Jesse Valencia got found together with neck slit on a lawn nearby the institution of Missouri.
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In quiet college city of Columbia, Missouri, the worst criminal activities local law enforcement typically relates to are rowdy, drunken functions.
“Homicides generally speaking were unheard-of,” Capt. Zim Schwartze from the Columbia authorities division advised “An Unexpected Killer,” airing Thursdays at 8/7c on Oxygen.
That altered, but on afternoon of June 5, 2004, whenever University of Missouri junior Jesse Valencia got discovered lifeless with his throat slit on a garden near university. The 23-year-old ended up being sleeping face up and wearing nothing but a set of boxer shorts.
“The cut to their neck had been … therefore deeper the knife regarding the blade had additionally nicked the backbone,” mentioned Boone region certain Prosecutor Morley Swingle, adding that Valencia had a number of bruises across his breastbone and between his back.
Detectives read Valencia resided alone merely a block from where his system got uncovered, even though talking to their friends, one-man reported hearing a disagreement occur around 4 a.m. inside Valencia’s suite.
To discover who was simply with Valencia before he was murdered, authorities questioned his pals and class mates, and Andrew Schermerhorn, Valencia’s “friend with advantages,” came forth with a shocking allegation. Schermerhorn stated Valencia was actually making love with a Columbia police officer, and therefore the three of those have a sexual encounter at Valencia’s house just a couple months ahead of the kill.
After starting up, the policeman advised all of them the event was required to stay a key, relating to Schermerhorn. Detectives had Schermerhorn look-through the Columbia authorities Department’s yearbook, and then he determined Patrolman Steven Rios, a 27-year-old wedded grandfather, because the man Valencia got sex with.
By investigating Rios’ whereabouts at the time Valencia was actually discovered, detectives determined he had visited the criminal activity scene to aid diagnose the body, advising the sergeant available that he realized the sufferer from an earlier experience.
On April 18, 2004, authorities split a celebration within residence of Valencia’s friend. Rios is one of many officials present, and Valencia requested him for probable reason.
“That have your arrested,” Swingle said. “And Steven Rios gave him a municipal court summons for obstructing a government process.”
From the lower towards station, Rios asked Valencia several private questions, based on his mommy, Linda Valencia. And attention performedn’t stop there.
The very next day, Rios showed up at Jesse’s house unannounced, saying he previously a lot more inquiries that would have to be answered.
“They went once or twice after that, in which he would started to Jesse’s apartment … even if he was in uniform,” Linda told “An unforeseen Killer.”
Friend Joan Sheridan confirmed that Jesse noticed Rios multiple times following arrest, and this he’d drop by the house “just for intercourse,” mentioned Swingle. Sheridan additionally revealed that whenever Jesse decided to go to legal for their summons, he thought the cost is terminated as a result of their connection with Rios.
“It wasn’t terminated, and that have angered Jesse,” Swingle stated. “So Jesse got advised Joan that ‘The on the next occasion the police policeman will come more, I’m heading make sure he understands that I have only a little trick the chief of police must know[.]’”
In an interview with investigators, Rios rejected the event, but once they challenged your with the testimony from Jesse’s family, the guy accepted he previously an intimate union with Jesse. He preserved, however, which he have nothing in connection with the kill, sufficient reason for insufficient physical facts, no expense were registered.
After the meeting, Capt. Schwartze obtained a worrying call from Rios, which said he previously “done an awful thing.” He informed Capt. Schwartze he had been 150 kilometers aside in Kansas City and this he’d bought a shotgun.
“I really think he had been browsing destroy themselves,” Capt. Schwartze said, including that she pleaded with him another to Columbia so that they could sort every thing on. As soon as Rios returned, he had been taken into protective custody and place on a 96-hour hold at OkCupid vs Tinder a mental facility.
Rios was able to get away making his strategy to the roofing of a vehicle parking storage, where he endangered to commit committing suicide. Police attained the world and managed to chat him off of the ledge. He was once again put in a mental premises, and during this time period, information came ultimately back through the forensic lab.