'Person of interest' named in case of missing mother

GRAND JUNCTION – Officials have identified a "person of interest" in the case of a missing woman who was last seen on June 28.

His house has been searched twice now in the ongoing investigation of the disappearance of Paige Birgfeld, the 34-year-old Grand Junction woman missing since late last month. Friday the Mesa County Sheriff's Office confirmed Lester Ralph Jones is now being considered "a person of interest" in the case.

Jones' house was last searched on Wednesday. Investigators will not say if they found anything that might tie him to Birgfeld's disappearance.

Investigators believe Birgfeld was the victim of foul play, but they so far have been unable to find her.

Jones, who neighbors say goes by Ralph, was sentenced in 1999 to five years in the Department of Corrections for attempted kidnapping and assault. He got out of prison in 2001.