ND Fargo Police Say Search for Isadora Wengel involves ‘large concern of foul play’, reported missing 7 Jan 2026 *arrest*

[Serononin]

Isadora Wengel case: Chief public defender breaks down no-body murder prosecutions

Isadora Wengel has been missing since January, and Fargo police say she was murdered by her boyfriend, Joshua Hite.

www.valleynewslive.com

Without a body, prosecutors rely on circumstantial evidence—facts that point to a conclusion without directly proving it. Think of it like waking up to a foot of snow. You didn’t see it fall, but you know it happened.

“You’ve got to map out your evidence,” Mertz said. “‘How am I going to convince this jury that this defendant caused the death of this person who is dead?’”

From what we've heard so far, I don't think they're going to have much trouble convincing a jury in this case

 

[truthfinder2019]

Nearly two months after Isadora Wengel was first reported missing, the man charged with her murder has an official trial date set.

Joshua Hite is scheduled to stand trial May 13, 2026, as investigators continue searching for Wengel’s body and a key piece of evidence.

Trial date set for man charged in Isadora Wengel murder case

Joshua Hite is scheduled to stand trial May 13, 2026, as investigators continue searching for Wengel’s body and a key piece of evidence.

www.valleynewslive.com

Family set up an online tribute page

Isadora “Izzy” Leigh Wengel | 2001 - 2026 | Online-Tribute.com

Izzy always had a big personality, precocious as a child and charismatic as an adult. She was a gymnast for 8 years, making her high school JV team as an all around competitor at 11. A diagnosis of Ju…

www.online-tribute.com

Search continues

https://kfgo.com/2026/02/23/search-for-isadora-wengel-continues-in-otter-tail-county/

 

[Serononin]

Family set up an online tribute page

Isadora “Izzy” Leigh Wengel | 2001 - 2026 | Online-Tribute.com

Izzy always had a big personality, precocious as a child and charismatic as an adult. She was a gymnast for 8 years, making her high school JV team as an all around competitor at 11. A diagnosis of Ju…

www.online-tribute.com

Search continues

https://kfgo.com/2026/02/23/search-for-isadora-wengel-continues-in-otter-tail-county/

What a wonderful person she was, I can't imagine how her family must be feeling right now

 

[Katydp]

what a beautiful memorial page for such a talented and unique young woman. It brought tears to my eyes. I live close by Fargo and her case is on the news daily. This could be anyone's daughter, cousin, friend, grandchild, etc. I am so very sad that she was robbed of her precious life and her family robbed of their sweet Izzy.

 

[Beausoir]

I just feel sick over this murder. Such a sweet girl. If I recall, she sent her last text to her mother and it was a picture of a ceiling? Gave me complete chills. Am I correct on that?

 

[tatertot]

That was a beautiful tribute to her and I feel so bad for what her family is going through. The saddest part is this could have been settled with a phone call. If he wanted out of the relationship and she wasn't willing to leave his house (and I'm not implying she refused to leave) he could have called LE and it could have been settled.

I also feel bad for the Doordasher. They may have raised an eyebrow at the order, but our minds don't usually turn to the darkest explanation for something. JH might have also committed the murder before ordering the supplies from the hardware store. I just think that would be really traumatic to realize what exactly they'd delivered and I hope they just left it on his porch and didn't have to see him face-to-face.

 

[Muddy K]

I just feel sick over this murder. Such a sweet girl. If I recall, she sent her last text to her mother and it was a picture of a ceiling? Gave me complete chills. Am I correct on that?

Same here, a completely senseless, tragic murder.

Re: your question about the last text, click this link, Digital Evidence, and scroll down about four paragraphs to read about the texts from Isadora's phone. There's clearly suspicion on the part of LE that Hite sent those texts himself, using her phone, after killing Isadora.