Ep 1. Jodi Huisentruit

On the first episode of Up and Vanished season 2, the team dives into the mysterious case of Jodi Huisentruit, a beloved news anchor who vanished without a trace in 1995. Jodi was headed to work early one morning and never arrived at the studio, prompting a massive investigation that yielded few leads and no answers. Over two decades later, the Up and Vanished team revisits the case to uncover new information and unravel the baffling disappearance of a young woman on the brink of success.

As Payne Lindsey and his team begin to explore the case, they are struck by the lack of evidence and the suspicious circumstances surrounding Jodi's last known movements. Despite extensive searches and interviews, there is no clear indication of what happened to Jodi or who might be responsible--making her case a true enigma. Nevertheless, the Up and Vanished crew is determined to shed light on this dark chapter in Iowa's history and bring some measure of closure to Jodi's family and friends.

Throughout the episode, listeners hear from a range of experts and insiders who knew Jodi or have been involved in the investigation. These include former law enforcement officials, friends and colleagues of Jodi, and investigators who have followed the case for years. Each provides a unique perspective on Jodi's personality, her work as a journalist, and the possible motives and suspects behind her disappearance. As the team pieces together these accounts, they begin to uncover a web of secrets and conflicts that may have led to Jodi's fate.

Beyond the human elements of the story, the episode also delves into the forensic and technological aspects of the investigation. The team examines the physical evidence gathered at the scene of Jodi's disappearance, as well as the potential leads generated by CCTV footage and other modern tools. In doing so, they highlight the challenges of investigating a case that occurred before the era of cell phones and social media--and the opportunities for using new tools to overcome those limitations.

Despite the decades that have passed since Jodi vanished, the Up and Vanished team manages to capture the urgency and importance of her case. They convey the sense of loss and uncertainty still felt by Jodi's loved ones, as well as the determination to find answers that has propelled her case forward for so many years. By the end of the episode, listeners are left with a haunting sense of the mystery still surrounding Jodi's disappearance--and a renewed appreciation for the efforts to unlock that mystery and seek justice.