FARGO, N.D. (TCN) — New details have been released in the case of 25-year-old Isadora Wengel, a missing woman whose boyfriend was charged in connection with her death.
Joshua Alexander Hite, 21, was charged with murder and evidence tampering on Feb. 10. Police said at the time they believe he dismembered Wengel’s body and possibly disposed of it during a midwinter freeze in a plastic tote bag.
KTVU reports video and forensic evidence suggest Hite allegedly attempted to conceal Wengel’s death while also allegedly lying to authorities and family members.
According to Valley News Live, digital forensics revealed Hite allegedly accessed Wengel’s cellphone on Jan. 4 and 5 and took pictures of the ceiling and walls in her apartment and sent them to her mother and another contact. Court documents obtained by the outlet state the people who received the photos found them odd and unlike photos she would typically send them.
Valley News Live reports digital forensics also found Hite had searched for “home depot Sawzall,” “door dash,” “junk removal near me,” “Dumpster,” and “how to register for a legal alias” on Jan. 4.
Trash bags full of bloody plastic sheeting, Wengel’s Halloween costume, a latex glove, a bathroom mat, medical gauze, and towels were found in an overflowing dumpster at his residence that had not been emptied since December 2025, per KTVU.
Also found in the dumpster was a receipt from Home Depot for a Milwaukee Sawzall reciprocating saw, clear plastic sheeting, extra-large trash bags, black duct tape, and a carbide saw blade, Valley News reports. These items had reportedly been delivered by DoorDash on Jan. 4.
Wengel’s body still has not been found and CBS News reports the Fargo Police Department has asked the public for help in locating a black storage box with a red lid. Authorities believe the body may have been disposed of across state lines. Police Chief David Zibolski said, “In order to bring closure and justice to the family, we need to recover Isadora’s body.”
CBS News reports that Wengel’s obituary described her as “witty, silly, sarcastic, insightful, and incredibly empathetic.”
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