She said they were a wonderful family and that he seemed to be a great man. WebJerry Burns is 68 years old and was born on 12/23/1953. Burns, who was convicted in February of killing Michelle Martinko in 1979, was sentenced to life in prison. Decades of technological advancements ultimately allowed experts to construct a partial male DNA profile from a blood scraping on the gear shift of the Martinko family car and a blood stain on the back of Martinkos dress. Burns maintained his innocence in pretrial hearings and throughout the trial, but the jury took only three hours to reach a verdict after hearing DNA evidence. For nearly 40 years, the family of slain high schooler Michelle Martinko waited for an arrest. John Stonebraker said the three hours it took the jury to reach a verdict was indicative of the strength of the case. 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. Fathers name is Not Available. Burns then turned toward his family, sitting in the courtroom, and thanked them for their support. Burns was arrested on Wednesday and charged with first-degree murder on Thursday in the 1979 death of Michelle Martinko. All Rights Reserved. Cedar Rapids Police announced the arrest of Manchester resident Jerry Lynn Burns, 64, Wednesday night in connection with the 39-year-old murder of Kennedy High School senior Michelle Martinko. (Stephen Mally/The Gazette), Jerry Burns (on left page, third picture from the top and third picture from the left) part of the senior class in a 1972 West Delaware High School year book at the Manchester Public Library in Manchester on Thursday, Dec. 20, 2018. The law cannot punish Burns for the damage he had done to Martinko's family or the 'terrible shock, shame, pain and devastation inflicted on the innocent lives of his own family. (Rebecca F. Miller/The Gazette), Jerry Lynn Burns is led from the courtroom following his sentencing hearing at the Linn County Courthouse in Cedar Rapids on Friday, Aug. 7, 2020. He wasn't carrying any identification at the time of his disappearance, doesn't have a driver's license, and doesn't own a car or cellular phone, making him difficult to track. Jerry Burns, 66, of Manchester, was arrested in Dec. 19 2018, 39 years to the day after Michelle Martinko was found dead in her parents car outside a shopping mall in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. "I worked nights and it just freaked me out.". In September 1986, the Iowa Supreme Court rejected claims made byMartinko's father that the shopping center was negligent because it did not provide "reasonable security" for his daughter, the Register reported at the time. Burns is being held at Linn County Jail. The reward for information leading to an arrest in Martinkos murder was $15,000. An hour before announcing Burns arrest, police in Cedar Rapids tweeted that there had been a major development in Martinkos murder. Although Martinko's case was eventually solved, the mystery outlived both of her parents, who died years before Burns was found guilty, and Killer Cases explains, the hope of finding her killer and figuring out what happened and why slowly dwindled throughout the years. She said he lives and operates a business just five miles from her house. (Rebecca F. Miller/The Gazette), First Assistant Linn County Attorney Nicholas Maybanks speaks at a sentencing hearing for Jerry Lynn Burns at the Linn County Courthouse in Cedar Rapids on Friday, Aug. 7, 2020. (Stephen Mally/The Gazette), Jerry Burns as a senior in a 1972 West Delaware High School year book at the Manchester Public Library in Manchester on Thursday, Dec. 20, 2018. Police did question Jerry about his cousin's disappearance and about his wife Patricia, whose 2008 death was ruled a suicide. Burns, who was convicted in February of killing Michelle Martinko in 1979, was sentenced to life in prison. More than 60 were tested and cleared. Burns, who was convicted in February of killing Michelle Martinko in 1979, was sentenced to life in prison. Jerry Burns may be a hitched man, having a spouse and kids. Cedar Rapids police then used DNA genetic genealogical research to narrow the profile "down to a specific pool of suspects, which included Burns, according to a criminal complaint. We have no more information about his spouse. (Rebecca F. Miller/The Gazette), Cedar Rapids Police Investigator Matt Denlinger listens as First Assistant Linn County Attorney Nicholas Maybanks (out of frame) speaks at a sentencing hearing for Jerry Lynn Burns at the Linn County Courthouse in Cedar Rapids on Friday, Aug. 7, 2020. The businessman sold the gas station several years ago, Wright said, but still frequented it, grabbing coffee and conversing with employees. Recalling telling investigators, "I don't know, test it." Burns, who would have been 25 at the time of Martinko's death, said he could not offer a "plausible explanation" forwhy his DNA was found at the crime scene, authorities said at the time of his arrest. Hiscousin, Brian Burns,vanished Dec. 19, 2013 exactly 34 years after Martinko was killed. More coverage from the Des Moines Register. 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. Aug. 7, 2020 6:12 pm, Updated: Aug. 7, 2020 8:23 pm. Judge Hoover, who had reviewed Spies' written arguments and Maybanks' resistance before the hearing, quickly denied the motion for a new trial. Investigators said they arrested Burns after DNA taken from a restaurant straw he had used matched the crime scene DNA. 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. In any case, not a lot about his family has been unveiled at this point, because of a few private matters. Indeed, in June 2020, his legal advisor, Leon Spies, motioned for a retrial. Jerry Burns, 66, of Manchester, was arrested in Dec. 19 2018, 39 years to the day after Michelle Martinko was found dead in her parents car outside a shopping mall in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. 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. Burns faces a charge of first-degree murder. Because this moment has finally come. Burns' trial attracted national attention because the cold case was solved after 39 years due in large part to DNA evidence and genetic genealogy. Birky said she recalled Martinko was dressed up that night and said she came from a musical banquet, according to the affidavit. 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. And sometimes he comes back for our lunch specials.'. If found guilty of his first-degree murder charges, he'll face life in prison. The essential contention from Burns protection group was that the confirmation used for the circumstance from back in 1979 was abused by then. Burns, who was convicted in February of killing Michelle Martinko in 1979, was sentenced to life in prison. WebView Jerry D Burns results in Manchester, IA including current phone number, address, relatives, background check report, and property record with Whitepages. Copyright 2023 Distractify. Wounds on the teens hands showed she fought her killer. 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. "No, I must not have asked properly, we were never instructed in school how to ask..they just seemed to ignore it," said Burns. 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. From the leadership on down, they never gave up.". Burns, who was convicted in February of killing Michelle Martinko in 1979, was sentenced to life in prison. 'We've also had a lot of customers come in from out of town and a lot of them asked about it.'. That company, police said, produced portraits for the associated person of interest. Leclere said Burns was never considered a suspect in his cousin's missing-person investigation. ', Authorities said they questioned Burns at his workplace later the day. Decades after the death, he had a voice in the first-degree murder sentencing of Jerry Burns, 66, of Manchester. DAVENPORT, Ia. ", "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. We cant say their name. Burns will appear in Linn County District Court tomorrow morning. It wasn't a basketball game that brought a packed house at Blue Collar Sports Bar to a hush. document.getElementById("ak_js_1").setAttribute("value",(new Date()).getTime()), Who Is Denzel Browning-Wilkins? As Becky Moreno stopped for lunch on Thursday afternoon, she reflected on growing up just down the street from Jerry Burns and his family. 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. Burns, 66, was arrested at his Manchester, Iowa, business on Dec. 19, 2018 the 39th anniversary of Martinko's death and charged with first-degree murder in Burns was arrested on Wednesday and charged with first-degree murder on Thursday in the 1979 death of Michelle Martinko. ", Jackie Mormann has lived in Manchester her whole life and remembers vividly when. "You and Michelle will forever be in our thoughts, and we are eternally grateful for your support, trustand confidence over the many years.". At the time of her death, police had found Martinko stabbed to death in her car in a local mall parking lot. Burns' wife, Patricia, died by suicide in 2008. That was ultimately how investigators found Burns' after creating a DNA profile from a bloodstain on the back of Martinko's dress. Brian's disappearance remains unsolved. The main argument from Burns' defense team was that the evidence used in the case from back in 1979 was mishandled at the time, but on Feb. 24, 2020, Burns was found guilty of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison. MANCHESTER, Ia. 'All of my customers today have been talking about (Burns' arrest) and how shocking it was,' Mormann told The Gazette Thursday. Add newsletters@thegazette.comto your contacts. Martinko, a high school senior, was murdered in the parking lot of the Westdale Mall in 1979. 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. Michelle Martinko Murder Convict: Jerry Burns Release Date 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. The judge is expected to make a final ruling on what evidence is admissible and if any will be suppressed sometime next week. (Rebecca F. Miller/The Gazette), Jerry Lynn Burns and defense attorney Leon Spies (right) listen to Sixth Judicial District Judge Fae Hoover as she reads Burns' sentence at a hearing at the Linn County Courthouse in Cedar Rapids on Friday, Aug. 7, 2020. Cole was asked to consult on the case to review Burns' internet search history from his confiscated computer which revealed deviant, violent pornography preferences, highlighted on day 2. 'When you listen to (Cedar Rapids Police Chief Wayne) Jerman on the news last night, they've got him (Burns) hung already,' McElliot said. Follow reporter Anna Spoerreon Twitter at@annaspoerre. Decades after the death, he had a voice in the first-degree murder sentencing of Jerry Burns, 66, of Manchester. With Jerry Burns having been found at risk and in prison, Martinkos family at last made them feel of end. On the other side of the aisle sat several friends of Martinko. Jerry Lynn Burns and defense attorney Leon Spies (right) listen as First Assistant Linn County Attorney Nicholas Maybanks (not pictured) makes arguments on behalf of the state at the Linn County Courthouse in Cedar Rapids on Friday, Aug. 7, 2020. Jury selection is still set to begin Feb. 10. Burns is scheduled to appear in court Dec. 28. Puro cash':Latinos are opening more small businesses than anyone else in the US, Julian Assange:Why he matters more than you think. Burns was arrested We found 3 records for Jerry S Burns in Manchester, IA. He said he has ordered Burns not to speak with news media. 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. Based on the number of stab wounds particularly to the young womans face police considered the homicide personal in nature. At long last, following 40 years of homicide of Michelle Martinko, Burns went to preliminary and was accused of first-degree murder. WebJerry Burns in Manchester, IA. (Rebecca F. Miller/The Gazette), Family and friends of Jerry Burns react as Burns is sentenced at his sentencing hearing at the Linn County Courthouse in Cedar Rapids on Friday, Aug. 7, 2020. 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. An obituary for Burns wife, Patricia, says that she died in June Instead, it was a Thursday evening news update. (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. (Stephen Mally/The Gazette), The cover of the 1972 West Delaware High School year book at the Manchester Public Library in Manchester on Thursday, Dec. 20, 2018. Martinko, who was 18, was found stabbed to death in her family's Buick in the early morning hours of Dec. 20, 1979, in the parking lot of Westdale Mall. One of his court Day 3, Jerry Burns takes witness stand in Martinko hearing, Man accused of killing Michelle Martinko begins hearing to suppress evidence, Day 2 of hearing to suppress evidence in Michelle Martinko murder case, Linn Co. Sheriffs office investigating Hwy. (Stephen Mally/The Gazette), Advanced Coating Concepts at 1608 230th Street in Manchester on Thursday, Dec. 20, 2018. "For Michelles family and friends, we know that the pain of losing a daughter, sister or friend will never go away," Jermansaid. Jerry Lynn Burns appeared in the Linn County Courthouse today for a preliminary hearing as his lawyer looked to get evidence against him suppressed ahead of the trail. Burns, who was convicted in February of killing Michelle Martinko in 1979, was sentenced to life in prison. Martinko's body was found in her parents' Buick, which was parked near J.C. Penney at Westdale Mall in Cedar Rapids. Begin Feb. 10 Martinko stabbed to death in her car in a local parking... 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