Five key details about Jesse James Valencia's murder explored

The brutal murder of Jesse James Valencia, a student of the University of Missouri, took to the headlines as the investigation revealed the killer to be a Columbia Police Department officer, Steven Arthur Rios. Jesse was murdered outside his off-campus residence in June 2004.

Steven Rios was arrested for the murder and underwent trial twice, resulting in life sentences both times. The Dateline: Secrets Uncovered episode titled Before Daylight showcases the shocking details of Jesse James Valencia as it aired on July 24, 2024, at 8 pm EST on Oxygen. The official synopsis reads:

"A college student is found murdered in a residential neighbourhood; as police search for the truth, they are stunned to learn that one of their own might be involved."

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Five details of Jesse James Valencia's murder explored

1) Jesse James Valencia was found dead outside his residence on June 5, 2004

Jesse James Valencia was discovered dead by students of the University of Missouri in the afternoon of June 5, 2004, per Oxygen. Jesse was found lying face-up on a lawn at Wilson Avenue with his throat slit wide open. Jesse worked night shifts at the Campus Inn Motel and was at a campus party afterward.

The 23-year-old had called one of his partners, Ed McDevitt, before returning to his apartment. Jesse's neighbor, Christopher Kepner, confirmed that he had heard arguments and bumping on their shared wall. When he stepped out to check, he found Jesse Valencia's door halfway open.

When Jesse's body was found, there were bruise marks on his breastbone plate and his shoulder blades, resembling marks from a chokehold.

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2) Jesse's friends revealed that he had been s*xually involved with a police officer

As the authorities began interrogating Jesse James Valencia's friends, they found out that Jesse had been s*xually involved with a Columbia Police Department officer, Steven Arthur Rios. One of Jesse's romantic partners, Andrew Schermerhorn, walked down to the police station to identify the officer Jesse had been acquainted with.

Schermerhorn identified Steven Rios from the Columbia Police Department’s yearbook. He also confirmed that he had engaged in s*xual activities with Valencia and Rios on May 14, 2004, per court documents.

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3) Steven Arthur Rios was identified as the suspect

Steven Rios was a married man with a child who initially denied all allegations. However, as he was interrogated with the statements of Jesse Valencia's friends and family, he admitted to being involved with the victim but denied participation in his murder.

Ironically, the detectives found out that Steven had responded to the crime scene at Wilson Avenue and was the first person to identify Jesse Valencia. Per Oxygen, Steven told the detectives that he had known Jesse from a prior incident.

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4) Steven Rios was admitted to a mental health facility briefly

After Steven Rios realized that he had been the suspect in Jesse Valencia's murder case, he reportedly made a troubling phone call to Captain Zim Schwartze of the Columbia Police Department from Kansas City. He mentioned that he had purchased a shotgun and showcased signs of suicidal ideation.

Steven Rios had bought a shotgun (Image via Unsplash/William Isted)

While Rios was isolated and kept in protective custody, he escaped shortly and reportedly attempted to jump off a rooftop at a parking garage. He spent 96 hours at a mental facility and was institutionalized again after the incident.

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5) Rios was sentenced to life in prison during both his trials

As Steven Rios was put in a mental facility for the second time, the forensic reports with his DNA evidence on the victim came back. The authorities found Steven Rios' limb hairs from his arm on Valencia's chest.

Steven Rios had two murder trials (Image via Unsplash/Emiliano Bar)

The Boone County Special Prosecutor Morley Swingle shared:

“That’s when we realized that they teach Columbia police officers at the training academy how to administer a choke hold … That could account for these limb hairs in addition to the bruises that went across the front of [Jesse’s] chest and in the middle of his back.”

Steven was arrested on murder charges and he was convicted of first-degree murder and armed criminal action. However, the judgment was overruled due to hearsay, and he was sentenced to life again for second-degree murder during his second trial in 2008.

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Catch all the details of Jesse James Valencia's murder as the Dateline episode streams on NBC.