John Jorgenson
ST. PAUL (KFGO-WCCO) – Joseph Steven Jorgenson pled guilty on Thursday to two counts of murder in connection with the killing and dismembering of Manijeh Starren in April 2023 and Fanta Xayavong in September 2021. Both bodies were found in different Twin Cities storage units.
Jorgenson will serve two concurrent 480-month sentences, the statutory maximum for each offense as part of a plea agreement with the Ramsey County Attorney’s Office.
According to investigators, Jorgenson dismembered and hid the bodies of each victim to conceal his actions.
“These heinous acts of cruelty took the lives of two young women and forever altered the future of their friends and family,” said Ramsey County Attorney John Choi. “We commend the diligent work of those in law enforcement as well as our staff who worked tirelessly to bring about charges leading to convictions supported by the available evidence and, ultimately, a measure of closure for each victim. We extend our heartfelt sympathies to their surviving family and friends.”
According to the criminal complaint, St. Paul Police received a missing person call from Manijeh Starren’s father in April 2023. He reported that she struggled with mental health and addiction challenges but had not checked in as usual that day.
Over the next few weeks, investigator’s search led them to regard Jorgenson as the primary suspect in her disappearance and likely murder. An examination of her apartment using forensic technology located a substantial amount of blood not visible to the naked eye as it had been cleaned. Keys recovered from Jorgenson’s apartment led investigators to a storage facility in Woodbury where they located the victim’s dismembered remains in two separate coolers as well as a large bag.
During the first homicide investigation, authorities uncovered evidence of a second victim, Fanta Xayavong, with whom Jorgensen had a relationship back in 2021. Investigators found her remains in a separate storage locker in Coon Rapids and tied evidence back to Jorgenson who later admitted to both killings.
He is scheduled to be sentenced on February 28.
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