IA IA - Jodi Huisentruit, 27, Anchorwoman, Mason City, 27 June 1995 #2

[JudgeJoe]

Hi all, long time lurker. Watched the “Up and Vanished” episode from February with this new Steve Ridge info in mind. It seems all arrows point to LW as the source who recently snapped. I recommend the rewatch.

Compare LW from the Frozen Truth podcast to LW in UaV when she is being grilled on the details of her story — a staggering difference (the host found conflicting accounts that suggested she was lying and she freaked out). We now know she might have been hiding something far more sinister...

So what really happened?

Something often overlooked in public discourse around this case is the timeline. What happened the night before? We know that Jodi was seen at the Golf Club as late as 8:00pm. We know that Jodi had a verified call from her apartment at 8:24pm. According to JVS, Jodi came over to watch a videotape that night. There are approximately 10 minutes of travel time from the golf club to Jodi's apartment. If we believe JVS, Jodi spent about 5-7 minutes watching the videotape— and then hurried home and called her close friend immediately upon arriving. Yes Jodi could have gone to JVS house after the phone call, around 9, but this would be reckless given her early call time. So JVS is likely lying about the night before. Watch the “Disappeared” episode on Jodi. A MCPD officer expresses heavy doubt on JVS account of this night.

So Jodi likely blew JVS off that night. And this wasn’t the first time. Was this enough for JVS to snap?

Having seen the videotape of Jodi's bright day party, I say so. To go a step further, let’s say there were in fact beer cans in the sink and the toilet seat was up and the bed was made as is often claimed...did Jodi blow off JVS for another man that night?

If we go with this theory, we understand why someone heard a banging outside Jodi's door “Jodi I know you’re in there” and why the suspect waited an hour for Jodi outside.

Back to LW. I believe from the Frozen Truth podcast that she was indeed close friends with JVS. So we can imagine that in all likelihood, JVS had been talking to LW nonstop about Jodi in the preceding weeks and venting his frustrations. On "that morning", LW got a piece of evidence. Knowing the oddities of JVS, he probably handed her some item of Jodi's or some "prize". And also a threat to not tell anyone or she would end up the same. We can surmise that LW has feared for her life since then, and perhaps feels guilt for not speaking up. Perhaps she encouraged JVS...

Just a theory for y'all -- as you were...

Nice post. On 48 Hours taped in 2018 LW still totally has her one time friend JV's back. She cries for him, what happened to him in the public eye, the injustice. She looks completely relaxed

Here is link. FindJodi

It gets interesting at around 23:30 in, where the seller of the Miata is discussed (strangely, the vid locks up there for me, obscuring comments of the son of the dealer who facilitated the Miata transaction, and won't come back up until the topic has changed to LW (does it lock up there for y'all too?!). PI Steve Ridge says someone harboring a dark secret has recently confessed to hiding or destroying evidence that might have helped break the case. Based on the 48 Hours interview of LW, I for one find it very very hard to believe it is LW to whom Ridge refers. She absolutely appears to be very open and hiding nothing. If it is her, she deserves the Oscar for best female actress, and JV the Oscar for best male actor.

LaDonna has been interviewed at least 3 times that I can find:

48 Hours: “Find Jodi”
Season 31 Episode 14
Aired Dec 15, 2018

Frozen Truth: “The Morning Walk”
Season 3, Episode
Aired Oct 6, 2019

Up & Vanished (2020): “Final Newscast”
Season 1, Episode 1
Aired Feb 14, 2020

To me, this woman is all over the map. From sounding like a snake oil saleswoman, to teary-eyed flustercluck. Imo, her story is off in each interview. If justice for Jodi hinges on the lone testimony of this woman- now claiming to have destroyed evidence years ago, I have zero faith in an arrest. She has no credibility, imo.

I sincerely hope it is someone else with the new info/confession! Jmo

 

[itsrak]

LaDonna has been interviewed at least 3 times that I can find:

48 Hours: “Find Jodi”
Season 31 Episode 14
Aired Dec 15, 2018

Frozen Truth: “The Morning Walk”
Season 3, Episode
Aired Oct 6, 2019

Up & Vanished (2020): “Final Newscast”
Season 1, Episode 1
Aired Feb 14, 2020

To me, this woman is all over the map. From sounding like a snake oil saleswoman, to teary-eyed flustercluck. Imo, her story is off in each interview. If justice for Jodi hinges on the lone testimony of this woman- now claiming to have destroyed evidence years ago, I have zero faith in an arrest. She has no credibility, imo.
I sincerely hope it is someone else with the new info/confession! Jmo

So, I've watched 48 Hours, and I just listened to Frozen Truth: The Morning Walk podcast. Having listened to the latter, makes me less inclined to believe JV is the perp. I find LaDonna convincing. And I find the host's closing questions compelling: Why there (in the parking lot)? Why then (when Jodi leaves for work)? The obvious answer is because that is where and when someone not in Jodi's life - a stranger - would have the opportunity to take her. Heading for her car, in the dark, to get to work. JV was no stranger, he was a friend. Maybe kinda weird, but a lot of people are kinda weird.

I'd like to watch Up and Vanished, but don't have access....

 

[JudgeJoe]

So, I've watched 48 Hours, and I just listened to Frozen Truth: The Morning Walk podcast. Having listened to the latter, makes me less inclined to believe JV is the perp. I find LaDonna convincing. And I find the host's closing questions compelling: Why there (in the parking lot)? Why then (when Jodi leaves for work)? The obvious answer is because that is where and when someone not in Jodi's life - a stranger - would have the opportunity to take her. Heading for her car, in the dark, to get to work. JV was no stranger, he was a friend. Maybe kinda weird, but a lot of people are kinda weird.

I'd like to watch Up and Vanished, but don't have access....

I know exactly that moment in the podcast & thought the same thing- why then & there when JV could have easily convinced her to go to a discreet location. But then I thought- could he? We don’t know what happened the birthday video night before her death. Maybe Jodi got fed up with him & he was seething all night. Premeditated crime of passion wouldn’t be logical or rational. Jmo. Happy to be wrong for an arrest!

 

[Tippy Lynn]

Police report reveals truck following Jodi in 1994 was white • Find Jodi Huisentruit

FindJodi.com recently obtained a copy of a 1994 police report documenting a call from Jodi Huisentruit to the Mason City Police Department regarding a man in a white truck who had been following her.

The incident happened less than 9 months before Jodi was abducted from the parking lot of the Key Apartments.

 

[itsrak]

Police report reveals truck following Jodi in 1994 was white • Find Jodi Huisentruit

FindJodi.com recently obtained a copy of a 1994 police report documenting a call from Jodi Huisentruit to the Mason City Police Department regarding a man in a white truck who had been following her.

The incident happened less than 9 months before Jodi was abducted from the parking lot of the Key Apartments.

Stalker in truck. Lewd calls. Cops escort to work. Takes self-defense class. Guy banging on door. Perv Corscadden. Soon to be serial rapist trying to meet her. Drug kingpin mass murderer appears to show up in photos with her. Cop says fellow cops involved, gets canned for it. Seeming mystery male guest night of disappearance. Dead farmer friend had been in fear of something. Van parked in lot in wee hours. Coworker wanting job. Perv working for city lived at Key Apts. Diary mailed by Chief's wife - not to family, to newspaper. Car seen racing from lot. Drivers of two cars converse, then leave lot. Unknown man and youth heard speaking next to building around time of disappearance. Older penpal from Des Moines writing weird letters. Obsessed older guy with bad temper. Miata seller supposedly dating her but denies it. Screams including what sounds like 'John, no!'. Palm print on car roof matches no one.

I count 20 possible suspects. Yet nearly all focus is on one. Yet no arrest. Passed lie detector test. Actually went to scene. Met in person with sister. Cooperated, interviewed with cops, didn't 'lawyer up'. Hammed it up for TV. What, me worry?

Head spins. Some case.

 

[dotr]

Police report reveals truck following Jodi in 1994 was white • Find Jodi Huisentruit

FindJodi.com recently obtained a copy of a 1994 police report documenting a call from Jodi Huisentruit to the Mason City Police Department regarding a man in a white truck who had been following her.

The incident happened less than 9 months before Jodi was abducted from the parking lot of the Key Apartments.

More than ever, it seems to me that the person who stalked Jodi in the pickup and made harassing phone calls, is also the same person to kidnap Jodi.
Hmm, small, white newer pickup -who would drive such a vehicle, did that person also follow Jodi in other vehicles too?
imo, speculation.


''According to the report, Jodi called the MCPD about the possible stalking incident early Saturday evening, October 8, 1994.

It stated: “Huisentruit requested to talk to an officer in reference [to] a subject who was following her, driving a small white newer pickup.”

Jodi’s apartment address at 550 N. Kentucky was listed as the location of the incident involving a “suspicious subject.”

 

[Tippy Lynn]

Stalker in truck. Lewd calls. Guy banging on door. Perv Corscadden. Soon to be serial rapist trying to meet her. Drug kingpin mass murderer appears to show up in photos with her. Cop says fellow cops involved, gets canned for it. Seeming male guest night of disappearance. Dead farmer friend. Van parked in lot in wee hours. Coworker wanting job. Perv working for city. Diary mailed by Chief's wife. Car seen racing from lot. Older penpal from Des Moines writing weird letters. Obsessed older guy with bad temper. Miata seller supposedly dating her but denies it. Screams what sound like 'John, no!'. Palm print on car roof doesn't match

Some case.

Endless list of chaos.....

 

[leftalonetowonder]

Getting interesting for sure

More food for thought:
- Ladonna's interview in Frozen Truth was recorded months after her Up and Vanished interview. In UAV she lost her composure when being pressed on her details and called out for potentially lying. Then in Frozen Truth she's cheery and conversational. Details about Farmer Guy that she discloses in UAV are not included in FT.
- The account of Ladonna's morning walk has changed over the years. Beth Bednar's book and the Find Jodi Play "Fade to Black" tell a different story than Ladonna's account in recent years. I'm not sure where the former sourced their story, but it's worth noting that their timeline matches up with Amy Kuns and Farmer Guy's recent story in Up and Vanished. Of course it's very possible that Ladonna's story was only hearsay until she came out publicly recently.
- Find Jodi official podcast reports that in the months prior to Jodi's disappearance, empty Bud Light beer cans were often found lined up on the ground by a certain parking space facing Jodi's window. Two different sources confirmed this. The cans stopped appearing after Jodi disappeared. Guess whose preferred beer this was.
- The police have confirmed a call from Jodi's apartment the night of, as we know. It's likely that Jodi would have called JVS if they were to get together that night right? Not that this would be enough to clear, but I don't think law enforcement would be so doubtful on the record of JVS account if they had this potentially corroborating info.
- Toilet Seat detail was confirmed in Find Jodi official podcast and apparently by MCPD.
- Most importantly: Steve Ridge said that recent confession was from a source who had "access to the big players" surrounding Jodi - suggests the crime was committed by someone in Jodi's inner circle?

I totally believe the perp could be anyone and Ladonna is likely being truthful. Without true crime shows and misinformation, potentially focus would be on the obvious - Jodi's potential stalker. Pieces are beginning to come together though, perhaps.

 

[JudgeJoe]

Getting interesting for sure

More food for thought:
- Ladonna's interview in Frozen Truth was recorded months after her Up and Vanished interview. In UAV she lost her composure when being pressed on her details and called out for potentially lying. Then in Frozen Truth she's cheery and conversational. Details about Farmer Guy that she discloses in UAV are not included in FT.
- The account of Ladonna's morning walk has changed over the years. Beth Bednar's book and the Find Jodi Play "Fade to Black" tell a different story than Ladonna's account in recent years. I'm not sure where the former sourced their story, but it's worth noting that their timeline matches up with Amy Kuns and Farmer Guy's recent story in Up and Vanished. Of course it's very possible that Ladonna's story was only hearsay until she came out publicly recently.
- Find Jodi official podcast reports that in the months prior to Jodi's disappearance, empty Bud Light beer cans were often found lined up on the ground by a certain parking space facing Jodi's window. Two different sources confirmed this. The cans stopped appearing after Jodi disappeared. Guess whose preferred beer this was.
- The police have confirmed a call from Jodi's apartment the night of, as we know. It's likely that Jodi would have called JVS if they were to get together that night right? Not that this would be enough to clear, but I don't think law enforcement would be so doubtful on the record of JVS account if they had this potentially corroborating info.
- Toilet Seat detail was confirmed in Find Jodi official podcast and apparently by MCPD.
- Most importantly: Steve Ridge said that recent confession was from a source who had "access to the big players" surrounding Jodi - suggests the crime was committed by someone in Jodi's inner circle?

I totally believe the perp could be anyone and Ladonna is likely being truthful. Without true crime shows and misinformation, potentially focus would be on the obvious - Jodi's potential stalker. Pieces are beginning to come together though, perhaps.

Great post! I’ve never seen the info about the beer cans being lined up in the parking lot. Can you link where in the findjodi site that is? Tia!

 

[JudgeJoe]

Stalker in truck. Lewd calls. Cops escort to work. Takes self-defense class. Guy banging on door. Perv Corscadden. Soon to be serial rapist trying to meet her. Drug kingpin mass murderer appears to show up in photos with her. Cop says fellow cops involved, gets canned for it. Seeming mystery male guest night of disappearance. Dead farmer friend had been in fear of something. Van parked in lot in wee hours. Coworker wanting job. Perv working for city lived at Key Apts. Diary mailed by Chief's wife - not to family, to newspaper. Car seen racing from lot. Drivers of two cars converse, then leave lot. Unknown man and youth heard speaking next to building around time of disappearance. Older penpal from Des Moines writing weird letters. Obsessed older guy with bad temper. Miata seller supposedly dating her but denies it. Screams including what sounds like 'John, no!'. Palm print on car roof matches no one.

I count 20 possible suspects. Yet nearly all focus is on one. Yet no arrest. Passed lie detector test. Actually went to scene. Met in person with sister. Cooperated, interviewed with cops, didn't 'lawyer up'. Hammed it up for TV. What, me worry?

Head spins. Some case.

This really sums it up! Twenty suspects. It’s one of the greatest whodunnits of all time, imo.

 

[JudgeJoe]

One thing (of several) that bugs me about Ladonna’s story is her reference to her girlfriend that was dating JV. Has this person’s identity ever been revealed? Or a statement from this mystery woman ever been made public?

 

[leftalonetowonder]

One thing (of several) that bugs me about Ladonna’s story is her reference to her girlfriend that was dating JV. Has this person’s identity ever been revealed? Or a statement from this mystery woman ever been made public?

This is hugely important. I believe our favorite Steve Ridge has spoken to her but that's it.

Podcast here Podcast 001: Gone in Seconds • Find Jodi Huisentruit Beer can bit begins at 21:00

 

[JudgeJoe]

This is hugely important. I believe our favorite Steve Ridge has spoken to her but that's it.

Podcast here Podcast 001: Gone in Seconds • Find Jodi Huisentruit Beer can bit begins at 21:00

Welcome to WS, by the way!

 

[JudgeJoe]

Okay... so this is a little far out there, but since we have no better ideas & are killing time waiting for an arrest, I’ll toss this one out. Don’t throw tomatoes at me.

What if Jodi’s abductor was a woman? And what if she were Ladonna? LW emphasizes over & over again that she was (is?) married & not having an affair with JV. Why state this repeatedly when no one asked? If Ladonna had been having an affair with JV, and showed up at his apartment the night before, only to see him flirting with Jodi again- maybe even saw him head into her apartment after the video (hence the beer and raised toilet seat), maybe she waited & hit Jodi over the head in a jealous rage. Afterwards she drove Jodi out to her farm- and Jodi is still on that farm. Then LW showered & showed up back at JV’s apartment for “the walk”. Since LW is the ONLY OTHER PERSON to be interviewed by the Grand Jury, there had to be a darn good reason- other than she called JV 6am & went on a walk. She was interviewed for 5 hours. They were probably done talking about the walk after 30 minutes. None of Jodi’s friends went before the GJ to provide info- so why LW? If JV had been dating one of LW’s friends, she’d have been interviewed- and been in media by now- yet 25 years later, we have no idea who this woman was. Maybe JV was covering for LD- not the other way around. Or maybe he never knew. And now that he has Alzheimer's LW can finally throw JV under the bus.

LW looks tall in her interviews, and she was fit. I personally think she had as much of an attraction to JV as JV seemed to have for Jodi. Most experts think Jodi was knocked out, then dragged to a vehicle (van?). I wonder what LW drove back then.

So 21 suspects? Just say’n... Putting up tomato screen...

 

[itsrak]

One thing (of several) that bugs me about Ladonna’s story is her reference to her girlfriend that was dating JV. Has this person’s identity ever been revealed? Or a statement from this mystery woman ever been made public?

Great point. JV's mystery GF, then a friend of LW's, might be the person Steve Ridge has been referring to. I've never heard her name or heard any comments attributed to her.

 

[crhedBngr]

These are exactly the two things to which I was referring. Kuhns went even further with her speculation during one of her interviews.

Okay, thanks. Sorry for the late response, but I've been following other cases.

 

[crhedBngr]

LaDonna has been interviewed at least 3 times that I can find:

48 Hours: “Find Jodi”
Season 31 Episode 14
Aired Dec 15, 2018

Frozen Truth: “The Morning Walk”
Season 3, Episode
Aired Oct 6, 2019

Up & Vanished (2020): “Final Newscast”
Season 1, Episode 1
Aired Feb 14, 2020

To me, this woman is all over the map. From sounding like a snake oil saleswoman, to teary-eyed flustercluck. Imo, her story is off in each interview. If justice for Jodi hinges on the lone testimony of this woman- now claiming to have destroyed evidence years ago, I have zero faith in an arrest. She has no credibility, imo.

I sincerely hope it is someone else with the new info/confession! Jmo

I am inclined not to believe LW, either. I get the feeling she is covering for JVS. I think she developed strong feelings for him, and has never really gotten over those feelings.

JMVHO.

 

[JudgeJoe]

Police report reveals truck following Jodi in 1994 was white • Find Jodi Huisentruit

FindJodi.com recently obtained a copy of a 1994 police report documenting a call from Jodi Huisentruit to the Mason City Police Department regarding a man in a white truck who had been following her.

The incident happened less than 9 months before Jodi was abducted from the parking lot of the Key Apartments.

This article says she tried to take a self-defense workshop (but missed it) & was considering carrying mace. The fact that she specifically expressed concern about “going to work in the dark“ is so scary. I can’t believe there’s not more in that bare-bones report. Race, hair color, facial hair- she saw him staring at her, so basic info should have been documented. Mo

 

[itsrak]

A Mason City martial arts instructor says Huisentruit attended a self-defense course he taught in March. Sonny Onoo says Huisentruit told him “she’d had an incident a few months back that she wasn’t comfortable with.”

 

[itsrak]

Great point. JV's mystery GF, then a friend of LW's, might be the person Steve Ridge has been referring to. I've never heard her name or heard any comments attributed to her.

Weird how LW's friend - JV's then girlfriend - somehow managed to stay completely out of the public eye in this very high profile case. Who is she? Is she alive today? Did she perchance recently confess to Steve Ridge to having destroyed key evidence relating to Jodi's disappearance back in '95?