Trial begins in 2007 slaying of Grand Junction woman
Opening arguments are underway in the trial of a man accused of kidnapping and killing a Grand Junction woman nearly a decade ago.
The prosecution went first in laying out its evidence against Lester Ralph Jones after jurors were seated on Thursday.
He’s accused of killing Paige Birgfeld, a single mother who led a double life as a paid escort.
Investigators say he was a client and one of the last people to call Birgfeld before she vanished in 2007. Her remains weren’t found until 2012.
Detectives questioned and ruled out at least eight other men, including an ex-husband and several other clients.
Jones’ lawyers say one of those men – who died in 2011 – could have killed Birgfeld. They say there’s no physical evidence tying him to Birgfeld’s death.
