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4:47 pm
QuoteMy name is Shane Philpott, and I am the pastor of Christian Fellowship Church in Mason City. On June 28, 2007 I received a phone call from an individual in Minnesota, Donald Milks, who claimed to have information on the death and disappearance of Jodi Huisentruit. As I was out of the office at that time, I returned his phone call that afternoon. I spoke in depth with him and his pastor for nine minutes. I typed detailed notes of our conversation. He had to leave for work, and therefore he called me back on his cell phone to complete our conversation. Following the call, I immediately informed the members of my staff for the sake of integrity. Because some of the information incriminated current MCPD officers, the informant was unwilling to meet and/or speak with local authorities. He came to me as a result of viewing our television program, “Faith In Action.” Being aware of the fact that information such as this must go through the proper channels, I called Officer Maria Ohl, who is also my sister-in-law, that evening or the next day to ask for her assistance and advice. When I spoke with Officer Ohl, she was on her “off-duty” days. However, she notified me that I must take the information to the MCPD first in order to comply with proper procedures and to preserve the integrity of the contact. The reason for my concern about the details of the information was that it was vaguely reminiscent of information told to me in the summer of 1999 by Mason City resident Gerald Best at the completion of a church service at our prior address of 825 South Taft in Mason City. Mr. Best had mentioned local officers possibly being involved in criminal activities. Mr. Best was found murdered later that year, and his homicide is yet unsolved to this day. I passed that information onto the MCPD in early 2000 as a result of his murder. The department, however, has no record of my contact with them.
In early July 2007, after the phone call from Donald Milks, I placed a call to the MCPD. I asked dispatch who I would speak with about the Jodi Huisentruit case, and I was transferred to Officer Frank Stearns. After speaking at length with Officer Frank Stearns, he then transferred me to Officer Ron Vande Weerd. I relayed to the both of them the account of my conversation with the informant. Both officers instructed me not to make contact with the informant at this time, but to wait till I hear back from the MCPD. At no time was an officer dispatched to speak with me. My information was not collected officially, nor was I issued an evidence receipt.
A month passed with no contact from the MCPD, so I again initiated contact with them in August 2007. I spoke with Officer Frank Stearns, who transferred me to Officer Dennis Bengtson, who told me the information wasn’t credible. I endeavored to acquire additional information from him, but he ended the call. This call lasted two minutes, and is documented on my phone bill. At no time was an officer dispatched to speak with me. My information was not collected officially, nor was I issued an evidence receipt.
In September 2009 myself and the church I minister at filed a defamation suit against the City of Mason City for what we thought were unrelated reasons but ultimately proved to be connected my complaints within the police department. On September 29, 2009, we requested the calls for service and contact logs from the MCPD and later discovered there is no record of my contacts with the police department in regard to the Huisentruit case.
On June 10, 2010, while deposing City records employees, Russ Echelbarger (Information Systems Coordinator) and Tammy Orr (Evidence Technician), we’re told there is no record of our contacts with MCPD regarding Huisentruit information. A number of MCPD internal systems were discussed, such as PaperClip, LETG, and Alias, as well as hard copy files kept by the police department. A second deposition of City employees Echelbarger and Orr later that fall produced the same results.
On July 27, 2010, at the deposition of Officer Dennis Bengston, he recalls the missing Huisentruit diary taken from the MCPD, but does not mention his contact from me. He also states there is no system for checking out files from the MCPD storage area.
Furthermore, at the deposition of former Chief Ellingson on August 3, 2010 in Des Moines, Iowa, he admits that he had possession of a copy of Jodi Huisentruit’s diary, and that his wife sent it anonymously to the local newspaper, the Globe Gazette, in June 2008. No charges were filed against Cheryl Ellingson. Mr. Ellingson stated in his deposition that what his wife sent to the newspaper was a photocopy of Jodi’s diary, and that she was not bound by the police department policies. He also stated that there is no process for officers checking out files.
On September 22, 2010, as a result of our litigation against the City of Mason City, Officer Maria Ohl is deposed by the City’s attorneys. During this deposition, Officer Ohl makes reference to the Huisentruit information that I contacted her about in 2007, which she accurately told me to forward to the MCPD. At that moment, Chief Lashbrook suddenly shuts down the deposition through his attorneys, and Officer Ohl is unable to complete her testimony. The day after Officer Ohl’s deposition, she came to our church offices requesting the information that I received in 2007 on Jodi Huisentruit, so that she could supply it once again to the MCPD. Officer Ohl told me that she had just completed a conversation with Chief Lashbrook and Officer Bengston, in which Chief Lashbrook approved for Officer Ohl to make contact with me to obtain this information. My understanding was that there was to be no contact between litigants outside of their attorneys. I declined to supply Officer Ohl with the information, as I had already spoken with Officers Stearns, Vande Weerd, and Bengston, and had previously been told the information had been looked into. As a result of Officers Ohl’s visit, I made contact with my attorney, Melissa Hasso. I requested that Mrs. Hasso make contact with the City’s attorneys and inform them that Chief Lashbrook and/or the MCPD cannot be contacting me aside from our attorneys. Mrs. Hasso then instructs me to turn my information over to the Department of Criminal Investigation. Officer Ohl returns to Chief Lashbrook without the information and the Chief immediately placed her on administrative leave.
I made contact the FBI in the fall of 2010 and was told that the Jodi Huisentruit case was currently being handled by the Department of Criminal Investigation (DCI) and that I was to contact DCI Special Agent Larry Hedlund. Mr. Hedlund told me he would have Special Agent Jim Thiel make contact with me. Mr. Thiel met with me at my offices for approximately 45 minutes on October 4, 2010 and collected from me the information from 2007 I had been given and subsequently turned over to the Mason City Police Department.
He left me with an evidence receipt, and stated that the best theory the MCPD could offer after all these years is that, “Jodi ran away.” He said the DCI was now handling the Huisentruit investigation. He also said there were delivered to the DCI cases of information about Jodi, much of which had never been followed up on. Mr. Thiel also said the MCPD has "absolutely no idea what happened to Jodi." He also informed me that the information that I supplied to Officer Stearns and Officer Vande Weerd was not in the Huisentruit information forwarded to DCI. Mr. Thiel also instructs me to not contact the informant.
On November 9, 2010, we deposed Officer Frank Stearns. During his deposition, attorney Melissa Hasso inquires with Officer Stearns about communications with me about criminal matters or criminal investigations in 2007. He replies in the negative that he had spoken with me or had obtained information from me.
I have attempted to take this information to all members of the City Council, and none will respond to me. I asked my councilperson, Jeff Marsters, to have this topic placed on the City Council Meeting Agenda this past summer, and it never was. At the suggestion of the Iowa Department of Justice and the Ombudsman’s Department, I have brought this information to the attention of Mayor Bookmeyer as well as City Adminisrator Brent Trout, and neither of them will respond to my complaints. I have also supplied this information to the Globe Gazette and KIMT, and neither of them will report on the matter.
I am putting this information out there in the hope that it will in some way assist someone with the right connections in the solving of the Jodi Huisentruit mystery, and I will be more than happy to answer whatever questions that may be posted on this forum. Thank you and God bless you.
4:38 pm
Excellent.
You mention the DCI has taken over the investigation. You mention special agents Larry Hedlund and Jim Thiel. Are they located in Des Moines?
Why is the MCPD still dabbling in it then?
Why did you file a defamation suit against the city? Why do you think they are connected?
5:20 pm
@McArthur
It was Special Agent Jim Thiele that told me DCI was now handling the investigation. The business card he gave me has a Mason City number on it. His supervisor is Larry Hedlund. Mr. Hedlund told me he was over Zone 3, Northeast Iowa. Mr. Hedlund's number begins with the 319 area code. Additionally, Agent Thiele had absolutely NOTHING good to say about how the MCPD had handled or was currently handling the Huisentruit case. He said that was why it was now being handled by DCI. He also told me to make no contact with anyone but him, and especially not to make contact with the DCI offices here in Mason City.
I do not know what the MCPD actions are on the case at this time. I can only relate the experiences I have had with them. I've noticed that Officer Frank Sternes comments to the media from time to time, but the day I called and spoke to him personally in 2007 he told me I needed to speak to Officer Ron Vande Weerd. I now see another officer has been placed over the case, Officer Terrence Prochaska.
The Des Moines contacts I have made have been to the Iowa Justice Department and also with Andy Teaf at the Iowa Ombudsman's Office for guidance. They told me this was a local City issue. The FBI told me this was a DCI issue, and the DCI told me this was a MCPD issue, and the MCPD won't retrieve the information from me or investigate it. As a result of all the red-tape, Andy Teaf told me my only recourse was the media. I have taken information to the Globe Gazette newspaper here, and I received an email from John Skipper who spoke with the general editor Jane Reynolds, and he stated in his email they didn't want to get in the middle of it.
We had no option but to file the defamation suit against the City as there were some officers within the MCPD that had targeted our church and myself which resulted in multiple IRS audits and other forms of harassment. We were exonerated by the IRS and multiple agencies, which resulted in a settlement from the City. During the course of the litigation, it became evident the police department engaged in these unconstitutional activities against us whenever we attempted to report to them information in regard to unsolved crimes in our community, most notably those of Jodi Huisentruit and Gerald Best (1999).
2:24 pm
I feel you using this site to plead your case is very inconsiderate to the memory of Jodi. It seems the evidence you have brought forward has been found not to be credible by all branches of law enforcement. Even the FBI wouldn’t give you an agents name that you could work directly with. Your writings show no concern for the disappearance of Jodi, instead it comes off as your personal mission against the MCPD. From what I understand you are a Pastor of a small church, is the time, resources, and energy on this being spent wisely. You have given the information you have to all you can, they have all recorded it and made conclusions of whether your info is pertinent or of use. Please keep this forum about Jodi.
4:08 pm
@guest ... You asked, "Does this help?" Yes, this does help. The search for Jodi is the search for truth. Truth is based upon facts, therefore facts must be shared. I have both Gary Peterson's and Jodi's sister's blessing on my efforts, and, even though I didn't know Jodi, I am grieved and bothered by the irresponsible actions taken by the proper authorities in regard to her case.
As I stated, the FBI referred me to the DCI, and the proper agent(s). DCI is operating off of what the MCPD is telling them, specifically, that the information has no merit. The problem, if you'll read closely, is that the MCPD has not in the past nor or they presently willing to collect and act upon the information. They have, in fact, denied ever receiving it. Why is this? Doesn't that bother you? DCI dropped the ball when they did not follow up on the informant in October 2010. Sadly, that informant passed away in April of this year. The informant spoke at length with his pastor in Minnesota, but neither DCI nor the MCPD has even tried contacting him. Doesn't this bother you? I'm sure it does.
Of course I have a personal mission, a personal mission against injustice. It's that simple. I'm sorry that you feel the way you do, but if after all these years this new activity in Jodi's case can bring it closer to being solved, isn't it worth it? I think we both would agree the answer is "Yes." God bless you!
8:37 pm
Hello Shane.
I read your writings on this subject prior to Maria Ohl's appearance before the civil service commission, I've read the subsequent stories and I just read what you wrote on this thread. Admittedly, I'm an outsider, but my conclusion, based on the information I've been able to gather from various sources, is that both Best and Milks were repeating rumors, rather than passing on first hand information. It sounds to me like these claims by the two men were investigated and deemed to be not credible by different law enforcement agencies, not just the MCPD.
I agree with "Does this help." Your real problem is with the MCPD. Jodi's case is ancillary to that conflict, a tool rather than a cause. The information you brought forward has been dealt with and that part of the case is over. I hope you continue to post, especially if new information is brought to your attention. But I don't think this is an appropriate venue to continue your public battle with the Mason City Police Department.
2:38 am
@Tomahawk
For the record, it was the City that settled with us. It’s just that simple. I do not know what “public battle” you are referring to; it just doesn’t exist. If I were interested in a public battle, I would deliver to all media everywhere the explicit details of all that came out during depositions. There is nothing preventing me from doing so, as there is no gag order in effect on the discovery process. The City wanted me to sign one, which I of course refused, and they still settled with me. That is how strong our case was. The straw that broke the City’s back was when the Judge ordered the release of officers’ personnel files, which resulted in an offer on my desk that very same day. I don’t know any simpler way to explain this. It is what it is. We prevailed.
Please allow me to reason with you for a moment in regard to why this issue with the MCPD is so important. For argument’s sake, let’s just assume that Don Milks simply was the deliverer of gossip or second-hand information that implicated police officers, but that what he had to say had absolutely no merit at all. Mr. Milks then contacts his pastor, and together they contact another pastor that Milks trusts, and this pastor in turn reports that information to officers within the police department. Would those officers have an obligation to collect and follow-up on that information? Of course, the answer is “yes.” Let’s say, then, that the officers do not collect and follow-up on that information. Does that make them look innocent or guilty? We both know that answer to that question. Then, making matters worse, the police department’s investigative files are opened three years later and there is no reference to the information. Then, to top it all off, when the officers are questioned about the missing information, they now deny ever speaking to anyone about it or even hearing about it. Does the fact that another agency properly followed up on the information at a much later date excuse the behavior of those offending officers? Absolutely not. Those officers still failed in their responsibilities. The ends do not justify the means.
Here then is the real issue: If this is how the top investigator and his subordinates assigned to the Jodi Huisentruit case handled this lead, how can we know for sure that [u]ANY[/u] of the leads they have received have been handled properly? We can’t. It’s the fruit of the poisoned vine. It doesn’t matter at this point whether the information from the informant was right or wrong; the system failed, and it failed big, because now the informant is deceased. How can we ever know that perhaps the [u]RIGHT[/u] lead was brought to the police department at some point, and they also ignored that lead?
I guarantee that if Jodi were your friend, or sister, or daughter, you would be livid at the agency that your tax dollars pay for to “serve and protect.” You would be grateful and appreciative that someone, anyone, out there was holding the proper authorities feet to the fire and demanding answers. It is baffling to me that so many people blindly give our public servants a “pass” when it comes to this issue. At least I’m trying to do something about it and am sure enough in my convictions to put my name on it. God bless you, and I believe with you that this case will be solved one day.
9:35 am
The message has been lost in the rhetric.
What again was the actual information about Jodi's case?
What did they say happened to Jodi???
10:48 am
You GO SHANE!!! It is David vs. Goliath........Goliath being the good ol boys club. It is very obvious that ppl don't want to hear the truth, or want the truth put out there.
The tactics of MCPD, and their boys club smack of Alexanria Mn. and L.E. here.
Jodi came from Alex, where she worked. I am experiencing the same situation that you, and your fellow truth seekers are experiencing, Albeit, not murder disappearance, but trying to expose local sheep in wolves clothing, who are reigning with a secret society control of this area.
After trying to bring forth truths in this community, regarding adultgang stalking, and research showed after call in reports, that the perps are in contact with/or inside job L.E., community control to squelch the corrupt things that are happening to truthful citizens here, everything in the book has been thrown against me.
The establishment will, and have used against you, many tactics to brush the truth under the rug about Jodi's disappearance. The whistle blowers who are seeking what is right, and what is justice are standing against a Goliah of corruption, coersion, and politics.
I pray for your strength, and strength together, all persons who are standing against injustice
for those who no longer can speak, those that have spoken, and those that are not heard.
Justiceforjodi......justiceforall.............
11:57 am
You Hit The Nail Right On with This Reply !!!
From Day One....Something Was Wrong with this Picture, behind stands " The Goliath of Corruption" !!
No Stone goes Unturned...Karma is surrounding them!!
It will happen sooner or later...it's Gods Law!
1:54 pm
Shane is not spreading gossip. He is giving facts about his experiences.
These experiences may have something to do with Jodi's disappearance.
To attempt to silence a person's rights just because it is involving
a law enforcement agency...which mind you, is doing a terrible job
of maintaining law and order in Mason City. The city is full of
drug money, prostitution and crime. That can't happen without law enforcement endorsement.
Keep giving us information Shane. We are interested here on this forum.
6:28 pm
How did this informant die? I also find it interesting to read in this forum that Jodi was about to report on the news of corruption within the MCPD. I think that sounds like motive.
6:50 pm
Curious, if you read shane's entry again the FBI was told by MCPD that they thought Jodi ran away, case closed. Either this makes no sense or they are actually looking for her in a strip club in Alaska or some Sultan in the Middle East.
I repeat what I've said before, this case was never meant to be solved, just let it go the way of history and faded memories and it will go away. Unfortunately for MCPD they didn't count on people who care and a web site such as this. We are a thorn in their side and brushing us off with the "active file" story hoping we will go away as well. I personally don't care what Jodi's secrets were no one's life should have no meaning just because it might cause problems other people would rather not deal with, whatever they may be.
7:53 pm
For the benefit of all reading here, who may have not previously seen these certified letters, I am supplying the link to the PDF documents that were posted by North Iowa Today. Here is the link:
Many people have tried to discredit my actions by suggesting I have intentionally created a public spectacle. However, Matt Marquardt from North Iowa Today recently texted to inform me that the manner in which he acquired the certified letters that I wrote to the Mason City authorities was that a member of the City Council leaked them to him. He would not tell me who this person was. Think about this for a second. I supplied our City leaders with sensitive information in regard to the Huisentruit case, and they leaked it to the media? This is exactly how the “establishment” works, and their actions are reprehensible. For the record, as of today I have yet to hear from even one of these representatives in regard to my complaint. Why is this the case?
In regard to Don Milks, I do not know what happened to him. I spoke to his pastor after learning of Mr. Milks’ death, and he said the death came as a surprise. We spoke with Milks’ associate pastor, and he told us they were told Mr. Milks committed suicide. I also spoke to Mr. Milks’ brother, and he said the death came as a surprise, also. He was not close to his brother. All three men stated they had never been contacted by any member of law enforcement.
When Don Milks spoke with me in June 2007 from his pastor’s office, Mr. Milks said if he were ever contacted by law enforcement, he would deny knowing anything. Mr. Milks’ pastor told me this summer that Don Milks was terrified of law enforcement. The pastor was fascinated that he had never been contacted by any member of law enforcement, especially DCI, since they had been given his contact information.
Something is clearly wrong with everything connected to this case. On Tuesday or Wednesday I intend to post the recent email communications I have had with the Globe Gazette newspaper. In September, I personally handed reporters at the Globe Gazette binders containing much of this information, as well as excerpts from the depositions of MCPD officers and employees that cast a very bad light on their investigative failures. You will be shocked at the reasons given by the Globe Gazette as why they are not interested in this story.
So, let me get this straight. The Globe Gazette will print documents leaked to the media, but they ignore the backstory of those very same documents? Could this have anything to do with the fact that Cheryl Ellingson, the wife of the former Chief of Police, Dave Ellingson, was a long-time employee of the Globe Gazette? This is the same Cheryl Ellingson that sent the copy of Jodi's diary to the Globe Gazette. When my attorneys deposed Dave Ellingson in Des Moines in 2010, they asked him about his wife's actions. Do you know what he said? He said his wife wasn't bound by "police department polices." Isn't that interesting? How many other people does this "silent benefit" apply to?
On a sad side note, I also hand delivered this same information to the members of the press at KIMT, where Jodi worked, and to this day I have yet to hear from anyone at KIMT.
6:28 am
Shane,
Was Ellingson the chief of police at the time Jodi disappeared?
This is important...if so, was he a long time resident of Mason City?
For instance, did he attend Mason City high school?
Shane, what church did Jodi Huisentruit belong to? Did you know her pastor?
9:40 am
If ALL posting here, would google POLICE BLUE CODE OF SILENCE, you will see the privileges, and commonalities throughout law enforcement, when the microscope is placed upon the departments itself, regarding cover-ups, corruption, cohersion.
GOOD OL BOYS CLUB......Officer Ohl was doing the RIGHT thing......but the system in place with law enforcement's ability to not take reports, ignore reports, evidence, missing evidence, etc., is COVERED UP, by a THICK BLUE LINE.
Law Enforcement when in the spotlight, will use tactics mentioned above, as well as the "mentally ill" stigma, to obscure what has really happened.
Law enforcement in this country, has gone amuck, internal power struggles, self advancement thru corruption, and cover-ups to protect the hierarchy societal ppl who control their paychecks, retirement benefits,and high power ppl with big bucks in communities.
Do a search on POLICE BLUE CODE OF SILENCE..........
JusticeforJodi.........Justiceforall...........
12:56 am
McArthur,
I found this article at the Globe Gazette site:
https://globegazette.com/news/local/ask-us/article_1679f0b8-e8c4-11e0-a430-001cc4c002e0.html
From the Q & A section of the article:
Q: Could you tell me who was police chief at the time of Jodi Huisentruit's disappearance? What happened to him and where did he go?
A: According to Globe Gazette files, Jack E. Schlieper was Mason City police chief from December 1994 to January 1997, so he was chief in 1995 when Huisentruit went missing.
Schlieper resigned as Mason City chief amid controversy over his leadership style. A few months later he was named police chief in Wichita Falls, Texas, a position from which he was later fired.
He died of pancreatic cancer in DeKalb, Ill., on April 22, 2004. He was a law enforcement instructor at Kishwaukee College in Malta, Ill., at the time of his death.
Interestingly enough, the very next question in the article is about Jodi Huisentruit's diary. This article states that Cheryl Ellingson, the wife of Former Chief of Police Dave Ellingson, was an employee of the Globe Gazette for more than 20 years.
I do not know how long Dave Ellingson was a resident of Mason City, nor do I know if he attended high school here.
I do not know what church Jodi attended.
12:57 pm
Sadly, I hope this is not is going the way the threads did on NorthIowaToday, and becoming miss focused.
If someone does have the smoking gun, such as “I would deliver to all media everywhere the explicit details of all that came out during depositions” along with other comments I have read on other threads, then just do it. Close the case for us.
For anyone to openly accuse people of being involved without giving one piece of verifiable and accurate (motive, witness, etc.) information directly connecting them to her dissapearance does nothing for the case. By looking at what has been provided to the media, all that has been given is fragmented, hearsay, or bits of info that could lead the uneducated to point fingers. This is unfair to both those being accused and those wanting justice for Jodi the same.
To do this we must seperate personal from fact, personal clouds up the waters. Proof = fact, fact = justice, please we all want closure on this so bring the facts. Nothing more or nothing less.
2:50 pm
If you know of illegal drug activity in your neighborhood contact this agency by phone, email, or letter for a response to the problem:
District of Northern Iowa Website or
On this page, you can view the contact information for the office by telephone, by postal mail, or you can contact the Public Information Officer or the webmaster.
BY TELEPHONE
Cedar Rapids Main Phone: (319) 363-6333
Cedar Rapids Fax Line: (319) 363-1990
Cedar Rapids TTY Line: (319) 286-9258
Sioux City Main Phone: (712) 255-6011
Sioux City Fax Line: (712) 252-2034
Sioux City TTY Line: (712) 258-4761
BY POSTAL MAIL
Correspondence to the Northern District of Iowa, including the U.S. Attorney, may be sent to:
In Cedar Rapids:
U.S. Attorney's Office
Hach Building, Suite 400
401 1st Street S.E.
Cedar Rapids, IA 52401
In Sioux City:
U.S. Attorney's Office
Terra Building, Suite 670
600 4th Street
Sioux City, IA 51101
CONTACT THE PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER
Contact Pete Deegan, Public Information Officer, at (319) 363-6333 for all general press inquiries.
The only way to get help is to keep calling and emailing complaints to them. I have seen them respond in other counties in Iowa.
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