MASON CITY, Iowa — Police have confirmed they’re following up on a tip in Minnesota about the missing persons case of TV anchor Jodi Huisentruit, a TV anchor who went missing after possibly being abducted June 27, 1995, from Mason City, Iowa.
Law enforcement searched a site in Winsted, Minnesota, a small town about 45 miles west of the Twin Cities, Mason City Police Chief Jeff Brinkley confirmed to FindJodi.com, the journalist-founded nonprofit organization and central online hub for information about the missing person investigation.
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“Information gleaned from this effort will be used in the ongoing investigation,” Brinkley told the site. “At this time, there is no additional information for public release.”
A tipster had previously informed FindJodi.com about heavy Iowa and Minnesota law enforcement activity at an apartment complex construction site last month in Winsted, about 170 miles northwest of Mason City.
Herald Journal, a local newspaper, reported police, film crew, and search and rescue teams at the Grass Lakes Farms Third Addition on Oct. 18. Local police confirmed they were assisting an Iowa law enforcement agency in an investigation.
Huisentruit, a native of Long Prairie, Minnesota, worked at TV stations in Alexandria, Minnesota, and Cedar Rapids, Iowa, before taking a role at KIMT in Mason City.
Co-workers at KIMT contacted police after Huisentruit, 27, didn’t report to work to anchor the morning news at the station.
Police found signs of a struggle in the parking lot of Huisentruit’s apartment building, including strewn-about personal items near her red Mazda Miata. Police have said they believe she was attacked and abducted.
The case drew immediate national attention and a deluge of tips, without leading to the discovery of Huisentruit.
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Still, the missing persons case has attracted much public interest over the years, and drawn significant media attention, including a 2018 episode on the TV show “48 Hours” and a 2022 episode of ABC's “20/20.” Police have insisted the case is still open and solvable.
A reward for information leading to finding her was raised to $100,000 in May to encourage potential tipsters, before reverting to $50,000 after June 27, the 29th anniversary of her disappearance.
MCPD’s full statement to FindJodi.com:
“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.”
If you have information about the Huisentruit missing persons case, contact the Mason City Police Department at 641-421-3636 or email Iowa DCI Special Agent Ryan Herman at rherman@dps.state.ia.us.
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