Court denies request to consider Rios case

Murder of former MU student, Jesse Valencia, not being heard again.

By Juana Summers

Published Nov. 2, 2007

A Missouri Supreme Court decision leaves room for former Columbia Police officer Steven Rios to receive a new trial.

On Oct. 30, the Missouri Supreme Court denied a request to reconsider the ruling made by the appellate court, which overturned Rios' murder conviction.

The court issued no opinion on the case along with its ruling.

Rios was convicted of first-degree murder and armed criminal action in connection to the death of former MU student Jesse Valencia.

Valencia, who was a gay student, had an affair with Rios before he was found dead outside of an East Campus house on June 5, 2004. His throat had been cut.

On May 21, 2005, Rios was found guilty of the crime after a one-week trial.

In May 2007, the Missouri Court of Appeals Western District in Kansas City overturned Rios's conviction after two statements were considered to be hearsay in the appellate court's ruling.

The statements in question were made by Joan Sheridan, a friend of Valencia's.

Sheridan said Valencia told her he would end his relationship with Rios if he found out Rios were married, which he was. She said, during the trial, that this statement, as well as several others, were made on June 2, 2004 — three days before Valencia was killed.

The appeal also included an objection to the court's use of 47 pictures of the victim's body as evidence.