Boyfriend DoorDashed Dismemberment Tools

A young Fargo man allegedly murdered his girlfriend, dismembered her body with tools DoorDashed to his apartment, and dumped remains across state lines in a calculated act of deception that shocks communities valuing family and justice.

Story Highlights

Joshua Alexander Hite, 21, charged with murder, evidence tampering, and false information after forensic evidence links him to Isadora Wengel’s dismemberment.
Hite ordered a Sawzall saw, blades, plastic sheeting, and duct tape via DoorDash on January 4-5, with DNA on the blade matching Wengel.
He sent bizarre Snapchat messages from her phone, including ceiling photos, while searching for legal aliases and lying about her whereabouts.
Body parts allegedly disposed in Otter Tail County, Minnesota, using a black tote; ongoing search amid midwinter thaw.
Fargo Police Chief David Zibolski calls it a “heinous and diabolical crime,” urging public tips for remains recovery.

Timeline of the Crime

Isadora Wengel, 25, was last seen by family on New Year’s Eve, December 31, wearing a white cardigan, jeans, and white sneakers. Joshua Hite, her 21-year-old boyfriend, accessed her phone days later. On January 4-5, he sent unusual Snapchat photos of ceilings and walls to her mother and contacts. Surveillance footage contradicted his claim of dropping her off. Police recovered DoorDash receipts for dismemberment tools delivered to his apartment.

Forensic Evidence Builds Ironclad Case

Fargo Police Department investigators found a Milwaukee Sawzall saw, carbide blade with human bone, muscle, and adipose tissue matching Wengel’s DNA, bloody plastic sheeting, trash bags, and a glove with mixed DNA in Hite’s apartment. A 27-gallon black tote was recovered there; another remains missing. Hite’s Google searches included “how to register for a legal alias” and “Home Depot Sawzall.” Early morning on January 4-5, he drove his Subaru Impreza to Otter Tail County, Minnesota, about an hour away, for disposal amid frozen ground and snow.

Police Response and Charges

Wengel was reported missing on January 7 after family grew suspicious of odd communications. Hite was arrested last week before February 2026 reports and now faces charges of murder, evidence tampering, and providing false information. Chief David Zibolski held a news conference, stating the crime was “hard to imagine” and involved possible dismemberment. He committed to justice for the family and issued a public alert for the missing tote and remains. Multi-agency teams lead the probe.

Hite showed self-inflicted cuts and bruises. No motive is specified, but his actions suggest efforts at concealment. The case aligns with intimate partner violence patterns in Fargo, a city of about 125,000 near the Minnesota border, where harsh winters complicate evidence recovery. A midwinter thaw now aids the search in rural Otter Tail County.

Community and Broader Impacts

Wengel’s family endures profound grief from the deception and loss. Fargo and North Dakota-Minnesota communities face heightened safety concerns, amplifying awareness of domestic violence. The novel use of DoorDash for crime tools sparks discussions on delivery service verification. Short-term, police resources strain with overtime and public vigilance for remains. Long-term, the trial may set precedents for digital forensics and DNA evidence in dismemberment cases. No political ripples emerge, but it underscores the need for swift justice.