Shivangi Sinha
In June 2004, authorities were investigating the murder of 23-year-old Jesse Valencia in Columbia, Missouri. Despite pursuing multiple leads and questioning several suspects, the case initially appeared to be at a standstill. A significant breakthrough came when investigators discovered that Jesse had been involved in an intimate relationship with Columbia police officer Steven Rios. This revelation shifted the focus of the investigation. NBC’s ‘Dateline: Before Daylight’ explores the evidence that ultimately led to Rios’s conviction and examines the motive behind the crime.
Steven Rios Was Having an Affair With Jesse Valencia When He Was Married
Steven Arthur Rios was a long-serving officer with the Columbia, Missouri, Police Department. In 2004, the 27-year-old was married to Libby Sullivan, his college sweetheart, and the couple had welcomed their first son earlier that year. From the outside, his life appeared stable and fulfilling. However, on June 5, 2004, police discovered the body of 23-year-old Jesse Valencia near the University of Missouri campus. He had a fatal stab wound to the neck and multiple bruises. Investigators noted that the door to Jesse’s apartment was left open, suggesting he may have fled from his attacker before being fatally assaulted.
As the police dug deeper into Jesse’s personal life, they discovered that he had been involved in an affair with a Columbia police officer. According to Jesse’s mother, he had once mentioned meeting the officer after a loud party was broken up by the police. Jesse said he had talked back, received a ticket, and that the officer later visited his home, marking the beginning of their relationship. He had confided in a few friends about the affair, but felt conflicted upon learning the officer was married with a newborn. That guilt reportedly led Jesse to decide to end things. It wasn’t long before investigators identified the officer as Steven.
The Police Believed that Steven Rios Killed Jesse Valencia to Protect Himself
When Steven was first interviewed by his Captain, he denied knowing Jesse or having any connection to him. However, as more witness testimonies surfaced and one of Jesse’s friends even identified Rios, he reportedly broke down. He admitted to the affair but insisted he had nothing to do with the murder. Steven claimed that on the night of the incident, he had completed his regular shift, had drinks with fellow officers, and returned home around 5 am. After news of his affair reached his wife and family, Rios told them on June 9 that he was leaving for Virginia. Instead, he went to a Walmart, purchased a shotgun, and threatened to take his own life.
Police negotiators had to talk Steven Rios down from a suicide attempt after he threatened to shoot himself. Not long after, he made a second attempt, and he went to the top of a parking garage in Columbia and threatened to jump, but officers were again able to intervene. Around the same time, forensic results came back from Jesse Valencia’s crime scene. Steven’s DNA was found under Jesse’s fingernails, and one of his arm hairs was discovered on the victim’s chest. His colleagues also reported that he had left work earlier that night. Investigators theorized that Steven may have used a police-style chokehold to knock Jesse unconscious before fatally stabbing him. A friend of Jesse’s also told police that he had been considering going public about the affair, which they believed may have driven Steven to commit the murder.
Steven Rios is Behind Bars Today
Steven Rios was ultimately held responsible for the killing of University of Missouri student Jesse Valencia. Initially found guilty of first-degree murder by a jury in 2005, his conviction was later overturned by an appellate court, citing the improper inclusion of hearsay testimony during the trial. A new trial was held in 2008, where he was convicted of second-degree murder and an additional count related to using a weapon. That verdict was upheld on appeal. Steven received a life sentence plus 23 years. According to official records, he will be considered for parole beginning in 2035. Any other incarceration details remain undisclosed.
Read More: Libby Sullivan: Where is Steven Rios’ Ex-Wife Now?
