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.

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