New tip leads to search for missing news anchor expanding.

Nearly 30 years ago, a 27-year-old news anchor vanished without a trace in Iowa, leaving the small town in a state of mystery. A recent tip led detectives to search a property in Minnesota for her remains.

In October, detectives from the Mason City Police Department in Iowa searched a location in Winsted, Minnesota, for Jodi Huisentruit, who disappeared on June 27, 1995.

The purpose of the search was confirmed by Mason City Police Chief Jeff Brinkley in a statement to Planet Chronicle Digital.

"MCPD has been working with Minnesota law enforcement officials to follow up on a lead in Winsted related to Jodi Huisentruit's disappearance. The department continues to receive, evaluate, and follow up on information related to the case on a regular basis. Any information gleaned from this effort will be used in the ongoing investigation. At this time, there is no additional information for public release. However, MCPD encourages anyone with information about Jodi's disappearance to contact the department or the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation."

In Mason City, KIMT-TV morning anchor Huisentruit, originally from Long Prairie, Minnesota, vanished on her way to work.

"Sgt. Terrance Prochaska of the Mason City Police Department told Planet Chronicle Digital that Jodi was approachable because she loved being in public and had her hair flowing while driving a red convertible."

On the day of her disappearance, Huisentruit informed a coworker that she had slept through her alarm and was running behind schedule, but she never arrived at the office.

Prochaska, who has been investigating Huisentruit's case for 14 years, said, 'I've been a police officer for 23 years now. I've been around the circle, I guess, of cases. This one is just heartbreaking.'

"The family of Jodi Huisentruit, particularly her friends who were with her daily before she disappeared, find it challenging to return home at night without answers."

The abduction of Huisentruit was confirmed, and her hair dryer, red shoes, and hairspray were discovered near her car at her apartment complex. Police found evidence of a struggle, and a witness reported seeing a suspicious white van and hearing a scream, according to Fox 9.

"The red shoes are noteworthy. Seeing those shoes can give you goosebumps because they might remind you of something you've worn to work. Prochaska stated that there is substantial evidence suggesting that she was unconscious and drugged."

The promising news anchor was declared legally dead in 2001.

"The main challenge is the absence of a body," Prochaska acknowledged. "Many cold cases are being solved because they have a body."

"In 1995, before DNA evidence existed, investigators went above and beyond to gather evidence. They set up roadblocks, interviewed every car passing by the apartment lot, and collected evidence from dumpsters. This has helped in the case."

In 2023, on the 28th anniversary of her disappearance, Huisentruit's family posted a statement on Findjodi.com, expressing gratitude to the public and law enforcement and encouraging anyone with information to come forward.

Jodi's family expresses gratitude to those who have attended and shown interest in her case. They understand that everyone involved feels the ongoing pain and suffering of the unresolved case.

Jodi's future was bright, but she's not here to enjoy it. She deserves better, and we pray for someone to solve the case and give her justice.

Prochaska stated that the recent tip to police was one of many given over the years, and investigators have searched extensively to locate her remains. However, he did not reveal any information regarding the person responsible for her disappearance.

"Convincing the public of our efforts to find her is extremely challenging," he stated. "All we require is assistance from the public in the hope that someone will eventually come forward with information that will lead to a phone call or someone else in the community of law enforcement. … Just recently in Minnesota, a person contacted us with information that was more concerning than others, which helped us in our search."

The police search in Minnesota was not prompted by any specific details provided by Prochaska.

""By persisting and not taking people's calls for granted, we will find Jodi," he stated."