Trial begins for ex-cop charged in Missouri murder

OK, just so I can get this straight.........

The dead man was examined and it was determined that he was choked to death before his throat was slashed. A choke hold that is taught to law enforcement people MAY have been used to choke him.

Is this some kind of secret choke hold that only law enforcement people know about? No martial artists, military people or bouncers have ever used it?

I sure hope there's more evidence than this to suspect this guy. I mean, maybe a half eaten jelly donut on the scene, or something.

Judging by the reddened cheeks of the defendant, during the opening statements by the prosecution, it appeared to me that he has a lot going on his head about this trial. If he is guilty, of what he is being charged with, he has a lot to think about; his public reputation, his familial relationships, the possibility of doing 'hard' time if convicted. Why would he have done it? It appears to me that it was all about saving face. He has a lot to lose, including a cop in jail for a (homo)sexual crime. He is going to be a marked man.

So called "straight guys" that are married with kids sleep with gay guys often. I have gay friends that only sleep with "straight men" His motive would have been he did not want his wife or his friends to find out. In his world that would have been the end of everthing for. So he decided to try and get away with murder after all he is a cop. Many cops abuse their power. We were just lucky that he was caught.

Rios silenced his victim to avoid the implications of being outed. Having already confessed to the affair, Rios was not about to let intimate details about his tryst with Valencia be publicly known. Rios was at risk for losing everything that was important to him...obviously Valencia did not fall into that category.

I am so sick and tired of ex-law enforcement and even present law enforcement officers who think that they are above the law !! Just because you are or were in law enforcement doesn't mean that you should receive special treatment. This man is guilty and should receive the most serious punishment available. Maybe this would send a message to people in the field now that they are not above the law and will not be treated with less compassion than Joe the crook.

I wonder if prosecuters face any internal conflict when trying a police officer. After all, they are going after someone, that is catagorically concidered an ally. That being said, it seems to me that even if convicted, the justice system never hands down the maximum penalty to a police officer. I believe that prosecutors, and judges hold empathy
any cop convicted of a crime ,no matter how heinous their actions. A gun and badge does'nt automatically put a haleo over anyone's head.
They're given privledge, and public trust, their word is given more weight in court ,and on the street. With all of this,should come a greater responsibility for their actions. Any police officer convictited of a crime should automatically recieve a maximum sentence, and no discretion should be left to the system.

Since the defendant worked for the Police Dept. why didn't they (the Police Dept.) request the investigation be performed by a different Police agency to prevent any concerns of bias?

I live in Columbia and I really think that its sad to see our police department come to this. But everyone could see it coming. Here we have an officer of the law having an affair with a gay man and then a murder I think that its bad but not surprising that we have a zero tolerance law that is highly enforced, but here we have members of the Columbia Police Department testifying that Rios was with them at the time of the murder drinking on top of the station. I really think that through and through, the police department is not putting a good name out and should be seriously looked at and reminded that a badge is not a crown.

I came late to this trial. How did the defendant become a suspect? What evidence do they have?

I just don't get how a cop could kill a man in a matter of minutes and be blood free, and back at home with his wife. This is seems like a dramatic anti-gay case, he should be freed.

Hi:
I feel this trial is like all police trials. They investigate them selves. Either they try to cover it up or they do a lousy job and mess up all the evidence so there buddy policeman gets off. I for one have lost all respect for police because they all think it is ok to kill there wife or other people when they can no longer push them around and control them.

Why would a police officer carry around a knife like that? Is that part of their regulation uniform? And what a coinkydink that now it can't be found! Rios makes my skin crawl. Imagine, he stops to have sex with two men WHILE HE WAS ON DUTY! And then to volunteer to guard Jesse's body (on his day off no less) until the M.E. got there is just sick. He was probably secretly reveling in his handiwork; after all, he finally got to use his Rambo knife. I feel terrible for the family of Jesse Valencia. At least Rios rendered Jesse unconscious before he almost decapitated him. If I were Mrs. Rios I'd have a D&C, divorce the creep, change the child's last name and mine and move as far from there as I could as soon as Rios is convicted. Why Mrs. Rios didn't think her husband's waxed eyebrows were suspicious, is another mystery. However, I read that she is his staunch defender (go figure).

I see police of that type all the time.And i hate to say this because it is apples and oranges, that black people have been sasying for years that police are above the law or at least they think so.That they feel they can do or even say what ever to you and you have to take it because they are the law . but some time it take something like this for people to understand that know one is perfect and that if they stop slapping some people on the wrist for thangs that other people life, and be fair with all than maybe some people will think twice.

Yes; they did find a jelly donut, coffee and a tuna sandwich next to the bed where they were having sex. I guess all that exercise causes hunger pains and you need all that food close by.
His lawyers are still feeding their client more donuts so that he will keep his big mouth shut and NOT talk about the affair.

Can someone please clear the confusion here.

Cop resigns when forced to admit extramarital affair-So, if his wife and co workers now know about his sexual preference, what would be the need for him to kill the lover to supposedly 'quiet him'?
Does Mr. Rios think he is the first gay cop?

Scott- You can rarely tell a ‘good cop’ from a ‘bad cop’, until they get caught.
Mark- That’s your opinion- you don’t like it, go to law school and become a judge.
Susie- They were knee deep into the investigation before they named Rios as a suspect.
Jesse- A lot has changed at the PD in the last 4 years. The badge is not a crown, it’s a way of life. If you had to deal with the same scum daily you too might enjoy a beer with other people who know what you are dealing with day in and day out. On the job, at home, etc…Don’t bad mouth the PD unless you expect to never ever need their assistance.

I live in Columbia. I have also been raised by cops, so I have a little knowledge under my belt. First, I have to say that the Judges in Boone County, Mo., who origionally tried this case, routinely allow heresay evidence and allow it to be entered. I also know that the Police Department has been routinely scrutinized for their misappropriate handling of complaints, their recent assault on a student and their use of tazers. Also, it should also be known that Boone County does not allow Alfred Pleas to be entered in their County. Had they allowed this, Stephen Rios would probably have exercised this Plea. From reading and listening to all of the evidence, I must admit, it is hard to draw a conclusion of guilt or innocence. His DNA, quite obviously could have been present for a few days, maybe even week(s), so concluding guilt from forensic evidence is not easy. Then, the choke hold, knife and lack of a weapon to enter as evidence, one would have to admit, law enforcement is not the only person(s) that could perform this, or own this type of weapon. Circumstantially speaking, he had reason(s) to commit this crime, but given the fact that he had witnesses to his whereabouts and even used his ID to open a door at the building, leads me to believe that there quite possibly be another suspect and that Stephen Rios, in a fair and honest attemt to reach a verdict in this case, should be acquitted.

This is a retrial. His first conviction was overturned by an appeals court because of Hearsay testimony.

There is DNA evidence of the defendant under the victims fingernails as well as hair matching the DNA of the defendant found on the chest of the vicitm.

If he did do it and for those ridiculous reasons, he needs to go to jail. So many men on the "down-low" are not only hurting themselves, but others. Now his wife and family has to endure this crap – it's crazy.

Just come out of the closet – and stop marrying straight women and having kids by them – idiots!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Call Me Craze But , Maybe This cop Steve went to the station before work cause he heard his inter voice, Jesse. No one in this USA ever had an encounter of thinking something is wrong then 2 hrs later it happens ?
I don't feel he is Guilty. Here Jesse met this Guy 48 hrs before his death Took him home they had sex ,slept and had sex again , the guy goes home to return with his ex lover/Roommate who see Jesse and that guy Eric leave and go across the street to another Party The ex lover/ roommate Get pisses and leaves , He is known to have a temper.

Maybe Jesse never washed his sheets/ bedding and all the poor Cops DNA is still all over that man and his bedding ~ Body , Jesse sure didn't appear to clean in all the photo's they showed.

beleave i feel for this poor kid and the death of his life But the cop didn't do it the Ex lover / Roommate did ....

Hey Spider. Sure hope you never have to sit on a jury. Sure there are other people(martial artists or bouncers, etc.) that might know how to choke someone out. Now, of those people, how many do you think the victim was having a homosexual relationship with? Oh, and of those people how many were married and cheating on there wife with the victim. Seems to me that if the victim threatened expose their affair it could spark some pretty angry behavior. Oh, there is that pesky little thing about the DNA evidence and his weird behavior at the police station the next morning. You see, it has to do with an accumulation of evidence. You know, first one thing then another falling into place continually pointing to the same person. That's okay. I'm sure you get all of your expertise from CSI Miami episodes.

Most of you are so far beyond wrong.

Rios had high aspirations for politics, as well as an advancement within the department.

The CPD is (or was) anti-gay. Don't ask, don't tell.

Rios abused his power by stalking, and yes, having sex with, Jesse after an April arrest for a noise complaint (Jesse was coerced into doing this, and Rios would clear the ticket.)

This went on for a month or so, until Jesse confronted Rios about being married. At that point, he broke it off w/Rios Rios stalked him, and threatened him until, what I believe happened, Jesse told Rios that if he didn't stop bothering him, he'd call someone a little higher up...Not saying Jesse chose the wisest route, but...doesn't matter at this point.

So, if that were to happen, think of all the embarrassment, as well as 'corruption', misconduct, etc. Rios, and the whole department would face. Not to mention his wife and kid.

A couple of other things...Rios had been accused of stalking other people in other towns, ...HE WAS A COP. COPS know how to handle evidence. He DID own a knife (many officers have them, and many testified they'd seen him with one), and when he got home, he took a shower....no one processed his house for about a week. And the shirt he was wearing the night of the murder (which he was seen in on the police roof) was never found, along with the knife.

Gender confusion ruins another life...

This is for everyone posting "Cop Bashing" comments.
I have serious doubts as to wether any of you would be willing to be a police officer for even a day. Most likely, none of you are even capable of doing that job. I say this because careers in Emergency Services are the types of jobs that will test the very core of your being time and time again. Some people, when put to the test, find out that they just don't have what it takes. There are good and bad employees in every occupation. Law Enforcement isn't exempt from this. Also, blanket statements about an entire department being bad are not warranted or fair. There are many exceptional police officers in Columbia, MO. I believe Rios to be guilty. I live in Columbia and closely followed his first trial. He did not receive preferred treatment from the PD or Prosecutor's Office then and he isn't getting it now. Hopefully he will get convicted again. For those who continue to be unappreciative of police officers consider this: The next time your child is lost, your car is vandalized, your purse is stolen or someone is kicking in your front door to do you harm, call your garbage man instead of the police and see what kind of help you get. We all owe police officers everywhere a great deal of respect and gratitude. They do the job that must be done and that you refuse to do. Sometimes at the cost of their life.

The choke hold is the same on you see on UFC mixed martial arts fighting. Basically similar to what they call the rear naked choke. I guess in this case it has a bit of double meaning to it seeing as these two were lovers?

But, why anyone else? This dude was gay and the deceased was going to let it out and being an ex cop he didn't want to look like a fairy.

Loco- This is, of course, a retrial after a previous guilty conviction was overturned by an appeals court. At the time of the murder no one knew that Rios was having an affair with the victim. Rios admitted to this during the murder investigation after he became a person of interest to the detectives. A former friend of the victim had testified in the first trial that the victim was going to tell Rios that he would expose their affair to the police department if Rios didn't make a citation that Rios had issued to him go away.

I saw the first trial live. The guy is guilty. My sister was a witness for the prosecution. It was horrible. The hearsay evidence is about a 5 minute slice of week long trial. DNA evidence, timing, the choke hold, the knife slice, the false name...there was so much evidence.

And Suzi: he was using another cop's badge.

The cop is guilty. They did not just meet 48 hrs before. They should fry this guy.

I have lived in Columbia for many years. I know Steve Rios wife and family. So Ginger & Nancy....you don't even have the facts right or know their viewpoint & feelings. Ginger, Mrs. Rios is divorced from Mr. Rios, she is intelligent, wise, successful and has enormous support from her family and others here in Columbia. There is absolutely no need for her to move away as far a possible, change any names,etc. He WAS convicted before and she handled herself respectably and did what was appropriate and in the best interest of her child, herself & her family. I have no opinion of guilt or innocence as I do not rely on news coverage or others opinions to judge another. Everyone does have a right to their opinion so that's what these comments are about I guess but not on what they angrily say Mr. Rios wife and her family should do or think when they know nothing of them or even the facts. And Helen & Suzi, way to go. A cop might make a decision I don't like just like a doctor, a teacher, a store clerk but that doesn't make me say "all teachers, etc. are bad" Stereotypes make me ill...its disgusting. Not all of any profession, race, religion, marital status, sexual preference, etc. are good or bad. And most people in general are not all good or bad even though sometimes even their own families brand them as "all bad" the rest of the lives. I don't know who did or did not kill the "victim" and no one deserves to have their life taken from them either though death or any other means by the actions or inactions of others. There are many victims in this incident/situation. They all deserve respect and compassion.

I am very familiar with this case. I've followed it since the beginning. I also know friends of the victim, and friends of the accused.

He is guilty! No doubt about it. His M.O. is using his badge to get what he wants. He is also well known to be a liar when it benefits him. He always liked to bend the rules when it would benefit him.

This trial needs to be over. How can we, and our community move on with everything being stirred up again. It's obvious around town, on campus, at the bar....this needs to be over.

Send Rios to jail and finally let Jesse's soul rest in peace.

If he is found guilty of 1st degree murder, there is no leniency whether or not he is a police officer. In Missouri its LIFE WITHOUT PAROLE.

After all the prosecution's scientific witnesses, they get left with the following:

the guy was choked before he was killed and the Defendant knows how to choke someone, just like any martial artist or wrestler would;

the Defendant's hair (1) was on the dead guy's body, along with somebody elses hair. On the victim's bed were more than 100 hairs, some of them the Defendants, some belonging to others. The Pros. demonstrated that they were intimate - nothing more b/c the hair could easily be due to transference.

The time of death occurred at a time when the Defendant was with a bunch of cops at the police station (per the Med. Examiner).

WHY IS HE ON TRIAL AGAIN??????

Maybe OJ taught him how to slash a throat?

What is with these grusome killings lately?

First Velencia was choked and then his head nearly decapitated? Can we say R A G E?

I feel Rios is guilty and killed Valencia in a rage of being outted and losing his kids and wife, then losing respect of his fellow comrades (the officers he worked with?)

Come on folks! The DNA is there under his finger nails and there was hair on his chest from the defendent. Some of you posters are going to tell me he never showered or cleaned his fingernails in weeks therefore the evidence was still there from other encounters with Rios?

That is stretching a bit!

Don't ya think????

Being from Missouri I heard and saw LOTS about this story when it first broke. The fact that it happened so close to the MU campus had cops wondering for a bit until a tip lead them to their own. Rios was seeing the man during shifts when he was suppose to be on patrol. Also when his wife was at work. This man may not be guilty BUT he sure tried to cover up the affair during the murder investigation enough so that it made / makes him look VERY GUILTY.

If he slashed the guy's throat, wouldn't there be blood splatter evidence of some type on his clothes, it's gotta be somewhere. You don't injure someone that way and not get it on you, your clothes, or transfer it. Like the person said earlier, if he already had to admit to his family and co-workers that he had the affair, then why kill the guy. Or did they not find out until after the death. Either way, cops know what they can and cannot get away with. Remember Drew Peterson. Wife disappeared, never contacted family, children or friends. He was the last person to see her, yet he got away with it scott free.

He GUILTY. Look in his vacant,souless eyes. He's a MURDERED in a cops uniform. The man is also a DEEP closet case. Of course his wife is his biggest defender: she's putting up a public front.Just like the wives of politicians caught having affairs-they stand by their man,but the marriage is NEVER the same. Rios is a lying,conniving,sleazy,corrupt,triffling,sneaky TWO faced person. He's pathetic. The Columbia Police Dept. is breathing a collective sigh of relief he's off the force. I bet that some at least one ,if not more of his fellow officers had sex with him &/or they KNOW about his down low sex affairs. Cops are notorious for cheating on their wives/girlfriends/loved ones. They look at it as "stress-relief."

I think they have the wrong man. It nis so wrong when men or women marry when they know they are gay. I think the cops need to dig deeper I too think an old partner got jealous and killed this guy or he is protecting someone, but there is too much evidence that he coulnd't have been there at the crime scene to kill the guy.

I believe that, based on the witnesses and evidence so far, Jesse Valencia seem to me involved with many individuals and it could be any of them which may have committed the murder. Therefore, I believe that Rios should not be charged with Valencia’s murder.

A. Moore
Atlanta, GA 
.

So murder was deemed less offensive than coming out as gay – jeeeeeezus!! Give us all a break and friggin' get out of the GD closet, already!

I don't care what kind of a struggle might have taken place, if any. The fact is, slitting someone's throat has got to be messy and he had no blood on any of his clothes or him. Timeline doesn't work out for a conviction either. If you just want to focus on motive, maybe he had someone kill the guy, policeman know a lot of criminals, but i myself doubt this point. But there is no way the victim died at the hands of this guy directly. Forensics are too advanced for there to be no physical evidence against this guy for the crime. Come on. People still live in the middle ages sometimes, just wanted to see someone get hanged.

Has anyone noticed when the defense in this case has an objection, it`s always over ruled and when the prosecution objects it`s always sustaned? There for a minute i thought judge Glass was sitting in on this trial!!! No matter who did it, the people in forensics did a shoddy job.

I am starting to get the impression that the judge is not fond of the defense attorney.

You got that right sam!!! I haven`t seen not even 1 ruling in favor of the defense yet. This judge should have stayed retired !! The cops and forensics did such a crummy job, they should be the ones to pay for this. I know that sounds crazy but they don`t care if someone gets life or not. Thats a heck of a system huh?

I too noticed that the judge doesn't seem to fond of the defense attorney, who by the way is actually doing an excellent job of putting forth reasonable doubt. I always tend to think the defendent is guilty and I do in this case too but I believe there may be enough reasonable doubt that the jury will find him not guilty.

Two problems: first, the timeline/opportunity to commit the crime. I didn't see Ms. Rios' testimony but they should have been nailing her about the time he got home. Did anyone see her testimony. Based on the time that he left the roof top of the police station, the time he got home and the time the neighbor last heard Jesse alive, there doesn't appear to have been much opportunity to committ the crime.
Secondly, McVitter had just as much DNA strewn about for a one night stand as Rios not to mention that McVitter was the last known person to see Valencia alive. I wond why the prosecution only had four of the one hundred bed hairs tested? Perhaps they weren't willing to take a chance at how many other people they belonged to.

Can't wait to hear the verdict

Their is no evidence that he did obviously judges felt that he should be retried I dont belive that he did it

John Lennon, Thanks....I thought it was just me noticing this also. I believe this judge is well respected in Columbia and I live in Columbia and when told he was the judge did not disagree with his reputation but thought a conflict of interest since long time associaton with PD, etc. in Columbia. I didn't see the whole trial but had noticed wat you mentioned so thanks for mentioning the knee-jerk reaction he seems to have to any defense objection....overruled.

I wish the show would look into 2 improvements. 1 Less commercials, and 2 Less talking while attorneys are cross examining a witness. I know tru tv pays their bills with commercials, but less than ten minutes into testimony they show the same commercials over and over . I`d bet i can recite them word for word . I`m not trying to be negative but right when a good part of the testimony is shown, it`s cut off for commercials!!!

Justine....I'm pretty sure you are talking about McDevitt. Am I correct?

It isn't that difficult in this area to get ride of clothes and a murder weapon. If you haven't been here, then you should visit. The "ghetto" area is right on Rios's way home. He could easily have thrown it out in the garbage on his way. Without stopping his vehicle if he so chose. Also, Jesse's throat is said to have been cut while already unconscious on the ground. There was no blood trail down his chest, but it ran to the sides.

This murder has hit really close to home for me. I know the people who are having to relive this pain on the stand. This crime happened in a place that I walk by nearly every day. I have been in Jesse's apartment. Not to mention.....I could just as easily have fallen into this situation. I've been under similar circumstances. THANK GOD it didn't have the same conclusion. There are many similarities between Jesse and I. I am very emotionally involved in this case.

I feel deep down that Rios did it. His wife has changed her timeline a couple times. Well, in Columbia, 10 min. can make a whole lot of difference. It only takes 3 min. to walk to campus from Jesse's apartment. That's walking. The police station is about a 6-7 min WALK from campus. Rios would not have been walking. So, yeah, 10 min. makes a hell of a lot of difference here. Not to mention her bias for having him get off. She is sort of a Crazy Town anyway. She has put up with a lot of stuff from him over the years. She knows who he is and what he's capable of. Right now she is just behaving as she always has.....as the submissive (similar to abused women) wife that she is "meant" to be. It's sad.

RIOS IS SO GUILTY!

I read a few of the comments here and then stopped after about 6 of them. First let me tell you that I am Jesse Valencias Mom. And UNLIKE the people commenting on this BLOG about my SON I know every single detail about Rios the MURDERER. Yes, He did murder my only Son, and for any of you to sit and even pretend that you know anything about my Son is sickening.
Comment: "Jesses house was dirty so thats why Rios Dna was under his fingernails."
Answer: "Then explain to me HOW 3 hairs (DNA of Rios) found on my Sons chest, (that was shaven by the way) nobody elses but Rios hairs, flew from Jesses apartment to my Sons dead body. 756.6 trillion to one that those hairs belonged to Rios and no-one else. Not to mention Rios saying he had not seen my Son for 7 days and my Son showered DAILY, the DNA under his fingernails,(Rios.)It amazes me that any of you even dared to mention my Sons name.
Comment: "He should be freed"
WHY??? So he can kill somebody else.
Comment: He had known Jesse for 48 hours had sex with him then killed him" Rios had known Jesse for 2 months. He stalked him and threatened him during those 2 months. I talked to my Son the night before Rios murdered him and he was scared to death and I was begging him to come home that night and he said No Mom I will be ok. I will be home in a week. He said I Love you Mom and I said I Love you to Baby, The next morning STEVEN RIOS beat my Son and cut his throat and you feel sorry for Rios. You feel sorry for his family. What about Jesses family?????
What about Jesses Mother, sisters, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, friends.
I could not believe the things I read here. I suggest before any of you speak my Sons name again that you get a trial transcript of the trial (both) and read it. Maybe all of you should have attended the trials and went through all the heartache and pain I have been through and listened to ALL the evidence and then you would have some buisness commenting . But until you know what you are talking about. TREAD LIGHTLY WHEN YOU SPEAK OF MY SON.

Linda Valencia Jesses MOM