The Prosecutors – Episode 337: Jodi Huisentruit Part 2

Podcast: The Prosecutors
Hosts: Brett and Alice
Date: November 25, 2025

Episode Overview

In this episode, Brett and Alice continue their deep-dive analysis of the 1995 disappearance of Jodi Huisentruit, a beloved local news anchor from Mason City, Iowa. The hosts meticulously walk listeners through the investigation’s timeline and the enduring mystery, assessing key suspects, overlooked details, and the frustrating lack of resolution. They combine their prosecutorial insight with candid discussion and theorizing, highlighting both procedural strengths and dead ends that have defined this decades-long cold case.

Key Discussion Points

1. Case Recap and Timeline Progression

• Jodi Huisentruit was a young news anchor who vanished on June 27, 1995, on her way from her apartment to work. Evidence suggested abduction rather than a voluntary disappearance.
• Despite immediate police response and a detailed crime scene, 30 years later, the case remains unsolved.

Major Timeline Updates:

• July 6, 1995: Jodi took a self-defense class; confided to the instructor about a recent incident that made her uncomfortable. Indicative she felt threatened prior to her abduction.
  “She told him that there had been an incident a few months before that she wasn’t ‘comfortable with, whatever that means.’” — Brett (07:13)
• July 25, 1995: Nearly a month missing, police had received over 700 tips and interviewed around 800 people but had no solid leads.
• September 23, 1995: Case featured on America’s Most Wanted, generating 60 new tips.
  “When America’s Most Wanted was on, everyone was watching.” — Alice (11:19)
• February 18, 1996: Featured on Unsolved Mysteries, generating another 97 tips; still no significant progress.

2. Community Response and Investigation Efforts

• Jodi’s disappearance had significant local impact—a candlelight vigil drew 250 people.
• Family hired a PI, increased reward (eventually to $100,000), and organized mass searches, all unsuccessful.
• Police and family worked tirelessly; case drew national attention but produced little concrete movement.

3. Physical Evidence and Crime Scene Discussion

The Car and Abduction Details

• Car keys found slightly bent near Jodi’s vehicle; likely result of a sudden, forced attack as she approached her passenger side door, where she usually placed her things.
• Drag marks at the scene suggest Jodi was incapacitated quickly (knocked out, strangled, or otherwise subdued), not killed immediately—no blood was found.
  • The fact she was dragged led Alice to note the personal, visceral nature of the attack:
    “The dragging almost seems like an extra level of cruelty... incredibly dehumanizing to pull someone.” (23:30)

The Mysterious White Van

• Witnesses reported a suspicious white van parked near the scene and provided a sketch of a man—though the sketch has never been released publically.
• The van’s color (versus suspects who owned blue or white vans) complicates eyewitness reliability.

The Toilet Seat Debate

• Police noted Jodi’s toilet seat was found up, sparking debate among online sleuths (was a man visiting her the night before?).
  • Brett and Alice discuss whether this is significant:

    “I think it’s unlikely this is a cleaning thing.” — Brett (39:56) “I typically—even when I throw up—throw up with the seat down, not lift it up.” — Alice (35:44)

• Two wine glasses (one with lipstick, one without) were left out; possible indication of a visitor, though could be from a previous day.

  “I think someone else was with her that night. But I don’t necessarily know that the toilet seat is relevant. I’m more convinced by the wine glasses.” — Brett (45:50)

The Beer Cans and Possible Stalker

• Reports circulated about Bud Light “Tall Boy” cans in Jodi’s apartment, but police dispute this. Brett notes police can be unreliable in what info they share on documentaries.
• Multiple Coors Light cans piled up near Jodi’s parking spot in the week before her abduction. Could indicate a stalker monitoring her, or may be coincidental.
• Alice points out Jodi’s windows were often left open, making her an easier target for a peeping stalker.

Delay in Attack

• Alice observes the attacker must have waited for hours—Jodi left significantly later than usual on the day she vanished. Odd for a stalker who appeared to know her schedule so well.

Theories and Suspects

John Van Sise

• Friend of Jodi, named his boat after her, last to see her alive by his own admission, and called the station looking for her before anyone else realized she was missing.
• Alibi from a morning walking buddy but has inconsistencies about when/where he saw Jodi.
  • Alice: “He willingly did give a lot of information. I think his exact whereabouts were lied about more because of probably the fact that they had something more than just friendship going on.” (65:43)
  • Brett speculates Jodi and John spent time together that night, perhaps explaining the wine glasses and toilet seat, but doesn’t believe he perpetrated the crime:
    “He lied...not because he killed her, but because he had something to hide.” (64:03)

Brad Millerburn

• Ex-husband of Jodi’s friend, owned a white van, alleged to have developed an unhealthy interest in Jodi, and had recently finalized a divorce—the timing lines up.
• His ex-wife Patty provided most of the information implicating him. He gave DNA and took a polygraph; nothing has linked him yet.
• Brett: “Brad’s a pretty good suspect. There’s a lot of smoke there, right?” (69:26)

Tony Jackson

• Convicted serial rapist living nearby at the time; “promising” lead revolved around cryptic rap lyrics, but ultimately no evidence connected him to Jodi.
  • “If you see the documentary, he is the most convincing person you’ll ever see.” — Brett (71:52)

Christopher Rayvack

• Linked to two other murders, some coincidental geographic connections, but timing and logistics don’t quite fit.

Unknown Stalker

• Jodi received harassing phone calls, had an alarming encounter with a man in a white truck, and considered changing her number.
• Brett and Alice both lean strongly to the theory that her abductor was an obsessed stalker:
  • “Someone became obsessed with her...they had been scoping out her place. They had learned her movements.” — Brett (77:28)
  • Alice: “He had decided what he was going to do even if it was an hour and a half late. He knew her actions so well that he was going to attack her.” (78:39)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the personal nature of the crime:
  “The dragging almost seems like an extra level of cruelty... it’s incredibly dehumanizing to pull someone. It’s also very confident.” — Alice (23:30)
• On the dead-end leads:
  “This case is frustrating. You have all these tiny bits of information, and you’re trying to grab onto them and make them work to tell a story in some way, but there’s not quite enough to be able to do it.” — Brett (48:14)
• On the stalker theory:
  “He had decided what he was going to do even if it was an hour and a half late. He knew her actions so well that he was going to attack her... It just seems so inflamed with passion and anger directed at her when she didn’t do anything at 4:30 in the morning except be late.” — Alice (78:39)

Timestamps for Major Segments

• [07:13] – Jodi’s martial arts class and reports of earlier harassment
• [11:19] – National TV coverage: America’s Most Wanted and Unsolved Mysteries
• [19:11] – Evidence: Car keys, apartments, crime scene layout
• [23:30] – Discussion: Nature of dragging, personal vs. opportunistic attacks
• [32:09] – White van sightings, unreleased suspect sketch
• [35:44] – Toilet seat, wine glasses, domestic evidence debate
• [47:27] – Stalker behavior, police sensitivity to harassment
• [48:09] – Beer cans and (possible) physical surveillance
• [51:43] – Beer can theory and difficulties with circumstantial evidence
• [53:26] – Abductor’s unusual wait time and planning implications
• [55:09] – Theories: Competitor, neighbor, John Van Sise, and others dissected
• [69:26] – Suspect rundown: Brad Millerburn, Tony Jackson, Christopher Rayvack
• [77:28] – Hosts’ concluding theories
• [84:12] – Final thoughts: fear for women, plea for tips, hope for justice

Conclusion: Hosts' Final Thoughts

• Both Brett and Alice believe Jodi knew or suspected she was being targeted; John Van Sise may have been present the night before, but neither host thinks he is the killer.
• The overwhelming likelihood is that an obsessed stalker was responsible, leveraging Jodi’s public presence and accessibility.
• They stress the vital need for new tips—reminding listeners that even old or previously reported information might help law enforcement see the case in a new light.
  • “If you know anything, even if you shared a tip before, maybe just share it again. Fresh ears may hear it differently.” — Brett (18:22)
• Alice closes with an empathetic reminder of the enduring sense of fear this type of crime creates, especially for women:
  “There’s a reason that I run to my car even from, like, the grocery store... for all women’s sake and especially for Jodi’s sake, I do hope that this case is brought to justice soon.” (84:12)

Contact & Call to Action

• If you have any possible information, contact the Mason City Police at 641-421-3636.
• Listeners may also submit tips anonymously through the podcast team.

For true crime aficionados and new listeners alike, this episode offers a thorough and empathetic breakdown of a haunting, unresolved case that still echoes through the true crime community.