'Person of interest' named in disappearance
Alan Gathright And Ellen Miller, Rocky Mountain News
Published July 21, 2007 at midnight
GRAND JUNCTION - Mesa County sheriff's investigators named a 56-year-old Grand Junction man, whose home they've searched twice, a "person of interest" in the June 28 disappearance of a mother of three young children.
Lester Ralph Jones was not named a suspect, however, and sheriff's spokeswoman Heather Gierhart said she could not discuss details of the two searches at Jones' house because of a judge's order sealing the warrants.
Paige Birgfeld, 34, vanished after she arrived back in town June 28 after a day trip to Eagle. Authorities suspect foul play and have said both of Birgfeld's ex-husbands are cooperating fully.
Investigators have focused some of their work on Birgfeld's cell phone records and her escort business, a line of work her family and friends knew little about before she disappeared.
To them, she was a dedicated mother who sold Pampered Chef and other products in a home-based business.
According to court records, Jones has domestic violence in his background. He was arrested Jan. 6, 1999, in Delta County and charged with multiple offenses stemming from an incident with his then-wife.
He pleaded guilty to assault with a deadly weapon in the heat of passion and felony menacing, and was sentenced to five years in prison. He was divorced from the woman a year later.
Also Friday, Birgfeld's father, Frank Birgfeld, of Centennial, said he was named his daughter's conservator by a judge so he can handle her financial affairs.
"She's missing now, and things need to be done," he said, "and I have a court order to do so."
Frank Birgfeld was again at the headquarters for a community volunteer search, in its sixth day Friday, and said he and other members of the family remain "humbled" by the efforts of the volunteers and community merchants who have been donating water, food and other supplies.
He acknowledged that "the odds get longer" as the days go by but noted, "there's the Elizabeth Smart case, so until we find her not alive, then she could be."
Connie Flukey, who is directing the search with the help of law enforcement and GIS mapping provided by the county, said searchers Friday were fanned out to the north and west of Grand Junction's city limits, not far from Birgfeld's upscale home. He said 65 to 70 volunteers worked in 95-degree heat.
gathrighta@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-5486
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