Podcast Summary: The Megyn Kelly Show – Mysterious Disappearance of TV News Anchor Jodi Huisentruit 30 Years Ago

Episode: Crime Week Continues | Ep. 1220
Date: December 31, 2025
Host: Megyn Kelly
Guest: Steve Ridge, Private Investigator

Overview

This episode explores the enduring mystery of the disappearance of Jodi Huisentruit, an Iowa TV news anchor who vanished in 1995. In one of America's most haunting cold cases, Megyn Kelly and private investigator Steve Ridge dig into Jodi's life, the investigation, key suspects, recent developments, and Ridge's own controversial conclusions drawn from years of research. The episode delivers a nuanced, candid discussion, revealing new insights and emotionally charged moments that show the human impact behind this decades-old case.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Who Was Jodi Huisentruit? (03:29)

• Jodi grew up in Minnesota, began her news career in Iowa and Minnesota, and was relocated to Mason City for her role at KIMT as a morning anchor.
• Ridge's connection: His company helped place Jodi in Mason City and advised her to smooth out her accent to broaden appeal. He still keeps her original resume tape.
  • “Her resume tape was very good... I still have it on the shelf over here, which I keep as a reminder.” – Steve Ridge (05:01)

2. Timeline of Jodi's Disappearance (05:47, 24:14)

• Morning of June 27, 1995:
  • Jodi overslept, received a call from a colleague around 4am, said “I’ll be right there.” That was the last confirmed conversation she had besides her abductor.
  • Around 7–7:30am, coworkers checked her apartment and found a chaotic scene near her car—possessions scattered, bent key, drag marks.

Forensic Scene Details

• Two wine glasses and food in her apartment sparked theories of an overnight guest.
• Police dusted for fingerprints but early DNA evidence was likely destroyed by the chemicals (26:19).

"Those chemicals that fingerprint dust is compiled of contain bacteria which kills DNA." – Mason City Police Sergeant, documentary, 25:39

3. The Overnight Guest Theory (06:51)

• Ridge is “100% convinced” Jodi had an overnight guest (a man she knew) who left for work around 4 a.m., almost hit a jogger, and interacted with another man in the parking lot—the presumed abductor.

  • “There was evidence... two wine glasses, food, the toilet seat was up.” – Megyn Kelly (08:04)
  • “I believe what happened is her phone rang around 4 o’clock and it awakened them both... and then [the guest] went down to the parking lot.” – Steve Ridge (06:51)

• The man in the parking lot confronted the guest, then abducted Jodi.

4. Who Were the Suspects? (12:12, 14:22)

• John Van Cise: A local seed salesman, 22 years older than Jodi, a close friend who was infatuated with her.
  • “She enjoyed being with him. He was fun, he was entertaining, and he bought all the drinks.” – Steve Ridge (11:03)
  • Had a boat named after Jodi, interrogated by police, took polygraphs, never charged.
• Tony Jackson: Convicted rapist, lived near Jodi, but Ridge rules him out definitively.
• Christopher Revac: Later charged (and committed suicide) in an unrelated murder. Ridge rules him out.
• Brad Miller: Recently spotlighted as a “person of interest” in a Hulu documentary due to witness descriptions and a van sighting, but Ridge does not consider him a top suspect.

Eliminations

• Of Kelly's four guesses, only Van Cise was in Ridge's final four list.
  • “Tony Jackson... I’m convinced he was not [responsible].” – Steve Ridge (14:40)

5. Ridge’s Leading Theory & Moral Complexity (13:52, 21:03, 23:06)

• Ridge will not name his final suspect but strongly hints it’s likely John Van Cise or another older man who was infatuated with Jodi. Both knew her well; both were in her orbit.
  • “I am sensitive to the family and in particular to Jane [Van Cise’s widow]... I have not ruled John out, but I have not said 100% it’s him.” – Steve Ridge (39:33)
• Ridge describes the case as “open and shut” in his files, citing extensive evidence and interviews, but stops short of naming the individual out of ethical concerns.
  • “Every little piece of the puzzle... eventually you get a mosaic that makes a lot of sense. I mean, I feel like I have this thing so nailed that I don’t know what else to do.” (23:36)

6. Questions of Motive (23:24, 23:36)

• Ridge believes this was not a random stalker, but someone personally obsessed with and possibly in love with Jodi. Her spending the night with another man may have triggered a jealous, crime-of-passion abduction.
  • "I do think it was somebody that was more than infatuated with her. I think this person genuinely was in love with her and would have liked to have made a life with her. It just wasn't in the cards." – Steve Ridge (23:06)

7. Missed Opportunities and Crime Scene Failures (26:24, 27:56)

• Police failed to gather key DNA evidence due to fingerprint dust contamination, only processed the car’s exterior, and returned it to the family.
• Mason City’s lack of surveillance in 1995 left no visual leads.
  • “They only processed the exterior of the car, and then... gave it back to her family before anyone ever had a chance to go in and process the interior of the car, which might have had some evidence.” – Steve Ridge (26:50)
• Witnesses in an adjacent apartment heard a scream at 4:30am but did not call police (18:30).

8. The Role of Local Crime and Drugs (20:04)

• Mason City, “an all-American town,” had a dark underbelly of drug dealing—meth production, unsolved deaths—but Ridge does not believe Jodi was involved, though people in her social orbit may have been.
  • “To suggest she was ever into drugs... absolutely not a hint of that in her case.” – Megyn Kelly (21:59)

9. Moral and Emotional Impact (39:11, 44:25)

• Ridge’s motivation is respect for Jodi’s family and a sense of justice. He is determined to publish his conclusions if the truth remains buried upon his passing.
  • "Eventually, I think I will leave a memo if I ever leave this earth, I'm going to leave a formal statement of what I precisely think happened because I think the public has a right to know and I think the family needs to know." – Steve Ridge (45:52)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “I know who the killer is, yes.” – Steve Ridge (10:04)
• “I feel like I have this thing so nailed that I don’t know what else to do.” – Steve Ridge (23:36)
• “[About John Van Cise joking] So did you think I was going to lure you into the backyard and murder you and cut you up to pieces and put you in that motorhome?” – Steve Ridge (44:33)
• “If her abductor isn’t alive, there can’t be an arrest and there can’t be a trial. At that point it’s like... there’s no reason to keep the case file open or protect the integrity of the investigation.” – Megyn Kelly (29:04)
• “You couldn’t help but love her. She was so special. And so he did name his boat by name.” – Steve Ridge (33:34)
• “This wasn't a stalker type situation... But I think it was someone who was more than infatuated with her.” – Steve Ridge (23:06)
• “I'd like nothing more than to write a check for $100,000... to bring peace to the family... I'm not going to let go.” – Steve Ridge (45:52)

Timestamps for Important Segments

| Timestamp | Topic | |---------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 03:29 | Introducing Steve Ridge; Ridge's history with Jodi | | 05:47 | Jodi’s disappearance: timeline from morning phone call to discovery of crime scene | | 06:51 | Ridge’s “overnight guest” theory; details on possible witness/jogger | | 11:03 | Who is John Van Cise? His relationship with Jodi | | 13:52 | Who does Ridge consider as suspects or eliminate from suspicion? | | 16:32 | Rule-outs: Tony Jackson and Christopher Revac | | 18:30 | Eyewitnesses heard a scream but didn’t call police | | 24:14 | Police arrival and initial forensics; evidence missed due to limited technology | | 25:39 | Documentary: police discuss evidence/fingerprint dust destroying DNA | | 26:50 | Why the car was not fully processed for evidence | | 29:00 | Is the killer likely still alive? Megyn and Ridge discuss investigative secrecy | | 33:34 | Ridge on Van Cise’s infatuation and personal life | | 39:11 | Ridge’s sensitivity toward Van Cise’s widow; thoughts on naming suspects | | 45:52 | Ridge’s determination to eventually publicly reveal his case theory |

Conclusion & Further Resources

The episode closes with a statement from the Mason City Police Department, affirming that the case remains open and that any new, credible tips are welcomed. Megyn and Steve conclude with the emotional toll the case has had on investigators and Jodi’s loved ones, highlighting the need for closure and public vigilance.

For more information or to leave a tip:

• FindJodi.com: Comprehensive resource on the case, run by journalists.
• Facebook page: Hope for Jodi (facebook.com/hope4jodi)
• Mason City Police tip line: 641-421-3636

The episode stands as a deeply personal exploration of both enduring pain and persistent hope, capturing the complicated interplay of love, obsession, and justice in an American tragedy still yearning for answers.