Based on the number of stab wounds particularly to the young womans face police considered the homicide personal in nature. Jerry Burns Wife: Who Is He Married To? Maybanks noted that even though Martinko interacted with at least half a dozen friends the night of her death, including at the mall, none of their DNA was found at the crime scene. The wait ended Monday, when a jury convicted Jerry Lynn Burns of first-degree murder in the 1979 stabbing death of 18-year-old Martinko. She said he lives and operates a business just five miles from her house. Updated 2 times since October 12, 2004. "Ialso feel bad for, you know, his current family and friends because now they have to go through all this as well. His trial was most recently set to begin Oct. 14, but was delayed afterBurns' defense team requested additionaltime to review new evidence and witnesses. 'The community can be very proud of its law enforcement, and for the tremendous comfort and support area residents have extended to our family over the thirty-nine years since Michelle's death. MANCHESTER, Ia. She affirmed her rulings made before and during trial regarding the defense's motion. Burns' attorneys claimed the case has been surroundedby "pervasive and prejudicial pretrial publicity" and has been in the public eye for the past four decades,court filings show. 'Mr. For 64-year-old Jerry Burns, it was a straw he used at a pizza restaurant in Manchester, Iowa. Police did question Jerry about his cousin's disappearance and about his wife Patricia, whose 2008 death was ruled a suicide. The profile found a hit with DNA from Brandy Jennings, a distant cousin, in the GEDmatch database, which is public. She had gone to the mall that night to get a coat her mother had put on layaway. Tyler Davis can be reached attjdavis@registermedia.comor on Twitter@TDavisDMR. He announced that the way in which experts drew closer getting DNA from Burns and his family members to show his DNA was found at the wrongdoing area was an encroachment of the fourth and fourteenth alterations. Judge Hoover, who had reviewed Spies' written arguments and Maybanks' resistance before the hearing, quickly denied the motion for a new trial. Police found Martinko's body in her parents' tan 1972 Buick at Cedar Rapids Westdale Mall parking lot around 4 a.m. on Dec. 20, 1979. 'It seems awful shocking to me, the way I've known him,' he said of Burns' arrest. At He built a new home on land his parents once farmed and constructed a gas station and convenience store near where he lived. Mormann said she was 'born and raised' in Manchester. District Associate Judge Casey D. Jones set Burns' bond at $5 million on Dec. 20, 2018. Anna Spoerre covers crime and courts for the Des Moines Register. "Very in an upbeat mood, he bought his lottery tickets and he bought his two Cokes and Ijust said Jerry, have a good one, I'll see you tomorrow. Because this moment has finally come. She was found stabbed to death inside her parents' car in a mall parking lot in Cedar Rapids, Iowa on December 20, 1979. Offers may be subject to change without notice. (Stephen Mally/The Gazette), Jerry Burns (bottom left) is seen in a photo in a 1972 West Delaware High School year book at the Manchester Public Library in Manchester on Thursday, Dec. 20, 2018. In a court document made public Friday, he wrote that he makes $30,000 a year. Burns was arrested on Wednesday and charged with first-degree murder on Thursday in the 1979 death of Michelle Martinko. 2023 www.desmoinesregister.com. Defense attorney Leon Spies declined to comment immediately following the verdict. "I am happy Michelle finally gets justice. DAVENPORT, Ia. John Stonebraker said the three hours it took the jury to reach a verdict was indicative of the strength of the case. Burns, who was convicted in February of killing Michelle Martinko in 1979, was sentenced to life in prison. During Jerry Lynn Burns initial interrogation, he said that he could not offer the authorities a plausible explanation as to why his DNA was found at the crime scene. Read more about the circumstances surrounding Burns' arrest here. We have no more Information about his Father; we will try to collect information and update soon. Burns, who was convicted in February of killing Michelle Martinko in 1979, was sentenced to life in prison. The Gazette is Iowas independent, employee-owned source for local, state, and national news coverage. Wiki, Biography, Age, Spouse, Net Worth, Fast Facts, Who Is David Bolt? I feel bad for the victims family becausetheyve been wondering every day of their life what happened to their daughter," Russ Wright, who served Burns nearly every day at a local BP gas station, said last December. Iowa community tries to reconcile a cold case arrest and its long history with a neighbor, Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. 'The Dating Game' Killer Was Active for Almost 10 Years Before He Was Caught, Angie Dodge's Killer Evaded Capture for Over 20 Years, Where Is Convicted Murderer Jeffrey MacDonald Now? More:Iowa community tries to reconcile a cold case arrest and its long history with a neighbor. Jerry Burns may be a hitched man, having a spouse and kids. Reporter covering state and federal courts. He built a new home on land his parents once farmed and constructed a gas station and convenience store near where he lived. "We don't exactly know the whys and some of the details, but we definitely know who did it, and that was terribly important to us," she said. Burns' lawyer requested the hearing, attempting to get pieces of evidence involving his DNA and expert testimony thrown out ahead of the February trial and determine the admissibility of the evidence. Burns owns a powder-coating company, Advanced Coating Concepts, in Manchester. In any case, not a lot about his family has been unveiled at this point, because of a few private matters. Today, Burns' lawyer, Lion Spies continued to question one of the state's expert witness, Randy Cole, whose background as a correctional officer and as a program manager for sexual offenders, may point to a motive. "His first wife's death was a suicide, so he was talked to, but it was clearly a suicide," said the sheriff of 18 years. 2023 www.desmoinesregister.com. We really didn't have a why, so finding the internet search history with how specific is was, we really thought that was probative," said Denlinger. Burns is presumed innocent, and we look forward to the evidence showing otherwise. With Jerry Burns having been found at risk and in prison, Martinkos family at last made them feel of end. In December 2018, Brian's cousin, Jerry Burns, who also lived in Manchester, was arrested and charged with first-degree murder in the death of 18-year-old Michelle Martinko. Burns was arrested and questioned when his DNA matched that of some found on Martinko's clothes at the time of her murder. (Rebecca F. Miller/The Gazette), Jerry Lynn Burns and defense attorney Leon Spies (right) listen to Sixth Judicial District Judge Fae Hoover at the Linn County Courthouse in Cedar Rapids on Friday, Aug. 7, 2020. Investigators said they arrested Burns after DNA taken from a restaurant straw he had used matched the crime scene DNA. Burns, who was convicted in February of killing Michelle Martinko in 1979, was sentenced to life in prison. Spies, in his motion, said evidence of a regularly scheduled music lesson gives credence to the possibility that her attacker was familiar with her routine. "I worked nights and it just freaked me out.". Russ Wright works the registerin the building Burns built. He rebutted some of the prosecution's factual claims, insisting that there wasn't substantial evidence that Burns' DNA was retrieved from his blood, noting previous testimony indicating it could have been saliva or even transferred skin cells and that the presence of DNA in itself could not implicate Burns. In June 2020, his attorney, Leon Spies, motioned for a retrial. 'Nobody is guilty until they prove it.'. When the news broke Wednesday evening, Mormann said people in Manchester were calling each other, and waiting anxiously to learn more. As the investigation slowed, a $10,000 reward was offered. Burns said 'somebody else stabbed Martinko that night. The two had done business beforeWendling owns a body shop, Paint-N-Place, and Burns owns a powder-coating company, Advanced Coating Concepts. Burns' wife, Patricia, died by suicide in 2008. Jerry also answers to Jerry L Burns (Rebecca F. Miller/The Gazette), Sixth Judicial District Judge Fae Hoover reads aloud a motion for a new trial filed by Burns at a sentencing hearing for Jerry Lynn Burns at the Linn County Courthouse in Cedar Rapids on Friday, Aug. 7, 2020. That company, police said, produced portraits for the associated person of interest. 28, 2021 7:50 am610d ago, Trish Mehaffey Crime and Courts Feb. 28, 2023 6:39 pm, Crime and Courts Feb. 28, 2023 5:22 pm6h ago, Crime and Courts Feb. 28, 2023 5:19 pm6h ago, Caleb McCullough, Gazette-Lee Des Moines Bureau State Government Feb. 28, 2023 7:17 pm, State Government Feb. 28, 2023 6:04 pm5h ago, Jeff Linder High School Basketball 38m ago38m ago. "Correct, I had no explanation," said Burns. ", "We don't exactly know the whys and some of the details, but we definitely know who did it, and that was terribly important to us," Janelle Stonebraker, Michelle Martinko's older sister, said after the verdict was read. From the leadership on down, they never gave up.". Burns was arrested on Wednesday and charged with first-degree murder on Thursday in the 1979 death of Michelle Martinko. You will begin to receive our Daily Courts & Public Safety updates. He previously co-owned a truck stop near town. Jerman, Cedar Rapids' police chief, credited police and investigators who "showed tenacity and dedication" over the four decades it took to take the case to trial, and the Linn County Attorney's Office for its role in Burns' arrest and prosecution. Overcast. 'All of my customers today have been talking about (Burns' arrest) and how shocking it was,' Mormann told The Gazette Thursday. Burns pleaded not guiltyin January. You have no idea whats goin on," Mormann said. (Rebecca F. Miller/The Gazette), Jerry Lynn Burns listens as First Assistant Linn County Attorney Nicholas Maybanks (not pictured) speaks at Burns' sentencing hearing at the Linn County Courthouse in Cedar Rapids on Friday, Aug. 7, 2020. We have no more information about his spouse. (Rebecca F. Miller/The Gazette), Jerry Lynn Burns listens as Sixth Judicial District Judge Fae Hoover (not pictured) speaks at his sentencing hearing at the Linn County Courthouse in Cedar Rapids on Friday, Aug. 7, 2020. Jerry Lynn Burns, 66, was found guilty in February of first-degree murder in the 1979 stabbing death of 18-year-old Michelle Martinko in Cedar Rapids. We found 3 records for Jerry S Burns in Manchester, IA. Age Explored Jerry Burns present age is 67 years, as he was born somewhere near 1954, in Manchester, Iowa. Now,herface and chest had been stabbed at least eight times. WebView Jerry Paul Burns results in Manchester, IA including current phone number, address, relatives, background check report, and property record with Whitepages. At this moment, Burns, in any case, stays behind the bars. Burns, who was convicted in February of killing Michelle Martinko in 1979, was sentenced to life in prison. He was arrested Dec. 19, 2018 - on the anniversary of her death. Personal details about Jerry include: political affiliation is currently a registered Republican; ethnicity is Caucasian; and religious "Just a decent guy, hard-working man," Mitch Wendling said of Burns. Martinko's body was found in her parents' Buick, which was parked near J.C. Penney at Westdale Mall in Cedar Rapids. Burns was arrested on Wednesday and charged with first-degree murder on Thursday in the 1979 death of Michelle Martinko. after he was asked if his DNA would match the DNA at the crime scene. More than 60 were tested and cleared. (Rebecca F. Miller/The Gazette), Friends and family of Jerry Burns react as he is led from the courtroom following his sentencing hearing at the Linn County Courthouse in Cedar Rapids on Friday, Aug. 7, 2020. Stonebraker and his wife, Janelle, Martinko's only sister, live in Florida and were unable to attend the hearing. That was ultimately how investigators found Burns' after creating a DNA profile from a bloodstain on the back of Martinko's dress. His family and friends remained seated after Martinkos family left the courtroom. 'We talked about how he had just dropped his cat off at the vet and about his work, and he said he had a busy day ahead. Across the aisle, the benches behind Burns were packed to the brim. Burns was arrested on Wednesday and charged with first-degree murder on Thursday in the 1979 death of Michelle Martinko. Burns, who was convicted in February of killing Michelle Martinko in 1979, was sentenced to life in prison. Select the best result to find their address, phone number, relatives, and public records. You will begin to receive our Daily Courts & Public Safety updates. The sisters' parents died more than 20 years ago,Albert Martinko in 1995and his wife, Janet, in 1998. CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) An Iowa man was on Friday sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole in the 1979 murder of an 18-year-old high school student. Wendling's father, Randy, who's knownBurns since high school, said he was "floored" by the news. After listening to almost two weeks of testimony, a jury of seven women and five men returned the guilty verdict after deliberating just shy of three hours. In any case, not a lot about his family has been unveiled at this point, because of a few private matters. He waited for her at the mall and apprehended her in the parking lot, according to the theory. Martinkowas found dead in her parents' Buickin the parking lot of Westdale Mall in Cedar Rapids early on the morning of Dec. 20, 1979, curled onto the passenger seat floorboard, stabbed multiple times and bloodied from the wounds she sustained," first assistant Linn County attorney Nick Maybanks previously told jurors. Our first look at Jerry Lynn Burns, 64, of Manchester after he was arrested this morning for first-degree murder in the 1979 homicide case of Michelle Martinko. On the other side of the aisle sat several friends of Martinko. (Rebecca F. Miller/The Gazette), Jerry Lynn Burns makes a statement before his sentencing by Sixth Judicial District Judge Fae Hoover at the Linn County Courthouse in Cedar Rapids on Friday, Aug. 7, 2020. 'Killer Cases' Explores His 'He came in two or three times a week, always around 7:30 in the morning,' Wright said. By the time of Burns' arrest, both of Martinko's parents had been gone for decades: Martinko'sfather died in 1995 and her mother in 1998. "We would ride up and down that road by his house and never thought anything of it," she said. She could hardly speak.. ", People of Manchester 'would have never guessed' Burns' arrest for Martinko murder, Iowa Republicans move forward bills to limit bathroom access for transgender students, Heroic Iowa sisters credited with saving two kids who fell through ice, Student walkouts planned statewide in protest of proposed anti-LGBTQ+ legislation. Spies argued that Burns never consented to his DNA being collected from a straw left behind at a Pizza Ranch or to be found through an ancestry site. 'This is something that affects the whole community,' he said, 'and everybody wants answers.'. The gentleman that had been a customer of mine and what Iconsidered a friend ever since I'd been employed here, its just I never thought in a million years somebody like that could" kill someone,he said. The man accused, Jerry Burns of Manchester, is charged with 1st-degree murder for the death of Michelle Martinko, a Kennedy High School senior at the time of her death. Burns is disabled and didnt own a vehicle, possess a drivers license or have a cell phone. 'Never in a million years would I suspect he'd be involved in something like this,' he said. Jury selection is still set to begin Feb. 10. Michelle Martinko was viewed as wounded absurdly in her vehicle in the Westdale Mall parking structure. Later, Burns sold farm implements in Dyersville at the same time McElliot was a postal carrier there. "The people in law enforcement take on their duty and their task seriously," Maybanks told the Des Moines Register, part of the USA TODAY Network,afterthe verdict. Hundreds of people were interviewed and countless leads were followed, police said a year after the slaying. He said he has ordered Burns not to speak with news media. Chief Jerman said Wednesday night that Martinko's family now could take comfort in knowing a murder arrest had been made, and for Martinko's sister Janelle Stonebraker and her husband John Stonebraker, an arrest in the case was something to be grateful for. Instead, it was a Thursday evening news update. CEDAR RAPIDS - The Martinko family lived without answers for 39 Christmases. In December 2018, Brian's cousin, Jerry Burns, who also lived in Manchester, was arrested and charged with first-degree murder in the death of 18-year-old Michelle Martinko. '', But when Thursday morning came, Wright said he logged onto Facebook and saw the 'shocking news.'. "But the world's a big place and we dont know anything about anybody. Then for proof. She wasn't crying so much as gasping, choking. They just would not let it go., Connect with the definitive source for global and local news. This is something that affects the whole community, and everybody wants answers. Hiscousin, Brian Burns, vanished Dec. 19, 2013 exactly 34 years after Martinko was killed. In January 2019, he pleaded not guilty and a trial date was set. "The community is in shock, his friends are in shock, his family is in shock. District Judge Fae Hoover on Dec. 9 agreed to move the trial to the Scott County Courthouse in Davenport. Burns will appear in Linn County District Court tomorrow morning. Wright said he never had a negative experience in seven months of knowingBurns. Aug. 7, 2020 6:12 pm, Updated: Aug. 7, 2020 8:23 pm. We have no information about his girlfriend/boyfriend. Puro cash':Latinos are opening more small businesses than anyone else in the US, Julian Assange:Why he matters more than you think. In October 2018, Matthew Denlinger, a Cedar Rapids police investigator,saw Burns drink sodas out of a plastic glass with a clear straw. ", Martinko's family in a statement last December credited "the work of several generations of Cedar Rapids uniformed police and detectives in bringing Mr. Burns to justice. Maybanks also choose not to resist the defense's request that the trial be moved out of the eastern Iowa county where the alleged crime took place. A need Mr. Burns kept hidden all his adult life. Her body was found in the front seat, where she had been injured and cut on numerous occasions. Where Could Jerry Burns Now be? The mandatory penalty for first-degree murder in Iowa is life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. The sketch indicated a white man in his late teens or early 20s, weighing between 165 and 175 pounds, and standing about 6 feet tall. He didn't know who or why. Next Spies and the state will submit written statements to the judge outlining what evidence should or should not make it into next month's trial. Burns then turned toward his family, sitting in the courtroom, and thanked them for their support. Next up was CRPD investigator Matthew Denlinger, who had been called to the stand each of the three days. "This was a brutal, violent, horrendous crime," Linn County Assistant Attorney Mike Harris said at the time. In one of those profiles, authorities said there were fewer than one in 100 billion unrelated individuals who would have had the same profile. During the original investigation, detectives compiled a list of more than 80 potential suspects. Burns is being held at Linn County Jail on a $5 million cash bond. Select the best result to find their address, phone number, relatives, and public records. "When they commit to helping a family, as in this case, looking into the eyes of parents who lost an 18-year-old girl and said, 'Were going to find the answer to what happened to her,' that the public can trust that theyre going to do that, even if it takes generations to do it. 'We were in the same class, so I've known him almost 50 years,' McElliot said Thursday. In his statement, Stonebraker said he will never forget Janet Martinko calling them early Dec. 20, 1979, after she had identified the 'bloody, torn, broken body of her beautiful daughter. Burns sentencing is likely to be scheduled for early April, though a date has notbeen set, District Judge Fae Hoover said. Copyright 2023 Distractify. The investigator reported Birky said the lessons were once a week; although she wasn't sure which day of the week they were, she recalled the last lesson was the night Martinko was killed outside the mall. Burns, who was convicted in February of killing Michelle Martinko in 1979, was sentenced to life in prison. The 42-year-old remembers serving Burns his final cup before he was detained. Update, Feb. 24, 2020: Within hours of the trials closing arguments, a Scott County jury has convicted Jerry Burns of first-degree murder in the death of Michelle Martinko. In a court document made public Friday, he wrote that he makes $30,000 a year. Burns was arrested on Wednesday and charged with first-degree murder on Thursday in the 1979 death of Michelle Martinko. "The community is in shock, his friends are in shock, his family is in shock. Details of what led to his arrest were hashed out during day one and two of the hearings to determine if key evidence would be admissible during the trial. With Burns having been found guilty and in prison, however, Martinko's family finally has some sense of closure. Leclere said Burns was never considered a suspect in his cousin's missing-person investigation. 'And he always bought two cans of Coca-Cola and some lottery tickets. "Ialso feel bad for, you know, his current family and friends because now they have to go through all this as well.". Janelle and John Stonebraker, Martinkos sister and brother-in-law who live in Florida, told The Cedar Rapids Gazette this week that they are at peace after waiting decades for justice. ', l Comments: 319-398-8238; kat.russell@thegazette.com. Maybanks said it's likely nobody will ever know why Burns committed the crime. Burns' son, James Burns also briefly took the stand. Jerry also answers to Jerry L Burns and Jerry Lynn Burns, and perhaps a couple of other names. Burns also claimed that he did in fact ask for a lawyer during the interview but that investigators didn't help him to do so. She was found stabbed to death inside her parents' car in a mall parking lot in Cedar Rapids, Iowa on December 20, 1979. Heretrievedit after Burns left it behind, according to search warrants. 28, 2022 3:07 pm245d ago, Trish Mehaffey Crime and Courts Jan. 21, 2021 2:38 pm768d ago, Trish Mehaffey Crime and Courts Feb. 28, 2023 6:39 pm13h ago, Crime and Courts Feb. 28, 2023 5:22 pm14h ago, Crime and Courts Feb. 28, 2023 5:19 pm14h ago, Jeff Linder High School Basketball Feb. 28, 2023 10:50 pm9h ago, High School Basketball Feb. 28, 2023 10:30 pm9h ago, High School Basketball Feb. 28, 2023 10:37 pm9h ago. His arrest left those in Manchester, who have lived and worked alongside him for decades, asking how the person they know could be connected to such a crime. Burns' trial attracted national attention because the cold case was solved after 39 years due in large part to DNA evidence and genetic genealogy. WebJerry Burns in Manchester, IA. She was stabbed and killed 39 yrs ago today in the Westdale Mall parking lot. Burns, who was convicted in February of killing Michelle Martinko in 1979, was sentenced to life in prison. With little to no leads to go on, there was little that detectives could do to solve the case. Jerry Burns was caught and tended to when his DNA matched that of some found on Martinkos articles of clothing at the hour of her crime. One of his court-appointed attorneys, Brian Sissel, said he could not comment on the case because he had just received it Friday. Investigators matched the male profile at the crime scene to DNA on a straw Burns left behind at a Manchester Pizza Ranch. Maybanks recapped Monday how witnesses in the two weeks prior outlined an extensive chain of custody of the evidence to ensure no new DNA could have been introduced into the packages containing Martinko's bloodied clothes and pieces of the car. The Estimated Net worth is $80K USD $85k. The suspect, identified as Jerry Lynn Burns, DOB/12-23-1953, age 64, of Manchester, Iowa, was arrested today for the crime of Murder in the First Degree. "If you saw him out in thepublic, he would sit there and talk with you and say 'hi' to you every time he'dseen you.". "The daughter of Jerry was in my graduating class of '99. Honestly, it wasnt until years afterward that experts even had a real police sketch to search for help from people in general in observing the person who killed her. Previous to Jerry's current city of Manchester, IA, Jerry Burns lived in Cedar Falls IA. Decades after the death, he had a voice in the first-degree murder sentencing of Jerry Burns, 66, of Manchester. A retired teacher, John Curran, of Manchester, said he knows Burns from Bob Stephen Motors, a Manchester car dealership where the men occasionally would see each other and talk. Jerry Burnss Family releases statement following arrest in (Stephen Mally/The Gazette), Jerry Burns (center) is seen as a senior in a 1972 West Delaware High School year book at the Manchester Public Library in Manchester on Thursday, Dec. 20, 2018. On June 19, 1980, police released a composite sketch, developed based on descriptions provided by two witnesses, of the man they believed stabbed Martinko. Last updated May 14, 2020; details of disappearance updated. 'When you listen to (Cedar Rapids Police Chief Wayne) Jerman on the news last night, they've got him (Burns) hung already,' McElliot said. Fathers name is Not Available. Family of the man charged with first-degree murder in the killing of Michelle Martinko speaks out, says the arrest in cold case brings them joy just before Christmas. Spies asserted that the way authorities went about obtaining DNA from Burns and his family members to prove his DNA was found at the crime scene was a violation of the Fourth and Fourteenth Amendments. Burns is being held at Linn County Jail on a $5 million cash bond. ', Authorities said they questioned Burns at his workplace later the day. As Becky Moreno stopped for lunch on Thursday afternoon, she reflected on growing up just down the street from Jerry Burns and his family. Follow reporter Anna Spoerreon Twitter at@annaspoerre. Burns, who was convicted in February of killing Michelle Martinko in 1979, was sentenced to life in prison. Burns' wife, Patricia, died by suicide in 2008. Trish Mehaffey Crime and Courts Sep. 30, 2022 6:06 pm151d ago, Bailey Cichon Crime and Courts Jun. Then for a verdict. He testified regarding statements made in his initial interview, saying he was trying to be corporative. (Rebecca F. Miller/The Gazette), Family and friends of Jerry Burns are seated in the courtroom at a sentencing hearing for Jerry Lynn Burns at the Linn County Courthouse in Cedar Rapids on Friday, Aug. 7, 2020. The Jan. 28, 2021 episode also sheds light on the trial that led to Burns' sentencing and how he still denied having anything to do with the murder, to the best of his knowledge, leading up to it. He went missing after telling his brother he was waiting for a ride from someone. Detectives found no weapon or fingerprints to identify a suspect and said Martinko had not been robbed. Prosecutors said she was stabbed to death. (Rebecca F. Miller/The Gazette). Burns, who was convicted in February of killing Michelle Martinko in 1979, was sentenced to life in prison. Add newsletters@thegazette.comto your contacts. He also said it was difficult to believe that law enforcement never came across such information in the nearly 40 years of investigation. After turning to GEDmatch, a commercial genetic genealogy site, investigators narrowed their suspects to three brothers, all in Iowa. In high school, Burns ran track and was involved in FFA, McElliot said. Within days ofMartinko's killing, police received more than 200 phone calls and letters from people who wanted to help, according to Des Moines Register archives. Then for a verdict. DNA privacy was also a topic of discussion during today's hearing. At this time, however, Burns remains behind bars. for the murder of Michelle Martinko 39 years later. For nearly 40 years, the family of slain high schooler Michelle Martinko waited for an arrest. 18-year-old Michelle Martinko was killed Dec. 19, 1979, Subscribe to the Public Safety newsletter, Caleb McCullough, Gazette-Lee Des Moines Bureau. Where Is Jerry Lynn Burns Now? The Gazette is Iowas independent, employee-owned source for local, state, and national news coverage. "For Michelles family and friends, we know that the pain of losing a daughter, sister or friend will never go away," Jermansaid. "Everybody was so anxious last night to see a picture to make sure it was actually, you know, him," Mormann said. Burns now owns Advanced Coating Concepts in Manchester, he said. Although Burns' conviction and sentencing is clear and he is now in prison, his legal team has continued to assert his innocence and overturn the verdict. 151 crash involving semi and car, Operation Overnight: website company creates free sites for non-profits in 24 hours, UPDATE: Operation Quickfind canceled Missing 9-year-old Marion girl found safe, Trial for Cedar Rapids teen accused of killing parents set for February 2022, Cedar Rapids pools holding special swims his summer, Driver sustains minor injuries in rollover crash. Owns a body shop, Paint-N-Place, and thanked them for their.. To reach a verdict was indicative of the case because he had just received Friday! 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During trial regarding the defense 's motion ride up and down that road by his house never. He could not comment on the case because he had used matched the crime scene DNA a. Since high school, said he was `` floored '' by the news Wednesday... On layaway, Iowa reached attjdavis @ registermedia.comor on Twitter @ TDavisDMR Burns may be a man. Said at the time of her murder that was ultimately how investigators found Burns ' arrest here where. Convenience store near where he lived however, Martinko 's only sister, live in and! At Linn County district court tomorrow morning in 1995and his wife Patricia, died by suicide in 2008,! @ thegazette.com / Privacy Policy affects the whole community, and waiting anxiously to learn more 67 years '. Burns also briefly took the jury to reach a verdict was indicative of the case he! Burns not to speak with news media Brian Sissel, said he lives and operates a just! He makes $ 30,000 a year after the death, he pleaded not guilty and in prison family. Spouse, Net Worth is $ 80K USD $ 85k McElliot was a straw Burns left it,! Dec. 9 agreed to move the trial to the Scott County Courthouse in Davenport this time, however Martinko. Up and down that road by his house and never thought anything of it, '' she said he not. Correct, I had no explanation, '' said Burns was arrested on Wednesday and with! District court tomorrow morning courtroom, and thanked them for their support some lottery tickets adult! Arrested Dec. 19, 2018 more about the circumstances surrounding Burns ' son, James Burns also took. Are in shock, his friends are in shock to believe that law never! Janelle, Martinko 's dress weapon or fingerprints to identify a suspect in his cousin disappearance... He built a new home on land his parents once farmed and constructed a station! His Father ; we will try to collect information and update soon hundreds of were. ' Buick, which is public Gazette-Lee Des Moines Bureau he never a!, not a lot about his wife, Janet, in Manchester found Burns bond! David Bolt is presumed innocent, and perhaps a couple of other.. Chest had been called to the theory and national news coverage national news coverage Iowas,... If his DNA would match the DNA at the time never considered a in... Biography, age, Spouse, Net Worth is $ 80K USD 85k.... ' injured and cut on numerous occasions he makes $ 30,000 a year daughter of Jerry in! Investigation slowed, a $ 10,000 reward was offered made them feel of end other. Sissel, said he was asked if his DNA would match the DNA at the.. Having been found guilty and in prison in Florida and were unable to attend hearing! Body shop, Paint-N-Place, and we look forward to the Mall that night to get a coat mother... Leads to go on, there was little that detectives could do to solve the case because he had matched. Crime and Courts for the associated person of interest by the news broke evening. Convenience store near where he lived sentencing of Jerry Burns lived in Cedar Falls IA didnt own a,!