“And Then There Were Three”: Dateline Reports on Michelle Martinko Homicide December 20 2025

In the December 20, 2025 episode of Dateline NBC titled “And Then There Were Three,” correspondent Dennis Murphy examines the chilling cold case of 18-year-old Michelle Martinko, murdered in 1979 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The broadcast details her final night, the decades-long investigation, and the eventual breakthrough that brought her killer to justice—nearly 40 years later.

• Who Was Michelle Martinko & What Happened to Her? 2025 Update & Background
• Who Is Jerry Lynn Burns & Where Is He Now? 2025 Update & Background

The Night Michelle Martinko Was Killed

On December 19, 1979, Michelle Martinko attended a high school choir banquet before heading to Westdale Mall to collect a winter coat on layaway. She went alone after friends declined to join her. Around 2 a.m., her family reported her missing. Hours later, police discovered her body in the family’s Buick parked at the mall. She had been stabbed 29 times, with most wounds concentrated on her face and chest, and her hands showed signs of a struggle.

There were no signs of sexual assault or robbery. Her purse and cash remained untouched. The scene revealed no fingerprints, suggesting the killer wore gloves. Investigators immediately believed it was a targeted attack. Despite interviews, polygraph tests, and even consultations with psychics, no solid leads emerged, and the case quickly went cold.

Michelle’s Life and the Toll on Her Family

Michelle was known for her striking appearance and involvement in school activities like choir and baton twirling. She had plans to attend Iowa State University to study interior design. Described by friends as kind and shy before blossoming in high school, she was well-liked but didn’t maintain many close friendships—possibly due to jealousy or romantic tensions.

Her family was devastated by the loss. Her mother Janet never recovered and largely withdrew from public life. Both parents died in the 1990s, having never seen justice served. Over time, the murder left a lasting scar on the Cedar Rapids community, altering the sense of safety and innocence that had defined the town.

Decades of Dead Ends and Cold Case Setbacks

In the years following the murder, various suspects were investigated, including ex-boyfriends and acquaintances seen near the mall that night. One former suspect, known for a prior home invasion and assault, was scrutinized but ruled out via DNA and died in prison in 2012. Rumors and community suspicion persisted. A composite sketch in 1980 yielded no results, and even potential sightings went unreported or were miscommunicated.

The case remained dormant until 2006 when a cold case detective uncovered preserved bloodstains on Martinko’s clothing. A DNA profile was developed but produced no matches in the CODIS national database. Despite testing more than 125 individuals over the next decade, investigators were no closer to solving the case.

The Forensic Breakthrough: DNA Phenotyping and Genealogy

In 2017, police hired Parabon NanoLabs to create a DNA-based sketch of the killer. The resulting image, featuring a blond-haired, blue-eyed man, sparked public interest but led nowhere definitive. In 2018, using the emerging technique of genetic genealogy, the case saw a breakthrough. By uploading the suspect DNA profile to GEDmatch, analysts found a second cousin once removed of the killer.

From this genetic clue, investigators built a family tree and narrowed down the search to three brothers in Iowa. Covert DNA collection eliminated two, leaving Jerry Lynn Burns. A discarded straw used by Burns during lunch provided a sample. The DNA matched the blood found at the scene. On December 19, 2018—exactly 39 years after the murder—Burns was arrested and charged with first-degree murder.

The Arrest and Trial of Jerry Lynn Burns

Burns, a businessman in Manchester, Iowa, had no criminal record and denied knowing Martinko. However, he could not explain why his DNA was on her dress. In court, the defense challenged the handling of evidence and questioned the legality of collecting DNA from a discarded straw. The judge ruled that there was no expectation of privacy for abandoned property.

Prosecutors also uncovered disturbing internet searches on Burns’ computer involving violent pornography, but this evidence was barred from the trial due to its remoteness in time. The case ultimately hinged on the DNA evidence and Burns’ inability to account for its presence. The defense presented only one witness, a forensic consultant who conceded that while secondary DNA transfer was possible, it was not likely in this case.

Guilty Verdict and Sentencing

On February 24, 2020, after a brief three-hour deliberation, a jury found Burns guilty of first-degree murder. He was sentenced to life in prison without parole on August 7, 2020. Burns appealed the verdict, but in 2023 the Iowa Supreme Court upheld the conviction, closing one of the longest-running cold cases in Iowa history.

The successful prosecution of Jerry Lynn Burns marked a landmark moment in forensic investigation, showcasing the power of modern DNA techniques and genealogy databases. For Martinko’s surviving family, it brought long-overdue justice for a young life stolen on a cold December night.