Jesse Valencia

How they died

Deadly force

Married CPD officer Steven Rios murdered his secret lover, University of Missouri student Jesse Valencia. Valencia was found dead on a lawn near campus with his throat slit. Investigators believed that Rios killed Valencia because he'd threatened to expose their relationship. The two began an affair seven weeks before the murder, when Rios arrested Valencia for mouthing off to police breaking up a wild off-campus party. Their relationship included trysts at Valencia's apartment when Rios was in uniform and supposed to be patrolling the neighborhood. Valencia, who was open about his homosexuality, had reportedly told friends that he suspected Rios was married and planned to confront him, and that he was also considering informing the police department of the relationship. In 2005, Rios was convicted of first degree murder. In 2007, a Missouri appellate court ruled that a witness's testimony was hearsay and shouldn't have been admitted. The Missouri Western District Court of Appeals granted Rios a retrial. In 2008, Rios was convicted of second-degree murder.

Why we remember them

This record exists so that Jesse Valencia, and all who are named in this archive, are never reduced to a number.

References & sources