By Harrison Pray
FARGO, N.D. (Valley News Live) – People filled the Avalon Event Center Saturday night, March 14, for a celebration of life and candlelight vigil honoring Isadora Wengel, the 25-year-old West Fargo woman believed to have been murdered in January. Her body has not been found.
The “Bring Isadora Wengel Home” Facebook group organized the event, asking attendees to come not in anger but to focus on Wengel’s memory.
Wengel’s father, Brian Landsem, was among those who addressed the crowd.
“I’ve had a lot of names; I’ve had a lot of titles, but there was no title higher than just being called Izzy’s dad,” Landsem said.
Vigil organizer Maleah Jimenez said she did not need to know Wengel personally to take part in planning the event.
“We can all say that we don’t have time to put in that effort in care, or we can all just use a little bit more free will than we think we have and do it because every single person matters,” Jimenez said. “And so, I decided to do it without knowing her and her family.”
Leah Halvorson, wedding manager at the Avalon Event Center, also spoke to the importance of community support.
“If we don’t come together at times like this, when are we going to come together?” Halvorson said. “I’ve never met Isadora. I’ve never met her mom, I’ve never met her friends, but this is the time we need to come together.”
Officials from Fargo to Otter Tail County are asking the public for help locating a 27-gallon storage tote with a red lid. Police say the tote contains critical evidence in Wengel’s death.
The next search will take place Saturday, March 21, beginning at 10 a.m. in Battle Lake.
