Remains of Missing Minnesota Woman Found in Storage Unit, Boyfriend Faces Murder Charges

The remains of a missing Minnesota woman have been discovered in a storage unit, leading to the arrest and charging of her boyfriend with murder.

Missing Minnesota woman, Manijeh “Mani” Starren (Photo: KSTP)

Missing Minnesota Woman’s Remains Was Found in Storage Unit

The tragic series of events began when Manijeh “Mani” Starren, 34, was reported missing by her family in June after they had not heard from her since April 21. Security footage from April 21 near Starren’s residence showed her fleeing from her apartment while Joseph Steven Jorgenson, 40, the boyfriend of the missing Minnesota woman,  allegedly chased after her, People reported.

Disturbingly, the footage reportedly captured Jorgenson grabbing her and forcefully pushing her back inside the apartment before she vanished from view, as reported by KARE 11. During the investigation, authorities obtained a search warrant for a storage unit in Woodbury, Minnesota, rented under Jorgenson’s roommate’s name.

When authorities attempted to execute search warrants at Jorgenson’s apartment on June 26, the Maplewood man barricaded himself in his bedroom, ignited a fire, and aggressively confronted officers, threatening to shoot them. He even tried to disarm one officer, reaching for the officer’s AR-15 automatic rifle. Eventually, the SWAT team managed to subdue and arrest Jorgenson.

Using a key found in Jorgenson’s apartment, they gained access to the unit. Inside, they made the chilling discovery of two coolers and a duffle bag, all containing human remains that have since been confirmed to belong to Starren, according to KARE 11.

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Boyfriend of Missing Minnesota Woman Faces Charges

Joseph Steven Jorgenson, the boyfriend of the missing Minnesota woman now faces one count of second-degree murder in connection to the death and dismemberment of his girlfriend, Manijeh “Mani” Starren, according to reports from reputable news sources such as  KARE, KSTP, and Pioneer Pres.

Investigations into Jorgenson’s online activities uncovered disturbing searches made on his Google account, including information on clearing cookies from phones, missing person reports, and inquiries regarding “lime for soil.”

Court documents obtained by KARE 11 revealed that lime can be used to accelerate the decomposition process and minimize the odor associated with it. In addition to the charge of second-degree murder, the boyfriend of the missing Minnesota woman now faces accusations of arson and attempting to disarm a peace officer.

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