Paige Birgfeld Missing from Grand Junction, CO since June 28

[The Kitchen Guy]

Paige Birgfeld, aka Paige Dixon receieved a telephone call on the evening of June 28, 2007. She left her children in the care of her live-in nanny, left her Grand Junction home at 10:00 PM, and has not been seen since.

Edited To Add: Paige did NOT receive a telephone call that evening, that we know of, anyway, and leave her home. She had been out all day, on a picnic with her first ex-husband. After leaving him, she never returned home and has never been seen again. The misinformation in the first paragraph came from news reports at the time of her disappearance. For more information about Paige and her disappearance, please visit the blog area of Help Find The Missing (http://helpfindthemissing.org/blog/?cat=28).

http://mas.scripps.com/DRMN/2007/07/02/435134094_o.jpg

Her car was found ablaze in a parking lot the following Sunday evening.

The 34 year old mother of three was a hard working and dedicated mother. She was an award-winning sales director with The Pampered Chef and formed many friendships with fellow Pampered Chef consultants. It also seems, however, that Paige was also leading a secret life and the sordid details all came out as the case developed.

The Mesa County Sheriff's Department has named a person of interest but no arrests have been made.

Grande uncovered a great deal of information in this case, to which the friends and family of Paige are extremely grateful. Since mid August, the flow of information has slowed and there have been no new developments. She was profiled on ABC and a part of that broadcast is still available on the ABC News website. She was also profiled on AMW.

To no avail, though, as Paige is still missing.

Someone, somewhere, has information that can lead authorities to the location of Paige. Can you help solve this case and give some relief and rest to her family and friends?

[MadamForeman]

Thank You ~ Kitchen Guy, for the post on this Missing Woman. I think I recall a brief segment being featured on her case over the summer. However, as she is still missing, that seems to have been to no avail, so I am sure everyone here will join you in spreading the word, and helping in any way each of us can to assist in the effort to discover Paige's whereabouts. She seems to be such a lovely lady with a family, and this is another tragic case of a missing female adult.

Do you have further info or deatils. Perhaps you have some links to post on the case? At any rate, i am glad you posted this story here, and I am sure everyone here will look at it, and spread the word! After all, any missing person can be anywhere at any time!

God Bless Paige and her Family

[Grande]

Paige Birgfeld, aka Paige Dixon receieved a telephone call on the evening of June 28, 2007. She left her children in the care of her live-in nanny, left her Grand Junction home at 10:00 PM, and has not been seen since.

http://mas.scripps.com/DRMN/2007/07/02/435134094_o.jpg

Her car was found ablaze in a parking lot the following Sunday evening.

The 34 year old mother of three was a hard working and dedicated mother. She was an award-winning sales director with The Pampered Chef and formed many friendships with fellow Pampered Chef consultants. It also seems, however, that Paige was also leading a secret life and the sordid details all came out as the case developed.

The Mesa County Sheriff's Department has named a person of interest but no arrests have been made.

Grande uncovered a great deal of information in this case, to which the friends and family of Paige are extremely grateful. Since mid August, the flow of information has slowed and there have been no new developments. She was profiled on ABC and a part of that broadcast is still available on the ABC News website. She was also profiled on AMW.

To no avail, though, as Paige is still missing.

Someone, somewhere, has information that can lead authorities to the location of Paige. Can you help solve this case and give some relief and rest to her family and friends?


Great to see you KitchenGuy. I continue to have hope for Paige and her family. I think of them daily along with all of the wonderful people I met at chefsuccess during the initial investigation.

[The Kitchen Guy]

Madam Foreman, I think all of the vital information about this case can be found in the sticky. Every news story that I read, and a few I don't remember seeing, are in that thread.

Grande, it's good to see you, too. I'm impressed with your site, your message, and your dedication to bringing people home.

I'm broadcasting to eveyone I know about this site.

(If you ever get a change, drop in over at the other place and say, "Hi!" You're missed!)

[Zoltan]

Madam Foreman, I think all of the vital information about this case can be found in the sticky. Every news story that I read, and a few I don't remember seeing, are in that thread.

Grande, it's good to see you, too. I'm impressed with your site, your message, and your dedication to bringing people home.

I'm broadcasting to eveyone I know about this site.

(If you ever get a change, drop in over at the other place and say, "Hi!" You're missed!)

Kitchen Guy, thanks for visiting my blog and helping to spread the word on your blog and the Chef Sucess site about missing persons.

I think we found a new advocate and it has been my pleasure to see you follow Paige's case. I think Paige would be very happy to know you have tried to help her. In fact, I'm sure.

Zoltan knows all...LOL.. I have seen all the wonderful things you have said, about Grande, Carpe Noctem, and myself...

From Carpe and I - Thank you again for all the kind words... they really mean alot to us.

As for Paige's case, I think we all know who did it. Unfortunately, there does not appear to be much evidence. A burnt out car leaves few traces.

[The Kitchen Guy]

Zoltan knows all...LOL..

I know - I would HATE to be a goof knowing you were after me!

Thank you for your kind words. To be perfectly honest, I had no idea that your world even existed. What happened to Paige is the sort of thing that only happens on television, or if it does, to someone we don't know.

When Paige went missing, I was stunned! That's when I met Grande and, in turn, became familiar with you and your work. I'll do my best to let the world know that you're here and the great work you are doing.

[chefkristin]

Thanks KG for letting us know about this.
Hi Grande-Long time no see. Hope your doing well!

[Grande]

Thanks KG for letting us know about this.
Hi Grande-Long time no see. Hope your doing well!

ChefKristen,

I'm doing great, thanks for asking. I miss you all. I appreciate the warm welcome from you folks as I pursued leads in the Paige Birfeld case. Please send everyone my warm regards, I look forward to chatting with you all again in the near future.

[MomToEli]

Hi Grande. Hi Kitchen Guy. It's good to see you both, but so sad that it is under the circumstances of Paige still missing.

Grande, I need to go find out the latest on Robert (I know he was arrested). Kuddos to you for engaging him the way you did.

[Grande]

Hi Grande. Hi Kitchen Guy. It's good to see you both, but so sad that it is under the circumstances of Paige still missing.

Grande, I need to go find out the latest on Robert (I know he was arrested). Kuddos to you for engaging him the way you did.

Hi Mom, Great to see you.

Thank you for stopping in, I look forward to talking to you again it has been too long. Be sure and tell everyone I said hello and that I think of them often. I continue to have hope that Justice will be served in Paige's case.

Talk to you soon.

[janetupnorth]

Thanks KG for referring us here and posting on Paige.

Grande - "hi" and thanks for all you do and continue to do and for your "co-workers" on this site.

I hope all the cases get answers!

[Grande]

Thanks KG for referring us here and posting on Paige.

Grande - "hi" and thanks for all you do and continue to do and for your "co-workers" on this site.

I hope all the cases get answers!

Hi Janet, long time no see. Hope all is well for you and yours!

[janetupnorth]

Hi Janet, long time no see. Hope all is well for you and yours!

Doing good - had some people from your neck of the woods up by me today for work. ...trying to stay warm in our below zero weather!

Thanks in advance for keeping us posted on Paige - KG does it DAILY on Chef Success for us...now that is dedication! ...and you guys do an INCREDIBLE amount of work on all these cases.

I wish there had been the internet this advanced and groups like this when Beri went missing in 1990. ...we struggled to get information. People don't realize how nice it is to hear something, anything on these cases if you know the person.

Keep up the good work!

[Grande]

Doing good - had some people from your neck of the woods up by me today for work. ...trying to stay warm in our below zero weather!

Thanks in advance for keeping us posted on Paige - KG does it DAILY on Chef Success for us...now that is dedication! ...and you guys do an INCREDIBLE amount of work on all these cases.

I wish there had been the internet this advanced and groups like this when Beri went missing in 1990. ...we struggled to get information. People don't realize how nice it is to hear something, anything on these cases if you know the person.

Keep up the good work!

My pleasure Janet, if I could do more I would.

Thanks for making me feel welcome at CS during my 'stay' there. I thoroughly enjoyed our discussions. I look forward to the day Paige's family & friends get Justice.

[Pauli]

I have updated the main website http://helpfindthemissing.org and have added Paige's pix to the slide show and a direct link to her forum here.

[The Kitchen Guy]

Thank you for making those changes - I look forward to the day that we can remove Paige from the opening page and close this thread.

[dannyzmom]

Hey everyone...it's nice to have this place to come to. I am saddened to read about all the other missing people. Grande - hey, how are ya? KG - thanks for getting us over here.

[The Kitchen Guy]

The Grand Junction Daily Sentinel is asking readers to vote for the most important local news story of this year. Although it's intended to be for subscribers and local residents, no doubt those who live outside the area will be voing for such stories as Paige's disappearance and the collapse of the Crandall Canyon coal mine that killed six miners. Also on the list is the more national story, fugitive and illegal contributor to the Democratic National Party, Norman Hsu, took ill on an Amtrak train while fleeing prosecution and was taken off the train in Grand Junction, eventually ending up in the Mesa County Jail.

You can view the list of stories here (http://www.gjsentinel.com/news/content/gen/spcl/top10.html).

When I last looked, Paige's disappearance had over 20% of the vote and lead the other stories, although only 54 votes had been cast when I last looked at the results page (http://www.gjsentinel.com/news/content/gen/spcl/top10.html).

[jitterbug]

I've been trying to find out more information on Paige but haven't heard any news lately. Hopefully we will hear something soon.

[Pauli]

There hasn't been any I don't believe.. I keep looking every day or so and can't find a thing. That's the problem, they let some of these missing just slip right out of the news and out of the public eye.

[The Kitchen Guy]

There hasn't been any I don't believe.. I keep looking every day or so and can't find a thing. That's the problem, they let some of these missing just slip right out of the news and out of the public eye.

I check daily and post the results on a forum that Paige frequently visited. I'm also in touch with her parents and if anything breaks in this story, this forum will be second to know. (The aforementioned forum will be first.)

[The Kitchen Guy]

And the winner is…

Link: Dennis Herzog | Wednesday, December 19, 2007, 01:48 PM (http://www.gjsentinel.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/communities/herzog/entries/2007/12/19/index.html)

We thought we were on to a pretty good idea a month or so ago when we decided to let GJSentinel.com readers decide the top local stories of 2007.

For many years the news staff has decided that.

Why, we thought, is our judgment any better than readers?

Well, the results are in. They’re not terribly surprising, except in one instance, and we know the reason for that (more about it later).

What we didn’t expect was that there would be intense competition for the top spot. Posters on the The Pampered Chef’s user forum (http://chefsuccess.com/f18/) did everything they could to ensure that the story about the disappearance of Paige Birgfeld would be the No. 1 local story of 2007. They urged people to vote and vote often.

They, of course, understandably want to create as much publicity as possible about the disappearance of the Grand Junction mother of three. They have been active in the search for her since the day she disappeared. And, as you can see, were genuinely upset when some readers decided they’d do the same thing and push the tragic story of former law officer Patrick Strawmatt, who killed two Mesa State College students while he was driving drunk on I-70.

What both groups did was within the rules. Our goal was to get people to use GJSentinel.com, and they did. Unfortunately for the Paige Birgfeld disappearance supporters, the Strawmatt story ended up No. 1. You can read about the latest developments in that story when we recap it on Dec. 30. But all was not lost. We’ll also recap the Paige Birgfeld story and if there are new developments we’ll report those, too, as we will anytime there is new information. In fact we’ll write about all of the top 10 local news stories and top 10 sports stories. Tentative plans call for them all to run on Dec. 29 and 30.

But about that No. 3 story, which turned out to be the impact the Grand Junction arts and culture community has on the local economy. I don’t want to minimize the impact, nor do I want anyone to think I’m not supportive of arts and culture in Mesa County. But I suspect that had the newsroom voted on the top stories we would have come out with the same top two. The order may have been reversed, but Birgfeld and Strawmatt were both huge stories in 2007. I doubt, though, that the arts would have been No. 3.

I’m told by good sources in the newsroom that one reason the arts story ended up where it was is that one arts and entertainment reporter for The Daily Sentinel e-mailed a few people and urged them to vote for that story. That, too, I suppose, is within the rules.

I don’t really care why you voted. I just want to thank all of you who did for taking the time to let us know what you think.

[The Kitchen Guy]

Merry Christmas, Everyone!

Sadly, there is no Christmas gift for us in the form of new developments in the case of Paige Birgfeld. :missing:

I just got home from church and family things a little while ago, and it hit me very hard tonight that Paige is alone out there in the world somewhere, away from her children who must miss her beyond description this day. Her parents and the rest of her family, plus all of her friends, also miss her immensely, in a way that defies words. It can only be felt in your heart.

Merry Christmas, Paige, where ever you are. We all miss you. We all love you. :1222423:

We want you to come home.

That's it. That's all we know as of 3:30 AM EST.
:1187603408.CR.Mothe

[MomToEli]

One day, Paige, you will be vindicated. I am so sorry that evil seems to be prevailing in your case. But in the end, whoever did this to you will pay for his crimes.

Paige's family, may you feel God's comfort this holiday season.

(And I still hold out hope that you are on an island somewhere sunny with an umbrella drink in your hand, laying on the beach, suffering from amnesia ...

[The Kitchen Guy]

Remember the vote on the website of the GJDS for the top ten news stories of 2007 in Grand Junction? Well, they're out. Here's our choice for number one, although we got outvoted:

No. 2 story of 2007: GJ mom with secret life vanishes

By GARY HARMON
The Daily Sentinel
Link: Grand Junction Daily Sentinel (http://www.gjsentinel.com/news/content/news/stories/2007/12/29/123007_1b_No_2_Birgfeld.html)


Saturday, December 29, 2007

Authorities have a suspect and a mystery, but they don’t yet have a case in the disappearance of a 34-year-old mother of three with a shadowed, sexy life.

Paige Birgfeld’s last known whereabouts were Eagle, where she drove June 28 for a liaison with her first husband. It wasn’t until June 30, however, that law enforcement was informed she hadn’t returned to her north Grand Junction home.

Her disappearance was disquieting enough, but on July 1, her 2005 red Ford Focus was found aflame in a business parking lot about two miles from her 14-room house, and near a business where Lester Ralph Jones worked.

Jones, it turned out, was among several men connected to the secret life of Birgfeld, who operated Models Inc. and was known to her customers as “Carrie,” an escort and exotic dancer. She also opened an acupuncture office, but didn’t hold a license to perform acupuncture.

A month after her disappearance, Mesa County Sheriff Stan Hilkey said it was clear that Birgfeld’s disappearance had no innocent explanation.

“Nothing during the course of our investigation has led us to believe that Paige walked away from her family or that she left of her own free will,” Hilkey said. “Unfortunately, we do suspect foul play in her disappearance and the subsequent arson of her vehicle.”

Investigators chipped away through the remainder of the year at the stories of her first husband, Howard Beigler and second husband, Rob Dixon, and other men they described as “persons of interest.” Investigators eventually ruled out all of them but Jones in Birgfeld’s disappearance.

Authorities, however, have made no arrests and Jones, who lives at 3072 Hill Ave., remains free.

Jones was sentenced in 1999 to five years in the Colorado Department of Corrections for kidnapping, in connection with a domestic violence case in Delta County.

Hilkey devoted full resources to Birgfeld’s disappearance and called in help as well from the Grand Junction Police Department’s investigations unit.

Frustrated, they eventually mobilized volunteers under the auspices of the Abby and Jennifer Recovery Center to search selected parts of Mesa County and Delta County after some of her belongings were found along U.S. Highway 50.

No other clues of Birgfeld’s whereabouts emerged, however, and she remains a missing person thought to have disappeared as a result of foul play.

Dixon was awarded custody of the children she had with him, over the objections of her parents, Frank and Suzanne Birgfeld, who were denied guardianship.

Today, her disappearance is a constant source of pain and discussion among her friends and acquaintances from across the country who, like her, sold Pampered Chef products.

Birgfeld, a frequent participant in discussions on www.chefsuccess.com, now is remembered on the site with a white ribbon next to the logo and a frequently updated thread on the “Chef’s Lounge” forum.

# # #

[Pauli]

How I wish they could arrest Jones and get him to tell where Paige is :1222423:

[janetupnorth]

A brief mention of Paige in another year-end story: http://www.gjfreepress.com/article/20080101/COMMUNITY_NEWS/159113610


A soldier didn’t come home.

Neither did a mother of three with a secret life.

In the Grand Valley in 2007, the lives of a young couple collided with a man once sworn to protect life, leaving death.

Oglesby, Kois, Brock, Strawmatt, Birgfeld — just a few of the people stories of 2007.

U.S. Army Cpl. Wade Oglesby died in April on a road north of Baghdad when the Humvee he was driving ran over an improvised explosive devise.

The 28-year-old, who aspired to a career in law enforcement, was laid to rest on a sunny Saturday as a horse-drawn carriage moved east along North Avenue in final tribute.

But there were others — including Army Spc. Marcus Leslie and Cpl. Kyle Kerr — who landed home safe and sound.

The last being Army Spc. Cody Boden, twice seriously wounded in Iraq, who was greeted by family in Grand Junction two days before Christmas.

A murder trial set for December went away with a series of guilty pleas in September by 43-year-old Patrick Strawmatt, a former police officer in Lafayette.

“We thank Mr. Strawmatt for pleading guilty and not putting us through something we could not handle,” Vern Brock, father of slain 19-year-old Jacob Brock, said during Strawmatt’s sentencing hearing.

Brock and Jennifer Kois, 19, both Mesa State College students, died when Strawmatt’s SUV slammed into the back of the young couple’s car on Interstate 70 the night of March 22.

Six months on, there are clues but no answers in the case of missing local woman Paige Birgfeld.

“We’ve concentrated on people who had or wanted to have contact with Paige the night of June 28, and eliminated everybody but Lester (Ralph) Jones,” Mesa County Sheriff Stan Hilkey said in October.

In other news, Dalton Trumbo was bronzed on Main Street, the Colorado National Monument named a new superintendent and a few local residents temporarily threw away their car keys.

[The Kitchen Guy]

The ABC Affiliate in Grand Junction, KJCT-TV8 (http://kjct8.com/Global/story.asp?S=7561994), has issued a year in review. Their number one story for the year is Paige.

Link: KJCT (http://kjct8.com/Global/story.asp?S=7561994)


Top Stories of 2007

A look back at the faces and places that captured your attention over the past 12 months.

Mother of three goes missing


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Paige Birgfeld, a Grand Junction mother of three was reported missing on June 30th. The car she was driving was found fully engulfed in a parking lot just miles away from her home just a few days later.


Investigators took a close look at Birgfeld's ex-husband Robert Dixon.. But was later removed from the suspect list by authorities.
Around the second week into her disappearance, it was discovered Paige was part of an escort business.
For the next few weeks, members of the community with the Abby and Jennifer Recovery Foundation searched for clues in the desert, along Highway 50.
By October, Lester Ralph Jones, at first named as a person of interest was the primary suspect. Although to date, he has not been arrested.


# # #

Follow the link to see the rest of the story.

[Grande]

For Paige and her family... :1222423:

[Harleymarley]

Remember the vote on the website of the GJDS for the top ten news stories of 2007 in Grand Junction? Well, they're out. Here's our choice for number one, although we got outvoted:

No. 2 story of 2007: GJ mom with secret life vanishes

By GARY HARMON
The Daily Sentinel
Link: Grand Junction Daily Sentinel (http://www.gjsentinel.com/news/content/news/stories/2007/12/29/123007_1b_No_2_Birgfeld.html)


Saturday, December 29, 2007

Authorities have a suspect and a mystery, but they don’t yet have a case in the disappearance of a 34-year-old mother of three with a shadowed, sexy life.

Paige Birgfeld’s last known whereabouts were Eagle, where she drove June 28 for a liaison with her first husband. It wasn’t until June 30, however, that law enforcement was informed she hadn’t returned to her north Grand Junction home.

# # # (snip)



Why is it under thread titled "My kids Dad is moving.." on the chef's lounge did someone write..."page come home we miss you" on July 18, 2007 and then on July 20, 2007 Paige comments again? Very confusing.

[The Kitchen Guy]

I went back and looked at the thread, and I think you just read the date incorrectly.

Paige's last post in the thread was on JUNE 20, not July 20.

The "Paige Come Home" that you refer to is either in a poster's avatar or in a signature line. Chef Success uses vBulletin as their engine, just as HFTM does.

When one changes their AV or signature line, they change on all their posts.

[Nut44x4]

Slowly saying goodbye
Saturday, March 15, 2008

Nearly nine months after the disappearance of Grand Junction woman Paige Birgfeld, some of her friends reluctantly embarked Saturday on the task of selling household items and seeking a buyer for her sprawling home north of town.

A garage sale that continues today at 2512 Oleaster Court offered a glimpse into Birgfeld’s life. For sale were: bolts of colorful fabric, a reminder of her love of sewing; toys that her kids have outgrown; merchandise from her business as a Pampered Chef consultant; and other mementos of the 34-year-old mother of three who inexplicably vanished June 28.

Friends are overseeing the garage sale because Paige’s parents, Frank and Suzanne Birgfeld, are visiting their grandchildren this week in Philadelphia. Paige’s second ex-husband Rob Dixon has custody of the kids and lives there.

The timing of the garage sale with Frank and Suzanne’s trip probably wasn’t coincidence, friends said.

“I always just think if it was my kids, I couldn’t do it, either,” said Connie Flukey, who helped orchestrate the sale. “We’ve seen them suffer enough already. This is hard enough for them to know that all her stuff is going to be gone.”

Flukey said most of the shoppers seemed to know the items belonged to Birgfeld’s family, and some people probably purchased more items than they needed to show support for the family.

Friends of Paige Birgfeld in the MOMs Club gathered in January, seven months to the day of her disappearance, to again say goodbye to their friend.

“It was a big relief for all of us,” Andrea Land said. “I think we all felt about 50 pounds lighter.”

A massive search effort was launched in the weeks following Birgfeld’s disappearance, but it produced few clues to her whereabouts or condition and prompted the Mesa County Sheriff’s Department to determine foul play was involved. Now, every time the media delivers another story about Birgfeld, who led a double life as an escort, those old wounds open back up, Land said.

“Every time it resurfaces, it hurts just as much as the first day,” she said.

Land said she and others plan to search for Birgfeld’s remains again once the weather warms. Searching feels empowering and is “better than sitting around and waiting,” she said.

Land said the only way she will fully feel closure in the case of her missing friend is if her remains are found or if someone is prosecuted for her murder. Grand Junction man Lester Ralph Jones, 57, is the lone suspect in the case, the Sheriff’s Department has said, and a grand jury may investigate the case, Mesa County District Attorney Pete Hautzinger said last week.

“Being in limbo is the hardest part,” Land said. “It’s the most surreal thing. Nobody ever thinks it will ever happen to them.”

http://www.gjsentinel.com/news/conte...rage_sale.html

[The Kitchen Guy]

The search will continue begining this Saturday.

The search resumes for Paige Birgfeld

Posted: May 15, 2008 06:45 PM EDT
Source: KJCT TV Grand Junction (http://kjct8.com/Global/story.asp?S=8332498) (Video available on the site, follow the link)

It's been almost a year since Paige Birgfeld disappeared.

Mesa County Sheriff's investigators suspect foul play--and many questions remain about her disappearance.

Today...her father says he is still searching for answers and he won't give up.

Last summer searches cowered parts of Western Colorado. They turned up clues...but no sign of Paige.

Now that spring has arrived, Paige's father says he is ready to begin searching again.

Frank Birgfeld told KJCT that over the fall and winter he did a lot of planning and research. Examining maps of the area...and gathering ideas for new places to look for his daughter.

Birgfeld says most search efforts will be organized by the Abby and Jennifer Foundation.

"It's not just a matter of gathering a bunch of people saying go look where you want and be back at 4 o'clock. It's much more picking out spots having ample manpower so that when you are finished you can say there is nothing there," Frank said.

The Abby and Jennifer Foundation will be doing a search this Saturday. Volunteers should meet at Canyon View Park at 9:30.

[Faith]

Search resumes for woman missing almost 1 year

http://www.9news.com/genthumb.ashx?e=3&w=193&h=129&i=/assetpool/images/070703045804_07-03-07-paige-birgfeld.jpg

Last updated: 5/17/2008 9:06:53 PM

GRAND JUNCTION - Searchers resumed looking for a missing Grand Junction mother of three on Saturday.

Paige Birgfeld has not been seen since June 28, 2007. Her car was found burned a few days later.

Searchers say they wanted the sale of her estate to be completed and the snow to melt before resuming large-scale efforts.

"It was a relief to be able to come out and do something because the waiting has been hard," Andrea Land, a friend of Paige Birgfeld said.

Birgfeld's father, Frank, was among the dozens of volunteers looking for clues on Saturday.

"This is my life now and I really wish I could get in a different line of work," said Frank Birgfeld.

Searchers went back over areas they've already looked to make sure nothing was missed.

"Even if we find one hair from her head and that gives us closure and the evidence to prosecute someone, it's worth this time," said Land.

Lester Ralph Jones of Grand Junction has been named the sole suspect in the missing woman's disappearance. Jones was sentenced to five years in prison in 1999, for attempted kidnapping and assault. He was released in 2001.


http://www.9news.com/genthumb.ashx?e=3&w=193&h=129&i=/assetpool/images/071002055519_10-02-07-lester-jones.jpg

Anyone with information on Birgfeld's whereabouts can call 303-886-5632.

http://www.9news.com/news/article.aspx?storyid=91972

[packy]

So heartbreaking to have to wait for answers like this while also having to arrange to clear out the things in life that signify a person's existence.

Hopefully they have talked to people in the life of the person of interest enough to find any possible clue as to his possible involvement in her disappearance.

Has there been any info about the telephone call that night, and when her car was found burned was there also damage that could point to it having been rammed?

[The Kitchen Guy]

The events of that day were widely mis-reported. Paige was gone the entire day - there was no mysterious phone call and she didn't leave her home, she just never came home.

Ghost Writer has the story condensed quite well in the blog area (http://helpfindthemissing.org/blog/?p=17).

[packy]

I know I read the blog but then when I read something else it's like it all runs together. So there was no call. Grrrrr., I hate when things are reported wrong. It's like watching Nancy Grace.

[The Kitchen Guy]

Well, in the very early days, there were a lot of people digging for info and mistakes were bound to happen.

So it goes whenever a big story breaks.

[ReddCurrlz]

OMG Im such a DORK - I just saw this was 2007. My apologies to everyone. Delete it if you need.

[Nut44x4]

Just thought it would be good to post this here...

The Pueblo Chieftain (Colorado)

July 29, 2008 Tuesday

BRIEF: Unsolved crime forum begins Thursday

Jul. 29--A series of forums focusing on unsolved crimes will come to Pueblo this week.

Families of Homicide Victims and Missing Persons will host a cold-case forum at El Pueblo Museum, 301 N. Union Ave., beginning at 6:30 p.m. Thursday.

The grass-roots, nonprofit organization is committed to supporting families and friends of people killed in unsolved homicides.

Sheriff Kirk Taylor will attend, along with Chief Jim Billings and Deputy Chief John Ercul of the Pueblo Police Department. The forum aims to bring investigators and legislative candidates together with loved ones of victims of unsolved crimes in hopes of finding answers.

Unsolved murders in Colorado number 1,300. At the forum, a database of victims from 1970 through the present will be presented. A local unsolved homicide will be featured.
http://www6.lexisnexis.com/publisher/EndUser?Action=UserDisplayFullDocument&orgId=574&topicId=100020825&docId=l:829008154&start=11

[:+:MrTT:+:]

[FONT="Georgia"]the car was burnt......to destroy any DNA evidence....so that would tell me, the person whom burnt the car, or had there DNA in the car, had there DNA ON RECORD...and didn't want it found........burnt a few days later.....was it rumored, that perhaps she was being held somewhere, along with the car.....such as a out of the way shack or so-forth...where one could park the car inside, and away from view, such as a big barn.......thank-you.....JMO.....nothing factual here, and keeping with in the guidelines.........../FONT]

[:+:MrTT:+:]

where the car was found and burnt........im thinking perhaps, the person was within walking distance, to a nearby apartment complex, overnight stay place etc...........everthing seemed to happen around the 5 mile area of the home i read...............feel rage, jeolous type..........im feeling perhaps followed, then a car jack type of event,.......forced to drive someone.......im not sure,......i wait for any updates.........

[:+:MrTT:+:]

very tight lipped on this investigation......i wonder how high up on that escort list, or other the names were........as far as up, i mean any local state politicians, or any other persons of hi standing in the commuity with a reputation, having higher ambitions.......someone higher up, whom is taking a very personal interest into the investigation, keeping most tight lipped........i like to know that, dont think we will.......the little black book, they call it......love to see if any names in public office on that list.........i feel thats why alot of this is tight liped...........

[:+:MrTT:+:]

Posted on July 29, 2008 by Peter Schaller

We're learning more about the human-remains investigation that has Paige Birgfeld's family and friends watching every twist and turn.
There's challenges at the coroner's office and now agony is hitting Birgfeld's loved ones.
The Mesa County Sheriff's Office says there are 11 people listed as missing and on their radar, they wouldn't tell us which families had been contacted after they found these remains.
Click on the video icon for more.

well, i guess we have to wait.....anyways i was more focused on the person/persons responible, then the wereabouts.....jmo..............

[KEKI1141]

good bless her!

[AmyE]

DA: Grand jury to get work in ’09

GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. — Seated but given nothing to do for two years, District Attorney Pete Hautzinger Thursday said it’s “considerably more likely” Mesa County’s grand jury will get work in 2009.

Grand jury proceedings are secret and closed to the public under state law. Hautzinger expects “one or more” matters will go before the panel.

“I don’t think we’ve ever asked them to take up more than one matter in a calendar year,” he said.

The DA and Mesa County Chief Judge David Bottger are scheduled to meet early next month to select 12 regular grand jurors along with two alternates, who’ll be plucked from a pool of residents summoned for jury duty.

Under state law, counties with populations of at least 100,000 must impanel a grand jury around the start of a new year.

Those selected agree to be available to meet and hear evidence periodically for at least 12 months. Service can be extended up to 18 months under special circumstances.

A grand jury can issue criminal charges or an indictment, decline an indictment or issue a report. They hear only from the prosecution, which has the power to subpoena witnesses to testify under oath.

Mesa County impaneled grand juries in 2007 and 2008, which heard nothing.

The last panel, which looked into the finances of the Grand Junction Rural Fire Protection District, declined to charge anybody after months of service ending in February 2006.

A focus of that investigation was former Fire District board member Rob Dixon.

Dixon is the second ex-husband of 34-year-old Paige Birgfeld, who disappeared in June 2007.

While seating last year’s grand jury panel in March, Hautzinger peppered the selection pool of residents with questions about what they knew about the Birgfeld investigation.

Hautzinger at the time said the case may be presented by late 2008 if a Mesa County Sheriff’s investigation “hadn’t moved further along.”

http://www.gjfreepress.com/article/20090109/COMMUNITY_NEWS/901089966/1007/NONE&parentprofile=1059&title=DA:%20Grand%20jury%20to%20get%20work%20in%20 %9209%20

[annalyzer]

http://blogs.discovery.com/criminal_report/2009/02/the-missing-a-weekly-expose-of-lost-souls-issue-30.html

February 09, 2009

The Missing - A Weekly Exposé of Lost Souls - Issue #30

The Mysterious Disappearance of Paige Birgfeld

http://blogs.discovery.com/.a/6a00d8341bf67c53ef0105371beeee970b-150wi

In this week's edition of "The Missing," we revisit the mysterious disappearance of Paige Birgfeld, a 34-year-old mother of three from Grand Junction, Colo., who was reported missing on June 30, 2007, following a meeting with her ex-husband, Ron Biegler.

According to statements Biegler made to police, he and Paige had several contacts over the previous month to discuss the possibility of rekindling their relationship. Biegler said that on the night of Paige’s disappearance, the couple had a brief rendezvous, and at 9 p.m., he spoke with her on her cell phone as she drove through the north suburbs of Grand Junction en route to her house.

On the night of July 1, firefighters were dispatched to a motor vehicle fire in the parking lot of Walker Products SMS, at 727 23 Road. After extinguishing the blaze, investigators with the Mesa County Sheriff’s Department ran the vehicle’s license tag through their computer and identified it as a 2005 Ford Focus registered to Paige Birgfeld. The burned-out vehicle revealed few clues, and police were unable to locate any sign of Paige.

In the days that followed, a group of searchers walking along U.S. 50, south of Grand Junction, found over two dozen items belonging to Paige scattered along the median. Among them were her checkbook and a Blockbuster movie-rental card. An unloaded Ruger 9mm handgun was later found in the same area, but police have yet to comment on whether the gun is related to the case.

"Nothing during the course of our investigation has led us to believe that Paige walked away from her family or that she left of her own free will," Mesa County Sheriff Stan Hilkey said in a written statement to the media. "Unfortunately, we do suspect foul play in her disappearance and the subsequent arson of her vehicle."

To her close friends and family members Paige was a successful businesswoman who lived in a million-dollar home outside of town. Everyone believed she paid for her luxurious lifestyle through her business, Grand River Acupuncture, and her part-time job as a sales consultant for the Pampered Chef, a company that markets food products, cookbooks and kitchen utensils. However, as the case evolved, investigators discovered Paige did not hold a license to perform acupuncture and that the bulk of her income came from her career as an online escort.

In her now defunct profile at NaughtyNightlife.com, Paige went by the alias "Carrie" and described herself as a Grand Junction escort with 34D-24-35 measurements. She offered in-call and out-call services, which she described as "escort, erotic massage, private dancer, groups and parties," to men, women and couples alike.

"Beautiful body and face, nice hair and teeth," the profile read. "Sensual mannerisms with a fun attitude. Tired of chopped meat showing up when you ordered Filet Mignon? Affluent clients are lavishing in delightful sessions."

Clients were able to post reviews on the Web site, and a user identified only as "Dennis" did so on June 25, just five days before Paige’s reported disappearance: "Carrie is simply a very gorgeous woman," Dennis wrote. "Very well dressed, clean (which I appreciate greatly). A little bit pricey but she explained to me that is why she is where she is because of the going rate. If you have the money she is worth every dime."

The revelations of Paige’s secret double life came as a shock to those who knew her.

Born to Frank and Suzanne Birgfeld on April 27, 1973, Paige was active in extracurricular activities all throughout high school and later attended the University of Florida, where she studied nursing. In 1995, Paige moved back to Colorado, and that same year, she married Biegler. During this time, Paige began to supplement the couple’s income working as an exotic dancer at a local club.

In 1997, Paige and Biegler divorced, and within a year, she began dating Rob Dixon, a wealthy patron of the strip club. The couple soon married, and together, they purchased a home in Grand Junction. Despite having three children together, the marriage soon fell on hard times, and according to court records from 2005, Dixon was charged with assault and child abuse but later pled the charges down to harassment. The following year, the couple divorced, and Paige was granted custody of their children. Not long thereafter, Paige and Biegler began discussing the possibility of rekindling their relationship.

After discovering Paige’s secret life, investigators focused their investigation on 56-year-old Lester Ralph Jones, a man who was allegedly a client of Paige’s escort service. Jones lives approximately 12 miles from Paige's estate, and he is employed as a repairman at an RV repair shop across the street from where Paige’s burned-out car was discovered on July 1.

According to the Colorado Bureau of Investigation, Jones has a previous criminal record that includes a five-year prison sentence for a conviction on charges of first-degree assault and second-degree attempted kidnapping.

Mesa County Sheriff’s investigators have conducted at least two searches of Jones’ home; however the warrants remain sealed, and what, if anything, was found remains unknown.

Paige Birgfeld is described as 5 feet 4 inches tall, 110 pounds, with hazel eyes and sandy blond hair. She was last seen in a blue tube top and blue jeans. Anyone with information about her disappearance is asked to call the Mesa County Sheriff's Office at +1-970-244-3500.

http://blogs.discovery.com/.a/6a00d8341bf67c53ef0105371befd7970b-150wi
Photo Credits: Police file photos - Person's appearing in mug shots are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

If you are a family member of a missing loved one and have a case you would like covered here, contact me via e-mail. If you are a reader who would like to help, please spread the word about this site so others can find us. The more people who see these stories, the better the chances that someone might come forward with information.

[chefann]

Thanks for posting that, Annalyzer.

[The Kitchen Guy]

David Lohr wrote about Paige after her disappearance. His emphasis on the details of her secret life did not endear him to any of her friends and family.

The good news is that Lohr has written about Paige on his blog. (Annalyzer posted it above.) The bad news is that he seems to think dredging up her secret life again and sharing the prurient details is salient to her status which, of course, it is not.

The facts are that Paige is missing, there are no traces of her, her family misses her, her friends miss her and at this juncture, nothing else matters.

[ferbil]

I just saw a show about Paige on 48 Hours Mystery. My heart goes out to her family and friends..Hopefully they can get some closure at some point.

[emmeblu]

Thinking about Paige and her family.
:1222423:

[MomToEli]

Remembering Paige and her family today. :innocent0001:

[sarahhod]

Father of missing mother wants CBI to take case

Posted: May 14, 2009 07:59 PM
Updated: May 15, 2009 05:47 AM

http://kjct.images.worldnow.com/images/10363617_BG2.jpg http://kjct.images.worldnow.com/images/static/gfx/pxl_trans.gif

http://kjct.images.worldnow.com/images/static/gfx/pxl_trans.gif

GRAND JUNCTION (KJCT) -- A dramatic twist in the on-going investigation into the disappearance of Grand Junction mother Paige Birgfeld.
The father of the missing mother, Frank Birgfeld, demands the investigation into her disappearance be transferred From Mesa County to the Colorado Bureau of Investigation.
Sheriffs Deputies began investigating the disappearance of Paige in June of 2007, when the mother of three failed to turn up... then her burned out car was found.
The entire issue, according to Frank, is large amounts of cash missing from Paige's home.
In a letter written to Mesa County Sheriff Stan Hilkey, and hand delivered to state Attorney General John Suthers, Frank states property was taken "improperly, if not criminally" by investigators. He says the investigators actions "will cause the case to fail at trial, if it were to get that far."
Frank writes that a National News program cited a contact close to the investigation "that investigators discovered a large amount of cash in Paige's home - tens of thousands of dollars..." This was alleged in a "48 Hours" broadcast June 10th, 2008.
That money has never shown up in a report associated with the investigation, and Frank says he believes the source. Frank requested the FBI to conduct an investigation by its Public Corruption Unit into the alleged missing money Thursday.
Frank tells Sheriff Hilkey "Neither I nor you know whether my daughter's money was taken improperly or not without a competent, unbiased investigation being thoroughly conducted." Frank writes he's concerned that his actions will result in MCSO staff seeking vengeance by tampering with the evidence.
In statement released to the media, The Mesa County Sheriffs Office says, "It is unfortunate that Mr. Birgfeld has chosen to make unfounded allegations, however, it does not dissuade this Office from its commitment or desire to successfully resolve the Paige Birgfeld case, nor will his complaints ever cause any lapse in professional ethics or integrity by any member of this agency."
The Sheriff's Office says CBI is already involved the case, mostly providing forensic analysis. Sheriff Stan Hilkey said he has spoken with the CBI Director and has been "assured that the CBI would assist if requested, and practical, beyond the assistance they are currently already providing."
Paige's first husband Rob has been given full custody of the kids. Mesa County Sheriff Deputies have only named one suspect, Lester Ralph Jones. He has not been formally charged in the case.

http://www.kjct8.com/Global/story.asp?S=10363617

[FoolsGold]

The entire issue is large amounts of cash missing from Paige's home.Ofcourse one might ask, how does the father know the cash was there in the first place, but my primary question is just how fast were the cops on the trail of her being an escort? If they were on that trail real fast then maybe the large bundles of cash is what set them off on that path to begin with?

[Battnt]

Where is Paige?

GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (KKCO) - More than two years ago a Grand Junction mother of three disappeared.

What happened to Paige Birgfeld is a question her father and the Mesa County Sheriff have looked tirelessly to answer.

In this 11 News Special Report Anchor Natalie Pallone sits down with both of them to find out where the investigation stands.

Her dad Frank Birgfeld says, “I think the thing I miss the most is hearing Paige laugh, hearing her voice.”

It’s nearly three years since anyone has seen Paige Birgfeld and not a day has gone by that her father hasn’t thought about her.

“Some days are an emotional rollercoaster with the steep downhills and never the uphills,” he says.

She was beautiful and caring, but this Grand Junction mother of three also led a secret double life as an adult escort, something investigators with the Mesa County Sheriff’s Office has said made their job harder.

Sheriff Stan Hilkey says, “Next June will be three years. The case remains unsolved and open.”

Hilkey has been on the case ever since June 28, 2007 when Paige was reported missing.

On July 1, her car was found abandoned and on fire in a parking lot near her home and in the days and months that followed her family, investigators and volunteers set out on foot and horseback looking for any sign of Paige.

An extensive search along Highway 50 near Whitewater turned up some clues, some of Paige’s personal checks, a Blockbuster video card, insurance cards for her and her children and even a shoe possibly worn by Paige were all found.

“I'm unaware that anything has come of material found on Highway 50 so I guess were back where we were then,” her dad says.

Frank hasn’t stopped searching for his daughter and believes he’s been left out of the investigation, writing letter after letter to the Sheriff’s Office.

“I'm looking for an active investigation. They may say that's what's going on but I don't see it. I'm left trying to communicate and we don't seem to have much cooperation on that,” he says.

Hilkey says the investigation is extremely active and his office is focused on the sole suspect in the case, Lester Ralph Jones.

He says, “We believe there was a connection between the two, the type and specifics we haven't talked a lot about.”

But Frank’s not sold on Jones. “I have informants and they say Paige knew him and found him repulsive, I think she would have been weary being around him. I also think there was no interaction that would have caused him to have a preplanned motive to harm.”

Frank also thinks that if Jones was the one who harmed his daughter, he wasn’t working alone.

“There's a considerable possibility that there was someone else present when Paige was harmed and that connection would help greatly if Jones and another where doing weekend work in Delta County in June and July of 2007 and that be important for me to know and could lead to finding Paige,” Frank says.

Frank also has another theory, a murder for hire plot.

Hilkey says, “I can't comment on his theories or what he believes. We have to concentrate on the investigation as we know and be confident that what we've done is good work. Really good work.”

Hilkey says he wants to solve Paige’s case as much as Frank does, but unfortunately, they have to cross every t and dot every i and that takes time.

But the investigation is picking up steam.

The Colorado Bureau of Investigation just finished up a round of DNA testing on items relating to the case, Hikley says. “We are hopeful that these latest tests will show a link between our persons of interest and Paige Birgfeld.

But even if it does and Jones is arrested, Frank says he won’t be satisfied.

“I would feel like it was progress but I wouldn't feel like it was a conclusion by a long shot,” he says.

Hilkey says, “If there was new information that would come in on where to go and where to search or a new lead to follow at this point we would take it.”

As the Sheriff’s Office waits to see if the latest DNA tests are the link they’ve been looking for Frank says he’ll continue to explore every avenue he can in the hope of finding his baby girl. “This is my daughter,” he says.

Anyone with information on this case is asked to call the Mesa County Sheriff’s Office at 244–3500.

http://www.nbc11news.com/home/headlines/76404512.html

[nanabillie]

http://investigation.discovery.com/tv/disappeared/the-missing/paige-birgfeld.html
Paige Birgfeld

Missing since February 28, 2007

http://investigation.discovery.com/common/sgallery/transp.gif
http://investigation.discovery.com/tv/disappeared/the-missing/images/paige-birgfeld.jpg
Watch sneak peeks of Disappeared episodes
WATCH NOW (http://investigation.discovery.com/videos/disappeared-sneak-peeks/)



June 28th, 2007, 9 pm — 34-year-old Paige Birgfeld is only a few miles from home when she calls her ex-husband on her cell phone. They had just seen each other that evening, and she wants to let him know she is almost home. She promises to check in with him later that night, but Ron Biegler never hears from her. He chalks that up to the fact that Paige has three young children to manage all by herself. But when Ron calls her home 3 days later, one of the children tells him that Paige had never arrived home that night. Ron immediately calls the sheriff's office.
Mesa County Sheriff, Stan Hilkey, feels certain that Paige did not disappear voluntarily. She is a devoted mother, with a beautiful, million-dollar home that she worked long and hard for, and there is nothing to indicate she wanted to get away. In searching for alternate explanations, the police first start questioning Ron Biegler.
But friends prove more suspicious of Paige's second husband, Rob Dixon — a man she had a violent and passionate relationship with. She fell for him when he was a wealthy patron of the strip club where she worked. They had a whirlwind courtship. Within months they married, and quickly had three children. In 2004 Paige had called the police for help, saying her husband threatened to kill all their children. One year later she called 911 again, saying Rob had pushed her down and punched her in the throat while she held their baby. Rob was arrested, and one year later they divorced.
All the while, Paige had kept several businesses afloat to support the family and Dixon's habit of wasting money. She started a dance company for preschoolers; she sold high-end kitchen supplies out of her home; and, she worked as a high paid stripper. This side of her life was completely hidden from her parents. Though the family is very close, they knew nothing about her exotic dancing and stripping.
Only months before her disappearance, Paige posted a message on her blog claiming her children asked if Dad was going to come and kill her. Her parents took notice. But by the time of Paige's disappearance, Rob had moved across the country to Pennsylvania.
While first husband Ron is wary of Rob and has heard stories of his violence, he has more pressing news for the police. When he and Paige met up on June 28, Paige told him she was going to keep two appointments she had that night with clients from her escort service. An escort service her parents knew nothing about.
She has not been heard from again.

[Bpster68]

You would think the cops would have the phone records of the calls she received from clients that day to narrow things down. I'm also curious why the live in nanny wouldn't have called her parents or the police when she didn't come home. Confusing. I hate when people bring up her job choices or lifestyle choices.It's pertinent factually but it doesn't give anyone the right to harm her and take her away from her children and family. I hope she is found for some closure. Her 2nd ex's lawyer is sure prominent on the Disappeared TV show. If Rob Dixon has nothing to do with any of it then why keep inserting himself more in the story? He's just trying to make himself look better after dirty laundry was aired. No, I'm not saying he was involved.

Please, no name calling. Thanks.

[Faith]

You would think the cops would have the phone records of the calls she received from clients that day to narrow things down. I'm also curious why the live in nanny wouldn't have called her parents or the police when she didn't come home. Confusing. I hate when people bring up her job choices or lifestyle choices.It's pertinent factually but it doesn't give anyone the right to harm her and take her away from her children and family. I hope she is found for some closure. Her 2nd ex's lawyer is sure prominent on the Disappeared TV show. If Rob Dixon has nothing to do with any of it then why keep inserting himself more in the story? He's just trying to make himself look better after dirty laundry was aired. No, I'm not saying he was involved.

Please, no name calling. Thanks.

Welcome to HFTM. I hope the LE have more evidence than we know about.

I watched Disappeared, it was a very good show that gave Paige's case attention. I hope she is found and brought home to her family.

[TeeOne]

The dectectives did call all her clients from her business phone records. They contacted all her clients and checked out their stories.

[Roamer]

ID channel just showed her story again yesterday.