Iowa man convicted on the basis of DNA evidence from website 40 years after he murdered 18-year-old woman

66-year-old Jerry Burns had stabbed Michelle Martinko, who was 18 years old then, to death in 1979

UPDATED FEB 25, 2020

CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA: A 66-year-old man from Iowa who was arrested in 2018 for stabbing a young woman to death in 1979 on the basis of DNA evidence from a genetic genealogy website, has been convicted by a jury.

Jurors took around 3 hours to convict Jerry Burns of first-degree murder in the 1979 stabbing of Michelle Martinko who was 18 at the time. The incident took place on December 19 and Martinko's body was found the next day inside her family's car at a Cedar Rapids shopping mall.

Burns did not testify and his defense had only called one witness. The investigators were able to link Burns with the murder via a DNA sample from a straw that he had left behind in a restaurant before being arrested. The DNA was then matched to samples that had been taken from the crime scene around 40 years ago.

In Iowa, first-degree murder carries a compulsory term of life in prison. According to Cedar Rapids Police Chief Wayne Jerman, "The murder of 18-year old Michelle Martinko in December 1979 had a profound impact on the community and on Michelle’s family. For nearly 40 years, police officers and investigators showed tenacity and dedication to finding the person accountable for this tragic death."

"With the assistance and direction of the Linn County Attorney’s Office, the Cedar Rapids Police Department was able to make an arrest, and now the verdict today helps bring closure to a case that has haunted our community for decades. For Michelle’s family and friends, we know that the pain of losing a daughter, sister, or friend will never go away. You and Michelle will forever be in our thoughts and we are eternally grateful for your support, trust, and confidence over the many years," Jerman shared.

Martinko's case had gone cold for several decades until investigators linked blood found on her dress to the killer Burns via genetic genealogy.