Birgfeld was last seen in Grand Junction, Colorado on June 28, 2007. She and her first ex-husband, Howard "Ron" Biegler, were considering a reconciliaton and met on the day of her disappearance. Biegler also spoke to Birgfeld by cellular phone at 9:00 p.m. She was en route to her house at the time, driving through the suburbs of north Grand Junction. She has never been heard from again. She was reported missing on June 30.

On the night of July 1, Birgfeld's red 2005 Ford Focus with Colorado license plates numbered 022OOX was found ablaze in the parking lot of Walker Products SMS, an auto parts factory three miles from her home. Firefighters extinguished the fire, which had been deliberately set in the interior passenger side, but authorities were unable to find any clues as to Birgfeld's disappearance. Over the next few days, volunteer searchers found over two dozen items belonging to Birgfeld scattered along the U. S. 50 median south of Grand Junction. This included her checkbook, a series of checks, and a movie rental card.

Birgfeld is a graduate of the University of Florida, where she studied nursing. She has been married twice and has three young children by her second husband, Robert Dixon. Her relationship with Dixon was rocky and she said she was afraid of him. He was charged with assault in 2006 after he allegedly hit and shoved Birgfeld during an argument. He pleaded guily to a reduced charge of harassment and got anger management counseling, and the couple divorced. She got custody of the children and hired a live-in nanny to care for them. Dixon has cooperated with police and is not considered a suspect in his ex-wife's disappearance, as he was at home in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania when she disappeared. Birgfeld's children are now living there with him. Biegler has also been ruled out as a suspect.

Birgfeld lived in the 2500 block of Oleaster Court outside of Grand Junction in 2007, in a home worth nearly one million dollars. She told everyone she supported herself by working multiple jobs, including selling baby products and food and kitchen products, and that she owned an acupuncture business and a children's dance school. After her disappearance, investigators discovered Birgfeld did not hold an acupuncturist's license. Most of her income came from her secret career as an escort. Using the name "Carrie," Birgfeld advertised her services on the internet and kept a list of clients. None of family had known about her escort work and they were shocked to discover this fact, although she had previously worked as a stripper. Tens of thousands of dollars in cash, believed to be from her escort business, were left behind in her home. Birgfeld's family believes she became an escort because she needed well-paying work to afford the $6,000 monthly payments on her house.

Authorities believe Birgfeld's career in adult entertainment may have had something to do with her disappearance. One of her clients, Lester Ralph Jones, works across the street from where her burned car was found, and lives only twelve miles from her home. A photograph of Jones is posted below this case summary. He has a criminal record for assault and kidnapping in connection with an incident with his former wife. He the only suspect in Birgfeld's case and investigators have conducted two searches of his home. He has not been charged, however.

Foul play is suspected in Birgfeld's disappearance. She is described as a dedicated mother who would not have abandoned her children, and authorities can find no evidence to suggest she left of her own accord. Her disappearance remains unsolved.

Above: Lester Ralph Jones