FARGO, N.D. — (trfnews.i234.me) — A preliminary hearing for Joshua Alexander Hite has been delayed for a third time.
Hite, 21, is charged with the death of Isadora Wengel, 25. Her body has not been recovered.
Court records filed June 9, 2026, show Hite’s defense requested another delay. The request involved the judge assigned to the case.
Defense lawyers said Judge Steven E. McCullough was not scheduled for the June 19 hearing. They said Hite wanted his assigned judge to oversee the proceeding.
McCullough approved the request on June 9. The hearing is now scheduled for July 15, 2026, at 9 a.m.
Renata Selzer, an assistant Cass County state’s attorney, confirmed the reason for the delay. She said the court continued the hearing for one term.
Case information is available through the North Dakota Court System.
The Charges
Hite faces charges of murder, evidence tampering, and giving false information to law enforcement.
Wengel was last seen on surveillance video at a Fargo Walmart on January 3, 2026. Her family reported her missing on January 7.
Joshua Alexander Hite and Isadora Wengel
Authorities arrested Hite on February 10, 2026. He remains at the Cass County Jail.
His bail is set at $5 million cash only.
A judge also ordered mental health evaluations for Hite. The evaluations will help determine whether he can stand trial.
The results have not been released.
The preliminary hearing was first moved from March 11 to March 31. It was later delayed until June 19.
The latest order moves the hearing to July 15.
Derek Steiner, an assistant Cass County state’s attorney, is prosecuting the case. Defense attorney Nicole L. Bredahl represents Hite.
Bredahl did not respond to a request for comment.
Search Efforts Continue
Volunteers have searched for Wengel’s remains across the Fargo region and western Minnesota.
Search areas have included the Red River, Battle Lake, and Fergus Falls.
The Bring Isadora Wengel Home Facebook group has helped organize volunteer efforts.
Organizers are planning another search in the Otter Tail County area. They are seeking local volunteers to help lead future searches.
Upcoming Court Dates
A motion hearing is scheduled for September 2, 2026. A dispositional conference is set for September 3.
A pretrial conference is scheduled for September 14. The jury trial is set to begin on September 15.
The charges are accusations. Hite is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
I’m Chris Harper reporting for TRF News.