Who Is Paige Blades & Where Is He Now? 2026 Update & Profile

Paige Blades became one of the most controversial figures connected to the murder of Desiree Sunford after investigators uncovered her complicated relationship with both Desiree and Scott Sunford. Although she was never charged in the killing, Paige remained central to the investigation because of disturbing text messages, conflicting accounts about the relationship, and her connection to convicted killer Marty Grismer.

Years after the murder, Paige publicly discussed the case in interviews featured on Dateline NBC and other true crime programs. Her role in the story helped transform the investigation from what first appeared to be a home invasion into a case involving obsession, emotional conflict, hidden affairs, and manipulation.

• “Deadly Entanglement”: Dateline NBC Revisits Desiree Sunford’s Murder May 23 2026
• Who Was Desiree Sunford & What Happened to Her? 2026 Update & Profile
• Who Is Scott Sunford & Where Is He Now? 2026 Update & Profile
• Who Is Marty Grismer & Where Is He Now? 2026 Update & Profile

How Paige Became Connected to the Sunfords

Paige Blades met Scott and Desiree Sunford while living in Washington state and eventually developed a close friendship with the married couple. Over time, the friendship became romantic and sexual. According to both Paige and Scott, the three entered into what they described as a consensual relationship.

Paige later told investigators that she had relationships with both Scott and Desiree and had shared their bed. At one point, she even lived with the couple. To outsiders, the arrangement appeared unconventional but cooperative. Behind the scenes, however, tensions had already begun to grow.

The Relationship Was More Complicated Than It Appeared

As investigators reviewed text messages and interviewed friends of Desiree after the murder, they discovered evidence suggesting the relationship was not as harmonious as Scott and Paige claimed.

Desiree expressed discomfort with the growing emotional and physical connection between Scott and Paige. In one text exchange later made public during the investigation, Desiree told Paige that she was bothered by the idea of Paige and Scott having a sexual relationship without her involvement.

The messages also revealed increasing hostility between the two women. Paige sent messages suggesting that, in the event of Desiree’s “demise,” she would become Scott’s chosen partner. In another exchange, Paige stated she had wanted to “do away” with Desiree for quite some time. Those statements became a major focus of the investigation and intensified public suspicion surrounding Paige.

The Murder of Desiree Sunford

On April 7, 2013, Desiree Sunford was found shot to death inside her Yakima County home. She had been shot seven times, including multiple shots to the head. Investigators quickly concluded the killer’s intention had been murder rather than burglary.

At the time of the killing, Scott Sunford and Paige Blades both claimed they were away from the area. Cell phone records supported their accounts and prevented investigators from placing either of them at the crime scene.

Even so, detectives remained suspicious because of the emotional tensions surrounding the relationship. Investigators examined whether jealousy, obsession, or resentment may have contributed to the murder.

Paige’s Connection to Marty Grismer

The case took a major turn in 2015 when investigators received an anonymous tip pointing toward Marty Grismer, one of Paige’s coworkers and friends. Authorities later traced the tip back to Paige herself.

Paige told investigators that Grismer had confessed to killing Desiree because he was obsessed with her and wanted to help her be with Scott. According to detectives, Paige described Grismer as someone who “worshipped the ground” she walked on.

Investigators believed Grismer had developed an intense emotional fixation on Paige. Authorities later concluded he murdered Desiree because he believed removing her from the picture would make Paige happy.

The Arrest and Conviction of Marty Grismer

Authorities eventually discovered pieces of a gun hidden at Grismer’s workplace. Ballistics testing linked the weapon to Desiree’s murder scene, providing the physical evidence investigators had lacked for years.

Grismer was arrested and charged with first-degree murder. In 2017, he entered an Alford plea to second-degree murder. Under the plea, he did not admit guilt but acknowledged prosecutors likely had enough evidence to convict him at trial. He received a 15-year prison sentence.

Law enforcement officials stated they found no evidence directly linking Paige Blades to the murder itself. She was never charged in the case. Authorities officially concluded that Grismer acted alone.

Public Suspicion and Media Attention

Despite never being charged, Paige remained one of the most scrutinized figures connected to the case. The threatening text messages and her relationship with both Scott and Grismer led many observers to question whether investigators had uncovered the full story.

Some of Desiree’s friends and family members publicly expressed doubts about whether justice had been fully served. Those lingering questions became a major theme in Dateline NBC’s “Deadly Entanglement,” which revisits the investigation and the emotional fallout surrounding the case.

Paige later agreed to speak publicly about the case in television interviews. Her appearances offered insight into her perspective on the relationship and investigation, although the interviews also renewed debate among viewers about her role in the events surrounding Desiree’s death.

Where Is Paige Blades Now?

There is very little confirmed public information about Paige Blades’ current life or whereabouts. Following the conclusion of the criminal case against Marty Grismer, Paige appears to have largely stayed out of the public eye except for participating in select television interviews connected to the case.

No public records indicate that she has faced criminal charges related to Desiree Sunford’s murder. Law enforcement agencies involved in the investigation maintained that they found no evidence proving she participated in planning or carrying out the killing.

Even years later, Paige remains one of the most controversial figures tied to the case because of the complicated relationships, threatening messages, and unanswered emotional questions surrounding Desiree Sunford’s death.