Authorities in Fargo, North Dakota last week, announced they had arrested 21-year-old Joshua Alexander Hite, in connection with the murder of his girlfriend who disappeared in January

Isadora Wengel, 25, who was staying over at boyfriend’s apt. for the New Year, was last seen at a Walmart in Fargo on January 3, with her family members reporting her missing four days later

She has not been seen since, despite the massive search effort, and presumed dead

Hite and Wengel had been dating since August, and he admitted she had been staying with him since New Year’s Day, but they argued and he took her home

However, he still had her phone and police recovered her DNA from cutting equipment and cleaning agents in his apartment

Investigators discovered that he had ordered cutting, cleaning and disposal items, along with incriminating goggle searches

‘We do not believe that Isadora is not alive, … [she] was heinously murdered,’ Fargo Police said, ‘We believe this to be a heinous and diabolical crime, ….. may be some dismemberment [was] involved’

Hite is being held for murder, tampering with physical evidence and providing false information, with bond set at $5 million

Isadora Wengel, [photo], 25, was last seen at a Walmart in Fargo, ND, on January 3. Police working on circumstantial evidence believe she was ‘heinously murdered’ by her boyfriend

A North Dakota woman who mysteriously disappeared last month is now feared to have been ‘heinously murdered’ and dismembered by her boyfriend, cops said.
Isadora Wengel, 25, was last seen at a Walmart in Fargo on January 3. After her family filed a missing person’s report with Fargo police four days later, sparking a massive search effort across the metropolitan region, with officers at one point working 12-hour shifts for 10 days straight as they searched a landfill.
But last week, authorities announced they had arrested Wengel’s boyfriend, 21-year-old Joshua Alexander Hite, in connection with her murder.
‘We do not believe that Isadora is alive,’ Fargo Police Chief David Zibolski said at a news conference.
‘We believe that Isadora was heinously murdered.
According to Chief Zibolski, police ‘have probable cause to believe that Josh Hite, her boyfriend, is the person who murdered and tampered with evidence related to the disposal of her body.
‘We believe this to be a heinous and diabolical crime, and we believe there may be some dismemberment involved,’ Zibolski said as he urged residents between Fargo and Otter Tail County, Minnesota to remain on the lookout for Wengel’s remains.

Joshua Alexander Hite, [photo] 21, accused of killing and dismembering Wengel, He was arrested for the murder, tampering with physical evidence and providing false information. He is being held on $5 million bond

‘Based on the fact that we know the disposal of her body occurred in extremely cold weather with significant snow on the ground,’ the police chief said, ‘we now found ourselves in the midst of a mid-winter thaw, which may reveal her whereabouts,’ adding, ‘We’re committed to justice for the family and accountability for the perpetrator.’
Hite and Wengel had been dating since August, and he told authorities she had been staying with him since New Year’s Day, according to court documents.
He claimed he and Wengel had an argument on January 4, because he wanted to end their relationship. Hite claims he took Wengel back to her home the day after their row.
In his police interview he also told investigators that Wengel left her cellphone in his car, and he went back to her home later that day to return it, but nobody answered the door so he left the phone on Wengel’s deck.

Isadora Wengel was last seen [image], at a Walmart in Fargo, North Dakota on January 3. Four days later, her family filed a missing persons report. She remains missing, believed dead

Investigators described Hite in the court documents as ’emotionless’ and ‘not forthcoming.’
They also detailed how phone data recovered from Wengel’s phone showed some unusual Snapchat activity on January 4, with photos of ceilings and walls inside Hite’s apartment sent to her mother and another contact.
Family members later told investigators the photos were ‘odd and not common photographs they would receive from Wengel.’
Executing a search of Hite’s apartment, investigators seized plastic sheeting, a bathroom mat, bloody gauze and saw blade all containing Wengel’s DNA. Court documents reveal investigators found a saw blade containing Wengel’s DNA, along with biological evidence.
Detectives also recovered a blue latex glove that investigators said contained ‘a mixed DNA profile with majority matching Wengel and a partial sample matching Hite.’

‘We do not believe that Isadora is alive,’ Fargo Police Chief David Zibolski has said. ‘We believe that Isadora was heinously murdered.’ Zibolski also believes that her body may have been dismembered

Chief Zibolski urged residents between the Fargo metropolitan area and Otter Tail County, Minnesota to remain on the lookout for HDX 27-gallon tough storage tote, similar to the image, in which police believe Hite may have disposed of Wengel’s body

As the investigation continued, officers also allegedly discovered Hite made some suspicious Google searches on January 4 including: ‘home depot Sawzall,’ ‘junk removal near me,’ ‘Dumpster’ and ‘how to register for a legal alias.’
That same day, police said, Hite also ordered a reciprocating saw, plastic sheeting, trash bags and duct tape through DoorDash.
By the time of his arrest, investigators also noticed and photographed recent injuries on Hite’s body – including cuts to his hands, wrists, knees, thighs and bruising on his lower back.
Zibolski confirmed Hite is the only person charged in the case. Now facing charges of murder, tampering with physical evidence and providing false information, Hite remains in custody with his bail bond set at $5 million.

An online fundraiser to help Isadora Wengel’s mother, Heather Fones seen left with her daughter Isadora, and her older sister, Callista, has raised over $14,200

Chief Zibolski said his quest for justice is not complete, as the search for Wengel’s remains continues. 
He told the public last week to be on the lookout for an HDX 27-gallon tough storage tote, where he believes Hite may have disposed of Wengel’s body.
‘We know that Mr. Hite had received a specific type of black tote,’ the police chief said. ‘There were actually two of those delivered to his apartment.’
One of the totes was recovered in January, but the other is still missing.
In the meantime an online fundraiser to help Wengel’s mother, Heather, and sister, Callista, has earned over $14,200