Answers may still lie in Arizona in case of Iowa news anchor who went missing in 1995

Iowa news anchor Jodi Huisentruit disappeared 29 years ago on Thursday, and there might be answers about what happened here in Arizona.

Authorities and family are still working to uncover the truth behind her disappearance, with lingering questions about the potential involvement of a person of interest now residing in Phoenix.

The case presents a challenge due to the scarcity of forensic evidence and the absence of eyewitnesses.

Jodi Huisentruit, a beloved 27-year-old news anchor, was a well-known figure in the Mason City community, cherished by her family, including her niece Kristen Nathe.

“I had a very special relationship with her. She was also my godmother. I spent a lot of time with her, and that loss was very significant to me and still is to this day,” shared Nathe.

On June 27, 1995, Nathe, then 11 years old, vividly recalls the day when Huisentruit failed to show up for work. Initially thought to have overslept, it soon became evident that something was amiss.

Authorities suspect she was abducted while on her way to her car that morning.

Investigative journalist Caroline Lowe highlighted that there was a mere 30-second window between Huisentruit leaving her apartment and reaching her car, suggesting she may have been targeted.

“It happened so quickly that there’s no way someone passing by could have seized the opportunity. We believe someone was waiting for her, whether a stalker or someone familiar. It remains a mystery,” Lowe explained.

A man named John Vansice appeared at the crime scene. A close friend of Huisentruit, he frequented boating trips with her and their friends.

Vansice claimed to be the last person to have seen Huisentruit when she visited to watch a birthday video.