Arrest Made In 2007 Paige Birgfeld Homicide Investigation

Lester Ralph Jones Arrested

Paige Birgfeld's Drivers License, 2007 

Mesa County, Colo. -- The suspect named in the disappearance and later the death of Paige Birgfeld, has been arrested and charged in connection with her death. Lester Ralph Jones, 63, of Grand Junction, was arrested by deputies and investigators with our agency this morning, after a warrant was signed for his arrest.

Lester R. Jones is being charged with:

• Murder in the 1st degree, a class 1 felony
• Murder in the 2nd degree, a class 2 felony
• 2nd degree kidnapping, a class 4 felony
• 2nd degree arson, a class 4 felony



Lester Ralph Jones, 2007

• The 46-page Arrest Warrant can be downloaded from here.
• The additional Complaint Form filed with the courts by the District Attorney (has the additional charge of arson on it.)

Upon completion of the booking process, an updated booking photo of Lester R. Jones will be provided. Our booking process typically takes several hours. Bond information can be accessed through our agency's Inmate Inquiry System webpage, however the warrant was signed with no bond until first appearance (at least).

To follow this case on social media, please connect with us Facebook and Twitter @SheriffMesaColo using #Birgfeld for this case. We also use #GVCopBeat, #MesaCounty and #Colorado.

Previously released information on this case (listed in chronological order)...

July 1, 2007 -- Local Woman Missing

July 2, 2007 -- Car On Fire

July 4, 2007 -- Investigations Is On-Going

July 7, 2007 -- Investigation Of GJ Woman, On-Going

July 12, 2007 -- Ground Search Coordination

July 15, 2007 -- Ground Search Location Change 

July 16, 2007 -- Personal Items Found 

July 17, 2007 -- Investigators Ask for Public Help

August 4, 2007 -- Investigators Bring In Search and Recovery Unit  

August 8, 2007 -- Investigators Continue Search In Whitewater

August 9, 2007 -- Search Continues On Gunnison River 

October 2, 2007 -- Investigators Name Lester Ralph Jones 

March 7, 2012 --  Skeletal Remains Identified

IMPORTANT: The Mesa County Sheriff's Office is releasing this video regarding the biggest question regarding the arrest of Lester Jones, who was arrested earlier this morning on the murder of #Paige #Birgfeld-- "Why has it taken so long to make an arrest?" All media and public are allowed to use, show and share this video with credit going to the Mesa County Sheriff's Office.

UPDATE: MCSO booking photo of Lester Ralph Jones, taken earlier this afternoon on 11/21/2014.

Lester Ralph Jones, MCSO booking Photo