A noon news conference is scheduled in Mason City following yesterday’s discovery of human remains on the outskirts of the northern Iowa community. The reported skeleton and bits of clothing were found by a farm worker less than two miles from the apartment from which local TV reporter Jodi Huisentruit was believed abducted in 1995. Cerro Gordo County Sheriff’s Chief Deputy David Hepperlly says the Huisentruit case has been on the minds of all north-central Iowa law officers for nine years. He says it’s a case that’s been outstanding and is high profile, and he says it’s disappointing that it has gone unsolved.There are nine cases of north-central Iowans who are currently listed by the Iowa Missing Persons’ Clearinghouse as missing. Hepperly was asked by reporters if his “heart takes a leap” every time there is a discovery of human remains in the area. He says what he tries to do is to go into every call and gather the evidence and try not to get your emotions involved.Authorities completed the digging portion of the investigation last night but are still saying little about what evidence has been collected. A report from the person who discovered the remains says they definitely were of a human skeleton with some articles of clothing including a belt buckle, a zipper and what appeared to be a sweater accompanying the remains.
