Dec 13, 2006 3:31 pm US/Central Warrants Issued For False Huisentruit Tipster (WCCO) Mason City, Iowa Mason City Police investigators have obtained warrants to arrest the Anoka, Minn. woman who claimed she witnessed the slaying of a missing Mason City television anchor. According to the warrants, Cindy Sweeney, 25, is expected to be arrested for two serious misdemeanor offenses: false report to a public safety entity and malicious prosecution. Earlier this month, Sweeney told several news media outlets that she was an eyewitness to the murder of a missing TV anchorwoman. The Mason City Globe Gazette reported it received an e-mail from Sweeney that said, "I am an eyewitness to what happened 11 years ago. I've recently gone to the police with the information, but I still can’t get over what took place. ... Until I can talk to and trust you, the only thing I will tell you is there was more than one person involved." Jodi Huisentruit vanished on her way to work at KIMT-TV in Mason City, Iowa early in the morning of June 27, 1995. Sweeney later recanted key pieces of her story following an interview with a Mason City detective and an investigator from the Iowa Division of Criminal investigation, which determined Sweeney was intentionally providing false information about the Huisentruit case. A statement from the Mason City Police Department said, "After a thorough investigation, none of the information provided by the witness could be substantiated. Investigators re-interviewed the witness this afternoon who subsequently recanted key elements of the information previously provided." There were jurisdictional questions about whether Sweeney would be arrested or charged in Minnesota, where she is from, or Iowa, where "she caused damage," according to Mason City Police Lieutenant Ron Vande Weerd. If charged and convicted of the two counts of serious misdemeanor, Sweeney could face one year and jail and a $1,500 fine for each. Mason City Police are still urging anyone with any information in the case to contact them at (641) 421-3636. http://wcco.com/topstories/local_story_347163437.html

Investigation of Missing Anchor Continues, 12 Years Later Chris Hrapsky KTTC TV MASON CITY, IOWA -- It's a cold case that's shocked the public and puzzled police for years. Today marks the 12Th anniversary of Jodi Huisentruit's disappearance. After 12 long years working on this case, there have been zero arrests made. But investigators say that cases can be solved at any time, and that's what they intend to do. Mason City police lieutenant Ron Vande Weerd has been working the Huisentruit case for 11 years. 11 years with no substantial leads. "There's a couple of times where we think maybe we got something here, but your get up only to find out it doesn't pan out. It gets frustrating", says Vande Weerd. Twelve years ago today, 27-year-old KIMT morning news anchor Jodi Huisentruit disappeared after telling a friend she was on her way to work. Vande Weerd says he believes the police department has given its best to this case over the years. "We brought in the DCI, the FBI, I know, I'm very confident this was thoroughly investigated, the evidence just wasn't there to make an arrest", says Vande Weerd. Many things have changed over the last 12 years. Two investigators have retired, there have been new DCI agents, and even three Mason City police chiefs, but Vande Weerd says the one constant is the drive to put the Huisentruit family at peace. Vande Weerd says, "the BTK killer he came forward after about 12 years. I'm hoping something will pop, that piece of the puzzle will fall in and we'll get this thing resolved. We're not going to give up on this and we never will." The last lead the department received was from 25-year-old Cynthia Sweeney. But police say her reports didn't match up, and eventually charged her with two misdemeanors for making a false report. Sweeney is scheduled to stand trial in August. http://www.kttc.com/News/index.php?ID=16319