Jodi Huisentruit
TV news anchor Jodi Huisentruit vanished from the parking lot of her Mason City, Iowa apartment on her way to work for the early morning broadcast. Signs of a violent struggle were found near her car. She has never been found.
On the morning of June 27, 1995, 27-year-old Jodi Sue Huisentruit, the morning news anchor for KIMT-TV in Mason City, Iowa, failed to arrive at the station for her early broadcast. A colleague called her apartment at approximately 4:00 a.m. and woke her; Jodi said she had overslept and would be right there. She never arrived.
When police went to her apartment at the Key Apartments complex on South Kentucky Avenue, they found signs of a violent struggle in the parking lot. Jodi's red Mazda Miata was in its parking spot with the key in the ignition. Her shoes, hairdryer, earrings, and a bottle of hairspray were scattered around the car. A partial palm print was found on the vehicle, and drag marks were visible on the pavement.
The investigation by the Mason City Police Department and Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation focused on several persons of interest but never resulted in charges. Key suspects included an acquaintance who had exhibited obsessive interest in Jodi and another individual connected to the case through circumstantial evidence. Despite extensive searches of farms, bodies of water, and rural properties around Mason City, no remains were found.
Jodi Huisentruit was declared legally dead in 2001. The case has been the subject of books, documentaries, and podcasts. Her disappearance from a small, safe Midwestern city shocked the community and the television news industry. The FindJodi.com website, maintained by supporters, continues to publicize the case and solicit tips. The Mason City Police Department maintains the investigation as an active case.
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- National Center for Missing & Exploited Children: 1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678)
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