Recalling telling investigators, "I don't know, test it." Burns will have the rest of his life to ask for forgiveness and beg for mercy on his soul, but if he doesn't, at least he won't get to block it out anymore. First Assistant Linn County Attorney Nick Maybanks said the information wouldn't have changed the verdict. 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 is being held at Linn County Jail on a $5 million cash bond. Wendling's father, Randy, who's knownBurns since high school, said he was "floored" by the news. "We would ride up and down that road by his house and never thought anything of it," she said. While Burns attorneys didnt offer an alibi for where he was the night of Martinko's murder, Spies did suggest that since Burns had been to Westdale Mall with his family before, DNA he left behind at the mall couldve transferred to Martinko while she was at the mall Dec. 19. Then for proof. (Stephen Mally/The Gazette), Advanced Coating Concepts at 1608 230th Street in Manchester on Thursday, Dec. 20, 2018. Russ Wright, who works at Quik 'N Handi, answers a question as he sits at a table at Blue Collar Sports Bar in Manchester on Thursday, Dec. 20, 2018. Burns, who was convicted in February of killing Michelle Martinko in 1979, was sentenced to life in prison. 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. It makes you question how someone could live here in this community for all these years and possibly have done something like this.'. The brothers were eliminated as suspects during the investigation. Dec. 20, 2018 8:16 pm, Updated: Dec. 21, 2018 8:24 am. 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. An analyst at the state crime lab said DNA from the straw matched blood found on Martinko's dress. In October 2018, Matthew Denlinger, a Cedar Rapids police investigator,saw Burns drink sodas out of a plastic glass with a clear straw. Update, Oct. 14: The trial for Jerry Burns has been officially delayed, and is now temporarily set for Feb. 10, 2020. Martinko's older sister, Janelle Stonebraker, told the Des Moines Register that their family had waited years for answers. Wright said he never saw any signs that Burns was under investigation. "We thought it was extremely probative. Last updated May 14, 2020; details of disappearance updated. On June 19, 1980, police released a composite sketch, developed based on descriptions provided by two witnesses, of the man they believed stabbed Martinko. Anna Spoerre covers crime and courts for the Des Moines Register. 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 Charley Project is NOT a registered non-profit organization and any donations will NOT be tax-deductible. With Jerry Burns having been found at risk and in prison, Martinkos family at last made them feel of end. 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. WebJerry Burns is 68 years old and was born on 12/23/1953. And sometimes he comes back for our lunch specials.'. 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. However, the state argued that Denlinger pointed out several times the decision was up to him and that Burns was free to make calls as needed. On the other side of the aisle sat several friends of Martinko. 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. At That was ultimately how investigators found Burns' after creating a DNA profile from a bloodstain on the back of Martinko's dress. (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. (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. 'Killer Cases' Explores His Police did question Jerry about his cousin's disappearance and about his wife Patricia, whose 2008 death was ruled a suicide. "Correct, I had no explanation," said Burns. Burns then turned toward his family, sitting in the courtroom, and thanked them for their support. His family and friends remained seated after Martinkos family left the courtroom. Detectives found no weapon or fingerprints to identify a suspect and said Martinko had not been robbed. Moreno said, "I would have never guessed. One of his court-appointed attorneys, Brian Sissel, said he could not comment on the case because he had just received it Friday. The store used to operate under the name of E-Z Pickin's, which Burns owned up until the business was bought by McDermott Oil. The 42-year-old remembers serving Burns his final cup before he was detained. They stated they had no evidence to implicate him in Brian's case and no evidence that Patricia's death was not suicide. 'Never in a million years would I suspect he'd be involved in something like this,' he said. 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. We have no more Information about his Father; we will try to collect information and update soon. "Nice family.". They graduated in 1972. We have no information about his girlfriend/boyfriend. ", Jackie Mormann has lived in Manchester her whole life and remembers vividly when. Martinko, a high school senior, was murdered in the parking lot of the Westdale Mall in 1979. This is the moment of reckoning for him and the moment, long awaited, of resting peace for Michelle.. 2023 www.desmoinesregister.com. 'Mr. 'I was happy when I heard the case was solved, but it was a punch in the gut to hear it was someone from the community. Previous to Jerry's current city of Manchester, IA, Jerry Burns lived in Cedar Falls IA. People may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. 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. "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. In a court document made public Friday, he wrote that he makes $30,000 a year. Very nice gal, you know, she was straight A student, you know, she was one we looked up to," Moreno remembered. With Burns having been found guilty and in prison, however, Martinko's family finally has some sense of closure. Burns, who was convicted in February of killing Michelle Martinko in 1979, was sentenced to life in prison. document.getElementById("ak_js_1").setAttribute("value",(new Date()).getTime()), Who Is Denzel Browning-Wilkins? "I almost quit," she said. Before sentencing, defense attorney Leon Spies made a motion for a new trial, arguing many of the same issues that had been ruled upon before. She was stabbed and killed 39 yrs ago today in the Westdale Mall parking lot. 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. Add newsletters@thegazette.comto your contacts. Exactly 39 years after her death, police took a Manchester man into custody after matching his DNA to blood found at the crime scene. Maybanks said it's likely nobody will ever know why Burns committed the crime. "Ialso feel bad for, you know, his current family and friends because now they have to go through all this as well.". He pleaded not guilty to the charges. 'He came in two or three times a week, always around 7:30 in the morning,' Wright said. Burns is presumed innocent, and we look forward to the evidence showing otherwise. 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. 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. Finally, Jerry Burns himself took to the stand. 'From the leadership on down, they never gave up. When he left I told him 'Have a good day Jerry, I'll see you tomorrow. 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. 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. We remain so grateful to generations of Cedar Rapids law enforcement that acted like a dog with a bone, Stonebraker said. MANCHESTER, Ia. She affirmed her rulings made before and during trial regarding the defense's motion. 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. 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. "When the news came on last night, everybody just shut up and the bar was full," said Cheryl Hollrah, a cook at the bar. Burns, who was convicted in February of killing Michelle Martinko in 1979, was sentenced to life in prison. Several residents lauded his professionalism and business savvy. Jerry Lynn Burns of Manchester has been arrested and charged with 1st degree murder in the cold case murder of 18 yr old Michelle Martinko. 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. On December 19, 1979, when 18-year-old Cedar Rapids, Iowa inhabitant Michelle Martinko, vanished, it transformed into a case that before long ran cold. Iowa community tries to reconcile a cold case arrest and its long history with a neighbor, Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. "The community is in shock, his friends are in shock, his family is in shock. 'All of my customers today have been talking about (Burns' arrest) and how shocking it was,' Mormann told The Gazette Thursday. Then for a verdict. Burns was arrested on Wednesday and charged with first-degree murder on Thursday in the 1979 death of Michelle Martinko. pic.twitter.com/0rGdwIk89N. Burns faces a charge of first-degree murder. At this moment, Burns, in any case, stays behind the bars. A need Mr. Burns kept hidden all his adult life. Leads in the case resulted in dead ends until investigatorsused a genetic genealogy website to connect Burns' DNA to the crime scene. Indeed, in June 2020, his legal advisor, Leon Spies, motioned for a retrial. Now,herface and chest had been stabbed at least eight times. Wiki, Biography, Age, Spouse, Net Worth, Fast Facts, Who Is David Bolt? Jerry Burns, of Manchester, was arrested for the murder on the 39-year anniversary of her death. Burns owns a powder-coating company, Advanced Coating Concepts, in Manchester. If you know some information, please comment below. Then for proof. "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 was arrested on Wednesday and charged with first-degree murder on Thursday in the 1979 death of Michelle Martinko. Jerry Burns may be a hitched man, having a spouse and kids. Burns said 'somebody else stabbed Martinko that night. 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. 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. The accused turned out to be another Iowan native, Jerry Lynn Burns. Who Is Jerry Lynn Burns? Born in 1953, Jerry Lynn Burns grew up in Manchester, Iowa, and graduated from West Delaware High School in 1972. He would have been around 25-years-old when he killed Michelle Martinko in December of 1979. Burns was convicted of first-degree murder in February. Next up was CRPD investigator Matthew Denlinger, who had been called to the stand each of the three days. The Gazette is Iowas independent, employee-owned source for local, state, and national news coverage. Later, Burns sold farm implements in Dyersville at the same time McElliot was a postal carrier there. Burns' sentence also included that he wouldn't be eligible for parole. Burns will appear in Linn County District Court tomorrow morning. 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. Prosecutors said she was stabbed to death. 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. When 18-year-old Cedar Rapids, Iowa resident Michelle Martinko went missing on Dec. 19, 1979, it became a case that soon ran cold. 'Mr. 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. He went missing after telling his brother he was waiting for a ride from someone. (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. DNA privacy was also a topic of discussion during today's hearing. When the father of three did stop in, Wright said they would make small talk, chatting about work and plans for the day. That company, police said, produced portraits for the associated person of interest. Jerry Burns may be a hitched man, having a spouse and kids. A retired music teacher, Kathryn Birky, of Swisher, who taught private piano and organ lessons, said she had a regularly scheduled lesson with Martinko in the Westdale Mall the night of the attack, Spies said. Previous coverage:Decades after fatal stabbing, Michelle Martinko's family comes face-to-face with her alleged killer. As Becky Moreno stopped for lunch on Thursday afternoon, she reflected on growing up just down the street from Jerry Burns and his family. Michelle Martinko was viewed as wounded absurdly in her vehicle in the Westdale Mall parking structure. 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