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You are here: Home / Cold Case News / Suspect composite in case of Michelle Martinko

Suspect composite in case of Michelle Martinko

May 17, 2017 By Alice

Age-progressed to 50/Case: Michelle Martinko
Age-progressed to 50/Case: Michelle Martinko

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.

Case Michelle Martinko/ age 25The 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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Filed Under: Cold Case News, Forensics Tagged With: Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Michelle Martinko, phenotyping

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  1. Michelle Martinko: background information - Defrosting Cold Cases says:
    December 21, 2018 at 2:33 pm

    […] found Jerry Lynn Burns by using a composite sketch based on DNA. Remember that in October 2006, DNA from the crime scene was send to Combined DNA […]

  2. Arrest in 1979 murder of Michelle Martinko - Defrosting Cold Cases says:
    December 20, 2018 at 12:40 am

    […] May 2017, Cedar Rapids Police Department released a suspect composite sketch based on that […]

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On this website, I write about old, unsolved cases. Most are from the pre-DNA era and are in need of renewed media attention. I only do research and leave the active investigation of these cases to the professionals.

My posts are about homicides, missing and unidentified people, wrongful convictions, and forensics as related to these cases.

On book reviews: I only review select works of true crime, crime fiction, and historical fiction/mysteries. The stories have to fit my website's theme and research. It remains my prerogative to not review a book.

My database has over 325 cases listed by the victim’s last name. You will find a brief description there as well. The database will always be free to the public to use. You cannot buy ad space on my website, ever.

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Alice de Sturler

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Copyright: Please add a link back if you use my work. Let your readers know where you found your information. I do the same for you. If you need help with this, just contact me. Thank you, Alice de Sturler

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