Her Own Best Witness: The Michelle Martinko Case
This episode discusses the murder of a young woman, including details of a violent attack. While details are handled with care and without graphic description, some listeners may find the subject matter disturbing. Listener discretion is advised.
If you or someone you know has been affected by violence, support is available. You can reach the National Victim Assistance Hotline at 1-800-FYI-CALL.
SOURCES & REFERENCES
This episode was researched using court records, law enforcement statements, and published news reporting. All quotes have been verified against original sources.
PRIMARY SOURCES
COURT RECORDS
• Iowa Supreme Court – State of Iowa v. Jerry Lynn Burns, Case No. 20-1150
• Opinion filed March 31, 2023
• Linn County District Court – Jerry Burns case records
• Probable cause affidavit (December 2018)
• Motion to suppress hearing (January 2020)
• Trial transcripts (February 2020)
• Sentencing documents (August 7, 2020)
• Scott County District Court – Trial venue (moved due to pretrial publicity)
LAW ENFORCEMENT
• Cedar Rapids Police Department – Press releases (2018)
• Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) – DNA analysis reports
• Delaware County Sheriff’s Office – Brian Burns missing person case statements
FORENSIC SCIENCE
• Parabon NanoLabs (Reston, Virginia) – DNA phenotyping composite (2015, 2017)
• Parabon NanoLabs – Genetic genealogy analysis (2018)
• GEDmatch database – Familial DNA matching methodology
• Iowa DCI Crime Laboratory – STR DNA profile development
NEWS SOURCES
NATIONAL COVERAGE
CBS News
• “Young murder victim helps solve her own cold case nearly 40 years later” (August 8, 2021)
• “Is Michelle Martinko’s killer linked to missing news anchor Jodi Huisentruit?” (August 4, 2021)
Associated Press
• “Iowa Supreme Court upholds conviction of Jerry Burns in 1979 murder” (April 3, 2023)
LOCAL IOWA COVERAGE
The Gazette (Cedar Rapids)
• “Jerry Burns sentenced to life for killing Michelle Martinko in 1979” (August 8, 2020)
• “Investigator: Jerry Burns’ ‘fetish’ for violent internet sex shows possible motive” (January 17, 2020)
• “Jerry Burns’ deviant computer activity will be kept out of trial, judge rules” (February 6, 2020)
• “Search warrant shows how relative’s DNA led police to Manchester man” (March 12, 2019)
• “Man convicted of Martinko murder appeals to Iowa Supreme Court” (September 30, 2022)
KCRG (Cedar Rapids)
• “This case has haunted the community for 39 years; arrest made” (December 20, 2018)
• “Jerry Burns has murder appeal denied” (March 31, 2023)
Iowa Public Radio
• “Burns Sentenced To Life In Prison For Martinko Murder, Plans To Appeal” (August 7, 2020)
TELEVISION COVERAGE
• CBS 48 Hours – “Murder at the Mall: The Michelle Martinko Case”
• Correspondent: Jamie Yuccas
• Multiple airings: August 7, 2021; December 2023
• Investigation Discovery / On the Case with Paula Zahn – “A Test of Patience”
• NBC Dateline – Episode featuring case (2020)
REFERENCE SOURCES
• Wikipedia: “Murder of Michelle Martinko”
• Iowa Cold Cases: “Michelle Marie Martinko” (iowacoldcases.org)
• Iowa Cold Cases: “Brian Burns” (iowacoldcases.org)
• CourtListener: State of Iowa v. Jerry Lynn Burns
• Justia: State v. Burns, 988 N.W.2d 352 (Iowa 2023)
QUOTE ATTRIBUTIONS
HARVEY DENLINGER (Original investigator, retired)
• “I had never seen anybody stabbed that many times…” – CBS 48 Hours
• “It’s sort of neat that I was on the case when it started and he got to finish it.” – CBS 48 Hours
MATT DENLINGER (Lead investigator, Cedar Rapids Police)
• “By 1986, this case is sitting on ice.” – CBS 48 Hours
• “You have to assume that pretty much any motive you can think of was a possibility…” – CBS 48 Hours
• “I tried to maintain a calm, casual look. But I was screaming inside.” – The Gazette
• “Wouldn’t it be something if I could find our suspect and my dad is still alive?” – CBS 48 Hours
DOUG LARISON (Cold case detective)
• “I felt a responsibility toward my classmates actually to get this case solved.” – The Gazette
• “I think it’s just common sense that that’s probably your killer right there.” – CBS 48 Hours
JOHN STONEBRAKER (Michelle’s brother-in-law)
• “She had just identified the bloody, torn, broken body of her beautiful daughter…” – Victim impact statement, August 7, 2020
• “Michelle’s presents went unopened that year.” – Victim impact statement
• “In a very real way, Michelle became her own best witness.” – Victim impact statement
• “It was a moonshot. It was like winning the lottery.” – CBS coverage
JANELLE STONEBRAKER (Michelle’s sister)
• “I’m so happy. There were so many people accused…” – Post-verdict statement, February 24, 2020
JERRY BURNS (Convicted murderer)
• “Test the DNA.” – Police interview, December 19, 2018
• “I’m sure something like that would be… Be possible to block out…” – Police car recording
• “First of all, I’d like to say that somebody else stabbed Michelle to death…” – Sentencing statement
JEFF HOLST (Cedar Rapids Police Investigator)
• Burns had “a fetish with sexually assaulting and killing women.” – Suppression hearing testimony, January 2020
BRANDY JENNINGS (DNA match, Vancouver, Washington)
• “It’s hard to believe that someone could commit a murder and continue living a normal life.” – CBS 48 Hours
SHERIFF JOHN LECLERE (Delaware County)
• “We are reviewing the case and at this time have not uncovered any additional information…” – Statement on Brian Burns case, 2018
FAMILY & VICTIM INFORMATION
MICHELLE MARIE MARTINKO
• Born: October 6, 1961, Cedar Rapids, Iowa
• Died: December 19, 1979 (age 18)
• Parents: Albert Francis Martinko and Janet Ann Martinko (née Zillig)
• Sister: Janelle (Martinko) Stonebraker
• School: Kennedy High School, Cedar Rapids (senior)
JERRY LYNN BURNS
• Born: December 23, 1953
• Convicted: February 24, 2020
• Sentenced: August 7, 2020 – Life without parole
• Current incarceration: Anamosa State Penitentiary, Iowa
• Appeal rejected: March 31, 2023 (Iowa Supreme Court, 5-2)
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
For more information on forensic genetic genealogy:
• Parabon NanoLabs: https://parabon-nanolabs.com
• DNA Doe Project: https://dnadoeproject.org
For victim support resources:
• National Center for Victims of Crime: https://victimsofcrime.org
• RAINN: https://www.rainn.org
Iowa Cold Cases:
CREDITS
Research and fact-checking conducted using publicly available court records, published news articles, law enforcement press releases, and television documentary coverage.
All information about Jerry Lynn Burns is based on his conviction, court records, and trial testimony. Burns was convicted of first-degree murder on February 24, 2020, and sentenced to life in prison without parole on August 7, 2020. His appeal was rejected by the Iowa Supreme Court on March 31, 2023.
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Episode: “Her Own Best Witness”
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Crime Decoded is a documentary-style podcast focused on forensic science, investigative methods, and publicly documented criminal cases.
All information presented in this episode is drawn from court records, law enforcement statements, contemporaneous news reporting, and publicly available sources believed to be reliable at the time of production. Statements attributed to individuals are presented as reported or quoted opinions and do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or producers.
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