Brian Michael Burns, 55, was last seen on December 19, 2013, at his residence in the 1300 block of 180th Street in Manchester, Iowa. On the day of his disappearance, Burns told his brother he was awaiting a ride from an unknown individual. He left without any form of identification, and as he did not possess a driver's license, vehicle, or cell phone, tracking his whereabouts proved difficult. A family member officially reported him missing on December 23, 2013.
For nearly a decade, the case remained cold despite efforts by the Delaware County Sheriff's Office to locate him. In 2021, eight years after he was last seen, Brian Burns was legally declared dead in Delaware County District Court, though his missing person case remained open. A significant development occurred on November 5, 2023, when pheasant hunters discovered human remains in a field approximately one mile south of Burns's home. In January 2024, the Iowa State Medical Examiner's Office confirmed through DNA testing that the remains were those of Brian Michael Burns. The area where his remains were found had experienced significant snowfall shortly after he was reported missing.
The investigation into Burns's disappearance also involved his cousin, Jerry Burns, who was a resident of Manchester. In December 2018, Jerry Burns was arrested and later convicted in February 2020 for the 1979 first-degree murder of 18-year-old Michelle Martinko in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Authorities questioned Jerry Burns about his cousin's disappearance and the 2008 death of his wife, Patricia, which was ruled a suicide. However, investigators have stated that they have no evidence to implicate Jerry Burns in Brian's case or to suggest Patricia's death was not a suicide. The cause of Brian Michael Burns's death remains undetermined, and the investigation is ongoing.Last Seen: Dec 19, 2013
