FARGO (KFGO KVRR) – Members of law enforcement and volunteers are still searching for the remains of Isadora Wengel, but on Saturday evening, many took a break to congregate at the Avalon Events Center and share their sorrow at her absence. Wengel was reported missing in early January.
“I don’t think she ever realized how many people cared about her,” said her mother, Heather Fones.
The celebration brought forth powerful anecdotes and descriptions of Wengel from her mother, father, and sister.
“I’ve been thinking about this ever since she told me she wanted me to come up and do this – how do I sum up two and a half decades of magic?” asked her father, Brian Landsem.
Other friends and family told those gathered about Wengel’s love of karaoke, her dedication to writing poetry, and her proficiency in Mario Kart.
Maleah Jiminez, who has been heading up many of the volunteer search efforts, says that it’s been a powerful experience getting to know someone after they’re already gone.
“You get to see who she was, who loved her, who was loved by her, and it was a lot of people. She was really special,” she said. “I think at the end of it, the more you get to know her, the more you wish you did know her firsthand.”
She says that it did feel like some healing took place, after spending the time to pay a proper tribute to Wengel.
Another volunteer search for Wengel’s remains is scheduled for next Saturday in Battle Lake, Minnesota.
Wengel’s boyfriend at the time of her disappearance, Joshua Hite, 21, of Fargo, has been charged with her murder. Police believe Hite dismembered Wengel after killing her. As part of the investigation, a search is underway for a black plastic tote with a red cover. The tote may have been dumped in Otter Tail County.
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