New Huisentruit tip investigated

[Paper Trail]

Iowa investigators to check out new lead in the disappearance of TV anchorwoman Jodi Huisentruit.

Star-Tribune (http://www.startribune.com/462/story/848999.html)

Authorities investigating the 1995 disappearance of Jodi Huisentruit plan to interview a Minnesota woman after she recently notified police that she knows what happened to Huisentruit, a TV anchor in Mason City, Iowa.
Huisentruit, 27, a native of Long Prairie, Minn., disappeared from the parking lot of her Mason City apartment building about 4 a.m. June 27, 1995, while on her way to work. She has not been seen since.

Lt. Ron Vande Weerd of the Mason City Police Department said Friday that the tipster, whom he wouldn't identify, surfaced recently by e-mailing the website FindJodi.com.

He said the woman claimed to have been a 13-year-old runaway at the time of Huisentruit's disappearance and learned what happened to her from men who claimed they participated in abducting and killing her.

He said he learned of the tip Wednesday after being contacted by a law enforcement agency in Minnesota that he would not identify.

He said he didn't know why the woman would wait 11 years to talk with police, but indicated that she had told another media outlet that "it was eating on her conscience."The kind of things she's saying are a little far-fetched," he said. "And we've been down this road before ... But stranger things have happened."

[Ferrycrossthemersey]

For Jodi's parents' sake, I hope this leads to something...but I doubt it. And what a pity.

[what the ??]

I thought this only ran during sweeps, they are late.

[CorkySherwood]

I'm surprised KAAL didn't break the story...

[Paper Trail]

Tip in Huisentruit disappearance doesn't yield much, police say

Authorities investigating the 1995 disappearance of TV anchor Jodi Huisentruit are continuing to follow up on a possible lead provided by a Minnesota woman who has claimed to have direct knowledge about the case.

But Lt. Ron Vande Weerd of the Mason City, Iowa, Police Department said investigators aren't sure that information from the woman, whom he declined to identify, is credible or will help solve the case.

"Not much new came of it," Vande Weerd said Monday of the weekend interview with the woman. "She gave us some information to try and substantiate."

Huisentruit disappeared from the parking lot of her Mason City apartment building about 4 a.m. June 27, 1995, while on her way to work. The Long Prairie, Minn., native has not been seen since.

Vande Weerd said investigators spoke with the tipster a few days ago after she notified police in Minnesota that she knew what happened to Huisentruit.

He said the woman had e-mailed the website www.findjodi.com (http://www.findjodi.com) and claimed to have been a 13-year-old runaway at the time Huisentruit disappeared. She said she learned what happened to Huisentruit from men who claimed they participated in abducting and killing her.

[Shank]

Originally posted by CorkySherwood:
I'm surprised KAAL didn't break the story...Actually KAAL did break the story.. on the last day of Sweeps... featuring only an interview with their Assistant News Director... who also runs a site called FindJodi.com... which got the tip in the first place...

But in a move of sweet justice... a station in the cities scooped KAAL and got an exclusive interview with the woman who's making the claim... they apparetly decided that talking to an actual source instead of someone who works at their station might be a better way to tell a news story... but I digress

[CorkySherwood]

Originally posted by Shank:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by CorkySherwood:
I'm surprised KAAL didn't break the story...Actually KAAL did break the story.. on the last day of Sweeps... featuring only an interview with their Assistant News Director... who also runs a site called FindJodi.com... which got the tip in the first place...

But in a move of sweet justice... a station in the cities scooped KAAL and got an exclusive interview with the woman who's making the claim... they apparetly decided that talking to an actual source instead of someone who works at their station might be a better way to tell a news story... but I digress</font>[/QUOTE]That seems like some pretty shady ethics on KAAL's part... but not surprising.
What station in the cities had the real source?

[The Mockingbird]

Sounds like to me, someone saw the promos for the exclusive interview with the tipster, and then did the assistant ND interview and ran it first.

That's pretty weak sauce.

[Shank]

Originally posted by CorkySherwood:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by Shank:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by CorkySherwood:
I'm surprised KAAL didn't break the story...Actually KAAL did break the story.. on the last day of Sweeps... featuring only an interview with their Assistant News Director... who also runs a site called FindJodi.com... which got the tip in the first place...

But in a move of sweet justice... a station in the cities scooped KAAL and got an exclusive interview with the woman who's making the claim... they apparetly decided that talking to an actual source instead of someone who works at their station might be a better way to tell a news story... but I digress</font>[/QUOTE]That seems like some pretty shady ethics on KAAL's part... but not surprising.
What station in the cities had the real source?</font>[/QUOTE]KMSP - Fox 9

[Shank]

And here is a shocker...

Mason City, Iowa

Authorities have dismissed the information of the woman who claimed to have knowledge regarding the fate of Jody Huisentruit, the KIMT-TV news anchor who disappeared in June 1995.

Mason City Police interviewed Cindy Sweeney, a 25-year-old woman from Anoka , Minn., and said none of the information she provided could be substantiated. The woman subsequently recanted her information, police said.

Earlier this week, the Mason City Globe Gazette reported it received an e-mail that said, "I am an eyewitness to what happened 11 years ago. I've recently gone to the police with the information, but I still can’t get over what took place. ... Until I can talk to and trust you, the only thing I will tell you is there was more than one person involved."

Yet another e-mail was forwarded to FindJodi.com, which read "I was 13 in 1995 and forced to witness what happened to Jodi," and continued, "I've recently went to the police with the information."

Vande Weerd told the Star Tribune that the woman claimed to have been a runaway at the time of Huisentruit's disappearance, and disclosed that men she encountered claimed they participated in abducting and killing her.

Mason City Police are still urging anyone with any information in the case to contact them at (641) 421-3636.

[what the ??]

:rolleyes:

[thebrain]

On the WCCO story...

http://wcco.com/topstories/local_story_340181455.html

"Over the weekend, the woman had asked WCCO-TV for compensation in exchange for details about what she said she knew. The station declined."

So did KMSP, Fox 9, pay the woman for the interview!?!?

[Paper Trail]

Woman who lied about Huisentruit may be charged
Associated Press

MASON CITY, Iowa — Police say charges are pending against a Minnesota woman who claimed she witnessed the slaying of a missing Mason City television anchor.
The woman said she was 13 when she saw six men kill KIMT-TV morning anchor Jodi Huisentruit in 1995. The woman has now recanted her story.

Mason City Police Lt. Ron Vande Weerd said charges could be filed next week. He said there are jurisdictional questions. Vande Weerd says the woman is in Minnesota, but "she caused damage here."

Vande Weerd says he has no idea what motivated the woman to make up the story.

Huisentruit disappeared on her way to work at KIMT on the morning of June 27th, 1995, and has not been seen since. She was declared legally dead several years ago.

[CorkySherwood]

Originally posted by thebrain:
On the WCCO story...

http://wcco.com/topstories/local_story_340181455.html

"Over the weekend, the woman had asked WCCO-TV for compensation in exchange for details about what she said she knew. The station declined."

So did KMSP, Fox 9, pay the woman for the interview!?!?who knows... I'm just really surprised KSTP didn't take the story and run with it.

[Spx Guy]

KAAL ran with it for a while...but buried the fact that the woman recanted her admission. Go figure. Good job KAAL! They've gotten 3 "leads" in recent memory...but none have come up with anything. I wonder how much time they're actually spending on checking those leads out. Sounds like if they get a wiff of something...BOOM -- they run with it. It's surprising KMSP scooped 'em.