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The daughter says there's no way her "dad could have done this". Maybe her dad didn't, but the man he was before becoming her dad DEFINITELY did!

Amazing how the family of the defendant will not believe the DNA evidence, but I'm sure if the tables were turned and he was the victim, they'd completely trust the DNA

_"No criminal record and a loving family man"_ and that's exactly how we describe Golden state killer before we discovered that he's a Serial killer 😃

Those detectives, man. That’s dedication right there.

THEY DIDNT JUST FIND DNA, THEY FOUND BLOOD!

It always amazes me how these monsters commit such heinous acts and just move on with their lives as if nothing happened.

When he told the other inmate if you keep beating me I'll have to take you to the mall. What a psychopath.

That detective did his dad proud. Good job. RIP Michelle.

I believe she was not the only victim.

I wish Andy got a better apology because it has to be hard living with people side eyeing you all your life.

Him tearing up when she told him his dad said how proud of him he was! 😭

His family is in denial. The DNA evidence was strong. It wasn’t picked up in the mall, it wasn’t from the dealership. The killer’s comment that “at least he got to live and see his family” was his way of tormenting her family, letting them know he did it and poking the wound of her death. We’re all safer with that man locked up.

The family is in denial because they've never seen that side of their father. His reaction was not one of anger when confronted by the detective. He feels exactly what he said, that he won because he got to spend all those years as a free man with his family. Spoken like a true psychopath.

We all understand that touch DNA can be misleading at times but we're not talking about a skin particle or a strand of hair from accidentally brushing past her in the mall, it's his literal blood discovered twice at the crime scene.

It’s so bizarre and creepy how many of us or people we know are so close to killers without even knowing it.

The ex boyfriend is also a victim of this crime; he lived under a cloud of suspicion for decades until the crime was solved.

No matter your age, hearing your father is proud of you will bring tears to your eyes.

I was a grade behind Michelle at Kennedy H.S. when this happened. And 44 years later I still remember how shocked the whole school was. I attended the trial and took great satisfaction when this was solved.

It's crazy how in all of these cases people are shocked that an "average suburban white guy with a wife and 2.5 kids" could have committed this horrible crime. That's the literal profile of most serial killers in the U.S. His lawyer even mentioned it in court as if having a family could be exculpatory. 💔🌼Rest In Peace, Michelle.🕊🌼

Dude says that his brother could not have possibly been the murderer because he was "always there for his family" and the daughter says that she cannot remember what she did yesterday so how would her dad remember that he killed someone. Duhhh, that's all they could come up with? 😬

The excuses being used by the family to try and justify how his blood got onto that gear stick and her dress are just ridiculous and delusional.

44 years ago today, Michelle was taken away from her family. Rest In Peace Michelle 🕊️

This totally pisses me off. The person who murdered Michelle tried it again 3 years later in almost the same spot in the parking lot. I know. I'm the person it happened to. So I called police at the time. The perp got away. But, every single time they asked for leads in Michelle's case, I called them. And they would tell me, "Oh no, it's not the same person." Flash forward to the day they arrested the murderer. And I see him on tv. And guess what? It was the same guy, only older. And had the police taken me seriously any of the FIVE times I contacted them in the FORTY YEARS they allegedly were working to solve this case, it probably would not have taken so long. This guy pretended to be a JC Penny employee. I walked through Pennys to go to a shoe store, and walked through on my way out. Where the creep followed me out of the store and into the parking lot. I became aware of him and ran to a group of shoppers. That is when he told them he was a store employee and I had stolen vacuum cleaner bags, and I needed to come with him. They agreed to go in the store with me, and he fled. We called police and nothing ever happened. I reported this man every time they asked for leads. They ignored me. And it was him all along.

Father and son detectives reactions of finally getting the case solved. My heart goes out to her family.

Michelle's sister & her husband are the loveliest, most genuine people. I liked them both instantly. What a tragedy for their family.

I love that technology is helping bring to justice all the monsters who got away with their crimes for years. And thanks to all the detectives who speak for the victims.

In regards to the motive.. It’s possible he saw her at the mall, became obsessed with her because she was striking, tried to mingle with her, she refused/rejected him and he followed her to her car.

Big respect to the detectives and prosecutor who tirelessly worked on this horrific case.

I’ll never get friends saying there’s no way he did it when there’s a literal 100% dna match to blood at the scene.

The composite sketch was spot on! When they first showed the photo of the 3 brothers, I straight away screamed: "It's him, the middle one!!!"

There's a lot of people out there with no criminal records that have gotten away with things their whole lives and never been caught. What frightens me is how many other girls did he do this to? So many unsolved cases, so many bodies that are never found and never even investigated.

Showing her ex the crime scene photos when he wasn't even a serious suspect is horrible. Giving a young man PTSD with graphic photos of a girl he dated being stabbed- that's so horrible. Through all this the police didn't try very hard at all.

His family is super delusional.

Even his smirk from day one of the interview...he knew he had finally been caught

My mom was friends with Michelle in middle school. She told me this story when I was growing up but they didn’t know who had done it. Rest in peace, Michelle ❤

Great respect to M. Denlinger! The moment he shed a tear about his father making him proud, made me love this guy even more! RIP Michelle.

No one wants a violent killer in their family. I think it's common for family members to be in denial because maybe even subconsciously they think it reflects upon them

Posting this on Michelle’s anniversary….well done! From one Michelle to another, rest in peace now. ❤

Everyone saying they don't believe he did it because he doesn't look like a killer. Chris Watts and Scott Peterson didn't look like murderers either

26:46 i bet Jerrys heart dropped when he heard “I’m Matt with the cedar rapids police department “ 😂

I so wanted the presenter to ask his family how his blood got on her dress and car? Was he prone to bleeding everywhere?

It was so sad that her parents both died thinking that the wrong person killed their daughter. That wasn’t justice at all for them. They died and never got justice

She was so incredibly beautiful. So sad she didn't get to live her life.

People never cease to amaze me. Every human being is capable of doing horrific things. People don’t seem to understand that no matter how close you are to someone, you don’t truly know them. Just because you love someone & they put on a good show, doesn’t mean they’re incapable of committing heinous atrocities!

You wonder how many other murders he possibly committed. It’s like a potato chip with them, it’s usually never just one.

Dealers dont sell cars with blood on them. 🤦‍♂️ Did he sell her the dress too?

I feel like everything around him speaks for him. From him carrying on with life like nothing happened - visiting the mall with the fact he murdered someone there, to making a family who are so delusional they won't believe DNA evidence, to him telling the guy he was playing cards with that he'd take him to the mall. It's appalling.

He didn't seem surprised. It's like he knew this day would come one day.

37:31 that daughter is so ignorant. What’s unfair is that her father murdered an innocent girl.

Insane how a cold case open that long, 39 years, and finally get the killer

Speaking of a dealership, back in the the late 60s, in Santa Rosa, CA. My stepfather worked as an errand runner for the owner. The dealership had a autobody shop there. At that shop, a male with a club foot worked there. I happened to see him once when my stepfather went there on one of the errands. One evening, a woman called 911 to report that same man had assaulted her, stabbing her many times. She managed to crawl to a phone booth to report the crime before she died. The police came to the dealership and arrested the mechanic. My stepfather said he did not understand why that man had done this horrible deed, as he got plenty of attention from the women who brought their cars in for repair. OMG.

It happens everyday......a male sees a beautiful woman and can't help but proposition her.....she denies him.......He kills her because of the fear of being found out........There's your motive

The defense lawyer was like "DNA is not a sole indicator of a crime". But if was defending a case that that had no DNA found, he would be like "there is no DNA found in the crime scene" defense.

So creepy how Burns mentioned the kidnapped reporter….hope something turns up in that case.

With a crime that horrific its not hard to believe he has other victims. This guy is obviously a predator. This seems like an attempted rape gone wrong she fought back and he killed her in rage. So sick that he boasted about getting to live his life for so long... 😡

To cut arguments short, no innocent person would consider going to jail after more than 40 years a win! If he was innocent, going to jail is never a win. Whether it's a year after the crime or a 100 years later.

This case gave me chills. Michelle Martinko deserved so much better.

Him mentioning Jodi Huisentruit is so suspicious.

This is such a good documentary. Finally gaining justice for Michelle. The police officer is so intelligent and thorough; he did a good job ⭐🚔

I wish all the investigators like Delinger who are so passionate about their job. It was really touching at the end when he was told that how his father is so proud of him.

I never believe them when they claim they've blocked memories. Victims of crimes - yes, I'm sure they genuinely do block memories, it's the brain's way of protecting us. The perpetrators of the crimes though - na, they remember every second of it. Denying memory is their way to both keep those memories sacred for themselves, and also so that they don't have take ownership of that behaviour.

Scumbag jerry DID win by being out with his family for this long. But the fact that he never suffered remorse, pain and regret about what he did says more about him than anything

The detective was amazing and definitely brought this case home. Glad they caught the heartless killer.

It just goes to show you just because someone is quiet and they don't have a criminal record doesn't mean anything! We have to be vigilant and pay attention. Because sometimes it's the people you least suspect

Could be a possible serial killer? That amount of violence and going prepared with gloves and knife. The blood evidence was there not touch DNA. RIP Michele 🙏

Genealogy should definitely be used to purse indictments and convictions against these criminals! Rip Michele

The way they defend him. 😡 And his daughter sits there smiling 🙄

Does his evil family think the dress was bought from a used car dealership as well? He obviously passed his evil onto his disgusting daughter!!

What a beautiful angel..!!!! She would be 62 years old if she was alive.. Very sad to think that one man's psycho thoughts ended a life and her rights to live, marry, have a child..be a grandma... Everything.

Detective: Did the dress work for the dealership? *BOOM!*

The man tearing up after hearing his dad is proud of him is so heartwarming❤😢

When Jamie told investor Matt that his dad (a prior case investigator also) was very proud of him & Matt had to stop the interview, just WOW! Imagine pretty much Matt’s entire life was at least partly consumed by this, think he was 4 when it happened? So going through school, college, law enforcement training etc, marriage, kids .. this horror show always in the back of his mind. _DREAMING_ about someday solving this case & still being able to tell his dad .. & it’s come full circle! Geez in less than an hour *_i_* am bursting with pride for Matt, his dad must be _OVER THE MOON!_ Great story, thanks for sharing! 🤟🏼🕊️💕

Why is family always delulu when there is DNA?

if the DNA had come back to some Russian guy who had never been to the States then I would say it was faulty. But what are the chances of it identifying someone who lived and frequented the mall? AND the DNA was also on her dress not just the gear shift. This is a terrifying predator. He killed cause he wanted to and stopped at will as well.

I was a year ahead of Michelle in High School at Kennedy. I remember her well. She did stand out especially w/her blonde hairstyle. It was a terrible shock when she was killed.

I think he saw a crime of opportunity. He probably kept gloves and knives in his vehicle. She was parked too far, it was dark, and he took a shot. I wouldn't doubt there are other deaths in his wake. His cousin Brian disappeared (coincidentally on the same date of 12/19) in 2013, and 5 years before Jerry's arrest and his first wife supposedly died of suicide.

Today is 12/19. Not a coincidence that 48 hours ran this story today. RIP Michelle.

This is exactly why it's important not to rush to judgment. Just because someone seems like they may have been involved does not mean they were.

Thank you 48 hours for putting this full episode on

I don't know about DNA traces I leave behind, but I can quite confidently say there is no way you could find my blood at random dead woman's car 😐 his family made some interesting arguments

I just have so much appreciation for the Detective that took over his fathers Case and solved it. What a hero. He himself knows the amazing job he had done and to hear the clarification from your father who was once on the same case, Must be the utter most appreciated feeling. God worked through this detective. God bless all families in this case.

I was waiting on the family of the killer to say, "He was such a good boy. He would never do anything like that." 🙄

His reaction when the cops confronted him is a big indication he did it. A normal person would be bemused, confused and angry all at once but he showed none of those emotions.

The reporter went missing and never found. His causin also went missing never found. And his wife committed suicide. All these three deaths happened in the 2000s. All in Iowa.

After the guilty verdict the way he just stood up like ' well, that's that ' tells you he did it. If he was innocent you'd think he would have shouted & went nuts, but he didn't do any of that.

Michelle… rest in peace you precious beautiful soul 🙏🙏🙏 Justice has been served💖💖💖

I love when people say, "he was a stand up guy, pillar of the community", so was BTK.

Killed for no reason. Such a beautiful innocent young lady. Glad justice was served.

He worked in a car dealership and his blood just happened to get on the car and dress🙄 His family is disgusting for being in denial and thinking he’s innocent.I mean, makes sense. They share the same blood.

Amazing DNA technology. I salute the detectives for breaking cold cases. God bless them.

He felt safe and untouchable all this years until the detective came in his door, and the only reason he could think of was black out

I can’t believe the defense used this guy working at a car dealership or his family going to the mall. You have two places one in the vehicle on the steering wheel and one on her dress. There is no way that that is just going to happen in an every day situation. he did it, he knows it! I understand his family’s feelings. I think he’s one of those monsters that stay hidden for a long time.

❤At the end when Harvey denlingver said how proud he was of his son and the interviewer told his son and he choked up… it was great ! Lovely moment !

He could've raised reasonable doubt if he admitted he had interacted with her at her car. There were no witnesses. He could've said her battery was dead and he gave her a jump, cutting his hand while opening her hood. Hopping in and getting it started for her. Then driving off thinking nothing of it. Except for this weird looking dude lingering not far away, watching them. But to just deny, deny, deny, with no explanation for his blood in her car and on her dress sealed his fate. Now, he's where he deserves to be.

I have a beautiful wife & two amazing daughters. So this really hits me close to home. Any man who physically (or verbally) harms a female, is the lowest form of what it means to be a coward. It's unacceptable and should be paid for by either a death sentence or a literal "life sentence" without parole! This isn't the kind of thing they'd do only one time and just stop.

The son fighting back tears b/c his father is proud of him (at around 38:00) made my eyes well up too. You’re a hero if you get justice for a grieving family.

Even faced with indisputable physical evidence, his family still denies. Cut from the same criminal cloth? Maybe. Or just delusional. Either way, I’m glad this monster will finally be put away for the rest of his life.

These lawyers and family members reaching for how the killers DNA got in her car and on her dress? I know it’s shocking but come on people.

Dennis Rader,,John List,,it’s absolutely possible to live a”normal” life after such cruel crime and nobody in their inner circle believe its him