TV anchor vanished on her way to work in 1995. Reward for her remains now up to $100K
A three-decade-long search for a beloved Iowa TV anchor has reached its “final attempt” by an investigator overseeing the case.
Jodi Huisentruit, a morning anchor at KIMT-TV in Mason City, Iowa, disappeared June 27, 1995, just three weeks after her 27th birthday.
Evidence suggests she was abducted from her red Mazda Miata on her way to work, but the case eventually went cold as her body was never found, according to the Des Moines Register.
The investigation has spawned TV specials and podcasts as well as a website, FindJodi.com, which was created by two veteran journalists in 2003.
Huisentruit was presumed dead in 2001, according to KCRG.
But Steve Ridge, a private investigator who has been working the case, is continuing to fight for the recovery of Huisentruit’s remains.
A reward for the recovery of her body has now reportedly been increased to $100,000.
“This is my final attempt to break the silence of those who are withholding information Jodi’s family, friends and the entire Mason City community deserve to know what happened to this budding young media superstar,” Ridge said, according to KTTC and KWWL.
The reward started at $25,000 and increased to $50,000 in 2023, KGAN reported. The current $100,000 reward will be offered through June 27.
Ridge told FindJodi.com in 2019 he became involved in the search for Huisentruit because he felt in his gut the “disappearance can be solved.”
In June 2023 on the 28th anniversary of Huisentruit’s disappearance, her family said it was “so hard to put into words the emotions” they were feeling.
“28 years since we last saw her smile, heard her laugh, or had a chance to hug her and tell her how much we love her,” the family said in the statement. “28 years of not being able to share in experiences and make memories together with her. 28 years of pure anguish dealing with the loss of our dear Jodi and trying to find answers to what happened to her on June 27, 1995.”
Anyone with information about Huisentruit’s whereabouts is asked to contact the Mason City Police Department at 641-421-3636.
This story was originally published May 30, 2024 at 10:29 AM with the headline "TV anchor vanished on her way to work in 1995. Reward for her remains now up to $100K."