A gruesome crime has shocked the community as a missing woman’s boyfriend has been accused of dismembering her. Isadora Wengel, 25, was last seen on January 3, leaving a Walmart near her home in North Dakota. Her boyfriend, Joshua Alexander Hite, 21, was arrested on February 10 in connection with her disappearance.
Authorities believe that Wengel was brutally murdered by Hite, who allegedly took her phone and sent messages to her family to make them believe she was still alive. Despite his claims that she had likely committed suicide, disturbing evidence was found that suggested otherwise.
Hite had made troubling Google searches after Wengel was last seen, including searches for “junk removal near me,” “how to register for a legal alias,” and for a reciprocating saw. Police discovered blood-spattered plastic sheets, towels with clumps of hair dried in blood, and a saw blade with material stuck in its teeth in a dumpster outside his apartment.
Further investigation revealed that the debris found in the dumpster matched Wengel’s DNA, confirming that it was human remains. Receipts showed that Hite had purchased tools such as a reciprocating saw, clear plastic sheeting, trash bags, and duct tape, which were all delivered by DoorDash the morning after Wengel was last seen.
Hite was charged with murder, tampering with physical evidence, and providing false information. Police are still searching for Wengel’s body, which they believe may be in one of two giant totes that Hite had also delivered. The community is rallying together to find closure and bring justice to Wengel’s family.
If convicted, Hite could face life imprisonment without parole. The police chief emphasized the urgency of finding Wengel’s body to bring closure to her loved ones. The search continues, with officers working tirelessly to search a landfill in hopes of locating her remains in the midst of a mid-winter thaw.
