A Maplewood man will be spending decades behind bars for murdering two women he was romantically involved with.

Joseph Steven Jorgenson, 41, pleaded guilty earlier this year for murdering 34-year-old Manijeh “Mani” Starren and 33-year-old Fanta Xayavong. The dismembered bodies of both Starren and Xayavong were later found in separate storage units after they disappeared in 2021 and 2023.

On Friday, Judge Leonardo Castro gave Jorgenson a 40-year sentence, of which he must spend at least 320 months (just over 26 years) in prison and no more than 160 months (13.3 years) on probation, which was part of a plea deal Jorgenson agreed to. He was given 614 days of credit and was also told to pay $5,000 in fines and fees.

However, Castro told Jorgenson that despite him “all the privileges this world gave you, you inexplicably committed the most heinous of crimes I’ve ever known.”

“As a society which deems itself to be civil, look for rational answers for why someone would or could do what you did… what you did was pure evil,” added Judge Castro. He went on to say that “the more appropriate sentence for your crimes would be life without possibility of parole. However, having pled guilty to the most serious charges, my hands are tied. I do pray that if you ever leave the prison walls, that you not cause any more pain.”

Judge Castro also spoke to Mani and Fanta’s families, saying “hold on to each other,” and to “cherish the moments you had with them.”

Prosecutors say it all started in 2021, when Jorgenson was living with Xayavong. During a court hearing, Jorgenson said they got in an argument one night and he started hitting her until she died. He then dismembered her body, putting it in a Coon Rapids storage unit.

Then, two years later, Jorgenson said he and Starren got into an argument. She asked him to leave, and he choked her to death, and admitted he was trying to kill her. Her body was also found in a storage unit, but in Woodbury.

Another part of the plea deal involved the state’s dismissal of a third case, where Jorgenson was charged with arson, threats of violence and disarming an officer. That deal was also approved.

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