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

[Wilma_W]

Any vets of this case know why LW's story was different in Dead Air/Fade to Black as opposed to her recent statements to media? @Wisdom

Who is LW?

 

[itsrak]

Who is LW?

John Vansice's friend LaDonna Woodford. She provided him something like an alibi, said she went for a walk with him the morn JH disappeared.
We've heard a lot about where one John - John Vansice - may have been that morn. But nothing at all about where another John may have been that morn. Curious.

 

[Wilma_W]

Any vets of this case know why LW's story was different in Dead Air/Fade to Black as opposed to her recent statements to media? @Wisdom

Who is LW?

John Vansice's friend LaDonna Woodford. She provided him something like an alibi, said she went for a walk with him the morn JH disappeared.
We've heard a lot about where one John - John Vansice - may have been that morn. But nothing at all about where another John may have been that morn. Curious.

Thanks, I couldn't remember her name. I don't think that Dead Air mentions her by name, just a 'female friend' - though it is clearly the same person. As far as we know JV had only one regular morning walking partner. I have my own theory about that discrepancy but we don't have enough evidence to prove or disprove it.

My theory is that Beth Bednair's source for this particular item in Dead Air was law enforcement, not LW herself (I'm not blaming BB for that!). The book says that early that morning, before police received the call to check on Jodi at the Key apartments, JV had called another female friend to inform her that he would be unable to meet her for their usual usual morning walk, and gave no reason. (The wording in this section sounds sort of second-hand, not what I would expect if BB had gotten a direct quote from LW.)

In the 48 Hours episode LW says that she called JV at 6:00 and they went for their walk at the usual time. Nothing out of the ordinary. I think this is also what she told a grand jury.

My theory is that LE putting out this information (that JV had bailed on the morning walk) could have been a way to get JV to call LW and ask why she was telling people that he bailed on the walk that morning - and if his phone was tapped, there could be incriminating information recorded. But it looks to me as though, if that was the plan, it didn't work out for them. If this theory is correct, then LW hasn't necessarily changed her story at all.

After reading Dead Air, I thought JV was the most likely suspect, and that was in large part because of things like this. It was the 48 Hours episode that made me rethink that.

(Note the above is my opinion only, and I am open to changing my mind if new evidence comes to light.)

 

[Rural_PC]

The LW alibi is another interesting angle. Some think JV might still have had enough time even if the regular morning walk had taken place. If I remember correctly, it would be tight.

I had thought that perhaps LW had changed her mind about her statements after some time and distance were between her (LW) and JV.

 

[Wilma_W]

The LW alibi is another interesting angle. Some think JV might still have had enough time even if the regular morning walk had taken place. If I remember correctly, it would be tight.

I had thought that perhaps LW had changed her mind about her statements after some time and distance were between her (LW) and JV.

The timeline would be tight but not impossible. And LW seems believable but we can't say absolutely that she is telling the truth. Overall though, it changed my mind about where JV is on the possible suspect list; I don't rank him very high now.

If LW is telling the truth, not only would JV have a very tight timeline but he would have to be able to appear normal, not upset or agitated, etc. - LW said nothing about his manner that morning appeared out of the ordinary. From what I have read that doesn't seem to fit his known personality. Doesn't completely rule him out but in my opinion makes him less likely as a suspect.

 

[Rural_PC]

The timeline would be tight but not impossible. And LW seems believable but we can't say absolutely that she is telling the truth. Overall though, it changed my mind about where JV is on the possible suspect list; I don't rank him very high now.

If LW is telling the truth, not only would JV have a very tight timeline but he would have to be able to appear normal, not upset or agitated, etc. - LW said nothing about his manner that morning appeared out of the ordinary. From what I have read that doesn't seem to fit his known personality. Doesn't completely rule him out but in my opinion makes him less likely as a suspect.

Agreed.

 

[leftalonetowonder]

I'm intrigued by this AS individual. He's flown under the radar but he:

- Dug wells for a living at the time of Jodi's disappearance. Notable because one of the private investigators who worked the case early on said that he "firmly believe" that Jodi's body was put into a "very deep hole somewhere near mason city" (source see below)

- Was at Jodi's birthday party and in Jodi's larger circle

- Was "obsessed" with Jodi according to LW (she hints at his potential guilt). Was also, according to LW, the person who told JV of Jodi's disappearance that first morning.

- JV was hinting at filing a libel lawsuit against this individual for feeding false information to the police. My speculation is that he may have been the primary source for a lot of the day-of information we have seen in various articles/books/shows.

- Was a close friend of JV, so if he did it, JV could have had potential involvement or knowledge of what happened, leading to the bizarre statements JV made to the media

- Was in court recently for "CRIMINAL MISCHIEF 4TH DEGREE" (dismissed). Many other small items on his court record.

 

[itsrak]

I'm intrigued by this AS individual. He's flown under the radar but he:

- Dug wells for a living at the time of Jodi's disappearance. Notable because one of the private investigators who worked the case early on said that he "firmly believe" that Jodi's body was put into a "very deep hole somewhere near mason city" (source see below)

- Was at Jodi's birthday party and in Jodi's larger circle

- Was "obsessed" with Jodi according to LW (she hints at his potential guilt). Was also, according to LW, the person who told JV of Jodi's disappearance that first morning.

- JV was hinting at filing a libel lawsuit against this individual for feeding false information to the police. My speculation is that he may have been the primary source for a lot of the day-of information we have seen in various articles/books/shows.

- Was a close friend of JV, so if he did it, JV could have had potential involvement or knowledge of what happened, leading to the bizarre statements JV made to the media

- Was in court recently for "CRIMINAL MISCHIEF 4TH DEGREE" (dismissed). Many other small items on his court record.

Who is AS?

 

[itsrak]

Who is AS?

OK, I'll try a different one. Who is JB?

 

[itsrak]

OK, I'll try a different one. Who is JB?

Young murder victim helps solve her own cold case

 

[itsrak]

Young murder victim helps solve her own cold case

Read all the way to the end.
1) Like JH, pretty, young blonde.
2) Like JH, reported that she felt she was being stalked.
3) Like JH, in Iowa.
4) Like JH, assaulted just as she was getting int0 her vehicle.

The detective in the Martinko case has a hunch MM may not have been JB's only victim. Were any of the weird calls to JH from Manchester, IA area code?...

Huge long shot. Presumably, the palm print has already been checked, pick-up ownership, van ownership, phone number...

 

[Sweetluv]

itsrak..interesting find

 

[dotr]

Read all the way to the end.
1) Like JH, pretty, young blonde.
2) Like JH, reported that she felt she was being stalked.
3) Like JH, in Iowa.
4) Like JH, assaulted just as she was getting int0 her vehicle.

The detective in the Martinko case has a hunch MM may not have been JB's only victim. Were any of the weird calls to JH from Manchester, IA area code?...

Huge long shot. Presumably, the palm print has already been checked, pick-up ownership, van ownership, phone number...

Intriguing possibility! imo.
Ws thread..
GUILTY - IA - Michelle Martinko, 18, stabbed to death, Cedar Rapids, 19 Dec 1979

Possible Connection In Michelle Martinko and Jodi Huisentruit Cases

 

[Wilma_W]

Read all the way to the end.
1) Like JH, pretty, young blonde.
2) Like JH, reported that she felt she was being stalked.
3) Like JH, in Iowa.
4) Like JH, assaulted just as she was getting int0 her vehicle.

The detective in the Martinko case has a hunch MM may not have been JB's only victim. Were any of the weird calls to JH from Manchester, IA area code?...

Huge long shot. Presumably, the palm print has already been checked, pick-up ownership, van ownership, phone number...

The Find Jodi podcast did an episode on this:

Podcast 008: Detective in Michelle Martinko investigation doubts a connection to Jodi Huisentruit case • Find Jodi Huisentruit

Sounds like the detectives don't think they are related. But of course with Jodi's case very few things can be completely excluded.

 

[itsrak]

The Find Jodi podcast did an episode on this:

Podcast 008: Detective in Michelle Martinko investigation doubts a connection to Jodi Huisentruit case • Find Jodi Huisentruit

Sounds like the detectives don't think they are related. But of course with Jodi's case very few things can be completely excluded.

Yeah, and JB's family - daughter and brother - say it could not possibly have been JB who butchered Michelle Martinko. No way! Yet, the DNA says it absolutely was their beloved, mild-mannered dad/bro who committed the heinous act. So things that seem vastly unlikely do happen. All the time.

And that quite distinct MO - stalk the pretty, young blonde, lurk near the vehicle in the darkness, and then a perfectly-timed rush and pounce at the critical moment of maximal exposure at the vehicle door. Sheer predation ...

My main take-away from findjodi podcast 8 is that in MM's case many were wrongly convinced that someone else (the ex-BF, who had a weak alibi (his mom said he was at home)) was the perp. Perhaps JH's case will turn out the same, with JV (he too had a spotty alibi) having all along been widely and wrongly suspected...

 

[Wilma_W]

Yeah, and JB's family - daughter and brother - say it could not possibly have been JB who butchered Michelle Martinko. No way! Yet, the DNA says it absolutely was their beloved, mild-mannered dad/bro who committed the heinous act. So things that seem vastly unlikely do happen. All the time.

The really sad part is that if they ever find Jodi there won't be any DNA to connect to a perpetrator so we will probably never know.

 

[itsrak]

Intriguing possibility! imo.
Ws thread..
GUILTY - IA - Michelle Martinko, 18, stabbed to death, Cedar Rapids, 19 Dec 1979

Possible Connection In Michelle Martinko and Jodi Huisentruit Cases

Here's what I found most interesting in this article:
"Now, here’s where the possible connection to Jodi Huisentruit comes in. When Jerry Burns computer was looked at by investigators, they found a search history that showed a big interest in the “murder of blonde women” and “*advertiser censored* with blonde women”. When Burns was being interviewed by Detective Denlinger, he brought up Jodi Huisentruit for no apparent reason. When the Detective reminded him that they were talking about Michelle Martinko’s murder that happened in 1979, Burns replied “It was a big deal. I don’t exactly remember what happened, seen something about Jodi Huisentruit recently.”"

 

[itsrak]

Young murder victim helps solve her own cold case

Like JH, Michelle Martinko had stated that she felt she was being stalked. From this article, in which Michelle Martinko's friend Tracy was interviewed:

As police investigated those closest to Michelle Martinko looking for potential suspects, they were also looking at the possibility that Michelle may have been killed outside the mall by a stranger.
Tracy Price: She was out there, and she was looking for a coat that her mom had put on layaway for her for Christmas, and she was gonna pay it off.
Michelle had a $186 with her to pay for the coat, but ultimately decided she didn’t want it. Tracy Price had run into her at the mall that night and gave her a protective warning when he saw her holding the cash.
Tracy Price: “Put that away,” you know … “don’t be flashing money out here in the middle of everybody. “
Tracy only learned later that Michelle was a little anxious that night.
Tracy Price: She was nervous about going out to the mall by herself and that she told someone she felt like she was being followed.

JH felt she was being stalked, and her stalker may well have been her killer. MM felt she was being stalked, and her stalker may well have been her killer. Curiously, Det. Denlinger seems to blow this point off, asserts that MM's killer was a total stranger, not a stalker. I'd bet that MM's killer didn't follow her out of the mall. I'd bet he'd been stalking her, and that eve followed her to the mall and waited in his car near her car, waiting for her to return to her vehicle...

Point being, both MM and JH may have been killed by their stalker. In other words, same MO. Were both stalked and killed not just via the same MO, but by the same perp using the same MO (stalk, lurk near vehicle, pounce at door)?

 

[itsrak]

...

 

[itsrak]

Who is AS?

Who is AS?