Fargo police announce arrest in disappearance of Isadora Wengle, ask public to search for distinctive tote

Fargo police announced at a press conference that investigators now have probable cause to believe Isadora Wengle was murdered and that her boyfriend, identified by investigators as Josh Hite, was arrested "yesterday at [his] apartment without incident," a department spokesperson said. The spokesperson added, "We do not believe that Isadora is alive."

The spokesperson, identified only on the record as a Fargo Police Department representative, said the arrest followed 35 days of investigative work that included two search warrants, daily searches of the Fargo landfill, searches in Fargo and Otter Tail County, interviews, and forensic testing. "The arrest based on probable cause is merely the first step in that legal process," the spokesperson said, and emphasized that Hite is "innocent until proven guilty."

Investigators said recovering Wengle’s body remains a priority to bring closure to her family. Authorities described a specific piece of evidence linked to the suspect: a distinctive black, 27‑gallon tote. The department said two such totes were delivered to Hite’s apartment, and only one was recovered during the Jan. 9 search warrant. "We're asking community members in these areas to search their properties, especially those in rural areas near roadways," the spokesperson said, adding a caution that residents should not endanger themselves when searching.

The department credited wide interagency cooperation, naming West Fargo Police, the Cass County Sheriff’s Office, North Dakota BCI, Moorhead PD, Otter Tail County Sheriff’s Office, Fergus Falls PD, the FBI, the North Dakota State Crime Lab, the state medical examiner, and county coroner’s offices among partners. The spokesperson said investigators have met with Wengle’s family and will continue to coordinate with West Fargo while Fargo PD leads the next phase.

During a question-and-answer session, reporters asked whether federal authorities might take a larger role if human remains were found to have been transported across state lines; the spokesperson said that could trigger potential federal violations and broaden federal involvement. When asked why Hite was not arrested earlier, the spokesperson said Hite had been detained during a Jan. 9 search warrant but investigators did not have probable cause to arrest then; that probable cause was developed over subsequent investigative and scientific work.

The department asked people in the Fargo–Moorhead metro served by Red River Regional Dispatch to call the non-emergency line with tips; residents in Otter Tail County should call their local jurisdiction. The spokesperson said the department will post dimensions and a photo of the 27‑gallon tote on its social media pages to help identification.

No additional evidentiary details were provided publicly about the nature of the probable-cause findings. The spokesperson declined to comment on whether the arrested man had been cooperative in interviews, saying those details were investigatory. The department said the investigation will continue and reiterated a request that the public respect the family’s privacy; the family has declined interviews at this time.