"The contents of her purse are scattered on the ground, along with her red high heel." — Ashley Flowers
"I was the last person to see Jody." — John Van Seiss
"She's a stiffen around tiffen in a pileage of silage in a by-low low below off a highway by a grave road." — Tony Dewan Jackson (via rap lyric)
On June 27, 1995, news anchor Jody Huesin Trude failed to arrive for her early morning shift at KIMT-TV in Mason City, Iowa. Initial checks revealed her car still in the apartment parking lot, with her purse contents and a high heel scattered nearby, suggesting a struggle. Investigators found drag marks leading away from the vehicle, pointing towards an abduction. Her apartment showed no signs of forced entry, but used wine glasses and an upturned toilet seat hinted at possible company the night prior. A search of her diary yielded no significant clues.
The investigation quickly focused on John Van Seiss, a 49-year-old acquaintance who claimed to be the last person to see Jody. Friends described his interest as bordering on obsession, including naming his boat after her. While Van Seiss provided an alibi, inconsistencies in his timeline and peculiar statements raised suspicions, though investigators lacked sufficient evidence for a warrant. Other leads included a white van spotted in the parking lot and reports of Jody receiving unsettling phone calls and being followed, prompting her to consider self-defense classes.
Over the years, numerous persons of interest and theories emerged, including the possibility of involvement by a convicted sex offender, Thomas Korskaden, and later, an inmate named Tony Dewan Jackson, whose rap lyrics hinted at a crime. The case also saw significant media attention, including a feature on "Unsolved Mysteries" and the creation of the website finejody.com, which later evolved into a podcast. Despite extensive efforts, including FBI assistance, the case remains unsolved, with the initial lack of evidence and the sheer volume of unsubstantiated leads making definitive conclusions elusive.