Authorities on June 30 charged a 40-year-old man with second-degree murder after the bodies of two women were found in the same man’s vault.

The dismembered bodies of Manije “Mani” Staren, 34, and Fanta Zayavong, 33, belonged to the same Minnesota man, Joseph Stephen Jorgenson, 40.2 Found in two separate vaults. according to At a St. Paul police press conference in early July. The two women were reportedly in an “abusive relationship with Jorgenson” at the time of their disappearance.

Zayavong, a mother of two, disappeared in 2021. according to to the Huffington Post. Those investigating her disappearance gave information about Jorgenson to the St. Paul Police Department after Stalen was also reported missing. Jorgenson was already a person of interest in Stalen’s case, so when investigators searched his vault, they found the dismembered bodies of two women.

Stalen’s neighbors said they saw her with “black eyes and red marks on her neck” and offered to call the police on her behalf. Ms Stalen reportedly told her that this “will only make things worse”. Footage filmed outside Stalen’s apartment reportedly showed her running away from Jorgenson, who caught up with her and dragged her into her home. She was never seen on camera again. (Related: Missing Oregon mother found dead outside barn: report)

Jorgenson made about 28 trips to her apartment over the next week, using her debit card to buy a bucket, six boxes of plastic wrap, paper towels, trash bags and other types of cleaning supplies. He is currently being held in Ramsey County Jail on $5 million bail.

An investigation is ongoing and anyone with information has been asked to report it. contact BCA tip line.