Steven Rios Update: Where Is the Convicted Killer Now?

To be here indicates that you have recently watched the fourth episode of the Hulu original series How I Found My Murderer, which details the murder of Jesse Valencia, we thought you would be interested in learning more about the killer, Steven Rios.

Who is Steven Rios?

Steven Rios had previously served with the Columbia Police Department. Rios was a married father of one when he was questioned about the death of Jesse Valencia.

Officer Steven Arthur RIOS was born in 1977 and served the community of Boone County, Missouri. Steven Rios killed Jesse Valencia because Rios was having an affair with Valencia and Valencia threatened to tell everyone about it. Six days later, on June 5th, 2004, he was taken into police custody.

A former Missouri police officer who is now incarcerated told KOMU.s, “That was one of the hardest things I’ve had to go through as a police officer convicted of murder.”
It’s tough for anyone, especially a husband and parent, to go up to work one day and find out everything has changed.

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Some of the sensationalism surrounding this process, in my opinion, has muddied the waters. “It was all about putting on a show,” the speaker said, “and not about being fair or telling the truth.”

While authorities worked to establish Valencia’s demise, they learned of his extramarital involvement with Rios.

Where is Steven Rios Now?

Steven was found guilty of first-degree murder and use of a firearm in a criminal offense in May of 2005. Life in prison without the utility of parole plus ten years was the sentence he received. Steven maintained his innocence by saying he was at a party distance from the murder location when it occurred.

The judge ruled that some testimony presented at trial was hearsay, and he was given a new trial about two years later. A 2008 retrial led to him being convicted of second-degree murder and armed criminal action.

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He was handed down a life sentence with the chance of release, plus an extra 23 years. Steven is currently serving a life sentence in the South Dakota State Prison in Sioux Falls, Minnehaha County, and is scheduled for parole in the year 2035, according to official documents.

How Did Jesse Valencia Die?

Mr. Jesse Valencia entered the world in Boyle County, Kentucky, in February of 1981. The handsome 23-year-old with a vibrant character studied history and politics at the University of Missouri in Columbia. Jesse had always planned on attending law school after he graduated, but something terrible happened in the wee hours of June 5, 2004, that made that impossible.

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Several college students made a 911 call that day after discovering a dead body on a lawn. Jesse was revealed to be the victim’s true identity. He was discovered naked and lying on his back. It was discovered that Jesse had been severely slashed across the throat while he was unconscious. His upper body was likewise marked by bruising. Law enforcement was unable to locate a murder weapon at the scene. The coroner thought Jesse was slain that day, before 6 a.m.

Frequently Asked Questions…

Why is Steven Rios in the state of South Dakota?

Rios is jailed in a South Dakota correctional facility. Rios argued in his 2008 retrial for the murder that his attorney, Gillis Leonard of Moberly, refused him appropriate legal representation, according to court documents filed by Rios’ attorney, public defender Cinda Eichler.

Who is Steven Rios’s wife in Missouri?

The infant boy of Libby Sullivan and Rios was just a few months old at the time of the murder. The Sullivans report that their 8-year-old boy is beginning to inquire about his father’s incarceration. The family has decided to provide him with age-appropriate responses.