Arrest in gory St. Paul murder, smelly coverup
ST. PAUL, Minn. – A suburban Maplewood man was charged with killing his girlfriend, cutting up her body, and hiding the remain for 14 weeks in a cooler inside a rented storage shed. Charged was Joseph Steven Jorgenson, 40. His girlfriend, 34-year-old Manijeh “Mani” Starren, hadn’t been heard from since April 21. Her family reported her missing in early June. Here is a chronicle of what the criminal complaint cites as evidence:
> April 21: Video from an apartment surveillance camera show Starren fleeing. Jorgenson is chasing her and grabbing her and pushing her back into the apartment.
> There is no video of her Starren ever coming out.
> April 21 to 28: Video showed Jorgenson coming and going from hepartment 28 times.
> April 28: Video shows Jorgenson carrying two duffel bags and a suitcase from her apartment, loading them into a roommate’s pickup truck, and climbing into the passenger seat.
> Jorgenson used Starren’s bank card to purchase a large quantity of cleaning supplies from a nearby Dollar Tree store. Another purchase: Lime, which can be used to accelerate the decomposition process and reduce the odors,
> June 26. Jorgenskin was arrested at his apartment.
Starren. Her family offered this image of Mani Starren to investigators after reportig her missing a couple weeks after not hearing from her.
> May: Tenants at Jorgenson and his roommate’s apartment on Century Avenue in Maplewood reported bad odors from the apartment.
A manager and a maintenance employee saw Jorgenson moving large black duffel bags that looked to contain a dead body.
> In the shared apartment, investigators found a key and opened to a storage unit 30 minutes away in Woodbury. The unit was rented in the roommate’s name. Inside were two coolers and a duffel bag that contained human remains.
> The Ramsey County medical examiner confirmed the remains belonged to Starren through dental records and tattoos.
> June 26: Jorgenson was arrested at his Maplewood apartment.
Unexplained death outside Alma Center strip-club
Crime scene. On U.S. Highway 12. Yellow police tape across entrance the morning after.
Man’s body found in car in parking lot
ALMA CENTER, Wis. – A Beaver Dam man was found dead in a car at a strip-club parking lot. Foul play was suspected, said Jackson County Sheriff Duane Waldera. The victim, Andrew Frenchette, 55, was 150 miles from home at Jimmy’s In Between Gentlemen’s Club on U.S. Highway 12. He was unresponsive when first-responders arrived, Sheriff Waldera said. He asked the state Criminal Investigation Division to help figure out what happened. The Jimmy’s club is 11 miles north of Black River Falls.
Winona County home sales in June
WINONA, Minn. – Among residential property sales outside Winona logged by Bob Bambenek, county recorder, in June:
> Dresbach,48945 Queens Cove Circle: Weber to Headfod/Peverada, $575,000.
> St. Charles: 1208 Whispering Hills Drive, Goodrich toto Stewart/Smith, $549,900.
> St. Charles: 313 Northern Hills Trail, Peterson to Bomeman, $410,000.
> Minnesota City: 8175 Sixth Street, Carothers to Quatier, $364,000.
> St. Charles: 1924 Brownell Street, Whitewater Properties to Luhman, $323,000.
> St. Charles: 1918 Brownell Street, Rios to Ritter, $311,800.
> St. Charles, 137 Renea Drive: Snitker/Arentz to Colvin, $309,000.
Winona home sales in June
WINONA, Minn. – Among residential property sales logged by Bob Bambenek, county recorder, in June:
. > 21697 Government Point Road: Tibesar to Highland Skye Trust, $725,000.
> 57 Brickyard Lane: DuCett to Waldo, $400,000.
> 536 West Fifth Street: L-Tek Properties to Humfeld Investments, $400,000.
> 1321 Ridgewood Drive: Brown to Thrower/Bunke, $389,000.
> 755 36th Avenue: Kamara to Ruben, $365,000.
> 857 West Burns Valley Road: Hesch to Hassinger, $340,000.
> 1431 Brookview Drive: Weifenbach to Walters, $335,000.
> 1415 Brookview Drive: Wittenberg Properties to Boone, $328,000.
> 164 Janet Marie Lane: Hassinger to Graves, $305,000.
Litter inside car a tip-off to driver impairment
WINONA, Minn. – In a traffic stop of a Wisconsin vehicle, the officer was concerned that the driver was jittery. Then the officer saw the interior cluttered with drug paraphernalia – roaches, a bong and loose marijuana. Besides being jittery, the driver, Jace Alexander Danovfky, 20, of Pepin, was shaking visibly, breathing heavily and stuttering, and his eyes were bloodshot and watery, the officer said. This was about 9 p. m. at Fifth and Market streets near downtown. The officer said Danofvky admitted to marijuana “earlier,” then narrowed the timeframe to a couple hours earlier. He didn’t fare well in field sobriety tests. At the jail he was booked for driving under the influence of a controlled substance.
Stranger delivers rose to stylist: “Creepy,” she says
WINONA, Minn. – A West End hair stylist said a man walked in about 10 o’clock and said he had been instructed to deliver a single rose. He did and turned and left. The stylist said she was creeped out. Police traced the rose to a floral shop across the river in Wisconsin and concluded the delivery man was also the purchaser. Did the stylist have any idea who he was? “Never saw him before.”
Veteran legislator recovering from heart surgery
ROCHESTER, Minn. — A veteran and influential Republican state senator, Carla Nelson of Rochester, underwent heart surgery successfully last week, a spokesperson confirmed. Nelson, age 66, has had no complications and is home recovering, the spokesperson said. She is scheduled for six to eight weeks of physical therapy. The surgery was performed at Mayo Clinic in. Rochester.
Senate District 24
Nelson represents southern and western Rochester as well as Stewartville, Byron and eastern portions of Dodge County.
Nelson. First elected to the Senate in 2011. Earlier in House. Her recent committee assignments: Capital investment, jobs and economic development, taxes.
Verbatim
Nelson: “During my recovery period I will sadly not be able to attend the in-district events that I enjoy so much, but I will continue to monitor things from my home, and I look forward to returning to my usual full calendar around mid-August.”
Medical profile
Nelson suffered hypertrophic cardiomopathy, a condition in which the walls of the heart thicken and make the heart work harder– -too hard, actually — to pump blood throughout the body. Common symptoms: Fatigue, swollen legs, shortness of breath. The annual mortality rate: About 1%.
Father of Maddi’s kids waives visitation while in jail
WINONA, Minn. – The parents of the slain mother of two children won sole temporary custody of the children. The exclusive custody is effective as long as the children’s father. Adam Fravel, is incarerated for the murder of Maddi Kingsbury, the mother. The custody issue was settled by an agreement between Adam and the grandparents – and approved by Winona County Judge Mary Leahy. in effect, the father’s visitation rights are suspended for the time being. The agreement also closes the Winona County child protection case that was opened after Maddi initially March 31. The county had been proclaiming itself the children’s guardian.
Earlier: Rebuke to Kingsburys in Fravel custody matter
Earlier: Grandparents: Don’t let Favel anywhere near the kids
New Maddi fundraiser seeks play gear for kids
FARMINGTON, Minn. – A neighbor of Maddi Kingsbury’s parents in Farmington set up a GoFundMe to buy outdoor playground equipment for her children. The organizer, Nick Chaix, said donations will go toward play equipment, a playhouse, a shed and a fence around the yard. The Kingsburys have had custody of the children, 5 and 2, since April after their mother Maddi disappeared. She was later found slain, and the children’s father, Adam Fravel, has been accused of murder.
Earlier: A growing tribute to Maddi KIngsbury
Earlier: Maddi Kingsbury funeral at WSU gym
Verbatim
Chaix: “Losing a parent is a devastating experience for any child. Having to cope with the loss of both parents is unimaginable. It can be especially difficult for children to cope with such a loss when they don’t have a fun place to play, grow, explore and be themselves.”
R.I.P.: Barbara Jilk
WINONA, Minn. – Barbara Jean Jilk, 80, of Winona, a social worker known for her passion for social justice and community service, died after several years with Alzheimer’s. She was advocate for seniors and caregivers with the Southeastern Minnesota Community Action Agency. She directed the HomeShare program for elderly and disabled community people. She testified before the Minnesota Legislature on issues and presented papers at conferences. She held a psychology degree from Portland State University.
Detail: Watkowski-Mulyck Funeral Home
1943-2023
Truck plows through geese: Unobservant? Dumb? Mean?
MnDOT’s red highlight. Geese in wrong place at wrong time. So too the black pickup driver. Image: Minnesota Transportation Department
What’s the law? Wildlife has right-of-way
GOLDEN VALLEY, Minn. – A driver plowed through a family of geese crossing a feeder freeway into the Minneapolis West Side. It was messy. The state Transportation Department released a video with an admonishment that it’s illegal to hit wildlife crossing a road. The incident was Saturday about 8 a.m. A violation can mean 90 days in jail and a $1,000 fine. The Department didn’t say whether its surveillance camera captured the license number of the black pickup that hit the geese. As released to the public, the video blurs the moment of impact. Two geese survived. The video shows the driver didn’t slow – no brake lights — and just kept going in the 60 mph zone of the three-lane Route 100. An overhead emergency sign, clear in the video, was messaging an alert: “Animal on Road. Left Lane Closed.” Other drivers, ahead of the black pickup, had merged right to avoid the geese. It appears that the pickup driver had ample time and space to safely move into another lane.
Pro-social behavior progress in Winona schools cited
WINONA, Minn. – The Winona school district’s three elementary schools have been commended for behavioral intervention initiatives. Since 2019 the schools have been applying an evidence-based framework to improve school climate and student achievement through positive and prosocial behavior. At a recognition ceremony the state education commissioner, Willie Jett, pointed to staff buy-in to the program, leadership meetings, and community and family involvement. The schools — Goodview, Jefferson and Washington-Kosciusko — were among 87 statewide to be recognized.
Contract signed, sealed, delivered for interim WSU chief
ST. PAUL, Minn. – The MinnState college system is paying the new interim Winona State president, Ken Janz, a base salary of $290,000. Janz will be in charge while a national search is conducted to fill the vacancy. If the search goes well. a new president will begin in July 2024.
Cops: Graveyard not for camping
WINONA, Minn. – Police found two homeless people pitching a tent up a quiet lane in Woodlawn Cemetery. Officers asked them to leave. They did.
Voters to decide on sales tax hike for new jail
WINONA, Minn. – The Winona County Board voted 4-0 to place a sales tax increase on a 2024 ballot to pay for the new county jail. If voters approve, the sales tax would go from 7.38% but 7.63%. The increase would be a quarter-cent on every dollar of sales tax The new revenue would raise $1.5 million a year to would cover debt payments on the new $28 million jail. There is sentiment on the Board to offset a new sales tax later by reducing property taxes a concomitant amount. An attraction for local voters is that the sales tax draws to some extent on spending from visiting tourists. The Winona Chamber of Commerce has supported the sales tax increase.
Sales tax profile
The 2023 sales tax rate for Winona County is 7.38%. Most of this is a state tax: 6.88%. The county sales tax rate is 0.50%. Counties cannot raise their share without approval from the state Legislature and then only if there also local voters approve. The 2023 Legislature approved the referendum. The referendum now will be on the November 4 general election ballot in 2024.
The kids are OK: Waddle away safely with mom
WINONA, Minn. – A police and fire crew rescued ducklings that had fallen iunt a storm drain near the new jail at Fourth and Winona streets.The ducklings were returned them to an adult female was presumed to be their mother. As the ducks waddled away safely toward the river. This was about 5:40 p.m.
Car with body inside found in industrial pond
ROCHESTER, Minn. – Divers found a woman’s body in a car submerged in a retention pond at a northwest Rochester cement plant. It appeared, police said, that the car had been in the water a long time. The. vehicle showed only because the water level had been dropping due to dry conditions. The discovery was by a professional diving team, Adventures with Purpose. The team travels the country looking for submerged vehicles and missing people. The pond is at the Rochester Ready-Mix plant in the 4000 block of 19th Street Northwest. The person’s identity was not immediately ascertained.
Missing person
Speculation about the woman’s identify turned quicky to Jodi Boeckermann, 64, who disappeared in October 2021. She was last known to be driving a Pontiac Grand Am. She bad been the ibject of searches s by the volunteers with yhe group Adventures with Purpose. The divers had searched reservoirs and streams previously for Boeckerman but not the Ready-Mix retention pond. There is no obvious road into the pond.
R.I.P.: Amelia Ohlendorf
WINONA, Minn. — Amelia Marie (Limas) Ohlendorf, 72, who moved to Minnesota and then Wisconsin after retiring from a postal job in California, died at Methodist Hospital in Rochester from pancreatic cancer. Her family said she loved doing karaoke and once even played in a band. She was passionate about fashion. She always accessories ed her outfits with jewelry, wigs, and anything with a little glitter. She called herself a fashion collector.
Details: Hoff Funeral Home
1951-2023
I-90 rollover at Dakota injures Wisconsin pair
DAKOTA, Minn. – Two Wisconsin teenagers were injured in a one-car rollover at the Interstate 90 spaghetti fork to Winona at Dakota. Noah Todd Kammuelle, 17, of Wisconsin Rapids, the driver, and Logan Alexander Cullen, 18, of Pittsville, were taken 14 miles to a LaCrosse hospital. Winona County deputies described their injuries as non-life threatening. Their 2009 Ford Fusion was eastbound toward LaCrosse. The vehicle left the roadway, drove over both southbound lanes of Highway 61 and rolled. This was about 12:20 p.m.
State tax coffers strong but behind projections
ST. PAUL, Minn. — The latest report on state tax collections shows the Minnesota economy kept humming a in May, even though revenue was a tad less than projections. The state Budget Office said revenue in May totaled $1.87 billion – one-half of 1% behind predictions. By category:
> Individual income taxes: $790 million (behind $45million.
> Sales taxes: $553 million (behind $2 million).
> Corporate taxes: $72 million (behind $13 million).
> Other revenue: $413 million (ahead $53 million).
Since the fiscal year began in July, revenues have totaled $26.9 billion dollars — 1.1% more than forecast.
Uninvited rattlesnake escorted away
WINONA, Minn. – A rattlesnake basking in the morning sun was reported up County Road 9 near the Cedar Valley golf course. Deputies summoned a snake-handler who removed the snake to a remote location.
Marred car’s owner suspects over-the-top revenge
WINONA, Minn. – Somebody really did a job on a parked car in the 600 block of Mankato. Avenue. It was spray-painted. Wires under the hood were cut. So too was the under-dash fusebox. Who did all this? The car’s owner, who discovered the damage about 9:30 a.m., told police she suspected retaliation by the ex-boyfriend of a relative after a nasty split. Police contacted the guy. Nope, he said. He’d had been at work all night, and his alibi checked out. Does the woman have ither suspects in mind? None she can think of.
Chimney fire shuts down UM-Rochester classes
ROCHESTER, Minn. – Fire forced evacuation of the University of Minnesota-Rochester classroom building in the former Galleria retail building downtown. No one was injured. The fire was reported about 7:40 a.m. with smoke from the roof. Smoke-activated alarms had already sounded when firefighters arrived. The building was already evacuated. Automatically activated sprinklers caused water damage in the first and second floors. The whole interior was a haze.. Investigators said the fire probably originated in chimney exhausts shared by two restaurants. Firefighters said it would take several hours to locate every last hot spot. It was uncertain how long classes would be cancelled.
A general alarm. Firefighters dropped dry chemical chimney bombs from the roof. Image: Rochester Fire Department
Emergency, fire crews make 43 calls
WINONA, Minn. – The Fire Department reported 29 emergency medical calls plus 14 fire calls in recent days:
> Tuesday, June 27: 4 medical calls plus 3 fire calls.
> Monday, June 26: no medical calls plus no fire call.
> Sunday, June 25: 5 medical calls plus 1 fire call.
> Saturday, June 24: 9 medical calls plus 3 fire calls.
> Friday, June 23: 3 medical calls plus 4 fire calls.
> Thursday, June 22: 4 medical calls plus 1 fire call.
> Wednesday, June 21: 4 medical calls plus 2 fire call.
Earlier: Emergency, fire crews 62 calls
Rochester re-opening vandalized park toilets
ROCHESTER, Minn. — After gallons of Clorox and countless hours of elbow grease, the city has begun re-opening park restrooms that had been horribly desecrated and vandalized. All the closed facilities should be usable again by Friday, said Paul Widman. parks director, The vandalism had been worsening for weeks but had become so bad by lasty Friday the decision was made to lock the doors. The usual clean-up crews couldn’t keep up. Needles and other drug paraphernalia were scattered everywhere, human excrement was smeared all over, and driers and plumbing were damaged. The stench of stale urine and vomit was overwhelming, this in parks some of which were designed for picnicking
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