Police Say Tools Were Ordered After Alleged Murder

A 21-year-old North Dakota man has been charged with murder after police say he killed his girlfriend, 25-year-old Isadora Wengel, dismembered her body, and then used her phone to mislead her family.

Wengel was last seen by loved ones on Dec. 31, 2025, and was reported missing on Jan. 7, 2026, according to CBS News Minnesota. Fargo police said their investigation quickly centered on her boyfriend, Joshua Hite.

On Feb. 10, 2026, Hite was arrested and charged with murder and tampering with evidence.

Allegations of a Calculated Cover-Up

According to investigators cited by CBS News Minnesota and Fox News, Hite allegedly ordered tools through DoorDash after Wengel’s death. Authorities believe those tools were used to dismember her body.

Police allege Hite then transported evidence across state lines into Minnesota in an effort to conceal the crime.

Investigators also said Hite sent text messages from Wengel’s phone after she was already dead, attempting to create the impression that she was still alive. Those messages were reportedly sent to both family members and others close to her.

Authorities have not released the full contents of those communications, but described them as part of a deliberate effort to mislead loved ones and law enforcement.

A Family Searching for Answers

Wengel’s disappearance prompted growing concern among relatives when they stopped hearing from her in early January.

Family members reported her missing after days passed without contact, something they described as unusual. What began as a missing persons case quickly evolved into a homicide investigation.

“This is a crime that’s hard to imagine someone could commit,” Fargo’s police chief said, according to CBS News Minnesota.

Her remains have not been fully recovered. Authorities said search efforts have extended into Minnesota as investigators continue working to locate additional evidence.

Evidence and Investigation

Police have not publicly detailed how Wengel was killed. They have also not released a suspected motive.

Court documents cited in media reports indicate investigators gathered digital and physical evidence linking Hite to the alleged crime and subsequent concealment efforts.

The allegation that tools were ordered through a delivery service after her death has become one of the most disturbing aspects of the case. Authorities have not indicated whether anyone else is suspected of involvement.

Hite is currently facing charges of murder and evidence tampering. Under U.S. law, he is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.

Community Impact and Ongoing Search

The case has shaken both Fargo and nearby Minnesota communities, where search teams have been working in winter conditions to recover Wengel’s remains.

Police have not provided a timeline for when the search might conclude, and they have not announced whether additional charges could be filed.

For Wengel’s family, the focus remains on finding her and bringing her home.

What began as unanswered messages on New Year’s Eve has become a case spanning state lines, involving allegations of deception, concealment, and a violent death that investigators say is difficult to comprehend.

As the legal process moves forward, authorities continue to search wooded areas in Minnesota, hoping to recover what remains of a young woman whose life ended under circumstances that have stunned her community.

References: Missing North Dakota Woman Isadora Wengel: Boyfriend Charged With Murder | Boyfriend of Woman Missing for Weeks Accused of Dismembering Her, Sending Disturbing Messages From Her Phone