IA JODI SUE HUISENTRUIT: Missing from Mason City, IA - 27 June 1995 - Age 27 (1 Viewer)

The Doe Network:
Case File 1326DFIA

Jodi Sue Huisentruit
Missing since June 27, 1995 from Mason City, Cerro Gordo County, Iowa.
Classification: Endangered Missing

Vital Statistics

Date Of Birth: June 5, 1968
Age at Time of Disappearance: 27 years old
Height and Weight at Time of Disappearance: 5'3"-5'4"; 110-120 lbs.
Distinguishing Characteristics: White female. Blonde hair; brown eyes.
Dentals: Available
DNA: Available

Circumstances of Disappearance
Jodi Huisentruit, an anchor at KIMT television station in Mason City, Iowa, disappeared from outside her apartment as she left for work
at approximately 4:00 on June 27, 1995. Initially a missing person case, Huisentruit's disappearance was soon classified an abduction. When investigators arrived at her apartment complex they found her red Miata convertible in the parking lot. A pair of red women's dress shoes, a blow dryer, bottle of hair spray, car keys and earrings were scattered beside the car. The key was found bent and out of the door lock. Witnesses indicate that they heard screams at 4 o'clock that morning. Investigators are looking for a white mid 1980s Ford Econoline van. Foul play is suspected.

Huisentruit grew up in Long Prairie, Minnesota, where she was active in sports, excelling in golf. She earned her bachelors degree in 1990 from St. Cloud State University with a double major in TV Broadcasting and Speech Communication. Huisentruit worked for Northwest Airlines immediately after graduation, followed by a broadcasting position at KGAN-TV Cedar Rapids, Iowa. She then returned to Minnesota for a position at KSAX-TV in Alexandria, before joining KIMT-TV in Mason City.

The Jodi's Hope Fund has been established to help youngsters in Long Prairie, Minnesota — where Jodi Huisentruit grew up — develop their writing and speaking skills. To learn more about the fund and how to contribute, go to www.jodishopefund.com.

Investigators
If you have any information concerning this case, please contact:

Mason City Police Department
641-421-3636
Iowa Missing Persons Clearinghouse
1-800-346-5507
Email

NCIC Number: M-844559811
Please refer to this number when contacting any agency with information regarding this case.

Source Information:
Iowa Missing Persons Clearinghouse
Namus
Find Jodi
Cerro Gordo County Sheriff's Office
Unsolved Mysteries

Doe Network: International Center For Missing and Unidentified Persons

Doe Network is an all-volunteer organization dedicated to bringing awareness to missing persons and unidentified persons throughout the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Europe, and Australia.

www.doenetwork.org

edited by staff to add media link

JODI SUE HUISENTRUIT: Missing from Mason City, IA since 27 Jun 1995 - Age 27

Jodi Huisentruit, an anchor at KIMT television station in Mason City, Iowa, disappeared from outside her apartment as she left for work at approximately 4:00 on June 27, 1995. Initially a missing person case, Huisentruit's disappearance was soon...

www.crimewatchers.net

 

[Regina]

Below is an article re a recent property search.

Search for Jodi Huisentruit continues in Winsted, Minn.

Mason City Police Department has confirmed investigators returned to Winsted, Minnesota Thursday in search of missing news anchor Jodi Huisentruit.

www.kcrg.com

 

[Mel70]

Below is an article re a recent property search.

Search for Jodi Huisentruit continues in Winsted, Minn.

Mason City Police Department has confirmed investigators returned to Winsted, Minnesota Thursday in search of missing news anchor Jodi Huisentruit.

www.kcrg.com

He was married too. So I don't think he would bury her on his property.

 

[GrandmaBear]

I've heard or read somewhere that it wasn't the first time, not that it was even occasionally or once in a while, just not unheard of.

As I've heard from others who knew her, she packed a lot into a single day, even told a friend one night who was calling it a night that she could sleep anytime, something along those lines and so it sounds to me like she probably didn't allow herself enough sleep.

After an early and busy day that Monday, it's known she called an out-of-state friend at about 8:25pm from her apartment. (The friend wasn't home and so she ended up talking with the friend's husband.)
Info is that when news came of her missing, John Vansice went to her apartment complex and told the police that she'd been at his place the night before to watch a video from her birthday party.

Anyway, to me, it doesn't appear to me that anything was awry until she tried to get into her car, I mean, although she was running late, I think that was most likely incidental.

That's not how I recall it. She was a "live" reporter and being late for such a job very often would be a very big deal.

Yeah Vansice. One of the prime suspects.

 

[Regina]

He was married too. So I don't think he would bury her on his property.

I don't know what prompted that search or whether they had any one person in mind or what but I'm intrigued by that white van info.
As it turns out, two independent witnesses reported they'd seen a white a van parked in two different locations at that apartment complex between 3:50 and 4-something. The first witness was on his way to work and saw a van parked in the parking lot and the other witness saw a van parked along the street, which she said she never saw except when people were moving-in.
Although LE sought info from the public re the van, to my knowledge, it was never identified.

 

[Mel70]

I don't know what prompted that search or whether they had any one person in mind or what but I'm intrigued by that white van info.
As it turns out, two independent witnesses reported they'd seen a white a van parked in two different locations at that apartment complex between 3:50 and 4-something. The first witness was on his way to work and saw a van parked in the parking lot and the other witness saw a van parked along the street, which she said she never saw except when people were moving-in.
Although LE sought info from the public re the van, to my knowledge, it was never identified.

They had 4 suspects initially IIRC. but 3 ruled out. That left Vansice.

 

[Regina]

That's not how I recall it. She was a "live" reporter and being late for such a job very often would be a very big deal.

Yeah Vansice. One of the prime suspects.

I don't think she was ever late like you mean it, just hadn't arrived as early.
I've read that the news station was only 5 minutes away from her apt, so I highly doubt she'd have been late that morning.

 

[Mel70]

I don't think she was ever late like you mean it, just hadn't arrived as early.
I've read that the news station was only 5 minutes away from her apt, so I highly doubt she'd have been late that morning.

IDK. The station called her.

 

[Regina]

IDK. The station called her.

Yeah, and there was no worry until she wasn't there to go on-air.

 

[Mel70]

Yeah, and there was no worry until she wasn't there to go on-air.

Thank you for clarifying.

 

[Mel70]

Are you sure it wasn't some other man's property you're talking about? I know lately, they were trying to find a link to a man who's a suspected serial killer.

Oh. I didn't know that.

 

[GrandmaBear]

I don't think she was ever late like you mean it, just hadn't arrived as early.
I've read that the news station was only 5 minutes away from her apt, so I highly doubt she'd have been late that morning.

This says REQUIRED to be there at 3 to 4. She had a 6 and noon show. They don't just jump on air the minute they walk in the door.

Huisentruit was the morning show anchor for "Daybreak" on KIMT-TV in Mason City, Iowa. Her typical work schedule required her to arrive at the station around 3:00 or 4:00 a.m. to prepare for the live show, which started at 6:00 a.m.
On the morning of her disappearance:

• At approximately 4:10 a.m., a co-worker called Huisentruit to wake her up because she hadn't arrived for her shift.

-AI

 

[GrandmaBear]

Yeah, and there was no worry until she wasn't there to go on-air.

Yes there was. They called her at 4:10, the on air show time wasn't until 6.

 

[Mel70]

I think LE should maybe read our comments.

 

[Guess Who]

This says REQUIRED to be there at 3 to 4. She had a 6 and noon show. They don't just jump on air the minute they walk in the door.

Huisentruit was the morning show anchor for "Daybreak" on KIMT-TV in Mason City, Iowa. Her typical work schedule required her to arrive at the station around 3:00 or 4:00 a.m. to prepare for the live show, which started at 6:00 a.m.
On the morning of her disappearance:

• At approximately 4:10 a.m., a co-worker called Huisentruit to wake her up because she hadn't arrived for her shift.

-AI

And why now most news entities have an official wake up service for their early morning people, because they have to be there at an unnaturally early time and they often have sleep issues because of it.

 

[Guess Who]

Yeah, and there was no worry until she wasn't there to go on-air.

She wasn't too go on air at 4. It was just the time they had to report to get prepped.

 

[GrandmaBear]

And why now most news entities have an official wake up service for their early morning people, because they have to be there at an unnaturally early time and they often have sleep issues because of it.

Yep. They wouldn't have called her if she wasn't late. Imo. It's a good thing they did too as it helped give a timeline.

 

[Mel70]

Yes there was. They called her at 4:10, the on air show time wasn't until 6.

O.K. that's why I had 6 in my mind.

 

[GrandmaBear]

O.K. that's why I had 6 in my mind.

Yep she did a live on air at 6 and noon.

 

[Regina]

She wasn't too go on air at 4. It was just the time they had to report to get prepped.

Right.
Her colleague said if / when she overslept, she managed to be there in 20 minutes (with wet hair and hairdryer but she was there! lol).

 

[Guess Who]

Right.
Her colleague said if / when she overslept, she managed to be there in 20 minutes (with wet hair and hairdryer but she was there! lol).

That's the only way you would find me coming in that early in the morning!