Michelle Martinko was a victim of a tragic crime that occurred in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on December 19, 1979.

The case remained unsolved for nearly four decades until advancements in DNA technology led to the identification and conviction of Jerry Lynn Burns for her murder.

The case of Jerry Lynn Burns highlights a complex intersection of privacy rights and law enforcement's use of modern technology in criminal investigations. The Iowa Supreme Court's decision underscores a legal precedent that discarded items are not protected under the Fourth Amendment, which guards against unreasonable searches and seizures.

This ruling aligns with previous court decisions that have determined once an individual throws something away, they forfeit any expectation of privacy over the discarded item. However, Burns' argument about the invisibility of DNA and the need for specialized analysis to obtain a DNA profile raises important questions about the extent of privacy individuals can expect over their genetic information, even when it is left in a public place.

The court's decision reflects the ongoing debate over privacy in the age of DNA testing and forensic advancements, balancing the rights of individuals with the needs of law enforcement to solve crimes.

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SOURCES:

www.evergreenpodcasts.com/who-killed

https://youtu.be/vfb8BXB5O3s

https://iowacoldcases.org/case-summaries/michelle-martinko/

https://www.thegazette.com/crime-courts/jerry-burns-sentenced-to-life-for-killing-michelle-martinko-in-1979/

https://www.thegazette.com/crime-courts/jerry-burns-sentenced-to-life-for-killing-michelle-martinko-in-1979/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s1zVT3lS6hs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tp4EfCTgwz0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RRkjjJDOpzU

https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/2018/12/20/michelle-martinko-cold-case-cedar-rapids-iowa-ia-jerry-burns-manchester-arrest-murder-dna-homicide/2377189002/

https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/crime-and-courts/2019/12/19/jerry-burns-michelle-martinko-accused-1979-iowa-killing/2702680001/

https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/crime-and-courts/2019/04/15/michelle-martinko-jerry-burns-suspect-murder-homicide-cedar-rapids-iowa-dna-parabon-labs-cold-case/3476459002/

https://www.thegazette.com/subject/news/public-safety/michelle-martinko-murder-cedar-rapids-1979-arrest-made-cold-case-cedar-rapids-gazette-archive-articles-12202018

https://www.thegazette.com/crime-courts/what-we-know-key-moments-in-the-michelle-martinko-cold-case-murder-investigation/

https://www.newspapers.com/clip/87432449/

https://www.newspapers.com/clip/87432352/

https://www.newspapers.com/clip/87431852/

https://www.newspapers.com/clip/87431750/

https://www.newspapers.com/clip/87432697/

https://www.newspapers.com/clip/87430401/

https://www.newspapers.com/clip/26391312/des-moines-tribune/

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