We're learning more details about a Maplewood man who's now charged in the murder of a St. Paul woman. She's been missing since April.
Ramsey County filed second degree murder charges against 40-year-old Joseph Jorgenson Friday, alleging that he murdered and dismembered 34-year-old Manijeh “Mani” Starren.
Sergeant Mike Ernster says blood evidence was found inside Starren's apartment.
"He was the last known person to be in her apartment on 7th Street after her disappearance," says Ernster. "One piece about Jorgenson is that he did not report her missing to police. Instead he just went on with his life without saying anything to anyone."
Ernster says video evidence shows Jorgensen and Starren going into her St. Paul apartment.
"It does reveal evidnce of Mani coming and going from her apartment and then at a certain point we do not see Mani again," Ernster explained. "We see her go into her apartment, she does not come out. Jorgenson is the only one that comes out of the unit. Mani is not seen again."
Jorgenson was arrested and charged with arson, threats of violence, and disarming an officer when police executed a search warrant at his apartment in connection to Starren’s disappearance.
Ernster confirmed they're investigating Jorgenson's connection to another woman whose been missing since 2021, adding that police along with the woman's family are concerned for her safety.