Tony Dejuan Jackson
I recently heard from a woman I interviewed 16 years ago while reporting for the WCCO TV I-Team on the possible involvement of a serial rapist named Tony Jackson in the disappearance of Mason City anchorwoman Jodi Huisentruit.
The woman who contacted me was one of three women who came forward after the news reports on Jackson. Each claimed to have been raped by him. DNA evidence later linked Jackson to two of the sexual assaults.
In both cases, the victims were strangers, and media coverage about Jackson in connection with Jodi’s abduction was key to the women being able to identify him as their rapist.
As evidenced by those cases, the potential of publicity to help solve sexual assaults and other crimes is enormous. That’s a key reason why we want to keep Jodi’s unsolved abduction in the spotlight through FindJodi.com.
The woman who wrote to me has overcome some tough times and is now a mom with two young children. Although she has moved away from Mason City, she told me she can’t forget what happened to Jodi and follows the latest leads at FindJodi.com.
As for Tony Jackson, Mason City police have ruled him out as a suspect in Jodi’s abduction. He is serving time in prison for several Minnesota rape convictions.
