The police chief at the time, Ray Baker, said the fatal stabbing "outraged the whole community.". 'I'd say the reaction today has been utter disbelief,' said Jackie Mormann, owner of The Bread Basket, a local eatery on Main Street in downtown Manchester. Trish Mehaffey Crime and Courts Sep. 30, 2022 6:06 pm151d ago, Bailey Cichon Crime and Courts Jun. "Its scary," Moreno said. Burns' son, James Burns also briefly took the stand. DAVENPORT, Ia. ', Authorities said they questioned Burns at his workplace later the day. Add newsletters@thegazette.comto your contacts. Burns faces a charge of first-degree murder. He said he has ordered Burns not to speak with news media. Burns, who was convicted in February of killing Michelle Martinko in 1979, was sentenced to life in prison. 'Mr. 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. She could hardly speak.. Burns was arrested on Wednesday and charged with first-degree murder on Thursday in the 1979 death of Michelle Martinko. The teen was stabbed 29 times, according to testimony. Jerry Lynn Burns (born December 23, 1953 [13]) was 25 years old when he killed Michelle Martinko in December 1979. He grew up in Manchester, Iowa, and graduated from West Delaware High School in 1972. He lived in Manchester at the time of his arrest in 2020 and owned a powder coating business in the city. Police never came into the shop, he said, and no law enforcement officers ever contacted him or asked him about Burns. Jerry also answers to Jerry L Burns and Jerry Lynn Burns, and perhaps a couple of other names. Burns, who was convicted in February of killing Michelle Martinko in 1979, was sentenced to life in prison. Add newsletters@thegazette.comto your contacts. 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. 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. McElliot said he felt bad for Burns as he listened to news accounts of Burns' arrest Wednesday. Decades after the death, he had a voice in the first-degree murder sentencing of Jerry Burns, 66, of Manchester. 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. "I wish my parents could be here to see this. ", "This is Michelles day," he added. 2023 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Satellite Information Network, LLC. Tyler Davis can be reached attjdavis@registermedia.comor on Twitter@TDavisDMR. 'All of my customers today have been talking about (Burns' arrest) and how shocking it was,' Mormann told The Gazette Thursday. CEDAR RAPIDS - The Martinko family lived without answers for 39 Christmases. Burns is charged with first-degree murder in the stabbing death of Michelle Martinko in 1979. 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. Decades after fatal stabbing, Michelle Martinko's family comes face-to-face with her alleged killer, Latinos are opening more small businesses than anyone else in the US, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Burns used to co-own a truck stop near town. Our heartfelt thanks to everyone. To that point in the investigation, we were confident who our perpetrator was, so we figured out the who. His family and friends remained seated after Martinkos family left the courtroom. Burns' DNA profile was developed from blood on Martinko's black dress. On Thursday, other people in town said they were shocked, stunned or astounded by the news. '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. 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. Prosecutors said she was stabbed to death. Russ Wright works the registerin the building Burns built. Dec. 20, 2018 8:16 pm, Updated: Dec. 21, 2018 8:24 am. Cheryl Hollrah, the sports bar cook, worked at Westdale Mall in Cedar Rapids, whereMartinko's body was found in a car 39 years ago. 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. (Rebecca F. Miller/The Gazette), Friends and family of Michelle Martinko react as Burns' motion for a new trial is denied at a sentencing hearing for Jerry Lynn Burns at the Linn County Courthouse in Cedar Rapids on Friday, Aug. 7, 2020. 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. The Charley Project is NOT a registered non-profit organization and any donations will NOT be tax-deductible. "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. Burns co-owns Advanced Coating Concepts with his son, a powder coating business and turf equipment dealer just south of Manchester. 'It's kind of rocked our world,' she said. Last updated May 14, 2020; details of disappearance updated. 'It seems awful shocking to me, the way I've known him,' he said of Burns' arrest. 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. "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. Read more about the circumstances surrounding Burns' arrest here. His wife and other close members of his family were allowed to attend the sentencing but seating was limited to allow for social distancing in the courtroom. 2023 www.desmoinesregister.com. '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. Burns, who was convicted in February of killing Michelle Martinko in 1979, was sentenced to life in prison. (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. Donations are accepted but not expected; the site remains free-access to all. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph.. Jerry Burns looks toward First Assistant Linn County Attorney Nick Maybanks during a suppression hearing at the Linn County Courthouse in Cedar Rapids, Jan. 24. Offers may be subject to change without notice. She wasn't crying so much as gasping, choking. All Rights Reserved. Updated 2 times since October 12, 2004. They are in relation from previous few years of a strong relationship. (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. Both Mormann and Moreno say this a life lesson that you never truly know your neighbors. for the murder of Michelle Martinko 39 years later. 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. Cedar Rapids police used DNA genetic genealogical research to create a group of suspects in the killing that included Burns, according to court records. An obituary for Burns wife, Patricia, says that she died in June For nearly 40 years, the family of slain high schooler Michelle Martinko waited for an arrest. People may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Jerry, who would have been 25 years old at the time of the murder, was convicted in February 2020. Stonebrakersat in the front row of the courtroom, flanked by her husband, John, and oldest son, Robert. They stated they had no evidence to implicate him in Brian's case and no evidence that Patricia's death was not suicide. All rights reserved. It lies in a 'deeply selfish, lifelong personal need. ", 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.". 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. At long last, following 40 years of homicide of Michelle Martinko, Burns went to preliminary and was accused of first-degree murder. Previous to Jerry's current city of Manchester, IA, Jerry Burns lived in Cedar Falls IA. Burns' wife, Patricia, died by suicide in 2008. Puro cash':Latinos are opening more small businesses than anyone else in the US, Julian Assange:Why he matters more than you think. Burns is disabled and didnt own a vehicle, possess a drivers license or have a cell phone. Birky also noted that Martinko should have had two organ books and an assignment book with her after leaving the lesson that night. We found 3 records for Jerry Burns in Manchester, IA. Delaware CountySheriff John Leclere saidauthorities "don't have any reason to suspect (Burns) in either case.". She had gone to the mall that night to get a coat her mother had put on layaway. Iowa Missing Person Information Clearinghouse, Delaware County Sheriff's Office Stonebraker said he is sad for the Burns family and wanted to 'wish them well.. 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. Personal details about Jerry include: political affiliation is currently a registered Republican; ethnicity is Caucasian; and religious "Every TV was on the news.". "I worked nights and it just freaked me out.". We cant say their name. ', l Comments: 319-398-8238; kat.russell@thegazette.com. (Stephen Mally/The Gazette). Fathers name is Not Available. There was very little information on the 55-year-old's vanishing and Leclere said there are no leads today. "Correct, I had no explanation," said Burns. DNA privacy was also a topic of discussion during today's hearing. (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. We remain so grateful to generations of Cedar Rapids law enforcement that acted like a dog with a bone, Stonebraker said. 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. 'You'll never convince me he did something like that.'. One of his court He waited for her at the mall and apprehended her in the parking lot, according to the theory. In one of those profiles, authorities said there were fewer than one in 100 billion unrelated individuals who would have had the same profile. (Rebecca F. Miller/The Gazette), Jerry Lynn Burns thanks his family for their support as he 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. "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.
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