Steven Rios convicted in retrial
After about five hours of deliberation, a jury found former Columbia police Officer Steven Rios guilty of second-degree murder and armed criminal action during his retrial for the murder of former MU student Jesse Valencia. Jesse Valencia's mother Linda had tears streaming down her face as the judge read the jury's verdict.
After the verdict was announced, both sides prepared for their closing arguments before sentencing was decided. Linda Valencia took the stand for the prosecution. Linda said she talked to her son daily during college and said the two were very close.
"He was my best friend, my confidante," she said.
Rios' father, Gilbert Rios, took the stand during the defense's closing arguments. Gilbert said Steven also cared about Jesse.
"Jesse was his friend too," Gilbert said.
The defense also asked the jury to consider Steven Rios' young son when considering sentencing. Check back to themaneater.com for updates later tonight.
6:14 p.m., Dec. 8, 2008
JB Weld said:
This KILLER didn't deserve a re-trial and should be on death row. Just another POS, like Drew Peterson, who expected to elude the short arm of the law. He shouldn't have any difficulty fulfilling his erotic fantasies while incarcerated.