Missing Woman’s Boyfriend Charged with Murder
A boyfriend is facing serious charges after body parts were discovered near a reciprocating saw and plastic sheeting that were delivered through DoorDash, according to authorities.
Joshua Alexander Hite, age 21, was taken into custody on February 10, over a month after his girlfriend, 25-year-old Isadora Wenger, was last seen leaving a Walmart near her North Dakota home on January 3.
Fargo Police Chief David Ziborski mentioned the grim possibility that “Ms. Isadora is not alive,” as they continued their search for her remains.
Officials believe that Isadora was brutally murdered, and they suspect that some form of mutilation occurred. This situation is, without a doubt, deeply disturbing.
Cass County Assistant State’s Attorney Derek Steiner pointed out that Hite likely killed Wenger before manipulating her family into thinking she was still alive by sending messages from her phone.
Hite appeared “unemotional” when questioned by law enforcement on January 7, the same day Wenger was reported missing. He confessed that they had experienced a breakup.
Steiner suggested that Hite even led the investigation to believe Isadora might have taken her own life, remarking that he directed search queries on her phone that misled both officers and family members.
However, police uncovered concerning searches on Hite’s devices, such as “junk removal near me,” “how to legally register a fake name,” and “reciprocating saw,” just a day after Isadora vanished.
They subsequently found alarming evidence in a trash can outside his residence, which included a blood-stained plastic sheet, a towel with dried blood, and a saw blade with what looked like remains stuck in it, as reported in court documents.
Further analysis revealed the presence of “fragmented human bones, skeletal muscle,” and tissue that matched Isadora’s DNA.
Records show that early on January 4, the day after Wenger was last seen, Hite ordered a Milwaukee Sawzall reciprocating saw, plastic sheeting, large trash bags, and duct tape, which were delivered via DoorDash.
Most of these items were found discarded in a dumpster alongside Halloween costumes, though specifics about those costumes were not disclosed.
The police have formally charged Hite with murder and are actively searching for Wenger’s body, which is thought to be in one of two large tote bags he had delivered, with at least one bag still unaccounted for.
Chief Ziborski emphasized the importance of finding Isadora’s body, stating, “Her remains are critical to achieving closure and justice for her family.” Officers are currently engaged in intensive search operations, even taking 12-hour shifts at the landfill.
If found guilty, Hite could face life in prison without any chance of parole. Additionally, he is charged with tampering with evidence and providing false information.
