The murder ofPaige Birgfeld occurred on June 28, 2007, in Grand Junction, Colorado.[1][2] Birgfeld, a 34-year-old woman, was reported missing by her 8-year-old daughter. On July 1, 2007, Birgfeld's red Ford Focus car was found on fire in a parking lot, without any trace of Birgfeld. The investigation into her disappearance took an unexpected turn when it was discovered that Birgfeld was living a double life as an escort in a secret business called Models Inc., under the alias "Carrie".[1]
Her remains were discovered on March 6, 2012, in the Route 50 area of Wells Gulch in Delta County,[3][4] approximately 30 miles (48 km) southeast of Grand Junction.[4] Among the remains was duct tape, leading authorities to conclude that Birgfeld had been kidnapped and murdered.[3] Lester Ralph Jones was the prime suspect in Birgfeld's disappearance.[5] Jones was Birgfeld's former client with a history of domestic violence.[5][6][7] In November 2014, 63-year-old Jones was charged with kidnapping, first-degree murder, felony murder, and second-degree murder involving the death of Paige Birgfeld.[6][7] On December 27, 2016, Jones was found guilty on all charges and sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole.[8] Jones is currently serving his sentence at the Fremont Correctional Facility.[9]
The disappearance and murder of Birgfeld attracted national attention and become subject of extensive media coverage.[10][11][12]
Victim
Paige Meredith Birgfeld[13] was born on April 27, 1973, in Atlanta, Georgia.[14] At some point she along with her parents moved to Denver, Colorado, where she attended high school.[13] In 1995, Birgfeld married her high school boyfriend, Howard "Ron" Beigler.[15] Birgfeld studied nursing for a period at the University of Florida.[16] They divorced in 1997 because Beigler did not want children and Birgfeld did. Her parents, Suzanne and Frank Birgfeld, described her as "a loving, devoted, and excellent mother".[15][17]
In 1997, Birgfeld met Rob Dixon, a wealthy businessman whom she married a year later.[18] The couple moved to a big house on Hill Avenue, in Grand Junction, Colorado.[19][20] Birgfeld and Dixon had three children: Jess, Taft, and Kohl.[21] The two had a complicated and volatile relationship, to the point where Birgfeld called 911 after a dispute in 2004.[8][18] Birgfeld stated that her husband had threatened that she would "come home and find [their children] all murdered".[21] A year later, Birgfeld accused Dixon of attacking her, leading to him being charged with third-degree assault.[8][18] In 2006, they divorced, and Dixon moved to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.[8][18] Birgfeld kept the house and custody of their three children.
Birgfeld worked different jobs after her second divorce,[22] including her pre-school dance business and sold high-end kitchen supplies for a company called Pampered Chef.[18][22] At the time of her disappearance, Birgfeld had started reconnecting romantically with her first ex-husband, Howard Beigler.[18]
Disappearance
Grand Junction, the city where Birgfeld resided at time of her disappearance.
On June 28, 2007, Birgfeld left her home around 1 p.m. to meet Beigler for a picnic day.[23] They were together until 7 p.m., then they separated and kept in touch via phone call.[23] Beigler was one of the last people to speak to and see Birgfeld alive.[23] Birgfeld never came home.
Later, Birgfeld's 8-year-old daughter, Jess, went to the Mesa County Sheriff's Office to report her mother missing after she did not return home.[1][2] After Birgfeld's disappearance, her brother, Craig, moved with his family from Seattle, Washington, to Birgfeld's house to help take care of her three kids.[18] Mesa County Sheriff Stan Hilkey was convinced that Birgfeld had not left of her own accord.[18]
On July 1, around 10 p.m., a 911 call reported what was later identified as Birgfeld's red Ford Focus in flames in an empty parking lot two miles from her house.[24] In Birgfeld's car and on Highway 50, police found personal items, checks, and business cards from a company named Models Inc.[25] Police looked through Birgfeld's computer and cell phone and discovered Models Inc. was an escort business, which Birgfeld managed.[25] There were also websites with Birgfeld's photo where she was known as a high-priced escort named Carrie.[1][26] Birgfeld was leading a secret double life as an escort.[12] According to Birgfeld's parents, she likely did it to financially support her children and provide for their lifestyle.[12] Biegler, Birgfeld's first husband, stated that she had previously worked as a freelance exotic dancer.[12]
Search and investigation
The Mesa County Sheriff's Office and the Grand Junction community launched a "massive" search to find Birgfeld.[27] Search parties were dispatched to search the area, and missing person posters were put up for Birgfeld.[27] Many volunteers were involved in the search for Birgfeld, in vehicles, on horseback, and with diving equipment.[27]
Mesa County Sheriff's Office had several suspects, including Birgfeld's ex-husbands, especially Dixon, but both had alibis.[12] At the start of the investigation, authorities focused on Beigler, as he had been with Birgfeld on the day of her disappearance, and they met for a picnic.[18] The sheriffs office also had the names of clients of Models Inc., of which there were more than 60 suspects.[3] In October 2007,[17] Rubinstein's team was able to find the main suspect on the list since that suspect used a track phone.
The suspect was Lester Ralph Jones, then 56, a motorhome mechanic who was married at the time.[3][28] Jones initially denied knowing Birgfeld, until officers showed him his call logs, where he had contacted Birgfeld and her escort agency before Birgfeld's disappearance.[29] Jones has a previous criminal record, including a five-year prison sentence for first-degree assault and second-degree attempted kidnapping of his ex-wife.[30][6][7] Chief Deputy District Attorney Dan Rubenstein said that both he and the police were certain Jones was responsible for Birgfeld's disappearance, but it was difficult to arrest him without her body.[3]
Discovery of body
On March 6, 2012, at 12:30 pm, hikers found skeletal remains in the Route 50 area of Wells Gulch in Delta County,[4][31] approximately 30 miles (48 km) southeast of Grand Junction.[4] Police were able to identify the remains as Paige Birgfeld from dental records.[1][31] Rubenstein said, "There were some very key evidentiary things that we located, specifically there was duct tape that was around her skull and mandible, that indicates that she was kidnapped".[3] Prosecutors and police concluded that Birgfeld had been kidnapped and murdered.[3] However, due to the condition of her body, they were unable to determine the cause of death.[32]
Criminal action
In November 2014, Jones was charged with kidnapping, first-degree murder, felony murder, and second-degree murder involving the death of Paige Birgfeld.[6][7][8]
On July 25, 2016, the first trial began. The prosecutors argued that Jones kidnapped and murdered Birgfeld, drove her car down Highway 50, dumped her body in a ravine, and then returned to Grand Junction, where he set her car on fire.[28] Although Jones was initially charged with arson, the charge was later dismissed due to the statute of limitations expiring.[33][28] In September 2016, the first trial against Jones was declared a mistrial because the jury could not agree on a verdict.[33][28]
In the second trial, on December 27, 2016, the jury found Jones guilty of all charges and sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole.[8][3]
48 Hours S21E16 "The Secret Life of Paige Birgfeld." (2008) – First broadcast in the US on June 10, 2008, prior to the discovery of Birgfeld's body in March 2012 by CBS.[34]
Disappeared S01E2 "A Mother's Secret" (2010) – First broadcast in the US on January 11, 2010, prior to the discovery of her body in March 2012.
Dateline NBC S23E52 "The Secret Life of a Soccer Mom" (2015) – First broadcast in the US on May 29, 2015.[35]
Dateline: Secrets Uncovered S9E44 "Double Lives" (2021) – First broadcast in the US on February 12, 2021.
20/20 (2021) – ABC News premiered a special episode about the disappearance and murder of Paige Birgfeld in May, 2021.[8][36]
The Killer in My Family S04E7 "Lester Jones" (2023) – First broadcast in the UK on June 2, 2023, about Lisa Nance, Jones's former wife, describing the abuse she endured during their marriage. Nance testified in the trial.
World's Most Evil Killers S08E1 "Lester Jones" (2023) – First broadcast in the UK on November 23, 2023.
