The body of a missing Minnesota woman linked to a murder suspect has been found in a storage unit in a Minneapolis suburb.
Fanta Xayavong, 33, was last seen in July 2021, according to St. Paul police, who said she was last seen with Joseph Jorgenson. Jorgenson was charged last month with killing and dismembering his girlfriend, 34-year-old Manijeh “Mani” Starren in April, as CrimeOnline reported.
Starren’s body was found in two coolers and a duffle bag at a storage unit in Woodbury, a city in the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area to the east of St. Paul. Starren was last seen on security video on April 21 when Jorgenson grabbed her and pushed her into her apartment.
In course of investigating Starren’s death, St. Paul police learned of Xayavong’s disappearance — although she was not reported missing until May 2023. A tip told them she and Jorgenson had been in an abusive relationship prior to her disappearance, KSTP reported.
St. Paul Police Sgt. Mike Ernster said Friday that investigators executed a search warrant at storage unit in Coon Rapids, a northern suburb, on Thursday and found Xayavong’s body. He said police also executed a search warrant earlier Friday at a home Jorgenson previously owned in Shoreview, another city north of metropolitan area.
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Ernster called Jorgenson a “person of interest” in Xayavong’s death.
Police said the investigation is still very active and asked anyone with information to contact them at 651-291-1111 or submit tips to the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension’s tipline at 1-877-996-6222 or emailing bca.tips@state.mn.us.
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[Featured image: Manijeh “Mani” Starren/Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension and Fanta Xayavong/St. Paul Police Department]
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