Murder of Paige Birgfeld

Paige Meredith Birgfeld was born April 27, 1973, in Atlanta, Georgia, and later grew up in Denver, Colorado. She married her high school boyfriend, Howard "Ron" Beigler, in 1995; they divorced in 1997. In 1997 she met Rob Dixon, whom she married in 1998; the couple settled in Grand Junction, Colorado, and had three children. Their relationship was volatile, including a 2004 incident in which Birgfeld called 911 after Dixon allegedly threatened her, and a 2005 assault allegation that led to Dixon being charged with third-degree assault. They divorced in 2006, and Birgfeld retained the house and custody of the children. At the time of her disappearance, she was reportedly reconnecting romantically with Beigler.

On June 28, 2007, Birgfeld spent the afternoon with Beigler before they separated around 7 p.m. and continued contact by phone. She never returned home, and her 8-year-old daughter reported her missing to the Mesa County Sheriff's Office. On July 1, 2007, her burned red Ford Focus was found in a parking lot near her home. Investigators recovered personal items, checks, and business cards for "Models Inc." in the car and along Highway 50. A review of her computer and phone revealed that Birgfeld had been secretly running an escort business under the alias "Carrie."

Investigators pursued numerous leads, including Birgfeld's ex-husbands and more than 60 clients of Models Inc. In October 2007, prosecutors identified Lester Ralph Jones, then 56, a motorhome mechanic, as the primary suspect after tracing a prepaid phone used to contact Birgfeld's escort business. Jones initially denied knowing Birgfeld but was confronted with call logs. He had a prior criminal record that included a first-degree assault and attempted kidnapping conviction involving his ex-wife. Authorities said they believed Jones was responsible but lacked sufficient evidence to arrest him without Birgfeld's body.

On March 6, 2012, hikers discovered skeletal remains in the Wells Gulch area near U.S. Highway 50 in Delta County, roughly 30 miles southeast of Grand Junction. Dental records confirmed the remains were Birgfeld's. Duct tape found around the skull and jaw led investigators to conclude she had been kidnapped, though the cause of death could not be determined due to the condition of the remains.

In November 2014, Jones was charged with kidnapping, first-degree murder, felony murder, and second-degree murder. An arson charge was later dismissed due to the statute of limitations. His first trial, beginning July 25, 2016, ended in a mistrial in September 2016 after the jury could not reach a verdict. In a second trial, Jones was found guilty on all remaining charges on December 27, 2016, and sentenced to life imprisonment without parole. As of 2021, he was incarcerated at the Fremont Correctional Facility in Cañon City, Colorado.