The Fargo man is accused in the suspected killing of Isadora Wengel, who disappeared in January 2026.<\/p>\n
His next felony dispositional conference is scheduled for November 19, 2026, at 1:30 p.m.<\/strong><\/p>\n The postponement follows a defense request for additional time to examine evidence through an independent expert.<\/p>\n During an October 21 hearing, defense attorney Nicole Bredahl asked to continue proceedings until January.<\/p>\n Bredahl said the defense wanted an expert to examine important evidence in the case.<\/p>\n She also described efforts to secure funding for that review.<\/p>\n Prosecutor Derek Steiner did not object to giving the defense additional time.<\/p>\n However, Cass County District Judge Steven McCullough declined to postpone the conference until January.<\/p>\n Instead, the judge moved the hearing to November 19, citing the need for continued progress.<\/p>\n The new date concerns a pretrial conference, not a confirmed jury trial date.<\/p>\n The October hearing followed another postponement involving evidence and the defense attorneys’ scheduling conflicts.<\/p>\n In September, defense lawyers said they needed time to examine evidence recently supplied by prosecutors.<\/p>\n That material came from an expert associated with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.<\/p>\n It remains unclear whether the current request concerns the same evidence.<\/p>\n These reviews take place before a judge or jury decides whether allegations have been proven.<\/p>\n Wengel was last seen on surveillance footage at a Fargo Walmart on January 3, 2026.<\/p>\n Her family reported her missing on January 7.<\/p>\n Fargo police<\/a> announced Hite’s arrest on February 10 following an investigation into her disappearance.<\/p>\n Investigators allege Hite killed Wengel and disposed of her remains.<\/p>\n Her body has not been recovered, according to the latest verified October report.<\/p>\n According to reporting on court documents<\/a>, investigators collected towels, a bathmat, medical gauze, and other materials.<\/p>\n Laboratory analysis reportedly detected blood matching Wengel’s DNA on multiple seized items.<\/p>\n Those findings are allegations and evidence claims, not a determination of Hite’s guilt.<\/p>\n Hite faces Class AA felony murder, Class C felony evidence tampering, and misdemeanor false-information charges.<\/p>\n He entered not-guilty pleas to all three counts during a July 15 court appearance.<\/p>\n Under North Dakota’s murder statute<\/a>, murder can be charged as a Class AA felony.<\/p>\nJudge Declines Request to Wait Until January<\/h2>\n
Previous Delays and Evidence Review<\/h2>\n
Wengel Remains Missing as Case Proceeds<\/h2>\n
![\"Fargo](\"https:\/\/trfnews.i234.me\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Joshua-Alexander-Hite-1024x576.png\")
<\/a>Three Criminal Charges Remain Pending<\/h2>\n