New Evidence in 1979 Murder of Michelle Martinko
New Evidence Found In Decades-Old Murder Case POSTED: 9:19 pm CDT October 2, 2006 UPDATED: 9:36 pm CDT October 2, 2006 CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa -- Police hope newly uncovered DNA evidence can help unlock a 1979 murder case. The body of Michelle Martinko was found in the early morning on Dec. 20, 1979, in her family's car near the Westdale Mall in Cedar Rapids. She had been stabbed multiple times in her head and chest. Wounds on Martinko's hands seemed to indicate she fought to defend herself, and after analyzing the evidence again, and sending physical evidence to Iowa's crime lab in Ankeny, police said they now believe they have DNA samples of Martinko's killer. At the time of Martinko's murder, police turned up few leads -- there were no fingerprints inside Martinko's car nor any other physical evidence. The new DNA evidence is the result of work by detectives Doug Larison and George Aboud, who have focused on cold cases since 2005. Martinko's case was a particular focus. Crimestoppers is offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of Martinko's killer. http://www.kcci.com/news/9986200/detail.html