The Untold Story of Paige Birgfeld

June 9, 2008

Some of you may remember my dear friend, Paige, who went missing almost a year ago. “Went missing” is the official way of putting it, but those who know her, know the true story is that she was abducted. The media jumped on her story, mainly because of the unknown aspects of her life that made for good TV drama.

Just to take care of that white elephant in the room, she is a single mom of 3 who worked several jobs to simply try and keep a roof over their head and food on the table after her ex-husband left HER up to her eyeballs in debt from all the times he refinanced the house…under her name.

Paige
Paige Birgfeld

I want to clear the air about a few other things before going any further: the relationship between her second husband (father of all 3 kids) and her was an abusive one and like many abusive relationships, he had a hold on her that caused much strain even after she finally built her courage up enough to give him the boot. One example of the hold he had was using her credit for all the bills after he ruined his.

If you have followed this story at all, you are aware that Paige lived in a million dollar home but the part you probably don’t know is that she tried for over a year to sell the house to get out from under it. Even the best offer would have left her with a quarter million dollar debt from it.

So here comes that revelation that runs counter to the seedy side the TV is focusing on. PAIGE IS BEAUTIFUL, and resorted back to a lifestyle she was familiar with to make ends meet. In her pre-mom/wife days, Paige was an exotic dancer, so she fell back on what was most lucrative. Paige became an escort. Now this job seems to be the most aired part of her life, but the fact is that Paige actually had 4 other jobs to try to make ends meet, and she would do other odd jobs when they became available if the hours worked around her kids.

That’s right, through all of this mess, Paige’s main concern was being there for her kids, all the time. She was there when they woke up, took them to school, all their extra-curricular activities and made sure they had home cooked meals often.

Now to those other jobs, the ones you probably won’t hear about on TV.

Paige was a Director with The Pampered Chef. That is an accomplishment to be proud of and she brought in as much as $5000 a month doing this work.

Paige also sold Maya Wrap baby slings, helping her to be an advocate in an area near and dear to her heart, promoting breast feeding and close bonding with your children.

Paige also worked as a mystery shopper, which helped to not only pay the bills, but put groceries on the table, get necessary car maintenance and pay for those occasional meals out [that] every single mom enjoys.

But her pride and joy, job wise, was her baby Brain Dance. Paige worked with various local daycare centers teaching dance lessons to preschool age kids, in a way that was unique…think trying to pop bubbles with your toes as a way of learning to stretch for ballet. Smart, huh?! Now a few of these daycare centers were low income, and Paige didn’t want these kids to miss out, so she bought the necessary tap shoes and leotards so the students could participate despite the struggles their families faced at home financially. Oh, on top of it all, she made all the costumes for the recitals and then kept them to use in class to dress up and act the part in the dance lessons. I wonder how many minutes of airtime this part of her story will get?

So, why am I spewing all of this now, almost one year later? Well, one of the networks that had an interest in her story will be airing their “investigative show” this coming Tuesday, June 10. While I am excited that this will bring attention back to Paige’s case, maybe pushing someone over the edge and finally getting them to break down and share what they know (possibly the one clue we need to find her) I have also seen some of the other shows and am leery to see how MY friend is portrayed.

ABC aired a story on her last year, a few months after she disappeared and did a real smear job on her. Her true friends, the ones who have known her for years and in some cases, decades, as well as her family (you know, those who’ve known her all her life) were given but a few minutes to share their knowledge and thoughts on Paige while some local “hooker” was given twice the time to promote her business, oh sorry, to share her “knowledge” about how far Paige went for her clients.

Hmmm…who’s motives were truer, the people who love her, know her and were around her every day and knew the many aspects of her life? Or someone who heard through the grapevine that she “went all the way” who is in the same line of work, probably benefiting from her air time.

So, needless to say, I am a little peeved at the way she’s been portrayed. Oh, and those 24 hours networks? They did a real number on her, too. I had much respect for Gretta Van Sustren of Fox News until she cut the people she interviewed off so much that only her words and opinions came through on Paige.

CBS Early Show did an okay job, but again, not a lot of POSITIVE on this missing mother of 3 came out.

So, CBS will be airing it’s 48 Hours:Vanished show on Paige this Tuesday, June 10, and I am eager to see just how much of the interviews they show and whether they try to focus on the POSITIVE like the friends and family asked. I wonder how much of the hour long show will be devoted to her case at all.

If you view this show, please keep in mind that the networks are out for ratings far more that truth and fairness. I am open to questions and would much rather someone ask me than assume or make a judgment based on a TV show.

Yes, I knew about her “other line of work”. She was kind enough to offer for my family and I to stay with her while we looked for a home after my husband transferred out here from St Louis (even when we didn’t know how long it would take). My husband had been out here for a few months while the rest of us remained in St Louis until some housing became available. Not wanting to see a family split up like that, she offered for us to move into her home while we continued our home search.

For a few months we lived together, caring for each other’s kids, working together to help each other out and with that came knowledge of all aspects of each other’s lives. She didn’t hide it though, the question just never came up. I didn’t know the financial details of her life, how in debt she was or how much she had to bring in each month, I just knew she was struggling.

Once I did know, I didn’t judge. It’s not my place. I haven’t walked in her shoes. I am her friend and that doesn’t change. I am there for my friends when they need me, isn’t that what friendship is about?!

Also, keep praying!! Someone, somewhere knows something. We all want to see her brought home, no matter what condition. Her family needs closure and the perp who did this needs to be off the streets for sure.

(Editor’s Note: The author of this touching piece is a close personal friend of Paige Birgfeld. The author’s name is being withheld. The views expressed in this post are those of the author and not necessarily those of Help Find The Missing.)

Written by Guest Blogger · Filed Under Media and the Missing, Missing Women, Paige Birgfeld 

Comments

5 Responses to “The Untold Story of Paige Birgfeld”

  1. packy on June 10th, 2008 7:17 am

    Thanks to the friend who spoke out to bring a more real view of Paige.

    Bless her heart.

  2. stacey on June 10th, 2008 8:39 pm

    I JUST VIEWED THE 48 HOURS STORY ABOUT PAIGE, I HACE A VERY STRONG FEELING WHO DOD THIS TO HER AND I BELIEVE THE POLICE WILL BRING HIM TO JUSTICE WHEN THEY CAN,,
    I THINK HIRING A PSYCHIC IN THIS CASE WOULD HELP TREMEDOUSLY.
    I REALLY WISHED THAT HER PARENTS WOULD HAVE WON CUSTODY OF HER 3 BEAUTIFUL CHILDREN..NOT HER JERK OF A HUSBAND WHO HELPD TAKE HER DOWN THE WRONG PATH,,,
    THIS IS ONE OF THE SADEST REAL LIFE STORU I HAVE EVER SEEN..
    I AM A MOMMY AND I CANT IMAGINE MY CHILDREN LIVING WITHOUT ME.
    I HOPE HER PARENTS AND FAMILY AND FREINDS NEVER GIVE UP..AND ONE DAY HER KILLER WILL BE BROUGHT TO JUSTICE!
    PAIGE IS IN A BETTER PLACE NOW AND I HOPE AND PRAY THAT BRINGS SOME KIND OF COMFORT TO HER FAMILY AND HER FRIENDS.

    SHE WAS AN ANGEL TO HER CJILDREN AND HER FAMILU! THE SEATCH MUST GO ON…
    LIKE HER FATHER FRANK SAIDl WERE COMMING FOR YOU PAIGE!

    NEVER GIVE UP HOPE EVER!

    MY LOVE AND PRAYERS GO OUT TO HER FAMILY AND HER FRIENDS.

    WE CAN DO ALL THINGS THRU CHRIST WHO STRENGTHENS US.

  3. Lisa on December 18th, 2008 2:49 am

    Paige was blessed to have such a loyal and loving friend. Thank you for sharing this side of Paige with us. My heart goes out to the family and friends. I keep hoping that new information appears. We all wait. I would be willing to help in the search.. email me if needed. This lady needs to be brought home.

  4. Ghost Writer on December 18th, 2008 8:04 am

    Lisa, the Abby and Jennifer Recovery Foundation, headed up by Connie Flukey, is continuing the search for Paige. You might contact AJRF to volunteer. I doubt that there is much going on in the middle of Winter, but I know the search will resume when the weather turns.

    http://www.abbyjenniferrf.org/

  5. Laura Nicholson on March 1st, 2009 12:25 am

    I just watched “48 Hours Mystery” concerning Paige’s case and I found it to be frank and non-judgemental. Although they discuss Paige’s “other” side (as they should because it has bearing on the case) they also emphasize what a wonderful and caring mother she was. I appreciated their approach very much because although they acknowledge “the other side” of her life, they don’t let it overwhelm the telling of her story. No matter anyone’s lifestyle, they all deserve justice in this world.
    I also appreciated your comments and feelings as expressed above because it shows how true friends stay true no matter what.
    I was shocked to learn the her children had been given back to there biological father, despite the Grandparents petitioning for custody. It made me think “how could this happen??!!” After threatening the children & their mother? Does he even have any money to support them?
    I hope one day the truth about what happened to Paige will be discovered….until then keep her true memory alive!!

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