Police in Minnesota have arrested a man after the dismembered remains of his girlfriend, missing for over two months, were discovered in a storage unit.
Joseph Jorgenson, 40, now faces murder charges connected to the death of Manijeh “Mani” Starren, a 33-year-old mother of three.
According to police, Starren was allegedly murdered by Jorgenson in her St. Paul apartment back in April. Authorities are also considering a possible link between Jorgenson and the disappearance of another woman.
Surveillance footage recorded on April 21 reportedly captured Starren trying to escape her apartment, only to be pursued and forcibly returned inside by Jorgenson. The affidavit obtained by Fox News Digital states that Jorgenson was later seen leaving the apartment alone, while Starren was never seen again. Despite her disappearance, Jorgenson did not report Starren missing.
Two months later, in June, police found Starren’s body parts in coolers and bags stored in a Woodbury storage unit. Authorities expressed their concerns about the well-being of another woman, Fanta Xayavong, who had gone missing in July 2021 after last being seen with Jorgenson.
Starren’s father reported her missing on May 1, revealing his daughter’s fear of her boyfriend. Starren had previously informed her child’s father that Jorgenson had choked her with a rope. Neighbors had also noticed visible signs of physical abuse on Starren, though she declined their offers to call the police for fear of escalating the situation.
Evidence against Jorgenson includes a series of abusive text messages he sent to Starren, surveillance footage of him entering her apartment multiple times after her disappearance, and video of him carrying large bags from the apartment a week after Starren was last seen. Moreover, his online search history included terms such as “jugular,” “What do police do with a missing person’s report,” and “lime for soil” – suggesting an attempt to cover up a murder.
The search of Starren’s apartment revealed a violent crime scene, complete with a shattered television and significant amounts of blood. Later, in May, neighbors reported a foul smell from Jorgenson’s apartment and recalled seeing him remove large bags from the premises.
When the police arrived at Jorgenson’s apartment with a search warrant in late June, he barricaded himself inside his room and started a fire. The ensuing standoff with the SWAT team led to Jorgenson’s arrest after he tried to seize an officer’s firearm. A forensic examination of his apartment discovered a significant pool of blood in his closet.
Jorgenson’s phone data led investigators to a storage facility, where he had rented a unit under his roommate’s name. The discovery of Starren’s dismembered body in the unit led to Jorgenson’s subsequent charges for her murder. As the case continues, authorities are working tirelessly to uncover the full scope of Jorgenson’s alleged crimes.
