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

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


PHOENIX (AZFamily) — Iowa news anchor Jodi Huisentruit vanished 29 years ago on Thursday, and answers about what may have happened could lie here in Arizona.

Police and family continue to try to solve her disappearance, and there are still plenty of questions about what, if any, involvement the person of interest now living in Phoenix had.

The challenge in this case is there’s little to no forensic evidence and no eyewitnesses.

The beloved 27-year-old Jodi Huisentruit was a staple on Iowa television. Huisentruit was well-known in the Mason City community and even more admired by her family, especially by her niece Kristen Nathe.

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“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 to this day,” said Nathe.

Nathe was 11 years old on June 27, 1995, and remembers the day well.

Huisentruit never made it to work that day. First, she was believed to have overslept her alarm, but then her news team realized something was wrong.

Police believe she was abducted while getting to her car that morning.

Longtime investigative journalist Caroline Lowe said there were only 30 seconds between Huisentruit leaving her apartment and getting to her car, so they believe she was targeted.

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“There’s no way somebody driving by would have had time to get in, it was so fast. Somebody, we believe, was waiting for her, whether it was a stalker or somebody she knew. We don’t know,” said Lowe.

A man named John Vansice showed up at the crime scene. The nearly 50-year-old was good friends with Huisentruit and often went boating with her and her friends.

He claimed he was the last to see Huisentruit when she came over to watch a birthday video at his house the night before.

“They’ve interviewed me twice, but they haven’t made any indication that I’m a suspect,” Vansice said to a reporter at the time.

He became a person of interest and has remained so, but Lowe said Huisentruit didn’t leave any warning signs about Vansice.

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“From Jodi’s journal she did a number of social things with him. She had a great time at a birthday party he hosted. There’s no indication in the journal they’re anything but good friends,” said Lowe.

Lowe is part of the “Find Jodi” team and website committed to Huisentruit’s case.

Their team uncovered court documents showing that Mason City Police executed a search warrant for GPS data on two cars linked to Vansice in March 2017.

The information is sealed.

On this 29th anniversary, True Crime Arizona went to Vansice’s Phoenix home to try and talk to him, but despite a TV blaring the news inside, no one answered.

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Huisentruit’s niece said at this point, she has a personal message for Vansice.

“What I personally would ask is that if he has more information regarding Jodi or the situation, that he comes forward and shares that information, especially if he considered himself to be such a close friend of Jodi. Um, help us. Help us to solve this case,” said Nathe.

Vansice has maintained his innocence and has never been charged in the case.

The “Find Jodi” team honored her life Thursday morning and has kept billboards up in Iowa.

If you have any information on Jodi’s disappearance, you can reach out to the Find Jodi web page.

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Iowa leaders react to the death of Dick Cheney

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Iowa leaders react to the death of Dick Cheney


DES MOINES, Iowa (KCRG) – Iowa’s top officials share their sentiments on the death of former Vice President Dick Cheney. He was 84.

Cheney’s wife of 61 years, Lynne, his daughters, Liz and Mary, and other family members were with him on Monday night, the family said in a statement, adding that the former vice president died of complications of pneumonia and cardiac and vascular disease.

“Dick Cheney was a great and good man who taught his children and grandchildren to love our country, and to live lives of courage, honor, love, kindness, and fly fishing,” the statement said. “We are grateful beyond measure for all Dick Cheney did for our country. And we are blessed beyond measure to have loved and been loved by this noble giant of a man.”

Governor Kim Reynolds said Tuesday that Cheney will be remembered as a patriot.

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“Dick Cheney will be remembered as a remarkable statesman—in Congress and the Executive Branch, in times of peace and war, at home and abroad,“ she said. ”Above all, he will be remembered as a patriot, who dedicated his life to the service of his country. Kevin and I offer our sincere condolences and prayers to his family. May he rest in peace.”

Senator Chuck Grassley said in a post on X that his prayers were with Cheney’s family and that Cheney was “a true public servant and proud American.”

Grassley served in the U.S. House of Representatives with Cheney.

Senator Joni Ernst also regarded Cheney in a post on X Tuesday morning.

“Whether Vice President, Secretary of Defense, or in Congress, Dick Cheney was always proud to be an American,“ she said. ”His commitment to defeat terrorism ensured there was never another 9/11. He served his country honorably and dutifully. May he rest in peace.”

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Iowa physician again faces sex-related disciplinary charges

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Iowa physician again faces sex-related disciplinary charges


An Iowa physician previously sanctioned for sexual misconduct is now facing disciplinary charges of sexual harassment. The Iowa Board of Medicine has charged Dr. Danny Lewis Jr., a family-practice physician from Waterloo, with unprofessional conduct and sexual harassment. The board has not disclosed any information as to the nature of the conduct that gave rise […]



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Obituary for John Daniel Steinke at Overton Funeral Home

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Obituary for John Daniel Steinke at Overton Funeral Home


John Daniel Steinke, 56, of Indianola, Iowa, passed away Friday, October 31, 2025 at Mercy Hospital in Des Moines, Iowa. He was born on October 30, 1969 in St. Catherines Hospital, McCook, Nebraska to John Robert Steinke and Kay Graham Steinke and his brother Kurt followed in 1972. They lived



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