Remains of Missing Minnesota Woman Found in Storage Unit Ties Man to Second Murder Case
St. Paul, MN (KROC-AM News)- Authorities suspect a man is now responsible for the deaths two missing Minnesota women after discovering human remains in a storage unit earlier this week.
A news release issued by the St. Paul Police Department Friday says investigators executed a search warrant at a storage facility in the 9100 block of University Avenue Northwest in Coon Rapids that led to the discovery of the remains on Thursday.
Investigators were led to the storage facility while investigating the murder of Manijeh “Mani” Starren, a St. Paul woman who was reported missing this past spring whose body was found in a different storage unit last month.
The news release says the medical examiner identified the remains as 33-year-old Fanta Xayavong of Lakeville and determined her death was a homicide. St. Paul Police were also given a tip that Xayavong was in an abusive relationship with 40-year-old Joseph S. Jorgenson, who’s been charged in Starren’s murder.
Investigators also conducted a search at a Shoreview residence that Jorgenson had lived at until 2022 with the hope of advancing the investigation and locating evidence of Xayavong’s suspected murder, the news release says. Jorgenson has not been charged in Xayavong’s death, however a St. Paul Police Spokesman told reporters during a news conference Friday that Jorgenson is a person of interest.
Authorities are asking anyone with information regarding Jorgenson, and other people who may be missing to call the BCA tip line at 1-877-996-6222 or email tips to bca.tips@state.mn.us.
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