Michelle Martinko: Solving a 40-Year Cold Case Murder
from Forensic Files Unsealed Hosted by AC Wilson
The episode chronicles the four-decade journey to solve the 1979 homicide of eighteen-year-old Michelle Martinko in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Despite the discovery of the victim's body in a mall parking lot with numerous stab wounds, the investigation remained stagnant for years due to a lack of suspects and motive. The breakthrough occurred when forensic investigators utilized genetic genealogy to link abandoned DNA from the crime scene to Jerry Burns. The sources detail how familial DNA databases and the collection of a discarded straw eventually secured a first-degree murder conviction in 2020. Now serving a life sentence, Burns’ unsuccessful appeals mark the final chapter in a case where modern science eventually provided justice for a cold-case tragedy. Content Warning: This podcast contains discussions of homicide, violence, abuse, and other graphic themes related to real-life criminal events. It is intended for mature audiences and listener discretion is advised.
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