A judge has ordered a mental health evaluation for Joshua Hite, a 21-year-old man accused of murdering and dismembering his 25-year-old girlfriend, Isadora Wengel. The body of Wengel has not been found, and authorities are still investigating the circumstances surrounding her disappearance.
The Murder and Evidence
On February 10, Joshua Hite was charged with murder and evidence tampering after Wengel went missing. Authorities believe Hite used a saw he ordered from Home Depot via DoorDash to dismember Wengel. It is suspected that her body is buried in a black storage box.
Items belonging to Wengel were found in a dumpster near Hite’s apartment, including a latex glove, a blade, and bloody plastic sheeting with Wengel’s DNA on it. Police also uncovered evidence that Hite had been lying to authorities and family members. He allegedly sent photos from Wengel’s Snapchat account, posing as her. It is believed that her body may have been disposed of across state lines.
Timeline of the Murder
According to authorities, Wengel was likely killed between January 3 and 6, as reported by KFGO.
Mental Health Evaluation and Trial Competence
In light of the charges, a judge ordered that Hite undergo a mental health evaluation to determine if he is competent to stand trial. Hite was sent to the North Dakota State Hospital in Jamestown, North Dakota, for the assessment, which could take up to 30 days to complete.
Examiners will assess whether Hite is able to understand the legal proceedings and assist in his defense. The examination must be completed within 15 days of receiving all necessary materials.
In addition, a judge has authorized an evaluation to determine if Hite understood the nature of his alleged actions at the time of the crime and whether he was experiencing distortions of reality. The results of the mental health evaluation will be provided only to the defense.
