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

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

1326DFIA - Jodi Sue Huisentruit

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

 

[GrandmaBear]

Now I'm off to find news on a Daybell hearing and I think there is recent on Kouri Richards as well. Haven't had time to watch a single thing on any case./any of them And Delphi with State responding.

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

Find Jodi sign goes up in Mason City

Nearly 29 years later, the search for former news anchor Jodi Huisentruit continues with new billboard sign placed near Mason City.

www.kaaltv.com

Find Jodi sign goes up in Mason City​

Nearly 29 years later, the search for former news anchor Jodi Huisentruit continues with a billboard newly placed near Mason City.

The billboard is located on Highway 106, 19 Street Southwest near the Mason City Country Club; Huisentruit attended a charity gold tournament dinner at the venue the night before she went missing.

The billboard was comissioned by FindJodi, Inc., an organization dedicated to locating Huisentruit.

 

[Mel70]

Find Jodi sign goes up in Mason City

Nearly 29 years later, the search for former news anchor Jodi Huisentruit continues with new billboard sign placed near Mason City.

www.kaaltv.com

Find Jodi sign goes up in Mason City​

Nearly 29 years later, the search for former news anchor Jodi Huisentruit continues with a billboard newly placed near Mason City.

The billboard is located on Highway 106, 19 Street Southwest near the Mason City Country Club; Huisentruit attended a charity gold tournament dinner at the venue the night before she went missing.

The billboard was comissioned by FindJodi, Inc., an organization dedicated to locating Huisentruit.

View attachment 21064

Yeah. Wow. I do clearly remember her going missing. I had just turned 25, 17 days before she went missing. It's always stuck with me. Just like a puff of smoke. She was gone. I get such a creepy feeling.

 

[Summer_Breeze]

Reward increases for information leading to remains of Jodi Huisentruit

A private investigator is increasing the reward for the recovery of the remains of an Iowa news anchor who went missing in 1995.

www.kcci.com

Updated: 12:33 PM CDT May 30, 2024

MASON CITY, Iowa (KCRG) —
A private investigator is offering a reward of $100,000 for the recovery of the remains of a missing Iowa news anchor, KCRG reports.

<snip>

Private Investigator Steve Ridge announced Thursday he’s doubling the reward for information leading to the recovery of Huisentruit’s remains. He had been offering a reward of $50,000 in the case since last year. Now that reward is up to $100,000.

“This is my final attempt to break the silence of those who are withholding information”, Ridge said in a news release. “Jodi’s family, friends and the entire Mason City community deserve to know what happened to this budding young media superstar.”

He says the offer will be good through June 27, the anniversary of Huisentruit’s disappearance.

 

[Summer_Breeze]

Answers may still lie in Arizona in case of Iowa news anchor who went missing in 1995

Iowa news anchor Jodi Huisentruit went missing in 1995 and answers to her disappearance may reside in Phoenix.

www.azfamily.com

By Briana Whitney
Published: Jun. 28, 2024 at 12:24 AM EDT
Updated: 6 hours ago

PHOENIX (AZFamily) — Iowa news anchor Jodi Huisentruit vanished 29 years ago on Thursday, and answers about what may have happened could lie here in Arizona.

Police and family continue to try to solve her disappearance, and there are still plenty of questions about what, if any, involvement the person of interest now living in Phoenix had.

The challenge in this case is there’s little to no forensic evidence and no eyewitnesses.

The beloved 27-year-old Jodi Huisentruit was a staple on Iowa television. Huisentruit was well-known in the Mason City community and even more admired by her family, especially by her niece Kristen Nathe.

“I had a very special relationship with her. She was also my godmother. I spent a lot of time with her, and that loss was very significant to me and still to this day,” said Nathe.

Nathe was 11 years old on June 27, 1995, and remembers the day well.

Huisentruit never made it to work that day. First, she was believed to have overslept her alarm, but then her news team realized something was wrong.

Police believe she was abducted while getting to her car that morning.

Longtime investigative journalist Caroline Lowe said there were only 30 seconds between Huisentruit leaving her apartment and getting to her car, so they believe she was targeted.

“There’s no way somebody driving by would have had time to get in, it was so fast. Somebody, we believe, was waiting for her, whether it was a stalker or somebody she knew. We don’t know,” said Lowe.

A man named John Vansice showed up at the crime scene. The nearly 50-year-old was good friends with Huisentruit and often went boating with her and her friends.

He claimed he was the last to see Huisentruit when she came over to watch a birthday video at his house the night before.

“They’ve interviewed me twice, but they haven’t made any indication that I’m a suspect,” Vansice said to a reporter at the time.

He became a person of interest and has remained so, but Lowe said Huisentruit didn’t leave any warning signs about Vansice.

“From Jodi’s journal she did a number of social things with him. She had a great time at a birthday party he hosted. There’s no indication in the journal they’re anything but good friends,” said Lowe.

Lowe is part of the “Find Jodi” team and website committed to Huisentruit’s case.

Their team uncovered court documents showing that Mason City Police executed a search warrant for GPS data on two cars linked to Vansice in March 2017.

The information is sealed.

On this 29th anniversary, True Crime Arizona went to Vansice’s Phoenix home to try and talk to him, but despite a TV blaring the news inside, no one answered.

Huisentruit’s niece said at this point, she has a personal message for Vansice.


“What I personally would ask is that if he has more information regarding Jodi or the situation, that he comes forward and shares that information, especially if he considered himself to be such a close friend of Jodi. Um, help us. Help us to solve this case,” said Nathe.

Vansice has maintained his innocence and has never been charged in the case.

The “Find Jodi” team honored her life Thursday morning and has kept billboards up in Iowa.

If you have any information on Jodi’s disappearance, you can reach out to the Find Jodi web page.

 

[GrandmaBear]

Answers may still lie in Arizona in case of Iowa news anchor who went missing in 1995

Iowa news anchor Jodi Huisentruit went missing in 1995 and answers to her disappearance may reside in Phoenix.

www.azfamily.com

By Briana Whitney
Published: Jun. 28, 2024 at 12:24 AM EDT
Updated: 6 hours ago

PHOENIX (AZFamily) — Iowa news anchor Jodi Huisentruit vanished 29 years ago on Thursday, and answers about what may have happened could lie here in Arizona.

Police and family continue to try to solve her disappearance, and there are still plenty of questions about what, if any, involvement the person of interest now living in Phoenix had.

The challenge in this case is there’s little to no forensic evidence and no eyewitnesses.

The beloved 27-year-old Jodi Huisentruit was a staple on Iowa television. Huisentruit was well-known in the Mason City community and even more admired by her family, especially by her niece Kristen Nathe.

“I had a very special relationship with her. She was also my godmother. I spent a lot of time with her, and that loss was very significant to me and still to this day,” said Nathe.

Nathe was 11 years old on June 27, 1995, and remembers the day well.

Huisentruit never made it to work that day. First, she was believed to have overslept her alarm, but then her news team realized something was wrong.

Police believe she was abducted while getting to her car that morning.

Longtime investigative journalist Caroline Lowe said there were only 30 seconds between Huisentruit leaving her apartment and getting to her car, so they believe she was targeted.

“There’s no way somebody driving by would have had time to get in, it was so fast. Somebody, we believe, was waiting for her, whether it was a stalker or somebody she knew. We don’t know,” said Lowe.

A man named John Vansice showed up at the crime scene. The nearly 50-year-old was good friends with Huisentruit and often went boating with her and her friends.

He claimed he was the last to see Huisentruit when she came over to watch a birthday video at his house the night before.

“They’ve interviewed me twice, but they haven’t made any indication that I’m a suspect,” Vansice said to a reporter at the time.

He became a person of interest and has remained so, but Lowe said Huisentruit didn’t leave any warning signs about Vansice.

“From Jodi’s journal she did a number of social things with him. She had a great time at a birthday party he hosted. There’s no indication in the journal they’re anything but good friends,” said Lowe.

Lowe is part of the “Find Jodi” team and website committed to Huisentruit’s case.

Their team uncovered court documents showing that Mason City Police executed a search warrant for GPS data on two cars linked to Vansice in March 2017.

The information is sealed.

On this 29th anniversary, True Crime Arizona went to Vansice’s Phoenix home to try and talk to him, but despite a TV blaring the news inside, no one answered.

Huisentruit’s niece said at this point, she has a personal message for Vansice.


“What I personally would ask is that if he has more information regarding Jodi or the situation, that he comes forward and shares that information, especially if he considered himself to be such a close friend of Jodi. Um, help us. Help us to solve this case,” said Nathe.

Vansice has maintained his innocence and has never been charged in the case.

The “Find Jodi” team honored her life Thursday morning and has kept billboards up in Iowa.

If you have any information on Jodi’s disappearance, you can reach out to the Find Jodi web page.

Interesting! Thank you for this update!

What possible reason or cause could they have for getting GPS data on two cars in as late as 2017?? I mean it wouldn't show anything from '95 imo right? And what would data 22 years later SHOW that would relate to her disappearance? I mean we all know it takes some real cause to get search warrants and what could they possibly have that relates to Jodi in 2017 and his cars at THAT time? Any thoughts anyone?

There's certainly not enough here to say he did it but I'd say instinctually, I'd certainly wonder about him and from personal experience as well. Older men one has no romantic interest in but they have one in you will find another way to be close, be a friend, shower gifts, or meals and even do it for you and your friends if you won't accept alone. I can tell you more than one story from my own life about such types. I'm not saying he was such a type but it is what it seems, doing things with her and her friends and on this occasion sounds like he was with her the night before...

I'd put him easily as a top suspect for several reasons. Those reasons of course are not evidence. LE had enough for warrants though even many years later... I doubt the stalker or stranger things, NOT that in this case it isn't possible, she was a bit of a celebrity, personable, pretty, sociable, but as sudden as it was and being out the night before I've just always guessed it was personal and someone interested in her that she knew or some such, someone she spent the night with, someone she rejected when they made a move, etc. and imo that fits him OR anyone else that maybe such happened with. They have always seemed certain it did not happen in her home but on her way to the car and so I can only guess the home was so orderly and/or there is evidence she came home alone and no one was ever in the home with her, etc. that they know and we don't.

Speculation only, she trusted him a a friend, and was alone with him the night before and he made his move and it got out of hand and she was upset and had to wrangle herself free or even worse. She may well not have had time to make that last journal entry or have been too upset to even think of such. Or nothing happened but he felt rejected and he had made a move. And he was enraged and that was it. He'd put in time and effort and his plan had not panned out.

Is showing up to the scene weird or not? I mean he was a friend and she was missing. He'd been the last with her he claimed as well. I can only guess many things or inconsistencies made him of interest, things we don't know of.

This case was from so long ago, is there any footage of him like talking to news or anything?

They have SOMETHING to have been able to get such a warrant YEARS later. Decades basically.

You know it certainly isn't that I think it could not be a stalker, someone else she knew or even jealousy or competition in the workplace, but I just don't think it likely. I go with odds on it's a male and one that felt rejected and he fits the bill. I can think of a few scenarios that play in my head that last night. It is known she did get home and home safe.

Anyhow, just kind of talking it out to see where it lands me... Coffee isn't kick starting me yet, I am so beat and tired, I've never done energy drinks but am starting to think I need a boost at times but I know that's just a vicious cycle lol, just as coffee is. So my thoughts aren't entirely clear yet.

I'd also wonder how open she was in her journal and again may not have had a chance to make the recent entries. She got home late and was running late for work, and now the brain kicked, that's another thing, didn't she talk to them that she'd be late or no...??? Been awhile, there was contact that morning wasn't there between her and work? Someone correct me if I'm wrong but I think so, and that coupled with then she disappears has always bothered me. Too coincidental and I don't like coincidences. And generally tend to not believe in them when it comes to things like this/crimes.

This is one case her family for sure but I think tons in the public would like to see solved and get answers. Of course, we want that for all of them but it is an old one that has never been cracked that many know of.

I think the coffee has finally made it's way to at least two brain cells that are starting to fire slowly...

So he is in AZ now. Do we know what he did through the years after she disappeared... When did he move? Was this man ever married... Since then...? Thoughts are starting to percolate like coffee does and so with that I'd better stop or this will turn into a long wandering thing beyond what it is.

Praying they get some answers here. Guessing they do know more than we do by far.

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

$100K reward for missing Iowa news anchor's whereabouts extends into July

Jodi Huisentruit went missing in 1995 while running late to anchor the morning news cast in Mason City.

www.kcci.com

$100K reward for missing Iowa news anchor's whereabouts extends into July​

It has been 29 years since the disappearance of north Iowa news anchor Jodi Huisentruit, and many questions still remain unanswered.

In an attempt to to draw people to come forward with new information about the case, private investigator Steve Ridge offered up a $100,000 reward, KCRG reports.

This is the second time that Ridge has upped the award after starting at $25,000 in 2023 and raising it to $50,000 the same year.

Initially, the reward was set to expire Thursday, but the PI has announced that he is extending it to July 27. After this date, the reward will drop to $50,000 indefinitely.

 

[Kimster]

Start at 1:37 to see the area where Jodi went missing as it looks today.

 

[GrandmaBear]

Start at 1:37 to see the area where Jodi went missing as it looks today.

He should learn to say her name right. Also if he wondered if there was a road by the river he could have asked the guy that came out that was just a few feet from him.

Nice of him to pay his respects though.

Not much new other than seeing the area and hard to know if it is the same as it was. I'm sure she was abducted by car, nothing else makes sense imo. He doesn't seem to think the guy whose house she was at did it because he says it would be less risky for him to have killed her at his house or than kidnapping her out in the open. And she was a public figure but wasn't she running late for work that day? Do I recall that correctly? How would anyone know then what time she would come out...?

I think like almost all cases, not all but almost, it was likely someone she knew and maybe that guy, maybe another, and someone rejected probably or dumped, but I guess it could be a stranger which is why I'm asking about if she was running late that day? Someone let me know please if they recall.

He thinks it was sexually motivated and it probably was but also could be someone she'd dumped which wouldn't make it sexual IF they'd already been that way together.

It's such a terrible one with such little evidence I imagine. Her car remained right? They had to have probably parked next to her, his thought but also could have pulled up behind her to block her car from moving and snatched her, left it running and drove straight off rather than having to reverse or get out of a parking space. I don't know. Depends on if it was the same too.

I'll bet the podcaster is heading for Sturgis. It's about that time of year. I've been there, on bike, was one of the best trips with fun people I've ever been on. Four of us went out there together on two bikes. Needless to say I wasn't with my hub at the time or the memory wouldn't be such a great one.

Awful for her family and friends like he says, no closure, no grave. It is at least clear here she did not run off herself or go commit suicide, at least those answers are there. It's also scary that some evil individual is very likely still free and if he did this once, well what's he going to do the next woman he has a thing for IF that is what it was...

They don't seem to talk about other similar crimes in the area and so that would lend me again to it was no stranger. Impossible to say for sure though.

You know how'd he keep control of her? Gun? Did he make her drive? He'd have had to get out of there and fast i'd think.

She would have been less wary I'd think of someone she knew even if he'd caused her any problems prior. A stranger I'd think would have had to follow her home just to know where she lived and learn her morning times and routine IF she was running on time... Been through all this before but it's just fairly unusual, not unheard of but not that common either. I'd probably rule out anyone in the complex just because they could just knock on her door and force their way in, etc. if knowing what unit she was in. And the person had to take her SOMEWHERE and in a car... Somewhere he won't be seen with her, etc. it would have been dark I suppose. It's July here now, we aren't that far from IA and I think the earliest light I've seen this summer is in the 5 or 5:30 range.... This was at 4:30. That's pretty early so maybe I have it wrong that she was running late but didn't she call in to say so?

Well, we sure aren't going to solve it but thee sure are a lot of questions I'd like to see answers to and of course her found, him arrested and so on. It seems pretty risky but with the dark and the hour maybe not so much...The thing too about most apartments, most people keep their blinds shut and wild with it dark as well more certainly even so even if anyone was up, the odds of seeing something wouldn't be too great. I'd have to look again but pretty sure I saw at least patio doors facing the parking lot, didn't pay much attn, as to windows. Looks like a fairly full complex but I sure wouldn't want to live there with the person still at large but again probably no connection to the complex but still it was his kidnapping ground at least on one occasion...

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

Mason City, Iowa investigators search area in Winsted, Minnesota, on a Huisentruit tip • Find Jodi Huisentruit

Investigators from Mason City, Iowa, recently searched an area in Winsted, Minnesota, on a possible lead connected to the search for missing Iowa news anchor Jodi Huisentruit, abducted on June 27, 1995.

findjodi.com

Mason City, Iowa investigators search area in Winsted, Minnesota, on a Huisentruit tip​

Investigators from Mason City, Iowa, recently searched an area in Winsted, Minnesota, on a possible lead connected to the search for missing Iowa news anchor Jodi Huisentruit, abducted on June 27, 1995.

Acting on a tip, the Iowa investigators conducted the search two weeks ago in the rural city northwest of the Twin Cities.

Mason City Police Chief Jeff Brinkley confirmed the purpose of the search in a brief statement to FindJodi:

“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.”

The chief declined to share specifics about the tip or its status in the overall Huisentruit investigation.

 

[Kimster]

Mason City, Iowa investigators search area in Winsted, Minnesota, on a Huisentruit tip • Find Jodi Huisentruit

Investigators from Mason City, Iowa, recently searched an area in Winsted, Minnesota, on a possible lead connected to the search for missing Iowa news anchor Jodi Huisentruit, abducted on June 27, 1995.

findjodi.com

Mason City, Iowa investigators search area in Winsted, Minnesota, on a Huisentruit tip​

Investigators from Mason City, Iowa, recently searched an area in Winsted, Minnesota, on a possible lead connected to the search for missing Iowa news anchor Jodi Huisentruit, abducted on June 27, 1995.

Acting on a tip, the Iowa investigators conducted the search two weeks ago in the rural city northwest of the Twin Cities.

Mason City Police Chief Jeff Brinkley confirmed the purpose of the search in a brief statement to FindJodi:

“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.”

The chief declined to share specifics about the tip or its status in the overall Huisentruit investigation.

Oh I hope someone has information that leads to an arrest!

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

Search for Jodi Huisentruit: No human remains found in Winsted search

Mason City police were in Winsted, Minnesota, to follow up on a lead regarding the disappearance of Jodi Huisentruit, who disappeared in 1995.

www.fox9.com

Search for Jodi Huisentruit: No human remains found in Winsted search​

Winsted, Minnesota, police say no human remains were found while assisting Mason City, Iowa, police with a search earlier this month.

Mason City police were in Winsted to follow up on a lead regarding the disappearance of Jodi Huisentruit, who went missing from Mason City, Iowa, in 1995.

Winstead police say officers did not find any human remains while assisting Mason City police with their investigation.

 

[GrandmaBear]

there's a smorgasboard of cases here most of which most of us have heard of in the beginning of the video and then it goes to Jodi.

others include the WI man who faked his death, sebastian Rogers, more with short updates then it is Jodi.

 

[GrandmaBear]

This is both a good recap AND update. I'm not always a News Nation fan but worth watching.

I think what some of us have always probably thought or leaned towards, she was interested in someone and another person became jealous. I don't know where this PI gets the information that she was weighted down in water....? I can kind of see why he thinks she is in a how many mile radius, to a point, but not real sure how he can be sure of that either...He mentions how they keep resealing the search warrant on the John guy over the years. LE was alo on for a bit or is part of it, and there have been grand juries but cannot be commented on.

Did I or we know the police chief's wife apparently submitted Jodi's diary?? This case is so many decades now I can't recall. They've been through six police chiefs I think has been said since this happened. That sounds like a ton but then again it has been 30 years.

It's an interesting watch and listen.

 

[GrandmaBear]

Okay, he is saying 25 years ago but it's been almost 30. Maybe an older interview, I would have to relisten, unsure. BUT still was a good listen. And refresher on a lot of things. Seems it was current but not sure.

 

[GrandmaBear]

The main guy ("suspect") is now incapacitated or whenever this interview was, he was. Some good questions and some interesting answers.

 

[GrandmaBear]

Maybe he said 29 years not 25... IT sure seemed current. The show was, just not sure about when they talked with him. Anyhow, I felt it well worth the watch either way.

 

[GrandmaBear]

Another pretty darned good one. This reporter covered Wetterling, Jodi and even knew of the case just solved the Mary Schleiss one in WI, a very old cold case and covered that too. She nonw lives in Cali, no idea why you'd move there at that age but okay... Lol.

Wetterling comes up quite a bit as Jodi covered the case, and not that there are any connections at all, just the commonalities between the parties etc. both Midwest cases and from where Jodi was in MN to Mason City, etc.

Back to work for me, hi ho, hi ho, off to work I no wanna go. But at the same time I've been bored. Not that I don't have enough to do but when want something to watch or discuss there has been jack sh*t on but these two shows are pretty darned good and in that respect glad I had to search harder to find sometinng to watch or discuss.

 

[GrandmaBear]

so the one I linked recently is current. I was unsure by the end of all parts were.

Here is more.

I think where this is leaning and sounding, is the case and always kind of leaned that way myself. From the start, he was one unable to be dismissed imo.

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

https://www.newsnationnow.com/missing/jodi-huisentruit-suspect-list-four-people-private-investigator/

Jodi Huisentruit suspect list down to four people: Private investigator​

A licensed private investigator who has worked on Jodi Huisentruit’s missing case since 2019 has narrowed the suspect list to four people.

Steve Ridge says jealousy over a newly discovered secret relationship may have led to the 1995 disappearance of the Iowa TV anchor.

Ridge during a Saturday interview on “NewsNation Prime,” revealed that Huisentruit had begun dating an out-of-state man in the days leading up to her disappearance. The relationship, which began two Saturdays before she vanished, involved “almost daily contact” including dinner dates, golf outings, and drinks at the man’s residence.

Huisentruit disappeared on her way to work at KIMT-TV in Mason City. Police found her belongings scattered near her car, with a bent key suggesting a possible abduction.

“I think plain and simply, things came to a head given the fact that she had developed this new relationship,” Ridge said. “I believe [this] was ultimately the motive for a confrontation that would have occurred in the parking lot at her Key Apartments.”

Ridge also disclosed that John Vancise, long considered a person of interest in the case, is now “permanently incapacitated” and unable to aid in his own defense, effectively eliminating the possibility of his prosecution.

Through his investigation, Ridge says he has narrowed his list of suspects from 29 to four individuals, though he declined to name them. “I’m 100% certain that I do have Jody’s killer, or at least abductor, on my list,” he said.

Ridge emphasized that finding Huisentruit’s remains is crucial to building a prosecutable case. “If we had the remains, I can almost guarantee that eventually we would have established links to one of the four people who I have on my list,” he said.