A startling plea, two vicious killings, and two women A Minnesota guy who went on a twisted crime spree and dismembered his victims faces 40 years in prison.#Minnesota #MaplewoodMN #News #Crime
MAPLEWOOD MN Joseph Jorgenson, 41, of Maplewood, Minnesota, entered a guilty plea to the murder and mutilation of two women within a two-year period. Following months of research and startling disclosures, he finally admits his guilt. He is currently facing two sentences of 40 years each for the killings of Fanta Xayavong and Manijeh Starren.
Jorgenson s Plea and Sentence
Jorgenson pled guilty to two counts of second-degree murder, acknowledging that he killed Xayavong in September 2021 and Starren in April 2023.
He will serve concurrent terms of 40 years each, the maximum permitted by law for second-degree murder, as part of a plea deal with Ramsey County prosecutors.
His sentence was deemed to be aggravated by the horrific nature of the killings, which included the dissection and hiding of the victims’ bodies.
The Murders and Investigation
In June 2023, Starren’s mutilated body was found in a Woodbury storage facility. The main suspect in her death was Jorgenson, with whom she was romantically involved.
In April, just before her father reported her missing, Starren was killed in her St. Paul apartment, according to authorities. Residents of her apartment building remembered a bad smell coming from her unit in May, which was evidence of Jorgenson’s involvement. Authorities looked into the matter further after Jorgenson was observed taking bulky objects out of the apartment.
Keys from Jorgenson’s apartment led police to a storage room where Starren’s body was discovered, and forensic specialists were able to find cleaned-up blood traces. A horrifying attempt to hide the atrocity was evident from the fact that the remains were placed in a big bag and coolers.
Jorgenson’s involvement in the disappearance of Xayavong, a lady he had also dated, was the focus of a different investigation.
Following worries about her safety, including a tip to the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension’s human trafficking tipline, 33-year-old Xayavong was reported missing in May 2023. The caller talked about how abusive her relationship with Jorgenson was.
Authorities linked the remains of Xayavong to a Coon Rapids storage container that was found in early July 2023. Evidence linked her death to Jorgenson’s former Shoreview residence, where he subsequently acknowledged his role.
Community Impact and Law Enforcement Efforts
In addition to acknowledging the persistent efforts of law enforcement, Ramsey County Attorney John Choi offered his sympathies to the families of the victims.
He commended the investigative work that finally resulted in Jorgenson’s conviction, giving the victims’ loved ones some measure of closure. Choi emphasized the need of community involvement, pointing out that public tips were crucial in revealing the truth about these terrible murders.
CONNECTED TOPICS: Minnesota Crime
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