Tomorrow (Saturday) marks 20 years since the disappearance of Jodi Huisentruit (HOO-zin-troot).

Jodi Huisentruit

The 27-year-old Long Prairie, Minnesota native was abducted outside her Mason City apartment early on June 27th, 1995, as she was heading to work at KIMT-TV in Mason City, where she was a News Anchor. Police found her car, blood, other personal belongings and evidence of a struggle in the parking lot. Investigators say the case remains open and they’re following leads. Lieutenant Rich Jensen, of the Mason City Police Department, says they’ve been committed to the case since that morning 20 years ago.

He says their goal is to find Jodi and hold those responsible for what happened to her. He says there are a lot of things about the case they haven’t been able to discuss to preserve the sanctity of the case because their expectation is to be in a courtroom someday holding a defendant accountable. Jensen says it’s frustrating not being able to talk about the case openly, especially when people question whether it’s a case that can be solved.

He says they want people to know that they are working on the case and are committed to it. Jensen says the public wants answers, but they can’t provide those answers. He says there is frustration that the case can’t be discussed more since it’s an ongoing criminal case and anything said could jeopardize the case in the future. Mason City police investigator Terrance Prochaska says he’s taken tips from people across the country regarding possible leads and it’s tough when he can’t even tell those people whether or not their tips helped.

He says some people will call back in a month and ask about the outcome of their tip, and it’s tough not to tell them anything. He explains to the person that the “bad guy is still out there…and he’s still listening or watching” and if the bad guy hears any of that information, it gives him an opportunity to hide. Prochaska says they take every tip seriously.

He says they never overlook leads, even from psychics, and they listen to other people’s theories. Prochaska says someone may have a better idea of how they can look at the case or suggest looking someplace new and possibly develop some sort of lead out of it or find something they’ve missed before.

The Mason City Police Department continues to work with the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation and the Federal Bureau of Investigation as leads develop. Anyone with information about the case is asked to contact the Mason City Police at 641-421-3636. Huisentruit was declared legally dead in 2001.

(Radio Iowa)

Police in Red Oak responding to a Disorderly Conduct call Thursday evening, ended-up arresting three people. Authorities say officers were called to the 4H Apartments at around 6:05-p.m.  Upon investigation, they arrested 21-year old Blake Wilkinson, of Red Oak, for Providing Alcohol to persons under the legal age of 21. Wilkinson was subsequently released on a citation.

Also taken into custody, for Possession of Alcohol under the age of 21, was 20-year old’s Juan Esquivel, Jr., and Sarah Michaela Marie Manchester, both of Shenandoah. They were brought to the Montgomery County Jail and held on $300 cash bond, each.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

PRESTON, Iowa (AP) — One man has died in an apparent explosion of a house in rural Jackson County in eastern Iowa. The Dubuque Telegraph Herald reports 73-year-old Stephen W. Brandenburg was found early Thursday in the basement of a house near U.S. Highway 64 between Miles and Preston. Emergency responders were called to the home about 4:40 a.m. yesterday after reports of an explosion.

CLEAR LAKE, Iowa (AP) — Crews made quick work of a steel water tower that had stood over the west side of Clear Lake for decades. The Globe Gazette reports workers cut apart and tore down the 56-year-old tower Thursday. Officials say the 105-foot-tall, multi-legged tower had outlived its usefulness and was expensive to maintain. Earlier this year, crew completed work on a 1 million gallon tower, which has four-times the capacity of the old tower.

DUBUQUE, Iowa (AP) — A 75-year-old Dubuque man has scratched off two winning tickets in one day. One was worth $100,000, the other $930. The Dubuque Telegraph Herald reports that Ken Broadwell bought both of his Tuesday winners at the same convenience store in Dubuque.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Washington Wizards selected Iowa power forward Aaron White with the 49th overall pick in the NBA draft Thursday night. White is 6-foot-9 and 220 pounds and averaged 16.4 points and 7.3 rebounds as a senior for the Hawkeyes.

Deputies in Montgomery County, Thursday afternoon, arrested a Red Oak man on a warrant for Harassment in the 1st Degree. Authorities say 22-year old Caleb Lee Walter was taken into custody at around 3:30-p.m., and was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $2,000 cash bond.