Another Matthew Shepard?
07/06/2005 Update - Ex-Officer Gets Life Sentence for Death of MU Student
COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) -- A former Columbia police officer was sentenced Tuesday to life in prison without parole in the 2004 death of a University of Missouri-Columbia student with whom he had an affair.
Steven Rios, 28, also received a consecutive sentence of 10 years on a count of armed criminal action for the throat-slashing death of Jesse Valencia, 23. A Clay County jury, brought to Boone County because of intense media coverage of the case in Columbia, convicted Rios of first-degree murder in May.
Meet Jesse James Valencia. Jesse was murdered by a police office who was seeing him on the side. It sounds like a plot out of a soap opera. Unfortunately, it’s all true. As it turns out, he was killed by a man named Steven Rios, a police officer. Rios killed Jesse because he feared that Jesse would talk about the affair he was having with Jesse. Rios was married and had a child. He didn’t want that exposed. So one night, he went to Jesse’s home, and, after a heated argument, killed him.
Even with 27,000 other students in this leafy college town, Jesse James Valencia stood out. Outspoken, gay and blessed with the looks of an Abercrombie & Fitch model, the 23-year-old junior seemed to saunter through his busy life at the University of Missouri.
He carried a full load of history and political science courses, worked evenings as a hotel clerk, and packed his social calendar with parties, Internet dates and drag shows at Columbia’s only gay nightclub. He wrote editorials in the campus papers advocating same-sex marriage and had big plans for his future.
“He talked about going to law school and he even toyed around with running for president, the first homosexual,” a friend, Jennifer Witherspoon, recalled. (source)
Rios was prosecuted and was just sentenced to life in prison for the murder. His DNA was found under the Jesse’s fingernails.
One of the things that bothers me a bit about this story is the fact that Rios was going to come forward about the murder sooner, but felt that he couldn’t because of the “brutal” comments other officers were saying about Jesse, because he was gay.
Sgt. Stephen Monticelli, who supervises the department’s Major Crimes Unit, testified Rios came to his office June 8 to talk about a CrimeStoppers tip he’d heard that indicated Valencia had an affair with a married officer and that Rios thought the tip was about him.
Rios agreed to be interviewed by Short, Monticelli said. Both Short and Monticelli testified that Rios initially denied knowing Valencia beyond an official capacity in the April 18 arrest.
Eventually, Rios confessed in “bits and pieces” of the affair, Monticelli said. The suspect told them he wanted to tell someone about the relationship on the day the body was found but that he decided not to after hearing other officers at the crime scene make “brutal” comments about Valencia being gay. (source)
This is exactly why the gay community doesn’t trust the police. I would like to think that this police department would take a long hard look at itself and get some training in these areas. I don’t want to stereotype, but, that’s probably not going to happen, given that it’s the police department of Columbia, Missouri.
I visited the Columbia, Missouri Police department feedback page. This is the message I left for them:
I read this today in an on line news article concerning the sentencing of former police officer Rios:
Rios confessed in “bits and pieces” of the affair, Monticelli said. The suspect told them he wanted to tell someone about the relationship on the day the body was found but that he decided not to after hearing other officers at the crime scene make “brutal” comments about Valencia being gay.
I sincerely hope that you take action within your police department to deal with the root of these “brutal” comments made about Jesse Valencia. The boy was gay and when the comments were made, he was dead. I can only imagine what your officers said about him.
He deserved a bit more respect than that and the police department should serve and protect ALL THE CITIZENS you serve.
The “brutal” comments were undeserved. My hope is that you would learn something from this and maybe something good could come out of this terrible tragedy.
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Steven Rios was sentenced to Life without Possibility of Parole or Probation plus 10 years to run consecutive. Which means he will never go up before a parole board. The only way he could get out of prison is if he wins an appeal for a new trial and is found not guilty. I as Jesse Valencias Mother am here to see that he NEVER gets out. If something happens to me I have people in my faily ready to go in my place to see that he never gets out. Rios is a sadistic evil person who deserved the DEATH PENALTY and did not get it I feel because he was a police officer.
On a happier note, I would like to thank Ana who sent me a very nice letter about wanting to send flowers to My Jesses final resting place. I am honored that she wishes to do this. Thank you Ana for saying so many nice things about Jesse. I was and still am very proud o my Son. You would have liked my Jesse. I will honor your request but would like to suggest that instead of roses that I get a nice plaque with a lovely poem on it that would come to about the same price as the roses. That way, I will at no cost to you have your name engraved on it so that everyone that visits Jesses monument will know that you, Ana were the one that put it there. I will look tomorrow because it is my day off and I promise to find something that you would like and will send you a picture of it over the internet if you will send me your e-mail. Or I can send you a picture in the mail. I am honored and know that my Son would be very pleased also that you are so thoughtful. You must be a truly wonderful person to think of others as you do. I would be honored to recieve e-mails from you or anyone else who wishes to talk about Jesse to me. He was the most Beautiful person I have ever known inside and out. Thank you again and i will call you tomorow and tell you what I have found.
Fondly, Jesses Mom Linda Valencia
I am Jesse Valencias Mother. My name is Linda and I wanted to say that the cops that made the comments about my Son being Gay while they were standing over my Sons dead body will meet Our Lord God one day. When they do, they will be Judged severely as will Steven Rios. I am upset with the sentence that Rios got. It doesn't seem to be enough for what he did to my Son. My Jesse was a Beautiful person and he did not deserve to die the way he did. I wanted the Death Penalty for Steven Rios but there are 17 criteria that you have to meet to get the death penalty. one of those criteria is torture of the victim before murdering him, well I would like to know the true definition of torture. Rios beat my Son and through him repeatedly agaisnt the wall in his apartmentt before he murdered him. He beat him so badly that he was bruised from his neck to his waist. He had broken ribs. Do they not consider that Torture? I would give anything to have my Jesse here with me now. But I can't. All i can hope for is that one day I will see my Son in Heaven one day. If only God had taken me instead. But he left me here to grieve myself to death. I will never get over losing Jesse and neither will his two sisters Rachel and Maria. They are 13 and 17 now and they still cry over their brothers death almost dayly and ask me constantly if I think he suffered before he died. What can I tell them? I tell him that he didn't. I am so thankful to God that when Rios cut his throat that he was unconscious. Thank God for that. Jesses funeral was a closed casket and I also thank God for that. I would not have been able to stand it if it had been open.
Thank all of you who say nice things abouut my Jesse. If you had known him you would have liked him. He was a Beautiul person. the fact that he was Bi-sexual never bothered me. He told me when he was younger that he was and he cried and ask me if I still Loved him. I held him in my arms and hugged him so tightly he couldn't breathe. i told him that I Loved him unconditionally that it didn't matter to me whether he was Bi-sexual or not. No parent should have to bury their Child. It should be the other way around. And I pray rthat none of you have to ever go through this.
My brother and sister have both been through it. 8 months before My Jesse was murdered. My sisters Son was killed in a car accident. He is buried beside my Jesse in these Ky. hills beside my home on my Farm. A year before that my brothers 2 year old Grandson was killed in a car accident. A year before that My Brothers Son Luke was murdered by his ex wife. All in the space of five years my Family dealt with losing our Boys. My parents had only one Grandson left and he was so depressed and grieving so much over losing his only 2 year old son that we almost lost him. But god blessed us later. After my Jesse died he gave my sisters two daughters two beautiful young boys. They each have one of my sisters sons names. One is named by his first name and the other by his middle name. I have noGrandchildren. But I will one day. They will never be able to replace my Jesse but I will be able to tell them about what a wonderful and beautful Uncle they had. Thank you for listening. I have made several posts but not seen any of them on here but at least it makes me feel better to write about My Jesse. Thank you Bill and Kent for being so nice when you speak of my Son. Linda Valencia 13642 Brumfield rd. Perryville, Ky. 40468
Bill, My name is Linda Valencia and i hope you recieve this comment. I hope that you and Kent have or are having a wonderful time wherever you are. I don't know where else to send this so I am putting it here. I hope that you and kent will contact me. My address is daisydukeky@aol.com.
I am the Jesse Valencias Mom. The 23 year old boy murdered by Steven Rios. I read some comments about Jesse on your space and i wanted to comment but did not know where to send it so I am sending it here. One was from a very nice person named Ana-luzana. She wanted to know where jesse is buried. Jesse is buried here at home where i wish he had been when he was alive. However he wanted to be a lawyer and a Journalist and make something of himself and I had to let him live where he wanted and live his Life where he wanted. When he was brutally murdered by the sadistic man Steven Rios I bought my Jesse home. He is buried in these Ky. hills where he was born and raised. He is buried in a private cemetary on my farm about 75 feet from my home. It is beautiful there. I have beautiful flower beds and it is truly a beautiful place where the sun sets and rises on my beautiful Jesses final resting place. At last Jesse is at peace. i welcome all the wonderful comments and things you and Kent have written about my Jesse. Thank you so much for being so nice.
I want you to know thta on July 27th there will be a hearing in Kansas city where they will decide if this evil man who slaughtered my jesse will recieve an appeal. I plan to be there if at all possible. I have been to every trial and hearing. I will never let Steven Rios out of prison as long as i live and if something happens to me my Sons sisters Maria and rachel will continue to fight to keep him there.
I would like to comment on something that someone named Brian said on your space. On 4-20-06 Brian said that please keep an open mind. Brian I understand what you mean, but you do not know what you are talking about. Did you know thta I did not have to testify because we had so many witnesses that it wasn't necessary? My Dr. had forbidden me to testify because i have had two heart attacks since My Jesse was murdered by STEVEN RIOS. But I would have testified if I had been needed. you don't know all the facts. Let me give you some of them and please feel free to e-mail me to discuss this further. Jesse and I were very close. I was 21 when I ahd My Jesse and we "grew" up together. Jesse made me a better person. He was my Life. Now he is gone. Brutally murdered my a man who was so desparate to be loved and wanted by my Son that he was stalking him relentlessly day by day. I talked to Jesse every day on the phone. Usually on our cell phones because we both worked. If you have truly seen the trial transcripts then you know that on june 4th 2004 the day before Jesse was killed he called me three times. It was on his phone records and admitted as evidence at the trial as to Jesse last had contact with. Steven Rios had been stalking my Son and trying to get Jesse to continue a relationship my Son did not want. Jesse had suspected that Rios was married because Rios had lied to Jesse several times and Jesse had caught him in so many lies that he told him to stay away from him. My Baby wanted nothing more to do with this evil person. On June 4th the last time I talked to Jesse I begged him to file charges against Rios because he told me that Rios had been following him evey where he went. This was also proven at the trial. Jesse promised me that he would talk to Cheif Randy Boehm about Rios harrassing him and I was crying when he promised me that. I was begging him to and he said he would but he never got the chance. Rios came to my Sons home the next morning and he murdered him because instead of doing as I ask Jesse confronted him to his face. Jesse was a very stubborn young man and a very trusting person who thought that way down deep there is good in everyone. I tried to teach him not to be so trusting but he was stubborn as I said. Yes Brian, Steven Rios murdered my son. And if you truly knew my Son you knew how outspoken he was and you know he would have confronted Rios rather than go to the police and cause a bunch of trouble.
Feel free to e-mail me and I will give you FACTS not FICTION on what was really going on with Steven Rios in his sick mind.
As for My Jesse I mis him so much and I would gladly take his have taken his place as I have lived a full and good life. Jesse was so young. Jesses sisters and I and his Father, all our family miss his smile, his phone calls, his Love, his voice and his most Beautiful Self.
The last words Jesse said to me on the phone the night before he was murdered were: Mom I promise I will talk to Rios superior officer. Please don't worry and then he said to me, "I love You Mom." And I said, "I love You To Baby." The most beautiful and cherished words that I will forever hold in my Heart. Jesse James Wade Valencia will live "Always In Our Hearts." Linda Valencia Jesses Mom.
i would like to know where did they burie jesse. iwould like to send him flowers.
Even though two years have passed,I still remember Jesse.Jesse was the type of person that once you see him you will never forget. Iam sure that wherever is him, he will be happy.Rest in peace and when you look at us be sure that whoever knew you will remember you with love.
"i did know jesse and i want the best for him"
Well, I believe that "the best" for Jesse would have been to not murder him. It's honestly not up to me to keep an open mind (although I do try). That is what the court system is for. It is their job to find all the facts and to be objective about it, and to apply the law.
Ultimately, I believe it was homophobia that committed the murder. I think that Mr. Rios was scared to death of being found out for being gay. I believe that fear pushed him to commit the murder. People will say that's a cop-out. But, until you are in the grips of fear, you honestly can never say how you would react to that fear.
look at the trial transcipts, this may be a case of a prosecutor jumping the gun because of public pressure. officer rios did talk to detectives of his own free will. maybe he was just a lover wrongly accused. i did know jesse and i want the best for him, and im not sure that justice was done. please kkeep an open mind and look at the facts
I am very sorry for his death. I am very sad even though I never knew him. You did not deserve that death. Rest in peace ,dear Jesse,we love you and we will never forget you.
Fortunately the state of Missouri automatically sentences life without the possibility of probation or parole to first-degree murder when the death penalty is off the table. Also, the institution in which he will serve his sentence happens to be one where he was formerly employed as a prison guard, so I'm sure he has lots of fans there.
This was a case of a bi sexual man who was afraid to get caught by his wife and be exposed to his fellow officers,this killer is human waste,and for them to give him life in prison is a joke,life does not mean he will spend the rest of his life in prison,he will be out one day to kill another innocent person that threatens to expose him for what he really is,hopefully he gets a big cellmate named bubba.