There’s a New Lead in Search for Missing Iowa News Anchor

Last year, I was introduced to the sad story of Jodi Huisentruit, a 32-year-old news anchor that disappeared back in June 1995 in Mason City, IA. She disappeared in the early morning hours of June 27, 1995 after telling a colleague that she had overslept and was running late for work.

When Huisentruit still hadn't made it to work by 7am, Mason City Police were notified. Her vehicle was found at her apartment, along with a bent car key, her high heels, and evident signs of a struggle. To date, she is believed to have been abducted, but extensive investigations have failed to uncover any concrete evidence as to what happened or where her remains could be.

New leads in Huisentruit's case have been difficult to come by. In 2003, two Minnesota TV journalists established the website FindJodi.com in order to keep her story in the public eye. Last week, however, a new morsel of information sparked curiosity for those who have been following the case and friends and family of the news anchor who have been desperately seeking answers for decades.

Acting on a tip, Iowa investigators traveled to Winsted, MN, roughly three hours north of Mason City. Mason City Police Chief Jeff Brinkley confirmed the purpose of the search in a brief statement:

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MCPD recently worked with Minnesota law enforcement officials to follow up on a lead in Winsted. MCPD continues to receive, evaluate, and follow up on information it receives related to Jodi Huisentruit’s disappearance on a regular basis. Information gleaned from this effort will be used in the ongoing investigation. At this time, there is no additional information for public release. We do want to encourage anyone with information about Jodi’s disappearance to contact the MCPD or the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation. - Mason City Police Chief Jeff Brinkley, per FindJodi.com

Read that statement thoroughly and tell me if you find anything interesting. "There is no additional information for public release" caught my eye. If this was a false lead, a malicious tip, or otherwise unremarkable search, Chief Brinkley likely would've said as much. To allude to the fact that there is information being withheld from the public tells me there was indeed something or some noteworthy details discovered.

The land that was searched is a rural plot that is being developed into apartments. The heavy Iowa and Minnesota police presence caught the eye of locals, per FindJodi.com, who actually had website staffers travel to Winsted to take a look at the area.

A local newspaper, The Herald Journal, did a story on the search but didn't mention its connection to Jodi Huisentruit. Instead, they simply reported that local authorities in Winstead "assisted an out-of-state law enforcement agency from Iowa in an ongoing investigation."

Come June, it will be 30 years since Jodi Huisentruit went missing, leaving her family and friends in desperate search for answers. Last year, a $25,000 reward was offered by a private investigator for information leading to closure on the case. Here's hoping this investigation and whatever entails brings some closure to a long-suffering group of people.

Stay up to date with all developments related to Jodi Huisentruit on FindJodi.com.