Hi guys. It's been 20 years. Been following Jodi's case since the late 90's. I've followed it all since the advent of the internet. Figure I'd start posting here since the boards over at the findjodi site are strictly moderated. Before there were external motivations on that site, there used to be really good discussions on findjodi and the bravonet forum. I'd just like to share a few things from a long time follower of the case. This case is a case very similar to the Maura Murray case. There are a lot of distractions and leads that go nowhere. There are even people who try cashing in on these cases by writing books. I don't think Beth Bednar's book brought anything new to the table, and actually suggested ideas that were wrong. The Copper Dollar Ranch murders are one example. I just thought it was written very irresponsibly.
With that being said, I'd like to share a few other things. I knew Jim Feldhaus (the PI who followed Jodi's case for almost 20 years) was in poor health, so I exchanged emails with him about 4-5 years ago. He never mentioned names, but he went to his grave believing that there was more than one person involved, and he thought it was a simple sex crime. Maybe he thought there were more than one person involved because of the person who hears two male voices outside. I still have the emails saved somewhere, and plan to share more details once I find them. He probably had more information than anyone regarding the circumstances surrounding the crime. Whenever I tried sharing this information on the findjodi site, it was always moderated and never posted.
Anyway, There seems to be a consensus on the internet about how the crime 'had' to be committed that morning because Jodi was running unusually late. People also suggest it was a "high risk" crime. Well, I delivered newspapers the years following Jodi's disappearance and these small Iowa towns do sleep. There is generally very little activity on the roads prior to 6:45 (unlike most cities); while on my route, I'd be lucky to see one or two cars before that time. I also think we can rule out the stalker theory because a stalker would know her schedule to a T. If she was running unusually late, he likely would have called off the crime. It would be much riskier as sunrise drew closer. I think we can surmise that the person(s) who committed the crime only knew her schedule roughly.
Has anyone ever asked themselves these questions: What if the crime was committed in the middle of January? Why did it occur on that day in June? I find it very peculiar that it happened after all the activity that Jodi mentions in her journal. It seems like the week leading up to her disappearance was a "whirlwind" of activity. I would go with a stalker theory if she wasn't running late and the crime occurred in a unremarkable day in, say....February.
Another thing I believe is that there was no van. Waking up early can play tricks on your mind. Many times on my paper route while growing up, I experienced deja vu multiple times. Very strange occurrence; and I think that he believed he saw a van, because that's what he wanted to see. There was a post back awhile on the findjodi forum before it took a turn for the worse. It stated, "around and around I go" (referring all leads pointing back to one individual). There were some very good ideas over the years, and a few individuals would have done a better job than the Mason City PD did. But as I look back as I let more realities of life sink in, it's not "around and around I go" anymore. To me, it's all roads lead to one, and I think we all know where that road leads. Sometimes I wonder what evidence did Jim (TheCat) have that made him believe that there was another person was involved. I wonder who took over his files (it was rumored that he had file cabinets full).
I really hope that one day Jodi is found. Another season (spring is the best time to uncover evidence of a grave or remains) has passed, and nothing has turned up 20 years later. I am confident she is under the dirt. By now, mushroom hunters, hunters, or fisherman would have came across her remains if it was simply disposed of on the surface in a forested area. I know the family has found peace, and I have found peace with the case on the 20 year anniversary. RIP Jodi.