UPDATE 11/20/2025
“Mason City, Iowa, Police Return to Minnesota for Another Search, Nothing Found”
Acting Mason City Police Chief Mike McKelvey has confirmed to FindJodi, Inc. that police investigators were back in Winsted, Minnesota, today following up on a tip in connection with the Jodi Huisentruit investigation.
Their first search in October 2024 was a follow-up to a very old lead and produced no signs of human remains.
According to Chief McKelvey, nothing was found today, as well,
“Today, Mason City Police and Minnesota authorities went to a location in Minnesota where a house had recently been torn down. Law enforcement used a specially-trained dog to examine the area in reference to a possible lead regarding Jodi’s case.In the areas where the dog showed interest, machinery was used to dig and excavate the site to look for evidence related to our case. Nothing at all was found. This tip did not pan out, but we felt it was important to examine the site since the house was removed. Again, nothing was found.”-Mike McKelvey, Acting Mason City Police Chief.
A new true-crime docuseries on Hulu explores the Jodi Huisentruit case, highlighting a tip from a friend of Jodi’s. That tip led to a 2024 police search in Winsted, Minnesota. The friend contacted Mason City Police after viewing a 2022 episode of “20/20” about the the abduction of the 27-year-old Mason City, Iowa, news anchor.
This was not the first time Jodi’s friend had come forward.
The woman also had shared her suspicions in a conversation with FindJodi Inc.’s co-founder, Gary Peterson 18 years ago. Gary has been incorrectly identified in some recent media reports as a private investigator. Gary’s 2007 notes indicate the friend told him she had previously reported her concerns to Mason City Police. Gary passed away in 2023.
Notes from Gary Peterson’s phone call with tipster back on June 22, 2007.
As FindJodi reported last November, the Winsted search yielded no human remains. A docuseries film crew followed Mason City Police during the search, and their video is included in the Hulu 3-part series that was released on July 15.
Sgt. Terrance Prochaska, the lead MCPD investigator on Jodi’s case, revealed several pieces of information in the docuseries, to clear up misinformation.
Sgt. Prochaska said there was no palm print found on Jodi’s car, as it has often been reported. But he did say one was found on a light pole nearby. And he emphasized no blood was found on the palm print or anywhere at the crime scene.
The investigator debunked speculation an officer might have left a toilet seat up in Jodi’s apartment. Sgt. Prochaska said the seat was up when a responding officer showed up to check on Jodi after she didn’t make it to work at KIMT-TV on June 27, 1995.
The investigator also said no DNA had been obtained from the scene or Jodi’s apartment and indicated they have some items they plan to test for DNA. He said police observed two wine glasses side by side next to the sink but no beer cans were found in Jodi’s apartment.
Jodi’s friends and former KIMT-TV co-workers gathered in Mason City on June 27 to honor Jodi on the 30th anniversary of her abduction on her way to anchor the morning news. They also appealed for anyone with information on Jodi’s case to come forward.
If you know anything about what happened to Jodi, call the Mason City Police Department at (641) 421-3636 or email Iowa DCI Special Agent Ryan Herman at rherman@dps.state.ia.us. You can also reach out to FindJodi, Inc anonymously.
30 years. It’s time.
