A startling development has emerged in one of Iowa's most haunting cold cases, as investigators identify a new person of interest in the 1995 disappearance of beloved news anchor Jodi Huisentruit.
According to Daily Mail, police are now examining Brad Millerbernd, the ex-husband of Huisentruit's childhood best friend, following compelling information that has surfaced in a new documentary series.
The investigation has gained renewed momentum after Patty Niemeyer, Millerbernd's former wife, came forward with disturbing recollections about his unusual fixation with Huisentruit before her disappearance.
Niemeyer first approached the Mason City Police Department in 2017 after harboring growing suspicions about her ex-husband's possible involvement in Huisentruit's disappearance. Her concerns were reignited after watching an ABC 20/20 special on the case three years ago.
The timing of key events has drawn investigators' attention, as Millerbernd and Niemeyer's divorce was finalized just four days before Huisentruit vanished on June 27, 1995. This coincided with witness reports of a suspicious man lurking near Huisentruit's apartment.
Records show that Millerbernd was living approximately three hours away in Winstead, Minnesota, at the time and frequently traveled to Mason City for work in a white Ford Econoline van – a detail that aligns with witness accounts from the night of the disappearance.
Multiple witnesses reported seeing a mysterious white van parked outside Huisentruit's apartment complex moments before her abduction. Detective Terrance Prochaska revealed that composite sketches from 1995 showed a suspicious bald man with facial hair watching Huisentruit's residence.
When shown these decades-old sketches, Niemeyer immediately identified the subject as bearing a striking resemblance to Millerbernd, declaring "That is him to a T." This visual connection has added weight to investigators' interest in pursuing this new lead.
Police records indicate that just weeks before her disappearance, Huisentruit had informed Niemeyer that Millerbernd had attempted to contact her, contradicting his claim that their last interaction was in fall 1994.
In October 2024, Detective Prochaska conducted an unannounced interview with Millerbernd at his Wisconsin home, describing his demeanor as "very cooperative" but noticeably "shaken" during questioning.
The detective noted several concerning physical reactions when discussing specific evidence, including uncontrollable mouth twitching and unusual drinking behavior. Millerbernd's failure to ask any questions about the case struck Prochaska as particularly odd given his decades of investigative experience.
Millerbernd has agreed to provide DNA samples and undergo polygraph testing, though results have not been disclosed. He maintains his innocence and has denied any wrongdoing in connection with Huisentruit's disappearance.
The case has taken an emotional toll on Huisentruit's family, who have waited nearly three decades for answers about her disappearance. Her niece, Kristen Nathe, expressed both weariness and hope as investigators pursue this new lead.
While the Mason City Police Department currently lacks DNA evidence, they plan to test previously unexamined items using advanced forensic techniques. Chief Jeff Brinkley emphasized the importance of timing in evidence analysis to preserve potential DNA samples.
The investigation remains active as authorities work to bring closure to one of Iowa's most notorious cold cases, with Huisentruit's family continuing their quest for answers about what happened to their beloved sister and aunt on that fateful June morning in 1995.
