Fargo boyfriend charged in heinous slaying of Isadora Wengel; saw receipt found

Joshua Alexander Hite, 21, of Fargo, was arrested Feb. 10 outside his south Fargo apartment and booked on murder and tampering-with-evidence charges after investigators developed probable cause in the disappearance of his girlfriend, Isadora Wengel. Police say they recovered a Home Depot receipt showing a Milwaukee Sawzall reciprocating saw, a carbide saw blade, clear plastic sheeting, extra-large trash bags and black duct tape; authorities have not confirmed that any recovered blade tested positive for Wengel’s DNA.

Fargo Police Chief Dave Zibolski told reporters at a Feb. 11 press conference, "We do not believe Isadora is alive," and added, "What we believe based on the investigation thus far is that Isadora Wengel was heinously murdered." Zibolski warned investigators suspect "there may be some dismemberment involved" and described the crime as "heinous and diabolical" as detectives completed follow-up searches.

Wengel, identified in police releases as Isadora (Ida) Wengel, was last seen Dec. 31, 2025, by family members and was reported missing to West Fargo police on Jan. 7, 2026. Reporting on the case notes she was staying at Hite’s apartment in south Fargo and would have turned 25 on Jan. 8, a detail that appears in some local accounts.

Fargo investigators executed a search warrant Jan. 9 at the 4400 block of Calico Drive South, processed evidence that day and detained one person who was later released for lack of probable cause. Over the following weeks detectives served additional warrants in Fargo and in Otter Tail County, Minnesota, and conducted an intensive 10-day landfill search with 12-hour shifts. Officers are asking the public to search rural properties and roadways for a black, 27-gallon tote believed to be connected to disposal of remains and to call the Fargo tip line at 701-451-7660 with any information.

Fox2Detroit’s reporting on investigative materials indicates the Home Depot receipt was dated the same day as a DoorDash delivery to Hite’s apartment, with the delivery time reported at roughly 10:30 a.m. Police have described two identical black totes as having been delivered to the apartment but say only one was recovered during the Jan. 9 search, prompting the public appeal for the missing tote.

Court documents and local reporting describe injuries observed and photographed on Hite at the time of arrest, including cuts to his hands, wrists, knees and thighs and bruising on his lower back. Valleynewslive reports that court filings also include a charge of providing false information to law enforcement in addition to murder and tampering with physical evidence. Hite is being held at the Cass County Jail.

Investigators emphasized that the case shifted from missing-person to homicide after weeks of evidence processing and warrant work. Police cautioned that some forensic assertions cited in media accounts remain unverified publicly; they continue to urge anyone in Fargo, Otter Tail County and surrounding areas who finds a black 27-gallon tote or other information related to Isadora Wengel’s disappearance to contact Fargo Police at 701-451-7660 as the probe remains active.