Brian was last seen at his home in the 1300 block of 180th Street in Manchester, Iowa on December 19, 2013. Advertisement Stonebraker and his wife, Janelle, District Judge Fae Hoover on Dec. 9 agreed to move the trial to the Scott County Courthouse in Davenport. 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. 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 McElliot said he felt bad for Burns as he listened to news accounts of Burns' arrest Wednesday. 'All of my customers today have been talking about (Burns' arrest) and how shocking it was,' Mormann told The Gazette Thursday. We remain so grateful to generations of Cedar Rapids law enforcement that acted like a dog with a bone, Stonebraker said. She opened her restaurant about five years ago, she said, and it has since become a local lunch spot where everyone knows everyone. That was ultimately how investigators found Burns' after creating a DNA profile from a bloodstain on the back of Martinko's dress. "I wish my parents could be here to see this.". 'Mr. (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. How Old Is Jerry Burns? 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. DAVENPORT, Ia. for the murder of Michelle Martinko 39 years later. They are in relation from previous few years of a strong relationship. The two had done business beforeWendling owns a body shop, Paint-N-Place, and Burns owns a powder-coating company, Advanced Coating Concepts. ", Elizabeth Laymon, who was high school friends with Martinko, said shevividly remembersthe day classmates sobbed after they learned of the stabbing. It lies in a 'deeply selfish, lifelong personal need. 'He came in two or three times a week, always around 7:30 in the morning,' Wright said. The music books either were dropped somewhere police didn't searched or the killer disposed of them, he said. DNA privacy was also a topic of discussion during today's hearing. Comments: (319) 398-8318; trish.mehaffey@thegazette.com, Trish Mehaffey Crime and Courts Sep. 12, 2021 10:48 am534d ago, Gage Miskimen Health Care and Medicine Jul. On Thursday, other people in town said they were shocked, stunned or astounded by the news. 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. The teen was stabbed 29 times, according to testimony. Burns is being held at Linn County Jail on a $5 million cash bond. After the verdict was read and court was adjourned, they stood and embraced as Martinko's friends around them wept. If found guilty of his first-degree murder charges, he'll face life in prison. pic.twitter.com/0rGdwIk89N. ", 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.Burns will appear in Linn County District Court tomorrow morning. But he also said his private investigator had uncovered new evidence that wasn't discovered until June. Hiscousin, Brian Burns,vanished Dec. 19, 2013 exactly 34 years after Martinko was killed. "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.". '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. Previous coverage:Decades after fatal stabbing, Michelle Martinko's family comes face-to-face with her alleged killer. She could hardly speak.. 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. It wasn't a basketball game that brought a packed house at Blue Collar Sports Bar to a hush. Burns faces a charge of first-degree murder. "We left Cedar Rapids, but Cedar Rapids never left us," he said, choking up outside the courthouse while his wife nodded in agreement. "It's a small community; everybody kind of knows everybody," he said. 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. Moreno said, "I would have never guessed. Andy Seidel Now: Where is Michelle Martinko's Boyfriend Toda Also, we have no information about his son and daughter. I feel bad for the victims family becausetheyve been wondering every day of their life what happened to their daughter," said Russ Wright, who served Burns nearly every day at a local BP gas station. A face many patrons of the northeast Iowatavernknew was plastered on five flat screens: Jerry Burns. 'We were in the same class, so I've known him almost 50 years,' McElliot said Thursday. Residents interviewed Friday said they can't square the allegations of a gruesome killing and 39 years with nary a hint of suchbehavior with the man they've known, who went to high school in Manchester, about 45 miles north of Cedar Rapids, and spent much of his adult life there. Burns was arrested on Wednesday and charged with first-degree murder on Thursday in the 1979 death of Michelle Martinko. (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. Investigators matched the male profile at the crime scene to DNA on a straw Burns left behind at a Manchester Pizza Ranch. 563-927-3135. Read more about the circumstances surrounding Burns' arrest here. 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. According to an affidavit, Birky, in a phone interview with an investigator who works for Spies, said she had been giving organ lessons to Martinko in 1979 at 'Carma Lou's House of Music. Martinko had lessons between 8:30 and 9 p.m., Birky said. Burns, who was convicted in February of killing Michelle Martinko in 1979, was sentenced to life in prison. Donations are accepted but not expected; the site remains free-access to all. 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. Leads in the case resulted in dead ends until investigatorsused a genetic genealogy website to connect Burns' DNA to the crime scene. 'This is something that affects the whole community,' he said, 'and everybody wants answers.'. Russ Wright works the registerin the building Burns built. Then for a verdict. Decades after the death, he had a voice in the first-degree murder sentencing of Jerry Burns, 66, of Manchester. Iowa Missing Person Information Clearinghouse, Delaware County Sheriff's Office A pathologist said the fatal stab wound was to her heart and that she bled to death. Several residents lauded his professionalism and business savvy. 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. Investigators later sought the services of a company that specializes in DNA phenotyping, which Cedar Rapids police described as the process of predicting physical appearance and ancestry from unidentified DNA evidence. She said he lives and operates a business just five miles from her house. Both Mormann and Moreno say this a life lesson that you never truly know your neighbors. DAVENPORT, Iowa It took more than four decades, but the man who brutally killed a Cedar Rapids high school student is poised to spend the rest of his life in jail. Burns' arrest prompted a round of whispering about two of his family members. Iowa community tries to reconcile a cold case arrest and its long history with a neighbor, Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. Judge Hoover, who had reviewed Spies' written arguments and Maybanks' resistance before the hearing, quickly denied the motion for a new trial. Using newer technology, Cedar Rapids police last yearcreated profiles fromDNA procured from case evidence in 2006. Decades after the death, he had a voice in the first-degree murder sentencing of Jerry Burns, 66, of Manchester. Birky said she recalled Martinko was dressed up that night and said she came from a musical banquet, according to the affidavit. ', l Comments: 319-398-8238; kat.russell@thegazette.com. He waited for her at the mall and apprehended her in the parking lot, according to the theory. Spies argued that if the defense had this evidence at trial, jurors might have come back with a different verdict. 'Janelle and I are very pleased and grateful for the work of several generations of Cedar Rapids uniformed police and detectives in bringing Mr. Burns to justice,' John Stonebraker said in a statement to The Gazette. Burns' arrest prompted a round of whispering about two of his family members. Burns, who was convicted in February of killing Michelle Martinko in 1979, was sentenced to life in prison. "I just cant imagine how you could live here all this time and carry on a normal life with that big secret," Mormann said. Stonebraker and his wife, Janelle, Martinko's only sister, live in Florida and were unable to attend the hearing. To that point in the investigation, we were confident who our perpetrator was, so we figured out the who. All rights reserved. She can be contacted at aspoerre@dmreg.com, 515-284-8387or on Twitter at@annaspoerre. Add newsletters@thegazette.comto your contacts. 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. The sisters' parents died more than 20 years ago,Albert Martinko in 1995and his wife, Janet, in 1998. 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. For 64-year-old Jerry Burns, it was a straw he used at a pizza restaurant in Manchester, Iowa. (Rebecca F. Miller/The Gazette), Sixth Judicial District Judge Fae Hoover listens as First Assistant Linn County Attorney Nicholas Maybanks (not pictured) speaks at a sentencing hearing for Jerry Lynn Burns at the Linn County Courthouse in Cedar Rapids on Friday, Aug. 7, 2020. With Jerry Burns having been found at risk and in prison, Martinkos family at last made them feel of end. Burns was arrested on Wednesday and charged with first-degree murder on Thursday in the 1979 death of Michelle Martinko. The mothers name is Not Available. Any relationship to Jerry Burns who was arrested for the Michelle Martinko murder. Exactly 39 years after her death, police took a Manchester man into custody after matching his DNA to blood found at the crime scene. Dec. 20, 2018 8:16 pm, Updated: Dec. 21, 2018 8:24 am. Delaware CountySheriff John Leclere saidauthorities "don't have any reason to suspect (Burns) in either case.". "No, I must not have asked properly, we were never instructed in school how to ask..they just seemed to ignore it," said Burns. WebView Jerry Burns results in Marion, IA including current phone number, address, relatives, background check report, and property record with Whitepages. Four decades ago, 18-year-oldMichelle Marie Martinko was found stabbed to death in the family's car in the parking lot of a Cedar Rapids mall. 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. She was found stabbed to death inside her parents' car in a mall parking lot in Cedar Rapids, Iowa on December 20, 1979. We found 3 records for Jerry S Burns in Manchester, IA. His mark on the world, and the sum of his life, will be a short notice, saying: Convicted Martinko murderer dies in prison,' Stonebraker bluntly said. The man accused of killing a Cedar Rapids woman 40 years ago was back in court Friday for a hearing to suppress evidence. ", In closing arguments Monday, Spies repeated a phrase from his opening arguments: "Genetic information tells us much about what we are, but not necessarily who we are or where we've been.". Never did I ever think he had a mean bone in his body," said McElliot, 64. Then, in 2018, police used new DNA technology that hadn't been available in 1979 or even the '80s, when the composite sketch was released, to zero in on Burns and arrest him for Martinko's murder. When the father of three did stop in, Wright said they would make small talk, chatting about work and plans for the day. "I was 15 years old and when that happened my dad said, 'alright, no more shopping at Westdale Mall,' and, you know, we were just so scared," Mormann said. Then for a verdict. Her body was found in the front seat, where she had been injured and cut on numerous occasions. 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' 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 was arrested on Wednesday and charged with first-degree murder on Thursday in the 1979 death of Michelle Martinko. document.getElementById("ak_js_1").setAttribute("value",(new Date()).getTime()), Who Is Denzel Browning-Wilkins? (Rebecca F. Miller/The Gazette), Jerry Lynn Burns and defense attorney Leon Spies (right) react as Sixth Judicial District Judge Fae Hoover reads Burns' sentence at a hearing at the Linn County Courthouse in Cedar Rapids on Friday, Aug. 7, 2020. 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. 'Killer Cases' Explores His Cedar Rapids police used DNA genetic genealogical research to create a group of suspects in the killing that included Burns, according to court records. 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. During an interview with the Des Moines Register, Laymon called the arrest "amazing" news and said she was relieved. In a court document made public Friday, he wrote that he makes $30,000 a year. And sometimes he comes back for our lunch specials.'. 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. District Associate Judge Casey D. Jones set Burns' bond at $5 million on Dec. 20, 2018. after he was asked if his DNA would match the DNA at the crime scene. Wounds on the teens hands showed she fought her killer. 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. Where Is Jerry Lynn Burns Now? Burns, who was convicted in February of killing Michelle Martinko in 1979, was sentenced to life in prison. He went missing after telling his brother he was waiting for a ride from someone. Heretrievedit after Burns left it behind, according to search warrants. Burns said 'somebody else stabbed Martinko that night. Burns then turned toward his family, sitting in the courtroom, and thanked them for their support. "Nice family.". His trial was most recently set to begin Oct. 14, but was delayed afterBurns' defense team requested additionaltime to review new evidence and witnesses. Burns' wife, Patricia, died by suicide in 2008. "When the news came on last night, everybody just shut up and the bar was full," said Cheryl Hollrah, a cook at the bar. We have no more Information about his Father; we will try to collect information and update soon. Jerry Burns, of Manchester, was arrested for the murder on the 39-year anniversary of her death. After turning to GEDmatch, a commercial genetic genealogy site, investigators narrowed their suspects to three brothers, all in Iowa. (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. Detectives found no weapon or fingerprints to identify a suspect and said Martinko had not been robbed. Defense attorney Leon Spies declined to comment immediately following the verdict. ", 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. But we are sure that it is not available and his spouses name is not available. The Gazette is Iowas independent, employee-owned source for local, state, and national news coverage. Burns, who was convicted in February of killing Michelle Martinko in 1979, was sentenced to life in prison. Michelle Martinko was viewed as wounded absurdly in her vehicle in the Westdale Mall parking structure. 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. Testimony showed Burns was the major contributor of the profile - less than one in 100 billion of unrelated individuals would have the same profile, Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation criminalists said. He previously co-owned a truck stop near town. (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. Million cash bond brothers, all in Iowa round of whispering about two of his members. 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