A tipster who reported a Minnesota woman missing before her body was found in a storage unit last week said he tried to get her help for a drug addiction but was threatened by a man whom authorities have identified as a person of interest in her case, law enforcement documents show.
“JORGENSON threatened to kill him,” the documents say, adding that the tipster provided text messages showing the threats.
The tipster, who didn’t respond to a request for comment, described Jorgenson as “very abusing” toward Xayavong, according to the documents.
That friend said Xayavong struggled with drug addiction and attempted to get her into rehab, but Jorgenson threatened to kill him.
That tip came in as investigators were already searching for Starren, who vanished in April.
Similar to Xayavong, Starren's father said his missing daughter struggled with drug addiction, and told investigators "she was supposed to go into a drug treatment center, but never showed up."
Two families are now forever linked by tragedy. Xayavong's family donated to Starren's with this message: "On behalf of the Xayavong family, we would like to send our deepest condolences. With so much love and appreciation, we are able to put our little sister to rest."
Police say they can't rule out Jorgenson being connected to other missing women.
Rocky Graziano Jr., who was married for a time to one of Xayavong’s older sisters, recalled her as a light spirit who loved to laugh and joke around with family. He first met her when she was about 14.
“She was a sweetheart. She was like my little sister,” he said Friday. “She had one of the greatest smiles.”
Her family, who was originally from Laos, lived in North Minneapolis before moving to a house in Apple Valley that he helped fix up for them. When Xayavong’s mother died in 2010, Graziano recalled her eldest sister stepping into the motherly role over the six children, of which Xavayong was the youngest daughter.
Police asked on Friday that anyone who has information regarding Jorgenson and other people who may be missing to contact the BCA tipline at 877-996-6222 or [email protected]. It’s not known whether there could be other cases linked to him, Ernster said.
“We don’t know and I think that’s the part that we want to know,” Ernster said. “… This started as a simple tip, somebody that cared for somebody and made that phone call and it led to (Xayavong’s) discovery. Unfortunately, she was deceased. Hopefully, … somebody can call and we can get ahead of this curve.”
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