A missing Minnesota woman’s remains have been found dismembered in a storage unit, according to murder charges filed Friday against her boyfriend.
Prosecutors in Ramsey County have charged 40-year-old Joseph S. Jorgenson with one count of 2nd-degree murder in connection with the death of 33-year-old Manijeh “Mani” Starren, who was allegedly murdered in mid-April.
Jorgenson was arrested on Monday, with charges alleging he purposely set a fire at his Maplewood apartment when law enforcement arrived with a search warrant.
According to court documents, Starren’s remains were found dismembered inside two coolers and a duffle bag kept in a storage unit in Woodbury.
The St. Paul Police Department is expected to discuss the investigation at a press conference Friday afternoon.
According to the criminal complaint, police found large amounts of blood in Starren’s apartment and other evidence someone had been “seriously injured or killed” there.
Court documents state surveillance footage from April 21 showed Starren running from her apartment before she was grabbed by Jorgenson and pushed back inside.
In the week that followed, videos showed Jorgenson frequently coming and going from Starren’s apartment. On April 28, footage captured him carrying duffle bags and a suitcase from the apartment and loading the baggage into his truck.
In May, Jorgenson allegedly used Starren’s EBT card on multiple occasions. At the Dollar Tree, he purchased a cleaning bucket, plastic wrap, paper towels, garbage bags, liquid cleaner, latex gloves and disinfectant wipes.
Jorgenson’s text messages and interviews with witnesses indicate a history of abusive behavior towards Starren, charges allege.
His internet searches also revealed he’d searched for information related to lime in soil, which can be used to speed up the decomposition process and reduce smells.
The apartment manager at Jorgenson’s apartment in Maplewood told police they’d received several complaints about a “foul smell” coming from Jorgenson’s apartment in mid-May.
The smell impacted the entire building, charges state.
When a manager and maintenance employee went to inspect the apartment, Jorgenson was hostile and “physically denied” them access to the bedroom.
The manager told Jorgenson and another person who lived there they needed to clean the apartment within a week.
“Shortly afterwards, the manager and maintenance employee saw Jorgenson carrying and dragging large black duffle bags out of the apartment. They commented to each other that it looked like Jorgenson was ‘carrying a dead body,’” charges state.
In Jorgenson’s apartment, police found a large pool of blood in the closet.
Charges state law enforcement used cell phone location data to track down the Woodbury storage unit where Starren’s remains were found.
This is the 18th homicide this year in St. Paul, Sgt. Mike Ernster said in a press conference Friday.
“We cannot fathom the pain the family [of Starren] is feeling at this point. But we do hope this investigation’s result will bring some solace,” Ernster said.
If you know anyone who is affected by domestic violence, you can find more information on services available here, via the Minnesota DPS.
You can also call the Day One Crisis Hotline at 1-866-223-1111.
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