Joseph Jorgenson accused of second-degree murder in connection with the death and dismemberment of his girlfriend, Manijeh “Mani” Starren, Your Content has learned.
The dismembered remains of a woman reported missing in Minnesota have been found in a storage unit, resulting in the arrest of her boyfriend on murder charges.
Joseph Steven Jorgenson has been charged with second-degree murder in relation to the death of his girlfriend, Manijeh “Mani” Starren.
Starren, aged 34, was reported missing by her family in June, as they had not been in contact with her since April 21, when she was residing in St. Paul.
Based on police information, security footage captured on April 21 near Starren’s home showed her fleeing from her apartment while being pursued by Jorgenson, aged 40.
Authorities state that he grabbed her and forced her back inside the apartment. However, there is no video evidence of Starren leaving her apartment afterward.
Jorgenson was allegedly recorded on surveillance cameras frequently entering and leaving Starren’s residence in the week following the April 21 incident, entering her apartment on 28 different occasions.
Footage shows Jorgenson carrying duffle bags and a suitcase from the apartment, placing them in his roommate’s pickup truck on April 28, and driving away.
Authorities claim to possess evidence indicating that Jorgenson used Starren’s bank card to purchase a significant amount of cleaning supplies from a dollar store.
The items allegedly bought include a cleaning bucket, plastic wrap, garbage bags, latex gloves, and disinfectant wipes.
Allegedly, Jorgenson’s Google account data revealed searches related to clearing phone cookies, missing person reports, and the use of lime for soil, which can accelerate decomposition and reduce odor.
On June 26, when police attempted to execute search warrants at Jorgenson’s apartment, he barricaded himself in his bedroom, started a fire, and confronted officers while making threats. During the confrontation, he allegedly tried to disarm one of the officers by grabbing for his AR-15 automatic rifle.
The SWAT team eventually apprehended Jorgenson, who now faces additional charges of arson and attempting to disarm a peace officer, in addition to second-degree murder.
Following the issuance of a search warrant for a storage unit rented in Woodbury, Minnesota, under his roommate’s name, investigators discovered two coolers and a duffle bag containing human remains confirmed to be Starren’s.
During a press conference, Sergeant Mike Ernster, a public information officer for the St. Paul Police Department, expressed sympathy for Starren’s family, stating, “We also cannot fathom the pain [Starren’s] family is feeling at this point, but we do hope that this investigation’s result will bring them some level of solace”, according to People.