For the last six months, police in Grand Junction, Colo., have been working to solve the disappearance of Paige Birgfeld, a 34-year-old mother of three, 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.
