An Anoka Minnesota woman has admitted lying to police when she said she saw missing KIMT anchorwoman Jodi Huisentruit killed by six men. Cynthia Sweeney pleaded guilty in a Cerro Gordo County courtroom Monday morning to a charge of making a false report to a public safety entity, while another count of malicious prosecution was dropped as part of a plea agreement with prosecutors.
Sweeney traveled to Iowa in December of last year and told Mason City police that she saw six men kill Huisentruit in 1995 when she was 13-years-old. Sweeney days later recanted her story after police weren’t able to verify her claims.
Sweeney told Judge Carolyn Grupp during the plea hearing that she lied to investigators. The judge asked her if she knew it was a false report, and Sweeney said "yes your honor." As part of the plea agreement, prosecutors have recommended that Sweeney serve 45 days in jail and pay a $315 fine. Sweeney could have faced a year in prison on each of the charges. Sweeney will be sentenced on November 28th.