EPISODE · Aug 27, 2025 · 1H 1M
Frozen in Time: Michelle Martinko’s Case (part two)
from Crime Clueless · host JLCK Productions
For almost 40 years, Michelle Martinko’s case stood unsolved, her killer’s identity locked away in old evidence files. But in 2018, investigators turned to a powerful new tool — forensic genealogy. By building out a family tree from crime scene DNA, they were finally able to narrow in on a suspect: Jerry Burns, an Iowa businessman with no prior record. What followed was a high-profile arrest, a trial that gripped the community, and, at last, long-awaited justice for Michelle. In this episode, we explore the groundbreaking use of genealogy to catch a killer, the unraveling of Jerry Burns’ carefully hidden secret, and the emotional courtroom moments that finally closed one of Iowa’s most haunting cold cases. To learn more about this case and see the resources used to create this episode, visit our Blog Here. Find Crime Clueless socials, website, and more here Thank you for listening - we are grateful for you! Support Crime Clueless - Buy Me A Coffee Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
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What this episode covers
For almost 40 years, Michelle Martinko’s case stood unsolved, her killer’s identity locked away in old evidence files. But in 2018, investigators turned to a powerful new tool — forensic genealogy. By building out a family tree from crime scene DNA, they were finally able to narrow in on a suspect: Jerry Burns, an Iowa businessman with no prior record. What followed was a high-profile arrest, a trial that gripped the community, and, at last, long-awaited justice for Michelle.
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Frozen in Time: Michelle Martinko’s Case (part two)
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