Shivangi Sinha
Michelle Martinko’s death in December 1979 was devastating for her family and friends. One day, she was part of their daily lives, and the next, she was gone, with no immediate answers about who was responsible. For years, the absence of an arrest left the family without closure. Her parents, Albert and Janet Martinko, both died before investigators made a breakthrough in the case. The pursuit of justice was carried on by Michelle’s sister, Janelle, and her brother-in-law, John Stonebraker, who remained committed to seeing the case resolved. In NBC’s ‘Dateline: And Then There Were Three,’ they reflected on Michelle’s life, the impact of the loss on their family, and what it meant to have the case solved after so many years.
Michelle Martinko’s Family Never Gave Up Hope on Finding the Killer
Albert Francis Martinko and Janet Ann Zillig Martinko both served in the US Army during World War II, with Albert working as an Air Force pilot. They married in 1948 in Biloxi, Mississippi, and later made their home in Iowa, where they began raising their family. Their first daughter, Janelle, was born there, followed twelve years later by their younger daughter, Michelle. The couple built a loving family life and took pride in their children and the future they were creating. Janelle went on to study law at the University of Iowa, where she met John Stonebraker. They married in the early 1970s and settled in Davenport.
Although Michelle and her sisters lived in different places while she completed her schooling in Cedar Rapids, they remained close and stayed in touch through letters. On the night of December 19, 1979, when Michelle had not returned home by around 2 am, Albert and Janet contacted the police, knowing it was out of character for her to be out without notice. Their concern prompted an immediate response that led to the discovery of her remains. The years that followed were marked by uncertainty and waiting, as the case produced few leads. Justice came decades later, in 2020, when Jerry Burns was convicted and sentenced to life in prison.
Albert and Janet Martinko Passed Away Before the Killer Was Apprehended
In 1986, Albert Martinko filed a civil lawsuit against the owners of Westdale Mall, claiming that inadequate and negligent security measures had contributed to his daughter’s death. The case proceeded through the appeals process and ultimately reached the Iowa Supreme Court, which ruled in favor of the mall owners, determining that they could not be held legally responsible. As a result, the Martinko family was left without answers or accountability for years. Albert Martinko and his wife, Janet, endured decades of grief without ever seeing their daughter’s killer brought to justice.
Albert passed away on July 24, 1995, at his home in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, carrying the pain of unresolved loss to his grave. A few years later, Janet suffered a short period of illness and died on March 30, 1998, at the Good Samaritan Center in Davenport. Neither parent lived long enough to witness any legal resolution in their daughter’s case. During the February 2020 trial of Jerry Burns, Janelle Martinko’s sister addressed the court and spoke movingly about her parents’ lifelong suffering. She described how their hearts were broken by years of unanswered questions and emphasized the tragedy that they passed away before justice could finally be pursued for their daughter.
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Janelle Martinko and John Stonebraker ensured they were present at the February 2020 trial of Jerry Burns, where both addressed the court and spoke about the deep injustice of Michelle Martinko’s life being taken so suddenly and cruelly. They reflected on how Michelle was denied the chance to grow older and become part of future family milestones, leaving an absence that could never truly be filled. Following the verdict, Janelle and John expressed gratitude to the Cedar Rapids Police Department and praised the dedication and persistence shown by multiple generations of investigators who worked tirelessly to solve the case after so many years. They publicly acknowledged the commitment and professionalism that ultimately led to long-awaited accountability.
Since the conclusion of the trial, the couple has largely remained out of the public eye. Later reports suggest they may be living in Salem, South Carolina. In 2018, it was reported that they welcomed a granddaughter, signaling a new chapter in their lives. While they have chosen to maintain their privacy, it is reasonable to believe that Michelle’s memory continues to be honored within their family, and that younger generations are growing up knowing about her and the life that was cut short.
