1 00:00:00,767 --> 00:00:03,769 [dramatic music playing] 2 00:00:03,771 --> 00:00:06,572 [Natalie] She is the quintessential soccer mom. 3 00:00:07,807 --> 00:00:09,742 [Lissah] This is a woman who has left 4 00:00:09,744 --> 00:00:11,710 three children at home with a nanny 5 00:00:11,712 --> 00:00:13,846 and has been gone for two full days. 6 00:00:13,848 --> 00:00:15,748 [siren wailing] 7 00:00:17,550 --> 00:00:19,118 [Daniel] We are realizing that this is not 8 00:00:19,120 --> 00:00:21,754 just a missing person but actually 9 00:00:21,756 --> 00:00:22,988 potentially a homicide. 10 00:00:27,227 --> 00:00:29,928 People don't get divorced because they love each other. 11 00:00:29,930 --> 00:00:33,032 [Wayne] The children have said that he was going to kill her. 12 00:00:33,034 --> 00:00:35,034 [Daniel] This was a bombshell 13 00:00:35,036 --> 00:00:38,203 to learn that a soccer mom had this secret life. 14 00:00:41,374 --> 00:00:43,242 [Lissah] He's the only person that possibly 15 00:00:43,244 --> 00:00:45,077 was in that area 16 00:00:45,079 --> 00:00:48,180 both days and both times. 17 00:00:48,182 --> 00:00:50,716 [Daniel] I don't care what business you're in, 18 00:00:50,718 --> 00:00:53,485 nobody deserves to have this happen to them. 19 00:00:56,222 --> 00:00:58,524 [Tish] Every day in North America, 20 00:00:58,526 --> 00:01:01,126 dozens of people are murdered. 21 00:01:01,128 --> 00:01:03,495 The key to solving the toughest of these homicides 22 00:01:03,497 --> 00:01:07,566 lies in the final 24 hours of the victim's life. 23 00:01:07,568 --> 00:01:09,468 To crack the case, 24 00:01:09,470 --> 00:01:13,072 detectives must reconstruct that critical timeline. 25 00:01:13,074 --> 00:01:15,941 The minutes and hours containing evidence 26 00:01:15,943 --> 00:01:18,143 that can help unlock the mystery 27 00:01:18,145 --> 00:01:19,711 and catch the killer. 28 00:01:26,286 --> 00:01:27,786 [dramatic music playing] 29 00:01:27,788 --> 00:01:29,321 [bird squealing] 30 00:01:29,323 --> 00:01:31,356 [Tish] Grand Junction, Colorado, 31 00:01:31,358 --> 00:01:34,393 a scenic and rugged outdoor paradise. 32 00:01:36,229 --> 00:01:38,330 Grand Junction is a... is a beautiful place. 33 00:01:38,332 --> 00:01:39,898 It's in the Grand Valley 34 00:01:39,900 --> 00:01:43,068 surrounded by picturesque views. 35 00:01:43,070 --> 00:01:44,269 You can do everything here. 36 00:01:44,271 --> 00:01:46,171 You can ski, you can bike, 37 00:01:46,173 --> 00:01:48,907 you can fish, you can hike. 38 00:01:48,909 --> 00:01:50,676 It's typically very quiet 39 00:01:50,678 --> 00:01:54,012 and it's just usually a very safe place. 40 00:01:54,014 --> 00:01:55,914 [bird chirping] 41 00:01:55,916 --> 00:01:57,449 [Wayne] Grand Junction is a small community. 42 00:01:57,451 --> 00:02:00,219 The city itself is about 50,000 people. 43 00:02:00,221 --> 00:02:02,554 The county is about a hundred eighty-five thousand. 44 00:02:05,191 --> 00:02:07,092 [Lissah] We have violent crime. 45 00:02:07,094 --> 00:02:09,361 Percentage-wise, it may not be as high 46 00:02:09,363 --> 00:02:12,831 of violent crime rate has big cities by any means. 47 00:02:12,833 --> 00:02:15,834 That doesn't mean we don't have our share. 48 00:02:15,836 --> 00:02:18,570 [Tish] And with a vast wilderness to explore, 49 00:02:18,572 --> 00:02:21,106 a person can easily disappear. 50 00:02:24,878 --> 00:02:29,047 The case starts when Mr. Howard Beigler 51 00:02:29,049 --> 00:02:30,682 calls the Mesa County Sheriff's Office 52 00:02:30,684 --> 00:02:33,018 on a Saturday morning, June 30th, 53 00:02:33,020 --> 00:02:35,187 and says his ex-wife, 54 00:02:35,189 --> 00:02:38,056 who he has recently got back into 55 00:02:38,058 --> 00:02:40,425 a relationship with, he hadn't heard from her. 56 00:02:40,427 --> 00:02:42,661 He had seen her on the 28th of June 57 00:02:42,663 --> 00:02:45,430 in person for a picnic 58 00:02:45,432 --> 00:02:47,666 and had not been able to get a hold of her 59 00:02:47,668 --> 00:02:50,802 since that time. 60 00:02:50,804 --> 00:02:52,371 [bird chirps] 61 00:02:52,373 --> 00:02:54,139 [Lissah] This is a woman who has left 62 00:02:54,141 --> 00:02:56,241 three children at home with a nanny 63 00:02:56,243 --> 00:02:59,178 and has been gone for two full days. 64 00:02:59,180 --> 00:03:02,214 They're reporting that this is not 65 00:03:02,216 --> 00:03:03,949 normal behavior for her, 66 00:03:03,951 --> 00:03:05,951 that she often checks in 67 00:03:05,953 --> 00:03:09,288 with both Mr. Beigler and her children routinely 68 00:03:09,290 --> 00:03:10,956 and this is concerning. 69 00:03:11,891 --> 00:03:14,226 [Tish] The missing woman is Paige Birgfeld, 70 00:03:14,228 --> 00:03:17,095 a 34-year-old loving mother and entrepreneur. 71 00:03:17,097 --> 00:03:20,265 [dramatic music playing] 72 00:03:20,267 --> 00:03:22,801 [Wayne] Paige was divorced twice, 73 00:03:22,803 --> 00:03:26,038 but a very devoted mother of three children. 74 00:03:26,040 --> 00:03:29,241 She was involved in three different businesses. 75 00:03:29,243 --> 00:03:31,977 She was highly respected and enjoyed 76 00:03:31,979 --> 00:03:35,480 by a lot of the people that she dealt with. 77 00:03:35,482 --> 00:03:37,216 [Natalie] She seemed, by all accounts, 78 00:03:37,218 --> 00:03:39,785 to be the quintessential soccer mom. 79 00:03:39,787 --> 00:03:42,421 She is caring. 80 00:03:42,423 --> 00:03:45,390 She is always there for her kids, very present. 81 00:03:45,392 --> 00:03:47,559 And she has a lot of friends 82 00:03:47,561 --> 00:03:49,661 and a lot of family that loves her. 83 00:03:53,733 --> 00:03:56,568 [Tish] Mesa County detectives, Lissah Norcross 84 00:03:56,570 --> 00:03:58,604 and Wayne Weyler, are tasked with looking 85 00:03:58,606 --> 00:04:01,173 into Paige Birgfeld's disappearance. 86 00:04:03,543 --> 00:04:06,545 [Lissah] If you have a person who's missing 87 00:04:06,547 --> 00:04:10,315 under highly unusual circumstances, 88 00:04:10,317 --> 00:04:12,484 the quicker you can get information, 89 00:04:12,486 --> 00:04:15,187 the better chances you are at solving the case. 90 00:04:16,589 --> 00:04:18,290 [Wayne] The first thing we want to do is 91 00:04:18,292 --> 00:04:20,325 obtain a timeline and try to determine 92 00:04:20,327 --> 00:04:22,361 when the last time she was seen, 93 00:04:22,363 --> 00:04:25,364 where did she go, who did he spend time with. 94 00:04:25,366 --> 00:04:27,165 [Tish] Detectives begin by requesting 95 00:04:27,167 --> 00:04:28,700 Paige's cell phone records 96 00:04:28,702 --> 00:04:31,870 from June 28th until June 30th. 97 00:04:33,539 --> 00:04:36,008 Howard Beigler told us he last spoke with Paige 98 00:04:36,010 --> 00:04:38,510 at around 9:00 on the 20th of June. 99 00:04:39,512 --> 00:04:41,613 Her phone records showed indeed 100 00:04:41,615 --> 00:04:43,982 the last phone call we know she made 101 00:04:43,984 --> 00:04:46,285 was around 9:00 to Mr. Beigler 102 00:04:46,287 --> 00:04:48,654 and hat that phone call was here 103 00:04:48,656 --> 00:04:50,589 in the Grand Junction area. 104 00:04:51,924 --> 00:04:53,859 This is the last time anyone talked with her. 105 00:04:53,861 --> 00:04:55,961 We have records for shortly thereafter 106 00:04:55,963 --> 00:04:58,797 and she does not make any other future phone calls. 107 00:04:58,799 --> 00:05:00,732 Ever. 108 00:05:02,735 --> 00:05:05,671 So, we, as investigators, have to start wondering 109 00:05:05,673 --> 00:05:07,673 if maybe she had met up with someone 110 00:05:07,675 --> 00:05:10,776 and foul play had occurred 111 00:05:10,778 --> 00:05:13,245 and something had happened to her. 112 00:05:13,247 --> 00:05:15,380 [woman groaning] 113 00:05:18,618 --> 00:05:20,185 [siren wailing] 114 00:05:20,187 --> 00:05:23,021 [Tish] Then, at 10:00 PM on July 1st, 115 00:05:23,023 --> 00:05:26,124 three days after Paige's last known whereabouts, 116 00:05:26,126 --> 00:05:28,427 police and fire departments are dispatched 117 00:05:28,429 --> 00:05:30,562 to a vehicle fire. 118 00:05:31,564 --> 00:05:34,066 [Lissah] We get a call that there's a car on fire 119 00:05:34,068 --> 00:05:36,902 at a local manufacturing plant, 120 00:05:36,904 --> 00:05:38,570 Walker SMS, 121 00:05:38,572 --> 00:05:41,740 and that the car is fully engulfed. 122 00:05:43,810 --> 00:05:46,311 The fire department was able to extinguish the fire. 123 00:05:49,582 --> 00:05:52,384 Not everything inside the interior burned. 124 00:05:54,387 --> 00:05:56,722 [Wayne] The license plates were not on the vehicle, 125 00:05:56,724 --> 00:05:58,924 which was a little bit suspicious. 126 00:05:58,926 --> 00:06:01,727 In addition, there was a smell of an accelerant. 127 00:06:03,162 --> 00:06:05,364 [Lissah] The VIN number, we checked that, 128 00:06:06,199 --> 00:06:07,866 and it's found to be Paige's car, 129 00:06:10,837 --> 00:06:13,638 the car that she had driven to Eagle 130 00:06:13,640 --> 00:06:15,807 to meet up with Mr. Birgfeld. 131 00:06:17,210 --> 00:06:18,944 [Wayne] At this point, we're absolutely sure 132 00:06:18,946 --> 00:06:21,646 that there's foul play involved. 133 00:06:21,648 --> 00:06:23,882 Something's awry, that something's not right. 134 00:06:25,017 --> 00:06:27,452 [Tish] Detectives meticulously search the car 135 00:06:27,454 --> 00:06:29,621 for any remaining evidence. 136 00:06:30,890 --> 00:06:34,826 [Lissah] In the trunk, there's a day planner there. 137 00:06:34,828 --> 00:06:37,829 Interestingly, there are four pages missing 138 00:06:37,831 --> 00:06:40,999 from the day planner, which was not burned. 139 00:06:41,001 --> 00:06:43,168 And those pages are the 26th 140 00:06:43,170 --> 00:06:46,905 through the 29th of June. 141 00:06:46,907 --> 00:06:49,241 We're obviously very interested in the fact 142 00:06:49,243 --> 00:06:51,977 that those four days specifically are missing 143 00:06:51,979 --> 00:06:54,679 because one of those days is the day that Ms. Birgfeld 144 00:06:54,681 --> 00:06:56,948 is reportedly last known to be alive. 145 00:06:59,452 --> 00:07:01,586 We also find that the driver seat is pushed 146 00:07:01,588 --> 00:07:04,589 all the way back to suit someone much taller 147 00:07:04,591 --> 00:07:08,794 than Paige Birgfeld who is five foot four. 148 00:07:11,364 --> 00:07:13,064 She didn't drive it. So that tells us 149 00:07:13,066 --> 00:07:15,700 somebody much taller may have. 150 00:07:19,439 --> 00:07:20,972 When you have a missing person under 151 00:07:20,974 --> 00:07:23,074 really suspicious circumstances 152 00:07:23,076 --> 00:07:25,644 and you have their car found on fire, 153 00:07:25,646 --> 00:07:27,546 and you still don't know where they are, 154 00:07:27,548 --> 00:07:29,247 and you're talking about a mom 155 00:07:29,249 --> 00:07:32,984 of three small children, that's not normal. 156 00:07:32,986 --> 00:07:34,820 [Daniel] And that was really the first time that we are 157 00:07:34,822 --> 00:07:37,389 realizing that this is not just a missing person 158 00:07:37,391 --> 00:07:40,559 but actually potentially homicide. 159 00:07:42,061 --> 00:07:44,830 [Tish] Having established that Paige was likely murdered, 160 00:07:44,832 --> 00:07:46,798 detectives need to piece together 161 00:07:46,800 --> 00:07:48,700 her final 24 hours 162 00:07:48,702 --> 00:07:51,436 in order to find her killer. 163 00:07:54,974 --> 00:07:57,042 [Wayne] The first people we looked at are people 164 00:07:57,044 --> 00:08:00,378 that are closest to the victim. 165 00:08:00,380 --> 00:08:02,247 Mr. Beigler right away, obviously, 166 00:08:02,249 --> 00:08:04,783 just by the fact that he was an ex-husband 167 00:08:04,785 --> 00:08:07,085 and was the last person that spent time with them, 168 00:08:07,087 --> 00:08:10,255 obviously he is a person that we would look at. 169 00:08:12,592 --> 00:08:14,960 [Lissah] Howard Beigler explains to investigators 170 00:08:14,962 --> 00:08:17,462 that he has known Paige for years. 171 00:08:17,464 --> 00:08:19,431 They were high school sweethearts. 172 00:08:19,433 --> 00:08:21,900 They got married. They had a short marriage 173 00:08:21,902 --> 00:08:23,001 for a couple years. 174 00:08:24,770 --> 00:08:27,239 He's telling us that they're back together 175 00:08:27,241 --> 00:08:30,242 and they're in an intimate relationship. 176 00:08:30,244 --> 00:08:33,144 So, we must delve into that to look to see 177 00:08:33,146 --> 00:08:35,313 if there's been any problems there. 178 00:08:36,782 --> 00:08:39,217 [Wayne] Why did he come back into her life at that point? 179 00:08:39,219 --> 00:08:42,821 What were the reasons for the relationship ending? 180 00:08:42,823 --> 00:08:44,723 What was his relationship with her second husband? 181 00:08:44,725 --> 00:08:46,424 Was there any jealousy issues? 182 00:08:48,160 --> 00:08:50,896 [Lissah] Mr. Beigler was asked about their marriage 183 00:08:50,898 --> 00:08:53,198 and why they got divorced and he explained 184 00:08:53,200 --> 00:08:55,200 that they got divorced specifically 185 00:08:55,202 --> 00:08:58,303 because she met a gentleman named Rob Dixon 186 00:08:58,305 --> 00:09:00,238 and he had more money 187 00:09:00,240 --> 00:09:03,008 and she was interested in that. 188 00:09:04,977 --> 00:09:07,679 When it comes to people who either currently 189 00:09:07,681 --> 00:09:09,681 are in relationships or have previously 190 00:09:09,683 --> 00:09:11,216 been in relationships, 191 00:09:11,218 --> 00:09:13,652 high emotions can lead to violence. 192 00:09:13,654 --> 00:09:18,223 It can lead to someone killing another human being. 193 00:09:18,225 --> 00:09:21,359 We have to look at that as a possibility. 194 00:09:21,361 --> 00:09:23,228 [Daniel] Oftentimes people think, "Oh, well, 195 00:09:23,230 --> 00:09:24,863 he must not have done it. He reported her missing." 196 00:09:24,865 --> 00:09:26,531 Well, of course, a lot of times people do that 197 00:09:26,533 --> 00:09:28,800 to try and throw law enforcement off the scent. 198 00:09:34,473 --> 00:09:35,640 [dramatic music playing] 199 00:09:35,642 --> 00:09:37,776 [Tish] In the disappearance and presumed murder 200 00:09:37,778 --> 00:09:39,978 of soccer mom Paige Birgfeld, 201 00:09:39,980 --> 00:09:42,647 detectives have their sights on Howard Beigler, 202 00:09:42,649 --> 00:09:44,849 Paige's ex-husband and current boyfriend. 203 00:09:46,352 --> 00:09:49,287 [Lissah] We need to know where he was during that week 204 00:09:49,289 --> 00:09:53,425 inclusive of June 28th and July 1st. 205 00:09:55,628 --> 00:09:57,596 Mr. Beigler reports to us 206 00:09:57,598 --> 00:10:01,066 that he and Paige had previously made arrangements 207 00:10:01,068 --> 00:10:03,635 to both meet in Eagle, Colorado, 208 00:10:03,637 --> 00:10:06,071 which is about halfway in between their homes, 209 00:10:06,073 --> 00:10:07,706 about two to two and a half hour drive 210 00:10:07,708 --> 00:10:09,140 for each of them. 211 00:10:10,142 --> 00:10:13,311 Howard told us that on the 28th of June, 212 00:10:13,313 --> 00:10:15,614 he and Paige were together from about 213 00:10:15,616 --> 00:10:17,782 1:00 in the afternoon until 7:00 in the evening, 214 00:10:17,784 --> 00:10:19,985 that they had a picnic date in the park 215 00:10:19,987 --> 00:10:21,353 in Eagle, Colorado. 216 00:10:24,490 --> 00:10:26,992 He remembers her leaving at about 7:00 PM 217 00:10:26,994 --> 00:10:30,295 going westbound on I-70 back to Grand Junction. 218 00:10:33,265 --> 00:10:35,266 [Tish] Beigler tells investigators 219 00:10:35,268 --> 00:10:36,868 that he then gets into his vehicle 220 00:10:36,870 --> 00:10:38,803 and drives home towards Denver 221 00:10:38,805 --> 00:10:41,940 making a call to Paige at 8:57 PM while driving. 222 00:10:44,343 --> 00:10:46,978 [Lissah] We look into Mr. Beigler's phone 223 00:10:46,980 --> 00:10:49,347 to find out where that is. 224 00:10:51,017 --> 00:10:53,218 The proliferation of cell phones next to DNA 225 00:10:53,220 --> 00:10:56,287 has probably been the biggest game changer 226 00:10:56,289 --> 00:10:58,056 in homicide investigations. 227 00:10:58,058 --> 00:11:00,058 They're basically honing devices 228 00:11:00,060 --> 00:11:02,127 whereby you can follow 229 00:11:02,129 --> 00:11:04,129 an offender or a suspect's movements 230 00:11:04,131 --> 00:11:07,165 by the way that their cell phone will ping off towers 231 00:11:07,167 --> 00:11:10,035 and essentially plot a trail of their movements. 232 00:11:11,137 --> 00:11:13,171 [Daniel] We were able to track his movements 233 00:11:13,173 --> 00:11:15,940 back to the Denver area at the same time 234 00:11:15,942 --> 00:11:18,043 she was traveling back to the Grand Junction area 235 00:11:18,045 --> 00:11:21,780 after their little rendezvous on Thursday. 236 00:11:21,782 --> 00:11:23,548 He had remained in Denver 237 00:11:23,550 --> 00:11:25,350 both at the time that she went missing 238 00:11:25,352 --> 00:11:27,285 and at the time that the car was set on fire. 239 00:11:27,287 --> 00:11:31,356 So, we were able to rule him out because of that. 240 00:11:33,025 --> 00:11:36,094 [Tish] With ex-husband Howard Beigler cleared, 241 00:11:36,096 --> 00:11:39,798 investigators push for their next suspect. 242 00:11:39,800 --> 00:11:41,599 [Lissah] Investigators receive a phone call 243 00:11:41,601 --> 00:11:44,269 from a gentleman named Steven Heald. 244 00:11:44,271 --> 00:11:46,438 He knows Paige. He has heard 245 00:11:46,440 --> 00:11:48,339 that she is missing and he said 246 00:11:48,341 --> 00:11:51,076 he wants to provide information to us. 247 00:11:52,344 --> 00:11:54,379 Mr. Heald tells us Paige mentions to him 248 00:11:54,381 --> 00:11:56,915 that her ex-husband, Rob Dixon, 249 00:11:56,917 --> 00:11:59,017 is coming to town. 250 00:11:59,019 --> 00:12:01,186 [Wayne] Paige had confided in him that she was scared 251 00:12:01,188 --> 00:12:03,588 of Rob Dixon. 252 00:12:03,590 --> 00:12:06,091 He had concerns that Rob Dixon might have 253 00:12:06,093 --> 00:12:07,826 harmed on Paige. 254 00:12:09,562 --> 00:12:11,896 [Lissah] Rob Dixon is a natural person 255 00:12:11,898 --> 00:12:13,665 we have to question. 256 00:12:16,135 --> 00:12:19,137 People don't get divorced because they love each other. 257 00:12:22,241 --> 00:12:25,243 [Tish] Looking for a motive, investigators dig into Rob 258 00:12:25,245 --> 00:12:27,479 and Paige's marriage. 259 00:12:28,647 --> 00:12:32,717 [Daniel] He became Paige's second husband, second love, 260 00:12:32,719 --> 00:12:34,919 and all of her kids were with Rob. 261 00:12:34,921 --> 00:12:38,590 They were together for a long time. 262 00:12:38,592 --> 00:12:41,526 And then as the relationship started to fall apart, 263 00:12:41,528 --> 00:12:43,428 he, I believe, moved to Durango first 264 00:12:43,430 --> 00:12:45,964 and ultimately moved to Pennsylvania. 265 00:12:47,600 --> 00:12:49,601 [Lissah] Frank Birgfeld, who is Paige's father, 266 00:12:49,603 --> 00:12:52,237 advised us that Rob and Paige 267 00:12:52,239 --> 00:12:54,672 ran into a bunch of financial problems 268 00:12:54,674 --> 00:12:57,275 and that broke up their relationship. 269 00:12:58,978 --> 00:13:01,980 Frank told us that Rob, 270 00:13:01,982 --> 00:13:03,515 at first, was a good guy 271 00:13:03,517 --> 00:13:05,950 and seemed to be a nice husband. 272 00:13:07,319 --> 00:13:08,586 Near the end of the relationship, 273 00:13:08,588 --> 00:13:09,988 he said he wasn't so nice 274 00:13:09,990 --> 00:13:11,623 and it wasn't a good relationship, 275 00:13:11,625 --> 00:13:13,892 and there were kind of two sides to Rob. 276 00:13:16,562 --> 00:13:18,263 [Keira] We know money makes the world go round 277 00:13:18,265 --> 00:13:20,565 and money also causes tremendous 278 00:13:20,567 --> 00:13:22,467 conflict in these relationships. 279 00:13:22,469 --> 00:13:25,003 So, left over time, this continues to build 280 00:13:25,005 --> 00:13:27,172 into something that really can create 281 00:13:27,174 --> 00:13:29,207 a motive for murder. 282 00:13:33,946 --> 00:13:36,080 [Tish] Detectives discover there's more to Paige 283 00:13:36,082 --> 00:13:37,949 and Rob's troubled history 284 00:13:37,951 --> 00:13:41,019 than just financial issues. 285 00:13:41,021 --> 00:13:43,688 [Wayne] Close friends of Paige had disclosed to us 286 00:13:43,690 --> 00:13:46,491 that the children had overheard threats 287 00:13:46,493 --> 00:13:48,827 made by Rob Dixon. 288 00:13:49,962 --> 00:13:52,764 Paige had told a friend that the children said 289 00:13:52,766 --> 00:13:55,733 that he was going to kill her. 290 00:13:58,737 --> 00:14:01,139 We checked our records 291 00:14:01,141 --> 00:14:04,075 and there had been numerous calls of disturbances 292 00:14:04,077 --> 00:14:08,546 between Mr. Dixon and Paige Dixon at that time. 293 00:14:08,548 --> 00:14:10,181 Mr. Dixon had been arrested for 294 00:14:10,183 --> 00:14:11,716 domestic violence in the past. 295 00:14:13,085 --> 00:14:15,820 Paige had been fearful and concerned that, 296 00:14:15,822 --> 00:14:19,324 her ex-husband was moving back into the area, 297 00:14:19,326 --> 00:14:21,259 so obviously, he became higher 298 00:14:21,261 --> 00:14:23,261 in the list of suspects. 299 00:14:29,668 --> 00:14:31,636 [Tish] With Paige's ex-husband, Rob Dixon, 300 00:14:31,638 --> 00:14:33,238 in their crosshairs, 301 00:14:33,240 --> 00:14:35,139 investigators haul him into the station 302 00:14:35,141 --> 00:14:37,508 for questioning. 303 00:14:37,510 --> 00:14:39,711 [Lissah] He denies that they had prior violence 304 00:14:39,713 --> 00:14:41,179 between the two. 305 00:14:41,181 --> 00:14:43,381 He does discuss that they argued. 306 00:14:43,383 --> 00:14:45,250 He also talks about they disagreed 307 00:14:45,252 --> 00:14:46,684 on some things with the children. 308 00:14:48,087 --> 00:14:50,388 [Wayne] But when talking about his past with Paige, 309 00:14:50,390 --> 00:14:52,857 he seemed to be deceptive, 310 00:14:52,859 --> 00:14:55,894 he seemed to deflective of some of the questions 311 00:14:55,896 --> 00:14:57,428 that we asked. 312 00:14:58,931 --> 00:15:01,366 It raises suspicions as to why is he not 313 00:15:01,368 --> 00:15:03,568 being forth coming. 314 00:15:03,570 --> 00:15:06,271 [Police speaking] 315 00:15:07,606 --> 00:15:10,141 [Police speaking] 316 00:15:23,188 --> 00:15:25,056 [Tish] Detectives want to know where Dixon was 317 00:15:25,058 --> 00:15:27,926 between June 28th and July 1st. 318 00:15:27,928 --> 00:15:31,663 The window of time they believe Paige was killed. 319 00:15:31,665 --> 00:15:34,299 Rob Dixon provides us an alibi 320 00:15:34,301 --> 00:15:37,201 and says that he was in Pennsylvania 321 00:15:37,203 --> 00:15:40,605 working as an EMT over several of those days 322 00:15:40,607 --> 00:15:42,573 and says when he wasn't working, 323 00:15:42,575 --> 00:15:45,643 he had several friends helping him pack up his home 324 00:15:45,645 --> 00:15:48,780 to move down to the Durango, Colorado area 325 00:15:48,782 --> 00:15:50,081 to work there. 326 00:15:51,417 --> 00:15:53,251 We look into Rob Dixon's alibi 327 00:15:53,253 --> 00:15:56,454 and we find that indeed he was working in Pennsylvania 328 00:15:56,456 --> 00:15:58,623 long 12-hour shifts during the timeframe 329 00:15:58,625 --> 00:16:00,425 of her disappearance. 330 00:16:02,161 --> 00:16:04,395 We confirmed that he was indeed with 331 00:16:04,397 --> 00:16:07,665 friends on the day of the car fire. 332 00:16:07,667 --> 00:16:11,202 He could not have come to Colorado 333 00:16:11,204 --> 00:16:13,371 in the time in between. 334 00:16:17,076 --> 00:16:20,378 [Tish] Before investigators let Dixon walk out the door, 335 00:16:20,380 --> 00:16:22,313 they ask him if he could think of anyone 336 00:16:22,315 --> 00:16:25,650 who might have held any ill will towards Paige. 337 00:16:38,030 --> 00:16:40,665 [Lissah] Rob Dixon tells us he's concerned that 338 00:16:40,667 --> 00:16:43,868 Paige may have met foul play by someone involved 339 00:16:43,870 --> 00:16:46,537 in the escort business that she was running. 340 00:16:49,041 --> 00:16:51,442 [Daniel] This was a bombshell to learn that 341 00:16:51,444 --> 00:16:53,378 a soccer mom that was so involved 342 00:16:53,380 --> 00:16:55,813 in the community had this secret life. 343 00:16:57,983 --> 00:17:00,218 No one could believe it. 344 00:17:00,220 --> 00:17:03,054 In terms of Grand Junction, it's pretty scandalous. 345 00:17:03,056 --> 00:17:07,158 No one was expecting it, not from Paige Birgfeld. 346 00:17:08,394 --> 00:17:11,429 [Lissah] As investigators were acutely aware 347 00:17:11,431 --> 00:17:14,032 that being involved in the escort business 348 00:17:14,034 --> 00:17:16,334 puts you at a much higher risk 349 00:17:16,336 --> 00:17:21,372 for violence, serious assaults, or even death. 350 00:17:21,374 --> 00:17:22,940 [Daniel] Anytime you're dealing with a secret life 351 00:17:22,942 --> 00:17:24,542 that involves illegal activity, 352 00:17:24,544 --> 00:17:26,177 you're gonna deal with people 353 00:17:26,179 --> 00:17:28,513 who don't wanna tell you the truth. 354 00:17:28,515 --> 00:17:30,181 [Roots] She collected a lot of information 355 00:17:30,183 --> 00:17:32,183 about a lot of individuals. 356 00:17:32,185 --> 00:17:35,686 The fear of information getting out 357 00:17:35,688 --> 00:17:39,023 about their own personal lives is so pronounced 358 00:17:39,025 --> 00:17:40,558 that the only way out 359 00:17:40,560 --> 00:17:42,226 is to get rid of the individual 360 00:17:42,228 --> 00:17:45,563 who's holding this over their head. 361 00:17:45,565 --> 00:17:47,365 There could be so many people who had 362 00:17:47,367 --> 00:17:49,467 a motive to kill Paige. 363 00:17:55,207 --> 00:17:56,307 [Tish] Armed with the revelation that 364 00:17:56,309 --> 00:17:58,743 Paige Birgfeld, mother of three, 365 00:17:58,745 --> 00:18:00,745 had been moonlighting as an escort. 366 00:18:00,747 --> 00:18:03,648 Investigators track down her client list 367 00:18:03,650 --> 00:18:06,617 and began an exhaustive search for suspects. 368 00:18:07,886 --> 00:18:11,422 [Wayne] Paige, the number of clients that she had seen 369 00:18:11,424 --> 00:18:14,425 just recently blew up the suspect list 370 00:18:14,427 --> 00:18:17,962 to about 10 to 15 people and that became difficult 371 00:18:17,964 --> 00:18:21,666 and we had to include every one of those people. 372 00:18:24,103 --> 00:18:27,071 [Tish] In hopes of narrowing down their suspect pool, 373 00:18:27,073 --> 00:18:29,740 investigators look into who Paige had contact with 374 00:18:29,742 --> 00:18:33,111 on June 28th, the day she disappeared. 375 00:18:34,746 --> 00:18:37,648 [Lissah] So we start looking at her phone records 376 00:18:37,650 --> 00:18:39,550 and we see that there's a number 377 00:18:39,552 --> 00:18:43,221 that's called multiple times, many times 378 00:18:43,223 --> 00:18:46,657 over the evening of the 27th to the 28th 379 00:18:46,659 --> 00:18:48,759 and we track that number back 380 00:18:48,761 --> 00:18:51,496 to a person named George Coralluzo. 381 00:18:53,432 --> 00:18:56,134 [Tish] When police look into George Coralluzo, 382 00:18:56,136 --> 00:18:59,036 they discover he's a local house painter. 383 00:18:59,038 --> 00:19:00,805 We try to contact him and we don't get 384 00:19:00,807 --> 00:19:02,807 any answers on that phone number, 385 00:19:02,809 --> 00:19:05,476 but the business partners tell us that, 386 00:19:05,478 --> 00:19:09,147 George failed to show up for work on June 28th, 387 00:19:09,149 --> 00:19:12,316 the same day that Paige disappeared 388 00:19:12,318 --> 00:19:15,186 and that's the same day that he was calling her phone 389 00:19:15,188 --> 00:19:17,588 routinely and repeatedly throughout the whole day. 390 00:19:19,158 --> 00:19:21,392 He tells family and friends 391 00:19:21,394 --> 00:19:23,127 there's been a death in the family 392 00:19:23,129 --> 00:19:24,996 and he buys a last-minute plane ticket 393 00:19:24,998 --> 00:19:28,633 and leaves Colorado and goes to New Jersey. 394 00:19:32,604 --> 00:19:34,238 Cops don't like coincidences, 395 00:19:34,240 --> 00:19:36,440 and the timing of his leaving 396 00:19:36,442 --> 00:19:39,177 is concerning, very concerning. 397 00:19:42,181 --> 00:19:44,415 We're thinking that possibly they met up 398 00:19:44,417 --> 00:19:47,151 and things went sour, we don't know that. 399 00:19:47,153 --> 00:19:48,986 What we do know is that we need to find 400 00:19:48,988 --> 00:19:52,924 George Coralluzo and talk with him as soon as possible. 401 00:19:52,926 --> 00:19:55,293 [Tish] Investigators travel to New Jersey 402 00:19:55,295 --> 00:19:57,695 to interview George Coralluzo. 403 00:19:58,830 --> 00:20:01,132 [Lissah] George tells us that he was, 404 00:20:01,134 --> 00:20:03,568 looking to get a escort service, 405 00:20:03,570 --> 00:20:05,269 a massage service 406 00:20:05,271 --> 00:20:07,939 and that he couldn't find the business 407 00:20:07,941 --> 00:20:10,908 and that he denies he ever met up with anyone. 408 00:20:12,277 --> 00:20:15,446 He pursues to discuss, spending the evening 409 00:20:15,448 --> 00:20:18,082 getting very, very drunk with friends 410 00:20:18,084 --> 00:20:19,784 and then his girlfriend came and picked him up 411 00:20:19,786 --> 00:20:21,419 at about midnight 412 00:20:21,421 --> 00:20:23,588 and then the next day left Grand Junction 413 00:20:23,590 --> 00:20:25,489 to drive over to Denver. 414 00:20:25,491 --> 00:20:27,825 He says he parked his car at the Denver Airport 415 00:20:27,827 --> 00:20:29,927 and flew into New Jersey, 416 00:20:29,929 --> 00:20:32,797 which would be prior to the car fire. 417 00:20:34,233 --> 00:20:37,602 He does admit that he lied to his business partners 418 00:20:37,604 --> 00:20:39,470 about leaving town 419 00:20:39,472 --> 00:20:42,907 and that no one was killed in his family, 420 00:20:42,909 --> 00:20:44,742 but that he just wants a vacation 421 00:20:44,744 --> 00:20:46,711 and doesn't wanna tell his business partners 422 00:20:46,713 --> 00:20:48,913 is what he tells us. 423 00:20:48,915 --> 00:20:51,015 That's a pretty big lie. 424 00:20:51,017 --> 00:20:53,651 [Tish] Investigators work to verify 425 00:20:53,653 --> 00:20:55,219 Coralluzo's whereabouts 426 00:20:55,221 --> 00:20:58,022 between June 28th when Paige went missing, 427 00:20:58,024 --> 00:21:01,392 and July 1st when her car was found on fire. 428 00:21:03,562 --> 00:21:06,364 We confirmed the information that George has given us 429 00:21:06,366 --> 00:21:09,166 that he was indeed out of town. 430 00:21:09,168 --> 00:21:12,270 Investigators find that his car is parked 431 00:21:12,272 --> 00:21:15,006 in long-term parking and they see a parking receipt 432 00:21:15,008 --> 00:21:16,807 for where he entered the parking 433 00:21:16,809 --> 00:21:21,345 at about 11:00 in the evening on June 30th. 434 00:21:22,914 --> 00:21:24,682 He flew to New Jersey and arrived there 435 00:21:24,684 --> 00:21:26,684 at about 1:00 in the afternoon 436 00:21:26,686 --> 00:21:28,953 which is about eight or nine hours 437 00:21:28,955 --> 00:21:30,688 before the car fire. 438 00:21:30,690 --> 00:21:33,557 [Tish] With Coralluzo's alibi checking out, 439 00:21:33,559 --> 00:21:35,860 he's eliminated as a suspect. 440 00:21:40,999 --> 00:21:44,869 Investigators find themselves at a crossroads. 441 00:21:44,871 --> 00:21:46,504 [Daniel] Everybody in the community 442 00:21:46,506 --> 00:21:49,774 knew in their hearts that she had been killed 443 00:21:49,776 --> 00:21:53,110 and our ability to prove it beyond a reasonable doubt 444 00:21:53,112 --> 00:21:55,880 was still hampered by that double life 445 00:21:55,882 --> 00:21:58,616 that she had and the fact that we hadn't found the body yet. 446 00:22:00,252 --> 00:22:03,387 [Natalie] Paige going missing really woke up 447 00:22:03,389 --> 00:22:04,922 Grand Junction to say, 448 00:22:04,924 --> 00:22:06,691 "Wow, we didn't think this could happen 449 00:22:06,693 --> 00:22:09,560 in our backyard, but here it is." 450 00:22:13,298 --> 00:22:15,266 Something has happened to Paige 451 00:22:15,268 --> 00:22:17,601 and we have to keep working and we have to keep trying 452 00:22:17,603 --> 00:22:20,371 and we don't give up just because time 453 00:22:20,373 --> 00:22:22,573 isn't on our side. 454 00:22:22,575 --> 00:22:27,411 [Tish] A chance occurrence revitalizes the case. 455 00:22:27,413 --> 00:22:30,448 [Natalie] It just so happened that somebody driving down 456 00:22:30,450 --> 00:22:32,149 highway 50 in the middle of nowhere 457 00:22:32,151 --> 00:22:35,086 had pulled over to check his tires and had noticed, 458 00:22:35,088 --> 00:22:37,288 I think it was one of Paige's checks 459 00:22:37,290 --> 00:22:39,357 and started to see that, 460 00:22:39,359 --> 00:22:41,859 hey, there's more scattered items out here. 461 00:22:41,861 --> 00:22:43,928 [Daniel] All sorts of items that you would not expect 462 00:22:43,930 --> 00:22:47,565 a person to throw out unless they are trying 463 00:22:47,567 --> 00:22:50,201 to potentially leave a trail of breadcrumbs. 464 00:22:52,304 --> 00:22:54,805 [Wayne] It was our belief that Paige had been put 465 00:22:54,807 --> 00:22:57,074 in the trunk of a vehicle and was trying to leave us 466 00:22:57,076 --> 00:23:00,277 a sign of where she was going. 467 00:23:00,279 --> 00:23:01,979 [Natalie] I think everybody thought, 468 00:23:01,981 --> 00:23:03,748 "This is it. She's leaving us a trail. 469 00:23:03,750 --> 00:23:05,783 She's signaling us to her." 470 00:23:10,589 --> 00:23:12,523 [Tish] After a trail of Paige Birgfeld's 471 00:23:12,525 --> 00:23:15,092 belongings are found on the side of a highway, 472 00:23:15,094 --> 00:23:17,862 police and volunteers scour the area 473 00:23:17,864 --> 00:23:23,200 hoping to find more evidence and perhaps, Paige's body. 474 00:23:23,202 --> 00:23:25,136 Highway 50 is a long stretch. 475 00:23:25,138 --> 00:23:28,172 It's extremely rugged and rural. 476 00:23:28,174 --> 00:23:29,907 They searched and searched knowing that 477 00:23:29,909 --> 00:23:31,575 they could possibly be looking 478 00:23:31,577 --> 00:23:34,812 for a needle in a haystack. 479 00:23:34,814 --> 00:23:36,414 We had a large community search team 480 00:23:36,416 --> 00:23:38,182 that went out and found 481 00:23:38,184 --> 00:23:42,686 close to 75 pieces of evidence. 482 00:23:42,688 --> 00:23:44,355 But unfortunately, even though 483 00:23:44,357 --> 00:23:46,123 all of those personal belongings were found, 484 00:23:46,125 --> 00:23:48,025 it didn't lead to our body. 485 00:23:49,728 --> 00:23:53,330 [dramatic music playing] 486 00:23:53,332 --> 00:23:54,865 [Daniel] There are murder cases 487 00:23:54,867 --> 00:23:56,467 that a prosecuted without a body, 488 00:23:56,469 --> 00:23:58,436 but in this particular situation, 489 00:23:58,438 --> 00:24:00,471 we're talking about a woman who has a double life. 490 00:24:00,473 --> 00:24:02,573 We're talking about a woman who has such a secret life 491 00:24:02,575 --> 00:24:05,876 that some of her best friends had no idea 492 00:24:05,878 --> 00:24:08,245 that she was doing all of these other things. 493 00:24:10,782 --> 00:24:14,418 Our office continued to look at any possible leads. 494 00:24:14,420 --> 00:24:17,788 We had people coming forward with information 495 00:24:17,790 --> 00:24:20,157 about the escort business. 496 00:24:20,159 --> 00:24:22,993 [Tish] When investigators take a closer look 497 00:24:22,995 --> 00:24:24,762 into Paige's business, 498 00:24:24,764 --> 00:24:27,932 they discover she wasn't working alone. 499 00:24:27,934 --> 00:24:29,567 One of the interesting people that came forward 500 00:24:29,569 --> 00:24:32,102 was a woman named Carolyn Linderholm. 501 00:24:32,104 --> 00:24:35,172 She was aware of Paige's Model's Inc. business 502 00:24:35,174 --> 00:24:37,141 and she had actually participated 503 00:24:37,143 --> 00:24:40,110 in some of the calls. 504 00:24:40,112 --> 00:24:42,413 Carol told us that Paige had called her 505 00:24:42,415 --> 00:24:47,117 on the 27th of June and asked her to take a client 506 00:24:47,119 --> 00:24:48,819 by the name of Jim Jones, 507 00:24:48,821 --> 00:24:50,454 because Paige had recognized him 508 00:24:50,456 --> 00:24:53,324 from a previous visit. 509 00:24:53,326 --> 00:24:55,960 She said that Paige was not comfortable 510 00:24:55,962 --> 00:24:58,996 because he had recognized her as being Paige Dixon 511 00:24:58,998 --> 00:25:01,665 and related to Rob Dixon. 512 00:25:01,667 --> 00:25:05,269 She agreed to take the client. 513 00:25:05,271 --> 00:25:09,673 She went to Mr. Jones's home on the 27th of June 514 00:25:09,675 --> 00:25:12,710 between 10:00 and 10:30 in the evening. 515 00:25:12,712 --> 00:25:14,545 She provided a topless massage. 516 00:25:14,547 --> 00:25:17,882 He did ask for additional sexual activity 517 00:25:17,884 --> 00:25:20,551 and she said no. 518 00:25:20,553 --> 00:25:22,786 [Tish] Investigators learned that Jim Jones 519 00:25:22,788 --> 00:25:27,458 is Lester Ralph Jones, a mechanic at Bob Scott RV 520 00:25:27,460 --> 00:25:31,562 which is near Walker SMS Manufacturing. 521 00:25:33,198 --> 00:25:35,099 [Lissah] He works across the street 522 00:25:35,101 --> 00:25:39,770 from where the car was burned so we find that interesting. 523 00:25:39,772 --> 00:25:42,840 [Daniel] Paige's last phone call to anybody 524 00:25:42,842 --> 00:25:45,509 was just outside the Walker SMS 525 00:25:45,511 --> 00:25:49,280 and just outside Bob Scott RV. 526 00:25:49,282 --> 00:25:51,382 We didn't know much about him and we didn't know much 527 00:25:51,384 --> 00:25:53,717 about what his involvement was, 528 00:25:53,719 --> 00:25:55,853 but as we started to look into him 529 00:25:55,855 --> 00:25:59,056 there was a lot of very serious coincidences. 530 00:26:00,625 --> 00:26:02,459 [Tish] Detectives take a second look 531 00:26:02,461 --> 00:26:04,728 at Paige's work phone records and discovers 532 00:26:04,730 --> 00:26:07,531 she received multiple calls from Lester Jones 533 00:26:07,533 --> 00:26:11,001 after he met with Carol on June 27th. 534 00:26:11,003 --> 00:26:13,537 Armed with this information, 535 00:26:13,539 --> 00:26:16,273 they bring Jones into the station for questioning. 536 00:26:17,609 --> 00:26:21,045 [Lissah] Mr. Jones initially denies knowing Ms. Birgfeld 537 00:26:21,047 --> 00:26:23,881 and eventually admits that he does know her 538 00:26:23,883 --> 00:26:28,752 and admits to having service on June 27th with Carol. 539 00:26:28,754 --> 00:26:31,789 [Tish] Detectives question Jones about his whereabouts 540 00:26:31,791 --> 00:26:35,793 on June 28th, the day Paige disappeared. 541 00:26:35,795 --> 00:26:38,128 [Lissah] Mr. Jones tell us all week, 542 00:26:38,130 --> 00:26:39,930 including the 28th of June, 543 00:26:39,932 --> 00:26:42,566 that his same routine is right after work 544 00:26:42,568 --> 00:26:45,970 he goes to the Alano Club socializes with people, 545 00:26:45,972 --> 00:26:47,605 drinks coffee for a little bit, 546 00:26:47,607 --> 00:26:51,775 then gets some dinner and heads home. 547 00:26:51,777 --> 00:26:55,913 [Wayne speaking] 548 00:26:55,915 --> 00:26:57,314 [Lester speaking] 549 00:26:57,316 --> 00:26:58,315 [Wayne speaking] 550 00:26:58,317 --> 00:26:59,917 [Lester speaking] 551 00:26:59,919 --> 00:27:05,089 [Wayne speaking] 552 00:27:05,091 --> 00:27:09,693 [Lester speaking] 553 00:27:09,695 --> 00:27:11,528 [Lissah] Mr. Jones says that 554 00:27:11,530 --> 00:27:14,164 no one can corroborate he was home by himself 555 00:27:14,166 --> 00:27:16,300 because he was alone. 556 00:27:16,302 --> 00:27:18,836 However, he states his wife returned to town on June 30th 557 00:27:18,838 --> 00:27:21,672 during the afternoon. 558 00:27:21,674 --> 00:27:24,608 While some investigators are talking with Mr. Jones 559 00:27:24,610 --> 00:27:26,410 at the sheriff's office, 560 00:27:26,412 --> 00:27:30,180 other investigators go out to Mrs. Jones's workplace 561 00:27:30,182 --> 00:27:32,750 and contact her. 562 00:27:32,752 --> 00:27:35,753 And during that conversation, Mrs. Jones said that 563 00:27:35,755 --> 00:27:39,123 Mr. Jones was gone Sunday evening on July 1st 564 00:27:39,125 --> 00:27:43,494 between about 9:00 and 10:15. 565 00:27:43,496 --> 00:27:47,164 [Wayne] He states that he had to drive to Bob Scott's RV 566 00:27:47,166 --> 00:27:50,367 and turn off the lights. 567 00:27:50,369 --> 00:27:53,537 He puts himself right there at the time of the fire. 568 00:27:59,878 --> 00:28:01,412 [Tish] When detectives look 569 00:28:01,414 --> 00:28:02,813 into Lester Jones's background, 570 00:28:02,815 --> 00:28:04,348 they discover a history 571 00:28:04,350 --> 00:28:06,717 of domestic abuse and assault. 572 00:28:06,719 --> 00:28:09,386 [Wayne] He has a prior arrest for assault 573 00:28:09,388 --> 00:28:11,455 and sexual assault, and kidnapping, 574 00:28:11,457 --> 00:28:15,225 and that he had been prisoned for three years. 575 00:28:15,227 --> 00:28:17,327 As we dig further into him, we find that, 576 00:28:17,329 --> 00:28:19,396 uh, with two of his first ex-wives, 577 00:28:19,398 --> 00:28:21,131 he had propensity for violence, 578 00:28:21,133 --> 00:28:22,966 domestic violence, sexual violence 579 00:28:22,968 --> 00:28:25,736 towards both of them. 580 00:28:25,738 --> 00:28:27,705 [Tish] Having uncovered a pattern of violence 581 00:28:27,707 --> 00:28:29,506 against women, 582 00:28:29,508 --> 00:28:33,143 detectives put Jones' alibi to the test. 583 00:28:33,145 --> 00:28:36,680 [Daniel] When we confronted Lester about his alibi, 584 00:28:36,682 --> 00:28:39,483 he wasn't able to give us any names. 585 00:28:39,485 --> 00:28:41,852 We were able to verify that he did in fact go to work 586 00:28:41,854 --> 00:28:43,987 that day, but of significance, 587 00:28:43,989 --> 00:28:47,324 nobody remembered him being at the club that night 588 00:28:47,326 --> 00:28:49,927 on June 28th. 589 00:28:49,929 --> 00:28:51,795 [Lissah] We have nothing to alibi where he is 590 00:28:51,797 --> 00:28:53,997 on the evening of the 28th, 591 00:28:53,999 --> 00:28:56,300 and he puts himself in the area 592 00:28:56,302 --> 00:28:58,202 of the evening of the car fire, 593 00:28:58,204 --> 00:29:00,604 and he's the only person so far that we've run into 594 00:29:00,606 --> 00:29:05,642 that possibly was in that area both days and both times. 595 00:29:08,847 --> 00:29:10,481 [Wayne] We were in consultation 596 00:29:10,483 --> 00:29:12,049 with the District Attorney's Office 597 00:29:12,051 --> 00:29:13,817 throughout this investigation, 598 00:29:13,819 --> 00:29:16,220 and we believed we had the primary suspect 599 00:29:16,222 --> 00:29:19,323 in Lester Jones. 600 00:29:19,325 --> 00:29:21,759 [Tish] Having zeroed in on Lester Jones, 601 00:29:21,761 --> 00:29:24,228 police obtain search warrants for his house, 602 00:29:24,230 --> 00:29:28,132 vehicles, and place of work. 603 00:29:28,134 --> 00:29:30,567 No body homicides are rather obviously 604 00:29:30,569 --> 00:29:33,737 very difficult investigations and are seldom prosecuted. 605 00:29:33,739 --> 00:29:36,473 What you have to do is collect what you call 606 00:29:36,475 --> 00:29:38,876 the corpus delicti or the body of evidence 607 00:29:38,878 --> 00:29:41,445 through other means, and assemble basically 608 00:29:41,447 --> 00:29:45,249 a circumstantial case that is rock solid. 609 00:29:45,251 --> 00:29:48,886 [dramatic music playing] 610 00:29:48,888 --> 00:29:51,088 [Wayne] As we search his desks and the work area 611 00:29:51,090 --> 00:29:53,857 at Bob Scott's, the first thing of note 612 00:29:53,859 --> 00:29:58,228 is the gas can that's sitting there. 613 00:29:58,230 --> 00:29:59,830 Obviously, with our information 614 00:29:59,832 --> 00:30:01,398 that there was accelerants used, 615 00:30:01,400 --> 00:30:03,400 um, in the vehicle fire, 616 00:30:03,402 --> 00:30:05,102 none of the other employees claim that 617 00:30:05,104 --> 00:30:07,137 that is their gas can, 618 00:30:07,139 --> 00:30:10,440 that they have not seen that there before. 619 00:30:10,442 --> 00:30:13,477 [Lissah] We find a list with names 620 00:30:13,479 --> 00:30:15,913 of, um, escort ladies. 621 00:30:15,915 --> 00:30:20,484 We find wigs, men's wigs. 622 00:30:20,486 --> 00:30:25,222 We find a package of condoms and some Viagra pills, 623 00:30:25,224 --> 00:30:27,491 all of these in his closed locker area 624 00:30:27,493 --> 00:30:30,494 that is used only by him. 625 00:30:30,496 --> 00:30:33,463 We know Mr. Jones and Paige knew each other 626 00:30:33,465 --> 00:30:35,365 and she didn't wanna see him for that. 627 00:30:35,367 --> 00:30:37,100 There's a concern was he maybe trying 628 00:30:37,102 --> 00:30:40,003 to meet up with her and disguise who he was. 629 00:30:41,973 --> 00:30:43,740 [Wayne] We saw that there was our package 630 00:30:43,742 --> 00:30:46,009 for a track phone in the trashcan 631 00:30:46,011 --> 00:30:48,712 next to his desk. 632 00:30:48,714 --> 00:30:51,882 That raises our suspicions and we believe now 633 00:30:51,884 --> 00:30:54,351 we're on the right trail. 634 00:30:54,353 --> 00:30:56,286 [Roots] Criminals, or people who are about 635 00:30:56,288 --> 00:30:58,121 to commit crime, are getting savvy. 636 00:30:58,123 --> 00:31:00,657 They understand that their cell phone 637 00:31:00,659 --> 00:31:02,626 will be used to track them. 638 00:31:02,628 --> 00:31:05,329 A track phone is often used because you don't have 639 00:31:05,331 --> 00:31:08,265 to provide your name or your address, 640 00:31:08,267 --> 00:31:11,034 so there's no paper trail. 641 00:31:11,036 --> 00:31:14,705 [Lissah] We tracked that back to being purchased 642 00:31:14,707 --> 00:31:18,709 at a specific date and time at a local Walmart store. 643 00:31:18,711 --> 00:31:22,479 We go there, we get surveillance video, 644 00:31:22,481 --> 00:31:25,349 and lo and behold, it is Lester Jones 645 00:31:25,351 --> 00:31:27,885 purchasing that phone. 646 00:31:29,754 --> 00:31:31,822 [Tish] Investigations obtain records 647 00:31:31,824 --> 00:31:35,158 for the prepaid cell phone purchased by Lester Jones. 648 00:31:36,995 --> 00:31:38,729 [Lissah] When we get the phone records, 649 00:31:38,731 --> 00:31:41,632 the only calls made using that phone 650 00:31:41,634 --> 00:31:45,936 are to Paige Birgfeld's Model's, Inc. Cell phone. 651 00:31:47,772 --> 00:31:50,040 There were five calls to and from that phone 652 00:31:50,042 --> 00:31:51,608 on the day of her disappearance, 653 00:31:51,610 --> 00:31:54,411 and the last call on that phone 654 00:31:54,413 --> 00:31:57,347 was at about 7:55 on June 28th 655 00:31:57,349 --> 00:32:00,784 when Paige called Mr. Jones back. 656 00:32:02,453 --> 00:32:04,788 It was clear to us that his efforts to call 657 00:32:04,790 --> 00:32:09,059 from his personal cell phone were unsuccessful, 658 00:32:09,061 --> 00:32:12,362 so we assumed that is why he got the prepaid phone 659 00:32:12,364 --> 00:32:15,766 was to disguise who he was and try and convince Paige 660 00:32:15,768 --> 00:32:19,303 to meet up with this person she doesn't know. 661 00:32:21,072 --> 00:32:22,572 [Tish] With the evidence 662 00:32:22,574 --> 00:32:24,374 against Lester Jones mounting, 663 00:32:24,376 --> 00:32:26,677 investigators obtain another search warrant 664 00:32:26,679 --> 00:32:29,046 for his two computers. 665 00:32:29,048 --> 00:32:31,949 [dramatic music playing] 666 00:32:31,951 --> 00:32:33,550 [Daniel] Every evening, 667 00:32:33,552 --> 00:32:35,085 when he would get home from work, 668 00:32:35,087 --> 00:32:36,720 he would get back on his computer, 669 00:32:36,722 --> 00:32:39,556 and you're able to see the computer usage. 670 00:32:39,558 --> 00:32:41,925 [Wayne] He was involved with a lot of pornography 671 00:32:41,927 --> 00:32:43,427 and checking other escorts 672 00:32:43,429 --> 00:32:45,262 and prostitution type services 673 00:32:45,264 --> 00:32:47,297 on June 26th, 27th, 674 00:32:47,299 --> 00:32:49,266 while his wife was out of town. 675 00:32:49,268 --> 00:32:51,101 On June 28th, during the evening hours, 676 00:32:51,103 --> 00:32:53,937 there was no activity, and then again on June 29th 677 00:32:53,939 --> 00:32:56,540 and June 30th, there was a lot of activity. 678 00:32:58,343 --> 00:33:00,077 [Daniel] He was a creature of habit 679 00:33:00,079 --> 00:33:02,279 and everyday looked exactly the same, 680 00:33:02,281 --> 00:33:04,948 except for the day that Paige went missing. 681 00:33:06,484 --> 00:33:08,452 [Tish] With the search warrants complete, 682 00:33:08,454 --> 00:33:11,421 a patrol officer calls Jones's home to arrange 683 00:33:11,423 --> 00:33:13,090 for the return of his two cars 684 00:33:13,092 --> 00:33:16,093 that were seized and searched. 685 00:33:16,095 --> 00:33:17,928 A sergeant in the investigation unit 686 00:33:17,930 --> 00:33:21,565 called Mr. Jones and realizes that Mr. Jones sounds 687 00:33:21,567 --> 00:33:25,936 almost like he's intoxicated or, uh, sounds off-kilter. 688 00:33:25,938 --> 00:33:28,105 Mr. Jones says something to the effect 689 00:33:28,107 --> 00:33:31,441 of "You ask me where I would bury a body?" 690 00:33:31,443 --> 00:33:33,810 And the sergeant is pretty surprised 691 00:33:33,812 --> 00:33:35,379 by that statement, 692 00:33:35,381 --> 00:33:37,647 because he never asked him that question. 693 00:33:39,517 --> 00:33:41,518 Right after that statement was made, 694 00:33:41,520 --> 00:33:43,286 Mrs. Jones took the phone 695 00:33:43,288 --> 00:33:45,889 and said her husband wasn't feeling well, 696 00:33:45,891 --> 00:33:47,791 and ended the conversation. 697 00:33:50,428 --> 00:33:51,895 That was pretty significant fact to us 698 00:33:51,897 --> 00:33:54,631 because Mr. Jones actually had a history. 699 00:33:56,267 --> 00:34:00,237 He had been convicted of kidnapping his prior wife 700 00:34:00,239 --> 00:34:02,305 and he had actually told her, 701 00:34:02,307 --> 00:34:04,474 "I'm going to kill you and bury you on a lake 702 00:34:04,476 --> 00:34:06,877 where nobody will ever find your body." 703 00:34:06,879 --> 00:34:09,646 And so we knew he was capable of this type of behavior. 704 00:34:09,648 --> 00:34:12,182 - [woman grunts] - [Tish] But without a body, 705 00:34:12,184 --> 00:34:14,918 detectives can't arrest or charge Lester Jones 706 00:34:14,920 --> 00:34:17,654 with the crime. 707 00:34:17,656 --> 00:34:22,225 [Lissah] You get one shot at prosecuting on a homicide, 708 00:34:22,227 --> 00:34:25,062 so the decision was made to not arrest at the time. 709 00:34:25,064 --> 00:34:27,998 [woman grunting] 710 00:34:28,000 --> 00:34:30,467 We believe she's dead. 711 00:34:30,469 --> 00:34:33,804 We don't know where the body is. 712 00:34:33,806 --> 00:34:38,075 We don't know how Lester Jones killed her. 713 00:34:38,077 --> 00:34:39,843 We had already decided he was our guy 714 00:34:39,845 --> 00:34:41,545 but it was just not realistic 715 00:34:41,547 --> 00:34:43,180 to prosecute without the body. 716 00:34:46,717 --> 00:34:49,286 [ominous music playing] 717 00:34:49,288 --> 00:34:51,588 [Tish] In the murder of Paige Birgfeld, 718 00:34:51,590 --> 00:34:54,424 detectives have zeroed in on Lester Jones. 719 00:34:54,426 --> 00:34:56,026 A former client 720 00:34:56,028 --> 00:34:57,794 of the soccer mom turned escort. 721 00:34:57,796 --> 00:35:00,530 But without a body or any physical evidence 722 00:35:00,532 --> 00:35:04,534 connecting him to the crime, he remains at large. 723 00:35:04,536 --> 00:35:06,036 [car door closes] 724 00:35:06,038 --> 00:35:07,504 [Wayne] Finding a body is important. 725 00:35:07,506 --> 00:35:09,206 It's not absolute but became difficult 726 00:35:09,208 --> 00:35:11,074 trying to prosecute without the body, 727 00:35:11,076 --> 00:35:13,844 because Paige was involved in this double life, 728 00:35:13,846 --> 00:35:16,012 so it was very frustrating. 729 00:35:18,116 --> 00:35:20,584 [Daniel] We were left with waiting 730 00:35:20,586 --> 00:35:22,252 and trying to follow up 731 00:35:22,254 --> 00:35:24,488 with any other lead that came up. 732 00:35:24,490 --> 00:35:26,289 [birds chirping] 733 00:35:26,291 --> 00:35:28,325 [Wayne] Obviously, the family was grieved. 734 00:35:28,327 --> 00:35:29,826 The community was concerned 735 00:35:29,828 --> 00:35:31,895 that there was this killer out there, 736 00:35:31,897 --> 00:35:35,031 or alleged killer out there. 737 00:35:35,033 --> 00:35:37,534 [Natalie] It was really hard for Grand Junction. 738 00:35:37,536 --> 00:35:39,002 Everybody wanted answers. 739 00:35:39,004 --> 00:35:40,737 People that didn't even know her 740 00:35:40,739 --> 00:35:42,205 were calling the news station every day saying, 741 00:35:42,207 --> 00:35:43,640 "What's the update on Paige? 742 00:35:43,642 --> 00:35:45,609 Where is she? Have we found her?" 743 00:35:48,246 --> 00:35:50,780 [Tish] Months turn into years, and eventually 744 00:35:50,782 --> 00:35:53,917 the investigation into Paige Birgfeld's disappearance 745 00:35:53,919 --> 00:35:56,453 and presumed murder goes cold. 746 00:36:00,925 --> 00:36:03,627 And then we get a phone call. 747 00:36:03,629 --> 00:36:07,430 [Tish] On the morning of March 6th, 2012, 748 00:36:07,432 --> 00:36:10,634 two hikers stumble onto a key piece of evidence 749 00:36:10,636 --> 00:36:14,905 approximately 45 minutes south of Grand Junction. 750 00:36:14,907 --> 00:36:18,074 Two hikers are down hiking the Wells Gulch area 751 00:36:18,076 --> 00:36:20,076 which is one of our adjacent counties 752 00:36:20,078 --> 00:36:22,913 and they come across some human remains. 753 00:36:25,616 --> 00:36:27,617 Investigators from Mesa County 754 00:36:27,619 --> 00:36:29,319 and Delta County head down there, 755 00:36:29,321 --> 00:36:31,755 do some searching and find 756 00:36:31,757 --> 00:36:37,160 almost a full skeleton of a adult. 757 00:36:38,529 --> 00:36:40,330 [Daniel] We all knew as soon as we heard 758 00:36:40,332 --> 00:36:41,698 whose bones they were gonna be. 759 00:36:43,868 --> 00:36:46,002 [Lissah] The remains were examined by 760 00:36:46,004 --> 00:36:48,672 both the Mesa County coroner 761 00:36:48,674 --> 00:36:51,341 and also a forensic anthropologist 762 00:36:51,343 --> 00:36:54,311 here in Colorado. 763 00:36:54,313 --> 00:36:57,147 There was DNA extracted that was found 764 00:36:57,149 --> 00:36:59,182 to match that of Paige Birgfeld. 765 00:36:59,184 --> 00:37:02,219 [dramatic music playing] 766 00:37:05,656 --> 00:37:07,157 [Lissah] Investigators were glad 767 00:37:07,159 --> 00:37:09,025 the remains are finally found. 768 00:37:09,027 --> 00:37:10,694 This gives some kind of 769 00:37:10,696 --> 00:37:13,330 a small portion of closure to the family, 770 00:37:13,332 --> 00:37:15,599 even though this was really hard news to deliver. 771 00:37:15,601 --> 00:37:17,634 And that gets us to where we know 772 00:37:17,636 --> 00:37:20,370 we're going to be able to close the case. 773 00:37:25,176 --> 00:37:27,310 [Tish] Having identified the remains 774 00:37:27,312 --> 00:37:29,980 as Paige Birgfeld, investigators work 775 00:37:29,982 --> 00:37:33,183 to determine a cause of death. 776 00:37:33,185 --> 00:37:35,185 [Lissah] Unfortunately, the, uh, 777 00:37:35,187 --> 00:37:37,153 forensic anthropologist nor the coroner 778 00:37:37,155 --> 00:37:39,489 are able to determine an exact cause of death. 779 00:37:39,491 --> 00:37:42,626 There were two fractures on the face, 780 00:37:42,628 --> 00:37:44,361 both which would somewhat suggest 781 00:37:44,363 --> 00:37:46,730 that there was some kind of a fight. 782 00:37:46,732 --> 00:37:49,432 These were determined to be perimortem 783 00:37:49,434 --> 00:37:51,901 which is at about the time of death. 784 00:37:51,903 --> 00:37:54,838 [Wayne] There was duct tape, as well as some black tape 785 00:37:54,840 --> 00:37:56,406 along her mouth area 786 00:37:56,408 --> 00:37:58,174 and around the bones of the body, 787 00:37:58,176 --> 00:38:00,277 so it clearly shows that she had been bound 788 00:38:00,279 --> 00:38:02,245 either while going into that area 789 00:38:02,247 --> 00:38:04,581 or at the area at the time. 790 00:38:04,583 --> 00:38:07,517 [Tish] With this final piece of the puzzle, 791 00:38:07,519 --> 00:38:09,519 detectives are now able to reconstruct 792 00:38:09,521 --> 00:38:12,689 Paige's final 24 hours. 793 00:38:12,691 --> 00:38:15,091 [Lissah] Howard Beigler says that they saw each other 794 00:38:15,093 --> 00:38:17,727 and he saw her, uh, in her car driving 795 00:38:17,729 --> 00:38:21,197 towards Grand Junction at about 7:00 on June 28th. 796 00:38:21,199 --> 00:38:25,669 [Wayne] At approximately 7:39, we know that Lester Jones 797 00:38:25,671 --> 00:38:30,373 called Paige Birgfeld on her work phone for Models, Inc., 798 00:38:30,375 --> 00:38:32,542 and this was from Lester Jones' track phone 799 00:38:32,544 --> 00:38:34,544 that he had bought. 800 00:38:34,546 --> 00:38:36,012 During this time, we know 801 00:38:36,014 --> 00:38:37,647 that she's still driving home. 802 00:38:39,884 --> 00:38:44,621 After 8:57 PM, we know that Paige Birgfeld met up 803 00:38:44,623 --> 00:38:49,192 with Lester Jones at either Bob Scott RV or Walker SMS 804 00:38:49,194 --> 00:38:53,496 which is across the street where her vehicle was found. 805 00:38:53,498 --> 00:38:55,398 [woman gasps] 806 00:38:55,400 --> 00:38:57,434 [Daniel] Then he kidnapped her and he duct taped 807 00:38:57,436 --> 00:38:59,703 around her skull, around her head, 808 00:38:59,705 --> 00:39:02,138 which would indicate that she was alive at that point 809 00:39:02,140 --> 00:39:05,642 that that happened and likely being driven somewhere. 810 00:39:07,812 --> 00:39:09,779 The seat was pushed back in the car 811 00:39:09,781 --> 00:39:12,015 which would indicate that Mr. Jones was driving it. 812 00:39:12,017 --> 00:39:15,652 [Wayne] He drives her to Wells Gulch area 813 00:39:15,654 --> 00:39:17,454 of the Delta County. 814 00:39:19,457 --> 00:39:22,792 Paige Birgfeld, who's in the trunk of her vehicle, 815 00:39:22,794 --> 00:39:24,928 was throwing out cards and checkbooks 816 00:39:24,930 --> 00:39:28,965 to lead a trail to where she would be at. 817 00:39:28,967 --> 00:39:31,568 [Lissah] We don't know exactly what the last moments 818 00:39:31,570 --> 00:39:33,903 of Paige's life were, 819 00:39:33,905 --> 00:39:37,273 but due to information that Mr. Jones 820 00:39:37,275 --> 00:39:39,943 had previously threatened other ex-wives 821 00:39:39,945 --> 00:39:42,979 and choked them, you can wonder 822 00:39:42,981 --> 00:39:45,281 if that's how she met her demise. 823 00:39:47,051 --> 00:39:49,452 [Daniel] Paige was killed at some point 824 00:39:49,454 --> 00:39:51,755 and buried deep enough that we didn't find her remains 825 00:39:51,757 --> 00:39:54,691 for five years. 826 00:39:54,693 --> 00:39:57,527 And that vehicle was brought back up to Grand Junction 827 00:39:57,529 --> 00:40:00,363 and dropped off. 828 00:40:00,365 --> 00:40:02,766 [Wayne] On July 1st, about 9:00 PM, 829 00:40:02,768 --> 00:40:05,068 Lester Jones realizes that their vehicle 830 00:40:05,070 --> 00:40:06,936 was parked across from the street. 831 00:40:06,938 --> 00:40:09,739 There could be possibly evidence inside that vehicle 832 00:40:09,741 --> 00:40:12,509 so he drives to Bob Scott RV's 833 00:40:12,511 --> 00:40:14,310 under the pretense of turning off the lights 834 00:40:14,312 --> 00:40:17,580 in his office, goes across the street. 835 00:40:17,582 --> 00:40:19,616 He takes four pages of the calendar 836 00:40:19,618 --> 00:40:23,019 out of the calendar book, 837 00:40:23,021 --> 00:40:25,255 uses accelerants, gasoline, 838 00:40:25,257 --> 00:40:27,290 or some type of gasoline accelerant, 839 00:40:27,292 --> 00:40:29,726 start the fire, 840 00:40:29,728 --> 00:40:32,328 and arrives back home where his wife sees him. 841 00:40:33,998 --> 00:40:35,899 [Lissah] He knew that she had information 842 00:40:35,901 --> 00:40:38,468 about her clients in there and needed that evidence gone. 843 00:40:38,470 --> 00:40:43,173 [suspenseful music playing] 844 00:40:43,175 --> 00:40:45,408 This is by definition of a sexual homicide. 845 00:40:45,410 --> 00:40:47,877 He has pursued the victim for a sexual purpose. 846 00:40:47,879 --> 00:40:50,580 [Roots] She was avoiding his phone calls. 847 00:40:50,582 --> 00:40:53,416 She was denying him the opportunity to see her, 848 00:40:53,418 --> 00:40:57,353 passing him off to another colleague 849 00:40:57,355 --> 00:41:00,323 was probably the last straw for him. 850 00:41:00,325 --> 00:41:04,861 [Tish] On November 21st, 2014, more than seven years 851 00:41:04,863 --> 00:41:07,897 after Paige Birgfeld's disappearance, 852 00:41:07,899 --> 00:41:09,833 Lester Jones is arrested and charged 853 00:41:09,835 --> 00:41:13,403 with first-degree murder and second-degree kidnapping. 854 00:41:16,574 --> 00:41:18,508 He is eventually convicted and sentenced 855 00:41:18,510 --> 00:41:21,411 to life in prison without parole. 856 00:41:24,682 --> 00:41:28,351 [Wayne] Justice was done, justice was due, 857 00:41:28,353 --> 00:41:30,453 and justice was delivered. 858 00:41:30,455 --> 00:41:32,722 [dramatic music playing] 859 00:41:32,724 --> 00:41:36,726 [Lissah] You have to be in this for the long haul. 860 00:41:36,728 --> 00:41:38,194 It took a little over seven years 861 00:41:38,196 --> 00:41:39,796 to resolve this case. 862 00:41:41,265 --> 00:41:43,700 [Daniel] I don't care what business you're in, 863 00:41:43,702 --> 00:41:46,503 nobody deserves to have this happen to them. 864 00:41:48,739 --> 00:41:50,907 [Tish] Despite Lester Jones' sentence, 865 00:41:50,909 --> 00:41:53,476 Paige Birgfeld's family is still left reeling 866 00:41:53,478 --> 00:41:55,378 from their loss. 867 00:41:55,380 --> 00:41:58,047 When Paige's body was found, 868 00:41:58,049 --> 00:42:01,217 I think the stories resurfaced 869 00:42:01,219 --> 00:42:03,753 about her double life and her escort service. 870 00:42:03,755 --> 00:42:06,556 But I think it was tremendously overshadowed 871 00:42:06,558 --> 00:42:09,726 by what a great mom she was. 872 00:42:09,728 --> 00:42:11,628 I think at the end of the day, 873 00:42:11,630 --> 00:42:13,263 we can all sympathize with somebody 874 00:42:13,265 --> 00:42:16,032 that is really just trying to do their best 875 00:42:16,034 --> 00:42:17,800 and provide for their family. 876 00:42:17,802 --> 00:42:19,302 Did she have other options? 877 00:42:19,304 --> 00:42:21,271 We don't know, but she did what she felt 878 00:42:21,273 --> 00:42:22,906 she had to do for her family. 879 00:42:22,908 --> 00:42:25,942 [dramatic music playing]