Search for Jodi Huisentruit: Investigators fight for search warrant release
The Brief
Investigators asked a judge on Monday to release a 2017 search warrant connected to the disappearance of news anchor Jodi Huisentruit nearly 30 years ago.
A private investigator working on the case has said he hopes the search warrant will lift a "cloud of suspicion" over a friend of Huisentruit.
The warrant sought GPS data from two vehicles that were manufactured years after Huisentruit's disappearance.
MASON CITY, Iowa (FOX 9) - Attorneys argued in court on Monday for authorities to release search warrants related to the disappearance of Iowa news anchor Jodi Huisentruit, who went missing nearly 30 years ago.
The backstory
Huisentruit went missing on the morning of June 27, 1995, in Mason City, Iowa.
Huisentruit, a Long Prairie, Minn. native, worked as a morning show anchor at local affiliate KIMT. On the morning of June 27, 1995, Huisentruit was running late for work. She called a coworker to let them know she was on her way but never made it to work.
Her disappearance was quickly ruled an abduction after police found her belongings lying on the ground near her car and a witness reported seeing a suspicious white van and hearing a scream.
Despite the efforts of the police, private investigators, and volunteers, Huisentruit has not been found and no one has been charged in her disappearance.
What's new?
In court on Monday, attorneys argued for the release of a 2017 search warrant linked to the investigation.
The warrant was to obtain GPS data from two vehicles connected to a friend of Huisentruit, John Vansice, who has reportedly since passed. It's worth noting the GPS data would be from long past Huisentruit's 1995 disappearance, as the two vehicles involved were a 1999 Honda Civic and a 2013 GMC.
Authorities argued for the search warrant to remain sealed, saying its release could potentially impact the integrity of the investigation.
The backstory
Investigator Steve Ridge, a media consultant who has worked for years to solve Huisentruit's disappearance, pushed for the release of the search warrant. Speaking with KTTC last month, he said he hopes to "lift the cloud of suspicion" over Vansice. Vansice was one of the last people to see Huisentruit alive, as she visited him the night before her disappearance.
Speaking with Ridge in an interview shared on FindJodi.com, Vansice said he has cooperated with local, state, and federal investigations, willingly submitting to polygraph and DNA testing, finger and palm printing, and a hypnosis session.
Vansice said he's faced unfair suspicion from law enforcement, amateur investigators, and media over Huisentruit's disappearance.
What's next
In court, a judge took the matter under advisement, saying a ruling would be made in the next 30 days.
Dig deeper
Last year, authorities searched property in Winsted, Minn., about 40 miles west of the Twin Cities, linked to Huisentruit's disappearance.
Winsted police said no human remains were discovered during the search.
It's unclear what led police to that property, but officers said "information gleaned from this effort will be used in the ongoing investigation."
Last year, the reward for information leading to the recovery of Huisentruit's remains was raised to $100,000.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Yahoo
Man armed with chainsaw shot by Brooklyn Center officers: Police
The Brief A man carrying a chainsaw was shot by police in Brooklyn Center overnight. Police were responding to the report of a domestic dispute at the time. The victim is being treated at the hospital and is currently listed as stable. BROOKLYN CENTER, Minn. (FOX 9) - Brooklyn Center police responding to a reported domestic dispute shot a man who they say came out of a home armed with a chainsaw. The backstory Just after 10:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Brooklyn Center police say they were called to a home along 63rd Avenue North just west of Xerxes Avenue for the report of a domestic disturbance. As police responded, a second caller reported there was someone inside their home, armed with knives. Police responded and later called in crisis negotiators to assist with the incident. As the standoff lingered on, police say the man eventually exited the home. What we know When he came out of the house, however, police say the man was carrying a chainsaw. Officers used less-lethal force, including pepper balls and rubber bullets, to try and disarm the man. But ultimately, they say, officers fired shots, striking the man. The man was rushed to the hospital following the shooting and police say he is currently in stable condition. Police say the chainsaw was secured at the scene. What they're saying A neighbor said he heard what seemed like two rounds of shots — with the initial round potentially being the less-lethal ammunition — and saw the man charging at officers with a running chainsaw. The witness said it all seemed like a scene out of the horror film "Texas Chainsaw Massacre." "First thought, 'Texas Chainsaw Massacre' came through my mind," said neighbor Tyler Ferguson. "Kind of looked like it too." What's next The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension has been called in to review the use of force. The officers who used force have also been placed on leave. Both are standard protocol in police shootings. Police say there is no lingering danger to the public.
Yahoo
7 hours ago
- Yahoo
Wild police chase as man in back of pick-up hurls wooden boards at cops before multi-car wrong way crash on highway
A wild police chase in Ohio ended with a multi-car wrong-way crash on Interstate 75 which injured seven people. The pursuit began Thursday June 5 when the driver of a GMC Sierra, James Collins, refused to pull over when the Ohio State Highway Patrol tried to stop him for having no visible registration. Footage filmed by a police helicopter unit shows the chase through Montgomery County escalating as a passenger in the bed of the truck begins throwing wooden boards into the road in a desperate attempt to deter police. The truck ended up driving the wrong way down Interstate 75 where it eventually caused a six-vehicle pile-up. After the crash, all four people in the GMC took off on foot before eventually being caught by police. They are all now facing charges for drug possession and aggravated vehicular assault.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
2 men charged in police pursuit, wrong-way crash on I-75
DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) — Two people accused in the police pursuit that led to a 6-car, wrong-way crash on I-75 are now facing charges. Last Thursday, a pickup truck with four occupants inside was pursued by police as it sped through Dayton highways in the wrong direction. New dashcam footage shows just how large scale that pursuit was. New video shows wrong-way driver crashing into 5 cars on I-75 Cruiser video obtained from Perry Township law enforcement shows the 50-minute pursuit that led police from the outskirts of Dayton onto US-35 and then onto I-75. The pursuit started in Perry Township, as police began pursuing a GMC Sierra truck in the early evening hours of June 5. Dash camera footage features communication with a police helicopter overhead and the cruisers on the ground during the chase. Police deployed stop sticks, but the GMC drove right over them, reportedly refusing to stop for officers. The alleged driver has been identified as 46-year-old James Collins of Dayton. The chase continued across township roads until the truck entered US-35, driving in the wrong direction against traffic. That's when law enforcement noticed an occupant in the bed of the truck. 'Hey, there's actually somebody, in the bed of the pickup truck. White male, with gray shirt and black pants.' said one officer over the dashcam footage. 'Yeah, he's trying to dump boards, use caution guys, he's trying to dump boards on you.' That man, identified as 49-year-old Thomas Downey of Dayton, was dumping items onto the road in an attempt to stop law enforcement, including planks of wood. Dashcam confirms what officers have previously reported — the chase was stopped momentarily several times, both in the name of public safety, and to clean up the mess. Once the truck made its way onto I-75, driving south in the northbound lanes, it was just minutes before a multi-vehicle crash occurred. The truck collided with five other vehicles, leaving several other people injured. Four suspects fled the GMC truck, leading police on a short foot chase before they were all arrested and transported to the hospital. Both Collins and Downey are facing three charges, including fleeing and eluding, vehicular assault and obstructing official business. Charges for the other two passengers in the truck are currently under review. 2 NEWS will continue to follow this case. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.