Thirty Years Later: The Unresolved Disappearance of Jodi Huisentruit

June 27, 2025 – USA –

On June 27, 1995, 27-year-old television news anchor Jodi Huisentruit, working at KIMT-TV in Mason City, Iowa, disappeared under mysterious and disturbing circumstances. That morning, after assuring her assistant she would make the 6 a.m. broadcast, she never arrived. What remained of her: signs of a struggle by her red Mazda Miata, strewn personal items including a bent car key and high heels, and only lingering questions.

Neighbors reported hearing possible screams and sighting a suspicious white Ford Econoline van in the parking lot between 3:50 and 4:30 a.m.—a detail that has fueled decades-long speculation and investigation. Despite the alarming evidence, no body was found, and no one has ever been arrested. Huisentruit was legally presumed dead in 2001.

Over the years, both law enforcement and private investigators have pursued numerous leads. A notable person of interest, John Vansice, who last saw Huisentruit alive, became the focus of a 2017 federal investigation, during which GPS tracking data from two of his vehicles was gathered. However, the data did not produce decisive evidence, and Vansice died in December 2024 without being charged.

The legal process surrounding this evidence has been contentious. In April 2025, Judge James Drew ruled parts of the 2017 search warrant—mainly GPS logs—could be unsealed, though the supporting affidavit remains under seal to protect the integrity of the investigation. Jodi’s family supports keeping the affidavit sealed, worried that early disclosure might compromise ongoing investigative efforts.

In recent years, private investigator Steve Ridge, working with FindJodi.com, has conducted searches in areas tied to possible leads, including sites in Minnesota. He has offered a $50,000 reward for information leading to Jodi’s remains, emphasizing the goal is not necessarily a conviction, but closure for her loved ones.

In June 2025, as the 30th anniversary of Huisentruit’s disappearance passed, her family, friends, and supporters renewed calls for justice. The case—highlighted by CNN’s investigative reporting—remains open, ongoing, and a haunting reminder of an enduring mystery that continues to grip the American Midwest.

Reference – 

https://globegazette.com/news/local/crime-courts/article_e12fabe7-aecc-4473-b7ba-ee1d5baa474c.html

https://edition.cnn.com/2025/06/28/us/video/jodi-huisentruit-disappearance-kaye-digvid