The Cedar Rapids Police Department can now show the public the suspect composite in the cold case of Michelle Martinko (18) who was murdered in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on Dec. 19, 1979.
Michelle Martinko was found dead around 4am on Dec. 20, 1979. She was repeatedly stabbed most notably in her face and chest. Police discovered her body in the family Buick in the parking lot of the Westdale Mall.
Police said there was no sign of a sexual assault, but she had wounds that indicated she fought with her attacker.
In October 2006, police announced they had developed the suspect’s DNA. However, no match was found in the national Combined DNA Index System (CODIS).
In September 2016, Parabon Nanolabs was contacted. They were asked to create a suspect composite based on DNA traits. Parabon did the same in the cases of Jennifer Bastian and Michella Welch.
The profile is from a light-skinned man, blond hair, with blue or green eyes at age 25. The image was age-progressed to age 50 as well.
Linn County Crime Stoppers offers a $5,000 reward however, there is an anonymous donor willing to give more.
If you have any information about Michelle Martinko’s murder, please contact Investigator Matt Denlinger at 319-286 5442 or email him at [email protected] or the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation at (515) 725-6010 or email them at [email protected].
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