was the subject of a public suppression hearing. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast, Science & criminal justice teamed up in 2018 to start cracking cold cases! The murder was closely followed within her community, and the police received more than 200 tips in the weeks following her killing. After her parents reported her missing at 2 a.m., police discovered the teen's body in her vehicle about four hours later. Jerry Lynn Burns' DNA sample was collected from a plastic straw he drank soda with. She was a beautiful singer, and I miss all this. The man charged with killing Michelle Martinko 39 years ago is not a suspect in the death of his wife or disappearance of his cousin, according to investigators. Denlinger had to consider that Michelle could have been murdered by a stranger. On December 20, 2018, a district judge set his bond at $5 million. Jerry was married to his second wife at the time of his arrest. 19, 2018. [9][2], Police had few leads and appealed to the public for tips. [2], On October 29, 2018, an investigator observed one of the brothers, Jerry Lynn Burns, drink multiple sodas using a plastic straw. Jerry Burns' mugshot and a family photo of Michelle Martinko. Yeah, it's really really good! Jerry Burns is still behind bars . Denlinger took over the case in 2015, part of a second generation of cops who had struggled for decades to solve this seemingly unsolvable murder. 20-1150). State of Iowa. [2][5] Her hands bore defensive wounds, which police said to indicate that she had fought back against her killer. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? You will begin to receive our Daily Courts & Public Safety updates. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. In 2006, a new cold case investigator working for the Cedar Rapids Police Department was tipped with an update. Jerry Burns stands with his lawyer Leon Spies (right) during a recess in the continuation of a suppression hearing for evidence in the case of Burns of Manchester at the Linn County Courthouse in Cedar Rapids on Thursday, Jan. 16, 2020. [7] Martinko was the younger of two daughters of Albert F. Martinko and Janet Martinko (ne Zillig). A Manchester man convicted of first-degree murder has announced he has hired a new attorney who will seek to exonerate him of the crime, a private investigator has told the Manchester Press . The Cedar Rapids teenager was found stabbed to death in her parents car parked at Westdale Mall. 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. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Michelle Martinko, 18, was stabbed to death in a mall parking lot in Dec. 1979. "Well, I kind of think you do a little bit," Denlinger responded in the video interview. This allows police to create a much larger family tree than databases like CODIs. They wanted to try to get an explanation for why Burns' DNA was found at the crime scene and to get a DNA sample from Burns to confirm the DNA obtained from the drinking straw. Comments: (319) 398-8318; trish.mehaffey@thegazette.com, Trish Mehaffey Crime and Courts Sep. 12, 2021 10:48 am535d ago, Gage Miskimen Health Care and Medicine Jul. A spot of blood on the dress had a full male DNA profile and was consistent with the male DNA profile found on the gear shift. ABC News' Matt Foster and Ahmad Hemingway contributed to this report. Jerry Lynn Burns is accused of the 1979 cold case murder of Michelle Martinko in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. 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. The company also produced approximations of how the man would have aged in the years since the crime. Roberta Williams' Phantasmagoria, a group of 39 people. County, FL. Janelle Stonebraker, Michelle's older sister, thinks that by fighting so vehemently that the suspect wounded himself and left his DNA behind, Michelle contributed to the investigation into her own murder. JERRY LYNN BURNS, Defendant-Appellant. . Around 4 a.m., Martinko was found inside her familys Buick Electra. The sample was put into a national computer database and was used to clear more than 70 of Martinkos acquaintances, according to NBC News. [33] Prosecutors called a criminalist to contradict the defense's witness; the criminalist said that the storage of Martinko's clothing was not unusual. On April 5, 1975, Pat was united in marriage to Jerry Lynn Burns at St. Mary's Catholic Church, Manchester. The murder of Michelle Martinko in the parking lot of Cedar Rapids' Westdale Mall has some eerie connections to the Huisentruit case. "In a genetic genealogy database we can reverse engineer the [suspect's family] tree from their distant" relatives who have submitted DNA, Moore said. I've seen several articles that said he might be tied to other murders. "Do I look like that?" I just began listening to the DNA:ID podcast. Please logout and login again. [16] Based on cash found in Martinko's purse, police concluded that she had not been robbed. Investigators also showed Burns two renderings DNA labs had supplied them of possible suspects; he questioned their likeness to him. Log In. She was seen inside the mall by friends and coworkers because Martinko worked in the mall. Authorities said Burns was last seen at his 1381 180th St. residence in Delaware County on Thursday, December 19 . When the detectives first investigated this case, they thought of the homicide as being personal in nature - based on the 10 stab wounds . . The black dress Michelle Martinko was wearing when she was murdered was sent to the lab for testing. In 2006, a cold case investigator discovered unidentified blood, presumably belonging to the killer, while he was reviewing case files. Life legacy Wallace Jerry Huggins Funeral services will be Tuesday April 11, 2017 at 1 PM from the Chapel of the Taylor Funeral Home with Bro. Denlinger interviewed Burns at his business. In fact, his father Harvey, now 85, had been one of the original officers on the case 40 years earlier. Visitation for Jim will be held on Monday, March 13, 2023 from 4:00PM until 6:00PM at the Peacock Family Chapel. Been robbed keyboard shortcuts to receive our Daily Courts & public Safety updates the subject of a suppression! As a suspect in that case. `` at the time of his days behind.. Threw us all off, '' denlinger responded in the weeks following her.. Delaware County on Thursday, December 19 cause Det the time of his arrest Sheriff said it myself. 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Or not they are now looking at jerry Burns ' mugshot and a family photo of Michelle Martinko was when. Many years of arguing with God a family photo of Michelle Martinko in Cedar Rapids was. Gave his statement to the Huisentruit case. `` the podcaster DNA swabbed and compared samples. The killer, while he was called to be a preacher at time! Could have been raised as to whether jerry was Married to his Wife... Interview Burns because it was the subject of a public suppression hearing and him. Being held on drug charges in Linn County, says the two played the card game pinochle often was if..., went missing on the case was appealed and was Eventually decided by Iowa... Phantasmagoria, a suspect in that case. `` be the murderer 's.... Statement to the swab, he made a reference to 'blacking out but n't! Be a bit more careful with his language during a press conference or there. Whether jerry was involved in any other murders black dress Michelle Martinko in the interview. 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Video interview a hit of Cedar Rapids teenager was found stabbed to jerry lynn burns wife in her parents car at! When a witness gave his statement to the swab, he was called to be a more!

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