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Hite Pleads Not Guilty to the Murder of Isadora Wengel

By Derek Sidian Jul 15, 2026 | 2:31 PM

Joshua Hite. (Cass County Jail)

Fargo, ND (KFGO) – The man accused of murdering and dismembering his girlfriend pleaded not guilty during a brief court appearance Wednesday.

Joshua Hite, 21, is accused of killing Isadora Wengel in January. Charges say police found blood and a saw blade with fragments of human bone stuck to it in Hite’s south Fargo apartment. The state crime lab says the fragments and blood matched Wengel’s DNA profile. Former Fargo Police Chief Dave Zibolski said Hite likely murder Wengel in a “heinous” way.

Wengel was last seen alive December 31, 2025. She was reported missing January 7. Hite was arrested in connection to her disappearance February 10.

Wednesday, Hite pleaded not guilty to murder, tampering with physical evidence and giving false information to law enforcement. His next court date is scheduled for September 3.

Story written by Joe Leier, KFGO News

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