A Minnesota man has admitted to killing and dismembering two women he was in relationships with and hiding their remains in separate storage units.
Joseph Jorgenson, 41, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in the deaths of Fanta Xayavong, 33, and Manijeh “Mani” Starren, 34. He faces up to 40 years in prison for each murder... Continue reading here ▶
In court, Jorgenson described what happened in each case, as reported by local ABC affiliate KSTP.
He said he was living with Xayavong in September 2021 when they had an argument, during which he beat her.
He said he thought she had passed out, but later realized she was dead. He admitted to dismembering her body and hiding her remains in a storage unit.
“I felt bad immediately afterward, but it was my intent at the time to kill her,” Jorgenson told the judge.
Jorgenson also admitted to killing Starren during an argument in April 2023, when she asked him to leave her apartment.
He said he choked her, dismembered her body using a razor blade, and initially hid her remains in his apartment before moving them to a storage unit.
Starren’s family reported her missing after losing contact with her on April 21, 2023. Surveillance footage showed her running out of her apartment, followed by Jorgenson, who grabbed her and pushed her back inside.
After that, Starren was never seen again. Police said Jorgenson did not report her missing and continued his life as if nothing had happened.
In June 2023, police searched Jorgenson’s home, where he tried to start a fire and resist arrest. Soon after, police discovered dismembered remains in two coolers and a duffel bag at a storage unit in Woodbury, Minnesota. The remains were identified as Starren’s.
While investigating Starren’s case, police found Xayavong’s remains in a different storage unit about 35 miles away. A tip from someone who knew Xayavong and was worried about her safety led to the discovery.
The person reported that Xayavong had been in an abusive relationship with Jorgenson and had lost contact with her.
Both women were mothers. Xayavong had two children, and a GoFundMe in her memory described her as a “beautiful soul” with a vibrant smile. Starren was also a mother of three.
Jorgenson is scheduled to be sentenced on February 28.
