Hunter
08/04/20
The man found guilty of first degree murder in a Cedar Rapids cold case from 1979 will finally be sentenced to life in prison without parole this week.
The Cedar Rapids Gazette reports that 66-year-old Jerry Burns was convicted by jury on February 24th in Scott County, and his sentencing has been reset twice because of the coronavirus pandemic.
The body of 18-year-old Michelle Martinko was found in the family car in the Westdale Mall parking lot in December of 1979 with multiple stab wounds. A DNA match was discovered in 2018 linking Burns to the crime, and he was arrested on the anniversary of her death.
Martinko’s parents have since passed away, but her sister and brother-in-law will provide a taped victim impact statement to be played during sentencing. John Stonebreaker says he and his wife are now at peace after waiting years for justice.
The sentencing is scheduled to start at 1:30pm Friday and will be livestreamed on the Gazette’s website as well as other media sites.