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[suspenseful music playing]
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[Morley] It was just like
the young man
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was lying there peacefully
with his throat cut.
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[dramatic music playing]
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He was running in fear
of his life
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from whoever it is
that was terrorizing him.
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His response was
I could kill somebody.
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Is he a jealous lover?
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Is this a revenge homicide?
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He was very shaken,
and then he said,
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"That was him out
in the hall."
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This young man that he
was using for sexual gain,
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dared challenge him.
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[narrator]
Every day in North America,
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dozens of people are murdered.
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The key to solving the
toughest of these homicides
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lies in the final 24 hours
of the victim's life.
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To crack the case,
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detectives must reconstruct
that critical timeline.
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The minutes and hours
containing evidence
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that can help unlock the mystery
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and catch the killer.
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[dramatic music playing]
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[narrator] Columbia, Missouri,
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a vibrant city with
historic charm
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located between
St. Louis and Kansas City.
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Columbia is a college town
with a very large university,
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the University of Missouri.
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It's a very pretty town.
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It's a very progressive
community
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with a lot of young people.
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Columbia has traditionally
been a very safe place,
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not a lot of crime.
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[narrator]
But on a warm June day,
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the community spirit
is shattered,
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when a group of college students
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make a gruesome discovery.
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[phone ringing]
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[dispatcher]
911, what's your emergency?
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[sirens wailing]
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[Morley] The 911 call comes in
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at 2:10 in the afternoon.
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A body has been found
between two houses.
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It's a primarily
college student community
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in that area.
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[Morley] The young men
who find the body think,
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well, maybe this is just
someone who's passed out.
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And then they see the blood
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and realize this person
is not passed out
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but is actually dead.
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[dramatic music playing]
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[indistinct radio chatter]
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When the police arrive,
they see that the body
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is a young man
who's lying on his back.
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He is naked except for a pair
of blue Umbro shorts.
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When they approached the body,
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they see a large pool of blood
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and an infestation of insects.
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He has a gash across his neck,
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that's about three and a half
inches long.
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[Michael] Someone cut his
throat and it was deep
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all the way down to the spine.
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[narrator] Tasked with
investigating the crime,
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a Columbia police detective
Michael Lederle
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and County Prosecutor
Morley Swingle.
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First thing we want to do
is identify the victim.
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It's very difficult because
the victim didn't have
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any type of identification
on him.
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There was no weapon found
around the body
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and no real sign of a struggle.
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[narrator]
As Detective Lederle
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takes a closer look
at the crime scene,
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he notices a key detail.
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We don't see defensive marks
on his hands.
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Defensive wounds are very common
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when there's a knife fight
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and they get cut or stabbed
in their hands
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trying to protect themselves.
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That type of evidence
is missing.
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We start thinking, why?
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Why did this person
not defend themselves?
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It was just like the young
man was lying there
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peacefully with his throat cut.
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[narrator] When the medical
examiner looks over the body,
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she notices an unusual
pattern of injuries.
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There at the scene,
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she sees that there was bruising
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across the top of the chest
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and when the body
was rolled over,
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there's bruising between
the shoulder blades,
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and that struck the medical
examiner as unusual.
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[narrator]
As she studies the body,
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the medical examiner notices
something else.
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[Morley] She also realizes
that the lack of blood
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going down the front of the body
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and the blood flowing
down the neck to the grass
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indicates to her
that the throat was cut
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after the young man was on
his back on the ground.
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That's unusual.
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So that suggests that either
the victim was unconscious
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or completely unable to respond
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when the actual injury that
caused his death occurred.
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[narrator] The medical
examiner determines
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the victim likely lost
consciousness
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from constriction
around his neck,
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either from being chocked
or strangled.
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When it's learned
that he is strangled
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and then his throat is slit,
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it speaks to me that the killer
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had a lot of anger.
This is personal.
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I'm going to put my hands
around your throat
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in an effort to kill you
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and then I'm also gonna slit
your throat
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almost as insurance,
but also because
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I have that much rage
that I still need to unleash.
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[narrator] The forensics team
collects evidence
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and sends it on
to the crime lab.
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His fingernails were scraped
and that was collected
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so that you can see
if there was any DNA
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under his fingernails.
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Also, this young man had
shaved his chest
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and the medical examiner
found limb hairs,
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L-I-M-B, off of your arm.
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Limb hairs were on his chest.
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[narrator] Then investigators
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get their firstbreak in the case
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from a surprising source.
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At the scene, an officer said
he knows who the victim is.
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He said that's a young man
that we had actually arrested
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back in April
for a noise violation.
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[narrator]
The victim is identified
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as 23-year-old Jesse Valencia.
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Jesse Valencia was a
University of Missouri
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college student.
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His intention was to go
to law school someday.
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Jesse was very active
in the college life.
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He was known to socialize
quite a bit.
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He was a free spirit.
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He was model beautiful.
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He was gay and it seemed like
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everybody who met him liked him.
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[narrator] Investigators turn
to the medical examiner
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hoping she can help establish
when Jesse was killed.
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The medical examiner determines
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that Jesse was killed
before it's sunrise,
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which was at 5:44 am.
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[narrator] To find
Jesse Valencia's killer,
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detectives will now need
to reconstruct
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his final 24 hours.
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They begin by canvassing
the neighborhood,
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looking for witnesses
to the crime.
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They didn't find people
who had heard anything.
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Then they found an apartment
where the door
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had been left ajar
and it turns out
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it was the apartment
of Jesse Valencia.
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[narrator] Detectives speak
with Jesse's neighbor,
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Christopher Kepner,
to see if he heard or saw
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anything unusual in the early
morning hours.
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Christopher Kepner said that
he got home from drinking
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at 3:00 in the morning.
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He'd been very intoxicated.
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Christopher's awakened
by bumping
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and loud noises and voices.
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So something was happening
in Jesse's apartment.
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The pounding that
Christopher Kepner had heard
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had occurred
on a narrow timeframe,
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sometime between
3:00 and 5:44 am.
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He said he heard a voice
saying, "Stop it. Stop it."
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And Kepner pounded
on the wall and he said,
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"Yeah. Stop it. Be quiet."
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And then he never heard
anything else.
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[dramatic music playing]
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[Morley] Investigators
got a search warrant
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to search Jesse's apartment.
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So the time of Jesse's death
is placed
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in the early morning hours.
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Who would be at Jesse's
apartment at this time?
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Somebody who knows him
and perhaps
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has an intimate relationship
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or a romantic relationship
with him.
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And moreover,
Jesse's door was ajar
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and Jesse's body
was found outside,
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partially clothed,
almost like he was running
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in fear of his life
from whoever it is
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that was terrorizing him.
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[narrator] As detectives comb
through the apartment,
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a crucial detail catches
their attention.
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They find a note addressed to
Jesse from an ex-boyfriend.
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The note was from a person
that signed it as Jason
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and was talking about things
needed to be returned
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from a breakup between Jesse
and this person.
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Looking into a homicide,
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lovers, boyfriends, girlfriends,
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those are often people that
because of emotional rage
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might end up
committing a homicide.
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So once the investigators see
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that there's this letter
from Jason,
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Jason automatically becomes
a potential suspect.
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[dramatic music playing]
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[narrator]
After breaking the news
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to Jesse's family
about his murder,
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they ask his mother
about his relationships.
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[Morley] Linda Valencia,
she was from Kentucky
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and Jesse had been
her favorite child.
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She doted on him.
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Jesse was very open
with his mother.
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She knew that that he had
multiple relationships.
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Maybe a little promiscuous.
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[narrator]
When Detective Lederle
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brings up Jason's name,
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Linda immediately recognizes it
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00:10:39,004 --> 00:10:41,439
as her son's ex-boyfriend.
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Linda felt that the breakup
between Jesse and Jason
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00:10:45,511 --> 00:10:47,512
had not been a good one
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00:10:47,514 --> 00:10:51,716
and that it had been more
Jesse's idea than Jason's,
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00:10:51,718 --> 00:10:54,653
and she felt like
it was possible
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00:10:54,720 --> 00:10:57,722
that Jason wasn't taking
the breakup well.
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She was fearful that he was
a possessive type of person.
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00:11:03,662 --> 00:11:07,132
And that he may be
the stalking type.
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We have to unravel
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00:11:08,600 --> 00:11:11,202
the mystery behind
Jesse's death.
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[dramatic music playing]
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[narrator] In the brutal
murder of 23-year-old
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00:11:17,343 --> 00:11:21,179
University of Missouri
student, Jesse Valencia,
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00:11:21,181 --> 00:11:24,983
detectives are zeroing in
on their first suspect.
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00:11:25,050 --> 00:11:28,787
Jason Speedman,
a recent ex-boyfriend.
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00:11:28,854 --> 00:11:32,791
Jason was another
very handsome young man,
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00:11:32,858 --> 00:11:34,225
very friendly.
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And when he found out
that Jesse was dead,
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he totally broke down in grief.
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00:11:47,606 --> 00:11:51,409
During our conversation
with Jason Speedman,
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00:11:51,477 --> 00:11:55,880
he described a very different
scenario from Jesse's mother.
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00:11:55,882 --> 00:11:58,816
He admitted to having
a relationship with Jesse.
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00:11:58,818 --> 00:12:00,685
They broke up two to three
months prior to that
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00:12:00,687 --> 00:12:04,355
but they still had
a really good relationship.
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00:12:04,423 --> 00:12:05,890
They remained friends.
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00:12:05,892 --> 00:12:08,226
[dramatic music playing]
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00:12:08,228 --> 00:12:10,962
[Morley] Jason gave his alibi
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00:12:10,964 --> 00:12:13,297
that he had been at work
that night
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00:12:13,299 --> 00:12:15,500
until shortly after 6:00.
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00:12:15,567 --> 00:12:18,903
And then went to a new
boyfriend's house
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until he came home
about 1:00 in the morning
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00:12:21,708 --> 00:12:25,443
and went to bed.
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Even though the police find
Jason believable
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00:12:29,048 --> 00:12:31,916
from his demeanor,
they still can't rule him out
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00:12:31,984 --> 00:12:37,722
because at the crucial time
when Jesse was being killed,
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00:12:37,724 --> 00:12:40,258
Jason was home alone sleeping.
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00:12:40,260 --> 00:12:42,327
And being home alone sleeping
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00:12:42,394 --> 00:12:44,863
is not a particularly
good alibi.
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00:12:44,930 --> 00:12:46,531
[suspenseful music playing]
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We asked Jason for a DNA swab,
he gives it to us.
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00:12:51,271 --> 00:12:53,738
We really don't have
much more to hold Jason,
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00:12:53,806 --> 00:12:55,673
so we let him go.
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00:12:55,741 --> 00:13:00,077
But we continued to keep him
as a potential suspect.
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00:13:00,079 --> 00:13:02,413
[narrator]
Searching for new leads,
256
00:13:02,481 --> 00:13:06,551
detectives continue talking
to Jesse's social circle.
257
00:13:06,618 --> 00:13:08,419
It's sort of like a spider web.
258
00:13:08,421 --> 00:13:11,222
As you talk to one friend,
they tell you other friends
259
00:13:11,290 --> 00:13:14,959
and so the police department
ended up interviewing
260
00:13:14,961 --> 00:13:17,228
a large number
of Jesse's friends
261
00:13:17,296 --> 00:13:19,297
as they're trying to find out
262
00:13:19,364 --> 00:13:22,834
what happened to him on
that last night of his life.
263
00:13:22,836 --> 00:13:25,303
[narrator] Detectives learn
that Jesse attended a party
264
00:13:25,305 --> 00:13:28,172
in the hours before his murder.
265
00:13:28,174 --> 00:13:30,441
They tracked down the host
of the party.
266
00:13:30,443 --> 00:13:34,712
Another student named
Jennifer Weatherspoon.
267
00:13:34,780 --> 00:13:36,581
[Morley] Jennifer was just
a really good friend
268
00:13:36,583 --> 00:13:39,584
of Jesse's.
269
00:13:39,586 --> 00:13:41,920
She said Jesse was having
a good time
270
00:13:41,987 --> 00:13:46,657
and sort of being the life
of the party.
271
00:13:46,659 --> 00:13:49,260
[narrator] Investigators
learn that at the party,
272
00:13:49,262 --> 00:13:52,263
Jesse had made a call
to his newest fling,
273
00:13:52,265 --> 00:13:56,067
a young man named Ed McDevitt.
274
00:13:56,069 --> 00:13:57,268
The phone was actually answered
275
00:13:57,270 --> 00:14:00,405
by Ed McDevitt's roommate.
276
00:14:02,208 --> 00:14:06,211
He and Ed had ended up
going to the party.
277
00:14:06,278 --> 00:14:10,014
Jesse and Ed had just met
earlier that week
278
00:14:10,016 --> 00:14:13,417
and had struck up
a relationship.
279
00:14:13,419 --> 00:14:15,954
[narrator] But Ed's roommate,
Eric Thurston,
280
00:14:16,021 --> 00:14:19,691
makes a poor impression
on the other party guests.
281
00:14:19,758 --> 00:14:23,694
People described him
as not very friendly.
282
00:14:23,696 --> 00:14:26,030
Eric is kind of rude,
283
00:14:26,032 --> 00:14:29,567
he's kind of a...
Lack of a better word, a jerk.
284
00:14:29,569 --> 00:14:33,438
Eric Thurston got bored
at the party
285
00:14:33,505 --> 00:14:35,440
and he said he was going to go
286
00:14:35,507 --> 00:14:39,310
find something more exciting
to do and he left.
287
00:14:40,646 --> 00:14:42,981
[narrator] Shortly afterwards,
Jesse and Ed
288
00:14:43,048 --> 00:14:45,383
leave the party together.
289
00:14:45,450 --> 00:14:48,052
[Morley] They walked
a couple of blocks
290
00:14:48,054 --> 00:14:52,190
and Jesse was hoping Ed
would come home with him.
291
00:14:52,257 --> 00:14:54,392
But Ed said he's too tired
292
00:14:54,394 --> 00:14:56,995
and he has to go to work
in the morning.
293
00:14:57,062 --> 00:14:59,330
[narrator] Jesse then returns
to the party
294
00:14:59,332 --> 00:15:02,066
and spends time
with his friend Jennifer.
295
00:15:02,068 --> 00:15:04,869
By that time, she was
cleaning up after the party
296
00:15:04,871 --> 00:15:08,539
and they sat together
for a while and talked.
297
00:15:08,607 --> 00:15:12,276
She tells us that the last
time she saw Jesse
298
00:15:12,278 --> 00:15:15,079
was about 3:45 am.
299
00:15:15,081 --> 00:15:17,582
He said he's going home
and going to bed.
300
00:15:20,352 --> 00:15:22,219
[narrator] Jennifer's account
allows detectives
301
00:15:22,221 --> 00:15:24,956
to narrow down Jesse's
window of death
302
00:15:25,023 --> 00:15:29,093
to between 3:45 and 5:44 am.
303
00:15:30,629 --> 00:15:33,965
It also gives them two
new suspects,
304
00:15:33,967 --> 00:15:36,634
Ed McDevitt,
Jesse's latest fling
305
00:15:36,636 --> 00:15:39,537
and his roommate, Eric Thurston.
306
00:15:42,574 --> 00:15:43,908
We discovered that Eric Thurston
307
00:15:43,910 --> 00:15:45,376
does have a criminal history.
308
00:15:45,444 --> 00:15:48,446
It's drug possession
and minor larceny.
309
00:15:48,513 --> 00:15:50,314
While that doesn't mean a person
310
00:15:50,316 --> 00:15:53,384
is automatically going around
and committing crimes,
311
00:15:53,452 --> 00:15:56,387
it does mean you're a little
bit less believable
312
00:15:56,455 --> 00:15:58,656
than somebody who's gone
through their life
313
00:15:58,658 --> 00:16:01,659
without committing
any crimes at all.
314
00:16:01,661 --> 00:16:04,395
[narrator] Armed with this
incriminating information,
315
00:16:04,397 --> 00:16:05,997
detectives call Eric Thurston
316
00:16:06,064 --> 00:16:08,599
down to the station
for questioning.
317
00:16:08,667 --> 00:16:11,936
The first impression is that
he's a little aloof,
318
00:16:12,004 --> 00:16:16,174
he's not cooperative,
so that raises some red flags.
319
00:16:17,809 --> 00:16:19,477
His demeanor was cold,
320
00:16:19,479 --> 00:16:23,481
it was not at all disappointed,
321
00:16:23,548 --> 00:16:26,150
that a young man he had just
been at the party with
322
00:16:26,152 --> 00:16:28,353
the night before is dead,
323
00:16:28,420 --> 00:16:31,555
not at all shocked by it.
324
00:16:31,557 --> 00:16:34,692
[Michael]
That's kind of puzzling.
325
00:16:34,760 --> 00:16:40,498
And then Eric tells us that
he and Ed used to be lovers.
326
00:16:40,500 --> 00:16:42,833
[narrator] As detectives
drill down on Eric,
327
00:16:42,835 --> 00:16:44,368
they discover the relationship
328
00:16:44,370 --> 00:16:47,838
between the two men
had been violent.
329
00:16:47,840 --> 00:16:50,108
There had been a domestic
relations incident
330
00:16:50,175 --> 00:16:53,844
between Ed McDevitt
and Eric Thurston,
331
00:16:53,846 --> 00:16:55,313
where the police had been
called in
332
00:16:55,380 --> 00:16:57,448
because of a physical squabble
333
00:16:57,450 --> 00:16:59,517
between the two of them.
334
00:16:59,584 --> 00:17:02,253
So it did seem that there
were high passions
335
00:17:02,320 --> 00:17:05,289
between Eric Thurston
and Ed McDevitt.
336
00:17:10,462 --> 00:17:13,998
With Jesse
having multiple lovers,
337
00:17:14,066 --> 00:17:16,400
one of the things
that we were looking at is,
338
00:17:16,402 --> 00:17:19,070
is Eric a, uh, jealous lover?
339
00:17:19,072 --> 00:17:22,073
Is this a revenge homicide?
340
00:17:22,140 --> 00:17:27,278
Perhaps you have somebody
who's very jealous of Jesse.
341
00:17:27,280 --> 00:17:30,748
Jealousy is among the top
motives for murder,
342
00:17:30,816 --> 00:17:33,017
especially in cases
where males perceive
343
00:17:33,085 --> 00:17:36,487
that they're in part
of a romantic love triangle
344
00:17:36,555 --> 00:17:39,424
or that they want to get back
at the person
345
00:17:39,491 --> 00:17:44,428
that is involved
with their partner.
346
00:17:44,430 --> 00:17:47,098
[narrator] Having established
a potential motive,
347
00:17:47,165 --> 00:17:49,767
Detective Lederle
confronts Eric.
348
00:17:49,769 --> 00:17:51,836
Did he murder Jesse Valencia?
349
00:17:53,906 --> 00:17:57,975
[Morley] His response was,
"I could kill somebody.
350
00:17:58,043 --> 00:17:59,310
I could kill somebody easily.
351
00:17:59,377 --> 00:18:01,379
I didn't happen to kill
this person.
352
00:18:01,446 --> 00:18:03,581
Yeah. I could kill somebody."
353
00:18:03,583 --> 00:18:07,151
[Michael] That was a weird
and kind of unusual
statement.
354
00:18:08,921 --> 00:18:11,589
Is Eric involved?
We have to dig deeper
355
00:18:11,591 --> 00:18:14,158
and figure out what is going on.
356
00:18:18,831 --> 00:18:21,699
[narrator] In the coldblooded
killing of Jesse Valencia,
357
00:18:21,766 --> 00:18:23,501
investigators have their sights
358
00:18:23,503 --> 00:18:26,838
set on his new lover's
roommate, Eric Thurston.
359
00:18:28,307 --> 00:18:30,508
They grill Eric
about his whereabouts
360
00:18:30,510 --> 00:18:33,244
during the window of time
Jesse was killed.
361
00:18:36,048 --> 00:18:38,315
[Morley] Eric said
after leaving the party
362
00:18:38,317 --> 00:18:41,519
at 3:00 in the morning,
he had got online
363
00:18:41,586 --> 00:18:44,722
and had chatted
with some other people.
364
00:18:46,325 --> 00:18:48,726
And so between 3:00 and 4:00
in the morning,
365
00:18:48,728 --> 00:18:52,196
he had gone over to a house
of two young men
366
00:18:52,264 --> 00:18:54,265
for the rest of the night
367
00:18:54,333 --> 00:18:56,667
and they'd actually
fixed breakfast together.
368
00:18:56,669 --> 00:18:59,670
[tense music playing]
369
00:18:59,672 --> 00:19:01,806
[Michael] We're gonna verify
that information.
370
00:19:04,943 --> 00:19:06,810
The police tracked down
those two young men
371
00:19:06,812 --> 00:19:11,149
that he said he went
and stayed with that night.
372
00:19:13,285 --> 00:19:14,752
And they confirmed that, yes,
373
00:19:14,819 --> 00:19:17,488
he had stayed the night
at their house.
374
00:19:20,091 --> 00:19:23,127
So now Eric Thurston
did have an alibi.
375
00:19:24,630 --> 00:19:28,432
[narrator]
With Eric ruled out,
376
00:19:28,500 --> 00:19:31,302
detectives ask him more
about Ed McDevitt,
377
00:19:31,304 --> 00:19:35,173
who was Jesse's most recent
romantic partner.
378
00:19:35,240 --> 00:19:38,776
[Michael] Eric tells us that
Ed has a drinking problem
379
00:19:38,778 --> 00:19:42,379
and sometimes becomes violent
when he's drinking.
380
00:19:42,381 --> 00:19:46,250
It also happens that Ed
is a cook
381
00:19:46,318 --> 00:19:49,386
at a restaurant
382
00:19:49,388 --> 00:19:52,490
and has access to a lot
of knives.
383
00:19:56,061 --> 00:19:59,930
[narrator] Having learned the
Jesse's most recent boyfriend
384
00:19:59,932 --> 00:20:02,600
had a history
of violent outbursts,
385
00:20:02,667 --> 00:20:06,604
investigators haul Ed
McDevitt down to the station.
386
00:20:06,671 --> 00:20:09,674
[Morley]
Ed went into all the details
387
00:20:09,741 --> 00:20:13,744
about the relationship
that he'd had with Jesse.
388
00:20:13,812 --> 00:20:18,449
They had met at a gay bar
the night before Jesse died.
389
00:20:19,751 --> 00:20:21,886
Ed tells us that he and Jesse
really hit it off
390
00:20:21,953 --> 00:20:24,555
and they go back
to Jesse's apartment.
391
00:20:26,091 --> 00:20:27,958
[narrator]
Ed tells investigators
392
00:20:27,960 --> 00:20:30,961
the last time he saw Jesse
was when he had gone
393
00:20:30,963 --> 00:20:33,564
to Jennifer's party.
394
00:20:33,566 --> 00:20:36,367
After he and Jesse
walked a couple of blocks,
395
00:20:36,369 --> 00:20:39,036
they are finally separated
and Ed was walking
396
00:20:39,038 --> 00:20:41,772
toward his own home.
Jesse called him
397
00:20:41,774 --> 00:20:44,108
and tried to talk him
into changing his mind
398
00:20:44,110 --> 00:20:47,711
to coming back
and spending the night.
399
00:20:47,713 --> 00:20:49,714
But Ed said he's too tired
400
00:20:49,781 --> 00:20:51,449
and he has to go to work
in the morning.
401
00:20:51,516 --> 00:20:54,452
[narrator] Ed tells detectives
that Jesse's call
402
00:20:54,519 --> 00:20:57,721
came in at 3:14 am.
403
00:20:57,723 --> 00:20:59,723
They checked the phone records.
404
00:20:59,725 --> 00:21:02,593
The phone backed up
what Ed was saying
405
00:21:02,661 --> 00:21:06,597
and also it showed that
that call had been at 3:14
406
00:21:06,665 --> 00:21:08,599
in the morning.
407
00:21:08,601 --> 00:21:11,268
[narrator] But then Ed
contradicts earlier testimony
408
00:21:11,270 --> 00:21:13,170
from his roommate Eric.
409
00:21:15,206 --> 00:21:17,074
[Michael] Ed tells us that
about 3:30
410
00:21:17,142 --> 00:21:19,744
when he arrived home,
Eric's there.
411
00:21:19,811 --> 00:21:22,613
But we already have
a different timeline
412
00:21:22,615 --> 00:21:26,350
from Eric that he met up
with other people
413
00:21:26,352 --> 00:21:29,754
from a gay dating website.
414
00:21:29,821 --> 00:21:31,822
And it just throws a lot
of question marks
415
00:21:31,890 --> 00:21:34,625
into our investigation.
What's going on here?
416
00:21:34,627 --> 00:21:37,194
We have to figure out
if he's telling the truth.
417
00:21:38,830 --> 00:21:41,165
[narrator] With no one
to confirm Ed's alibi,
418
00:21:41,167 --> 00:21:43,834
it's possible he doubled back
to Jesse's place
419
00:21:43,836 --> 00:21:47,971
after they partied
and killed him.
420
00:21:47,973 --> 00:21:50,775
Looking for evidence
to connect him to the crime,
421
00:21:50,842 --> 00:21:53,644
they collect Ed's DNA.
422
00:21:53,646 --> 00:21:56,647
Police also get a search
warrant for Ed's apartment
423
00:21:56,649 --> 00:21:59,850
and in that search,
they did find
424
00:21:59,918 --> 00:22:01,919
an extensive knife collection,
425
00:22:01,986 --> 00:22:03,921
so they seized that
knife collection
426
00:22:03,923 --> 00:22:06,724
as potential evidence to compare
427
00:22:06,791 --> 00:22:08,592
and see if maybe
one of those knives
428
00:22:08,594 --> 00:22:10,461
had been the murder weapon.
429
00:22:10,463 --> 00:22:13,197
[narrator] Despite all
of their investigative work
430
00:22:13,264 --> 00:22:15,599
across multiple suspects,
431
00:22:15,601 --> 00:22:18,836
detectives are no closer
to catching Jesse's killer.
432
00:22:22,074 --> 00:22:24,542
As the officers conduct
their investigation,
433
00:22:24,609 --> 00:22:26,877
they are finding more young men
434
00:22:26,945 --> 00:22:29,347
who had connections with Jesse.
435
00:22:29,414 --> 00:22:33,417
They had Jason who had been
the recent breakup
436
00:22:33,419 --> 00:22:37,221
of a long term relationship.
They had Ed McDevitt
437
00:22:37,288 --> 00:22:39,356
who definitely
was a sexual relationship
438
00:22:39,358 --> 00:22:42,693
that had just started
two nights before.
439
00:22:42,761 --> 00:22:46,497
So it seemed like everywhere
the police turned,
440
00:22:46,564 --> 00:22:48,432
there was another potential
suspect.
441
00:22:50,435 --> 00:22:54,838
[narrator] Then, investigators
catch a break in the case.
442
00:22:54,840 --> 00:22:58,709
An anonymous tip comes in
through their Crime Stoppers
phone line.
443
00:23:01,045 --> 00:23:04,582
[Michael] What's interesting
about this tip
444
00:23:04,649 --> 00:23:10,321
is that it claims that
a Columbia police officer
445
00:23:11,723 --> 00:23:15,125
has had an affair
with Jesse Valencia.
446
00:23:15,127 --> 00:23:17,928
Now that really
complicates things.
447
00:23:17,996 --> 00:23:22,233
The person never gave a name
of who that officer was
448
00:23:23,935 --> 00:23:26,470
and there were a lot
of Columbia police officers,
449
00:23:26,472 --> 00:23:28,939
so now you had a lot
more suspects.
450
00:23:29,007 --> 00:23:31,809
[tense music playing]
451
00:23:31,811 --> 00:23:34,678
When an anonymous tip comes in,
452
00:23:34,680 --> 00:23:37,548
you have to take it
for what it's worth
453
00:23:37,615 --> 00:23:39,149
that the person wasn't willing
454
00:23:39,151 --> 00:23:42,420
to provide their name,
and sometimes they're just
455
00:23:42,487 --> 00:23:45,423
people trying to get
somebody else in trouble,
456
00:23:45,490 --> 00:23:47,825
and sometimes
there's truth to it.
457
00:23:47,892 --> 00:23:51,095
But it was still a mystery as
to who that officer might be.
458
00:23:51,162 --> 00:23:54,031
Could it be one of ours
that did this?
459
00:23:54,033 --> 00:23:57,668
That's the question that
instantly pops in our mind.
460
00:24:00,338 --> 00:24:01,605
[tense music playing]
461
00:24:01,607 --> 00:24:04,074
[narrator] Detectives have
received an anonymous tip
462
00:24:04,076 --> 00:24:09,079
that has turned the Jesse
Valencia murder investigation
upside down.
463
00:24:09,081 --> 00:24:12,550
The tipster claims Jesse
was having a secret affair
464
00:24:12,617 --> 00:24:15,753
with a Columbia Missouri
police officer.
465
00:24:15,820 --> 00:24:17,221
When it comes
to police officers,
466
00:24:17,288 --> 00:24:19,156
this is supposed
to be a fraternity
467
00:24:19,224 --> 00:24:21,959
and a profession
where everyone's in it
468
00:24:21,961 --> 00:24:23,961
for the right reasons.
And when you're faced
469
00:24:23,963 --> 00:24:26,497
with potential betrayal
of that trust,
470
00:24:26,499 --> 00:24:28,632
it's really unsettling.
471
00:24:28,634 --> 00:24:31,635
But at the end of the day,
you have a job to do.
472
00:24:31,703 --> 00:24:34,905
[narrator] The tipster
doesn't name the officer,
473
00:24:34,973 --> 00:24:37,308
but does mention
a friend of Jesse's,
474
00:24:37,375 --> 00:24:39,176
Andy Schermerhorn,
475
00:24:39,178 --> 00:24:42,646
who may have details
about the affair.
476
00:24:42,714 --> 00:24:47,451
We locate Andy Schermerhorn
and he comes in voluntarily.
477
00:24:48,987 --> 00:24:51,322
[Michael] He and Jesse
are both pre-law students
478
00:24:51,389 --> 00:24:53,123
at University of Missouri,
479
00:24:53,191 --> 00:24:55,059
and he described
their relationship
480
00:24:55,126 --> 00:24:56,727
as friends with benefits.
481
00:24:56,794 --> 00:25:00,664
[foreboding music playing]
482
00:25:00,666 --> 00:25:03,667
Andy confirmed
that in fact Jesse
483
00:25:03,669 --> 00:25:08,272
did have an affair with
a Columbia police officer.
484
00:25:08,339 --> 00:25:12,476
[Morley] But he didn't know
the officer's name.
485
00:25:12,544 --> 00:25:16,880
Jesse referred to that officer
as Columbia's finest.
486
00:25:16,882 --> 00:25:18,549
[narrator]
Detective Lederle asks
487
00:25:18,616 --> 00:25:22,886
how Jesse and the mystery
police officer met.
488
00:25:22,888 --> 00:25:24,688
[Morley] He said
friends of Jesse's
489
00:25:24,690 --> 00:25:29,627
had been having
a loud party on April 18th,
490
00:25:29,694 --> 00:25:32,162
and the officers had responded.
491
00:25:32,230 --> 00:25:33,631
They were arresting
those friends
492
00:25:33,698 --> 00:25:35,966
for a noise violation,
493
00:25:36,034 --> 00:25:38,636
and Jesse who was intoxicated
494
00:25:38,703 --> 00:25:41,038
and who wanted
to go to law school
495
00:25:41,105 --> 00:25:44,374
and who was brash said,
"What's your probable cause
496
00:25:44,376 --> 00:25:47,778
for arresting my friends?"
497
00:25:47,845 --> 00:25:51,782
And the police officer
had arrested him.
498
00:25:51,849 --> 00:25:53,517
[narrator] Jesse had been
released quickly
499
00:25:53,519 --> 00:25:57,054
with a ticket
for obstruction of justice.
500
00:25:57,121 --> 00:25:59,189
But there had been
instant chemistry
501
00:25:59,257 --> 00:26:01,292
with the arresting officer.
502
00:26:03,795 --> 00:26:08,032
[Morley] They had begun
their sexual relationship
immediately that night.
503
00:26:08,066 --> 00:26:11,268
The officer had come by
after he got off his shift
at 3:00 in the morning
504
00:26:11,270 --> 00:26:13,771
and began having
this affair with Jesse.
505
00:26:16,074 --> 00:26:20,077
[narrator]
Detectives continue to press
Andy for more details
506
00:26:20,144 --> 00:26:23,280
and he makes
a shocking revelation.
507
00:26:23,282 --> 00:26:25,215
Andy tells us about an incident
508
00:26:25,283 --> 00:26:28,218
involving this officer,
Jesse, and himself.
509
00:26:30,021 --> 00:26:32,556
Andy says that Jesse
and him are having sex
510
00:26:32,624 --> 00:26:34,291
at Jesse's apartment...
511
00:26:34,359 --> 00:26:37,094
[knocks on door]
512
00:26:37,096 --> 00:26:39,563
when there's a knock
on the door.
513
00:26:39,631 --> 00:26:41,098
[Morley]
Jesse went to the door
514
00:26:41,165 --> 00:26:43,767
and here was a uniformed
police officer.
515
00:26:45,770 --> 00:26:48,705
Andy was panicking
and Jesse said,
516
00:26:48,707 --> 00:26:51,642
"That's okay, that's okay.
This officer's a friend."
517
00:26:53,445 --> 00:26:56,380
And then the officer
came over and ended up
518
00:26:56,382 --> 00:27:01,451
engaging in sexual activity
with Andy and Jesse.
519
00:27:01,453 --> 00:27:03,253
When it was over,
520
00:27:03,321 --> 00:27:04,788
he looked at Andy and said,
521
00:27:04,790 --> 00:27:08,125
"This has got
to remain a secret."
522
00:27:08,192 --> 00:27:11,929
[Michael] Andy was shaken.
523
00:27:11,996 --> 00:27:13,931
[Morley] Then Jesse said
to the officer,
524
00:27:13,998 --> 00:27:15,799
"When will I see you again?"
525
00:27:15,867 --> 00:27:19,136
And the officer said, "Well,
sometime when I drop by."
526
00:27:21,139 --> 00:27:22,840
And left.
527
00:27:29,214 --> 00:27:31,415
[narrator] Andy reveals
that over time,
528
00:27:31,482 --> 00:27:33,817
Jesse was becoming
increasingly frustrated
529
00:27:33,819 --> 00:27:35,686
with the officer.
530
00:27:35,753 --> 00:27:37,354
Jesse was starting to get upset
531
00:27:37,356 --> 00:27:39,490
because he had assumed
532
00:27:39,557 --> 00:27:42,493
that the municipal court
ticket he had gotten
533
00:27:42,560 --> 00:27:45,962
would go away since he's
having sex with the officer
534
00:27:45,964 --> 00:27:48,632
and it hadn't.
535
00:27:48,634 --> 00:27:50,234
And also he's starting to think
536
00:27:50,301 --> 00:27:52,703
the officer was married.
537
00:27:52,705 --> 00:27:55,505
Jesse said that the next time
the officer came over,
538
00:27:55,507 --> 00:27:58,642
he was gonna confront him
about whether he's married.
539
00:27:58,644 --> 00:28:00,778
[Keira] This police officer
has a lot to lose.
540
00:28:00,845 --> 00:28:03,380
He could lose his job,
he could lose his
relationship,
541
00:28:03,448 --> 00:28:06,183
and he could lose his standing
in the community
542
00:28:06,250 --> 00:28:08,852
if he does not want it
to be known that he's gay.
543
00:28:08,854 --> 00:28:12,122
And so in that sense, Jesse
would turn the tables on him
544
00:28:12,124 --> 00:28:14,591
in that power dynamic.
545
00:28:14,593 --> 00:28:17,594
So it's possible that Jesse
prompts this attack
546
00:28:17,596 --> 00:28:20,597
and this rage.
547
00:28:20,599 --> 00:28:25,335
[narrator]
Detectives hope Andy can
identify the police officer.
548
00:28:25,403 --> 00:28:28,405
[Michael] We start showing him
police yearbooks.
549
00:28:28,473 --> 00:28:32,209
He'd thumbed through the pages
and closed it and said,
"He's not here."
550
00:28:32,211 --> 00:28:33,877
And the detective said,
"Wait a minute,
551
00:28:33,945 --> 00:28:35,746
all the officers
are in there."
552
00:28:35,748 --> 00:28:38,749
[foreboding music playing]
553
00:28:45,089 --> 00:28:47,691
Andy sat there for a minute
and then he said,
554
00:28:47,693 --> 00:28:48,926
"That was him out
in the hall."
555
00:28:54,099 --> 00:28:58,068
Andy whispers and points
stating, "That's him."
556
00:28:59,237 --> 00:29:02,105
[narrator]
The officer is Steven Rios,
557
00:29:02,107 --> 00:29:03,907
a three-year veteran
of the department
558
00:29:03,975 --> 00:29:07,778
with a wife and baby at home.
559
00:29:07,780 --> 00:29:11,982
[Morley] Rios was a officer
who had been very ambitious.
560
00:29:11,984 --> 00:29:13,650
He had political aspirations,
561
00:29:13,718 --> 00:29:15,919
he wanted to be
in the management
562
00:29:15,987 --> 00:29:18,122
at the police department.
563
00:29:18,189 --> 00:29:20,924
So now police had
another suspect
564
00:29:20,992 --> 00:29:24,828
and it was a suspect that was
within the police department.
565
00:29:26,397 --> 00:29:30,267
[narrator] Complicating
things even further,
566
00:29:30,269 --> 00:29:33,069
is that Officer Rios
567
00:29:33,071 --> 00:29:35,973
helped secure the crime scene.
568
00:29:37,609 --> 00:29:39,276
Did he tamper with evidence?
569
00:29:39,278 --> 00:29:42,279
Did he remove the weapon
that we didn't see
570
00:29:42,281 --> 00:29:45,682
because he already
took it out of there?
571
00:29:45,684 --> 00:29:49,419
So now we have
to develop tactics
572
00:29:49,421 --> 00:29:52,422
because unlike other people
we interview,
573
00:29:52,424 --> 00:29:55,692
an officer has the inside track
574
00:29:55,694 --> 00:29:57,761
on how we work that area.
575
00:29:57,763 --> 00:30:01,565
This officer may in fact
try to outmaneuver us
576
00:30:01,567 --> 00:30:02,966
during an investigation.
577
00:30:05,369 --> 00:30:06,837
[narrator] Detectives are
caught off guard
578
00:30:06,839 --> 00:30:09,439
by what happens next.
579
00:30:09,507 --> 00:30:11,642
The investigators got a surprise
580
00:30:11,709 --> 00:30:14,845
because Steven Rios showed up
on his day off and said,
581
00:30:14,847 --> 00:30:18,248
"I understand you got
a anonymous call."
582
00:30:18,316 --> 00:30:20,651
He said, "I think
some people are speculating
583
00:30:20,718 --> 00:30:22,719
that it might be me
and I just want you to know
584
00:30:22,787 --> 00:30:27,257
it definitely wasn't me.
I had nothing to do with it."
585
00:30:27,325 --> 00:30:29,927
Steven Rios may have thought
that all he had to do
586
00:30:29,994 --> 00:30:31,261
was come in and say that
587
00:30:31,329 --> 00:30:33,096
and leave
and it would all be over.
588
00:30:34,666 --> 00:30:36,733
But instead detectives said,
589
00:30:36,735 --> 00:30:40,404
"Well, would you be willing
to sit down and talk?"
590
00:30:40,471 --> 00:30:44,407
And Rios said,
"I'd be glad to."
591
00:30:44,409 --> 00:30:48,612
I believe that Steven Rios
was supremely arrogant.
592
00:30:48,679 --> 00:30:50,614
The sort of person
who thinks he's smarter
593
00:30:50,681 --> 00:30:52,416
than everybody else in the room
594
00:30:52,483 --> 00:30:54,351
and he felt he would
be able to deal
595
00:30:54,353 --> 00:30:55,619
with any question
596
00:30:55,686 --> 00:30:57,521
that the detective might have.
597
00:30:59,891 --> 00:31:02,559
[narrator]
When the investigators
interview Steven,
598
00:31:02,561 --> 00:31:06,230
they ask how he knows
Jesse Valencia.
599
00:31:06,297 --> 00:31:09,166
[Morley] There's an old saying
in law enforcement
600
00:31:09,233 --> 00:31:10,901
that a provable lie
601
00:31:10,903 --> 00:31:13,637
is the next best thing
to a confession.
602
00:31:13,639 --> 00:31:17,341
And it turned out that
Steven Rios is a born liar.
603
00:31:19,043 --> 00:31:20,711
He started out by saying
604
00:31:20,778 --> 00:31:24,047
the only contact I've ever
had with Jesse Valencia
605
00:31:24,049 --> 00:31:26,983
was when he gave him
that ticket.
606
00:31:26,985 --> 00:31:31,054
The detective let him run
with that for a while.
607
00:31:31,056 --> 00:31:34,324
And then he said, "We talked
to a young man named Andy
608
00:31:34,392 --> 00:31:36,526
who said he was
at Jesse's apartment
609
00:31:36,594 --> 00:31:39,262
on May 15th
having sex with Jesse
610
00:31:39,264 --> 00:31:41,365
and you showed up
and joined them."
611
00:31:43,001 --> 00:31:45,869
And Rios goes, "What? Sex?"
612
00:31:45,937 --> 00:31:49,806
Like it's the most absurd
thing in the world.
613
00:31:49,808 --> 00:31:53,543
The detective said,
"You guys had a threesome."
614
00:31:53,611 --> 00:31:56,280
Then Rios goes,
"Well, it wasn't a threesome.
615
00:31:56,347 --> 00:32:00,217
I just watched them
having sex."
616
00:32:00,284 --> 00:32:02,752
And ultimately
he ends up admitting
617
00:32:02,754 --> 00:32:05,756
that he had a sexual affair
with Jesse.
618
00:32:05,823 --> 00:32:08,825
He admitted that it began
619
00:32:08,827 --> 00:32:12,562
on the night that
he had arrested Jesse.
620
00:32:14,766 --> 00:32:18,468
His strategy became admit
the sexual affair,
621
00:32:20,305 --> 00:32:22,839
but deny the murder.
622
00:32:22,907 --> 00:32:24,374
[narrator]
Detectives drill down
623
00:32:24,376 --> 00:32:26,309
on Officer Rios' timeline
624
00:32:26,311 --> 00:32:29,846
in the hours leading
up to Jesse's murder.
625
00:32:29,914 --> 00:32:32,916
Steven Rios said that
he had worked his shift
626
00:32:32,984 --> 00:32:36,053
and got off
at 3:00 in the morning,
627
00:32:36,120 --> 00:32:39,122
and that instead of
going directly home,
628
00:32:39,190 --> 00:32:40,790
he and some other officers
went up
629
00:32:40,792 --> 00:32:43,593
to the top of the parking garage
630
00:32:43,661 --> 00:32:46,329
and drank beer together.
631
00:32:46,331 --> 00:32:51,001
He said that he left about
a quarter till 5:00
632
00:32:51,068 --> 00:32:54,537
and that he got home
around 5:30.
633
00:32:54,539 --> 00:32:56,940
And he said
as soon as he got home,
634
00:32:57,008 --> 00:32:58,442
he went to bed.
635
00:33:01,212 --> 00:33:05,349
The detectives asked him
if he had a knife
636
00:33:05,416 --> 00:33:09,820
that would have cut
the throat of Jesse Valencia.
637
00:33:09,887 --> 00:33:14,157
[narrator] Officer Rios denies
owning such a knife.
638
00:33:14,225 --> 00:33:16,292
Even if a homicide didn't occur,
639
00:33:16,294 --> 00:33:18,495
he was having sex on duty,
640
00:33:18,497 --> 00:33:20,964
that's a fireable offense.
641
00:33:20,966 --> 00:33:23,934
That's within our code
of conduct, it's prohibited.
642
00:33:25,503 --> 00:33:28,572
It could end his career.
643
00:33:28,639 --> 00:33:31,374
Now we truly have a motive here.
644
00:33:31,376 --> 00:33:33,577
[narrator] Officer Rios
continues to deny
645
00:33:33,644 --> 00:33:35,846
his involvement
in Jesse's murder.
646
00:33:35,913 --> 00:33:38,448
[Morley]
He concluded by saying,
"I didn't kill him.
647
00:33:38,450 --> 00:33:42,786
I had nothing to do
with his death."
648
00:33:42,853 --> 00:33:45,255
They let Rios go along
on his way
649
00:33:45,257 --> 00:33:47,591
because they still had
no proof for sure
650
00:33:47,658 --> 00:33:49,325
that he was the killer.
651
00:33:49,327 --> 00:33:52,129
They just knew he was a liar.
652
00:33:52,196 --> 00:33:54,864
[narrator] But before
Officer Rios leaves,
653
00:33:54,866 --> 00:33:58,268
he agrees to provide
a DNA sample.
654
00:33:58,270 --> 00:34:01,138
When the DNA results came back,
655
00:34:01,205 --> 00:34:03,339
they were huge.
656
00:34:03,341 --> 00:34:07,144
DNA under the fingernails
of Jesse Valencia
657
00:34:07,211 --> 00:34:10,747
turned out to be a combination
of Ed McDevitt's DNA,
658
00:34:10,815 --> 00:34:13,984
he'd been in a sexual
relationship with Jesse
659
00:34:14,018 --> 00:34:17,888
and this police officer,
Steven Rios' DNA.
660
00:34:17,955 --> 00:34:21,357
[tense music playing]
661
00:34:21,359 --> 00:34:23,894
[Morley] There was no match
to Jason.
662
00:34:23,961 --> 00:34:27,364
There was no match
to Eric Thurston.
663
00:34:27,431 --> 00:34:30,500
It really narrows it down now
664
00:34:30,568 --> 00:34:34,838
to Ed McDevitt
and to Steven Rios.
665
00:34:34,905 --> 00:34:37,440
They both had
somewhat of a motive,
666
00:34:37,442 --> 00:34:39,576
so now we're looking at
667
00:34:39,578 --> 00:34:42,712
who has the strongest reason
to kill Jesse?
668
00:34:42,714 --> 00:34:45,715
[tense music playing]
669
00:34:48,286 --> 00:34:50,487
[narrator]
With two DNA matches,
670
00:34:50,489 --> 00:34:53,223
investigators go back
to the autopsy
671
00:34:53,290 --> 00:34:56,093
hoping that Jesse's body
may offer more clues
672
00:34:56,160 --> 00:34:58,562
as to who killed him.
673
00:34:58,629 --> 00:35:01,098
His most recent boyfriend
Ed McDevitt
674
00:35:01,165 --> 00:35:02,632
or his secret lover,
675
00:35:02,634 --> 00:35:06,169
Officer Steven Rios.
676
00:35:06,171 --> 00:35:08,771
Detectives focus on
the mysterious bruises
677
00:35:08,773 --> 00:35:10,974
found on Jesse's body.
678
00:35:10,976 --> 00:35:12,309
We're trying to determine
679
00:35:12,376 --> 00:35:14,177
what possibly could've happened
680
00:35:14,179 --> 00:35:15,845
to cause him to have
these bruises
681
00:35:15,847 --> 00:35:17,647
on his upper torso.
682
00:35:17,715 --> 00:35:20,450
The one went across
the collarbone area
683
00:35:20,518 --> 00:35:22,519
and the other was
in the middle of the back
684
00:35:22,586 --> 00:35:25,388
between the shoulder blades.
685
00:35:25,390 --> 00:35:27,124
[narrator]
When they look closely,
686
00:35:27,191 --> 00:35:29,526
the pattern looks strikingly
like the bruises caused
687
00:35:29,593 --> 00:35:33,530
by a police chokehold
known as an LVNR,
688
00:35:33,597 --> 00:35:36,866
Lateral Vascular Neck Restraint.
689
00:35:36,868 --> 00:35:39,202
The officer will get
the person's neck
690
00:35:39,204 --> 00:35:42,872
between their bicep
and their forearm and squeeze
691
00:35:42,874 --> 00:35:45,808
and it cuts off the blood
going to the brain
692
00:35:45,810 --> 00:35:48,145
and it renders
a person unconscious
693
00:35:48,212 --> 00:35:51,948
between three and seven seconds.
694
00:35:52,016 --> 00:35:54,618
The officers demonstrate
that hold
695
00:35:54,685 --> 00:35:56,219
to the medical examiner
696
00:35:56,221 --> 00:35:57,754
and the medical examiner said
697
00:35:57,821 --> 00:35:59,956
that's consistent
with the bruises
698
00:36:00,024 --> 00:36:03,226
being found across Jesse's body.
699
00:36:03,294 --> 00:36:07,831
Every officer on the force
is taught this technique.
700
00:36:07,898 --> 00:36:11,234
We know that Steve Rios
knows this move.
701
00:36:11,302 --> 00:36:14,704
[suspenseful music playing]
702
00:36:14,706 --> 00:36:16,839
[narrator] Even with
the evidence stacking up
703
00:36:16,841 --> 00:36:18,642
against Officer Rios,
704
00:36:18,709 --> 00:36:22,045
the case against him
is still weak.
705
00:36:22,112 --> 00:36:25,848
Investigators need more
to build their case.
706
00:36:25,850 --> 00:36:30,119
[Michael] It appears that
Steve has a solid alibi.
707
00:36:30,121 --> 00:36:32,255
Then we start looking closer.
708
00:36:32,323 --> 00:36:33,723
[Morley]
There were several officers
709
00:36:33,725 --> 00:36:35,258
who had gotten off the shift
710
00:36:35,326 --> 00:36:39,396
and gone to drink beer
at 3:00 in the morning.
711
00:36:39,463 --> 00:36:43,133
And one, a dispatcher
named Leah Wooden,
712
00:36:43,200 --> 00:36:46,803
she remembered that
as she was leaving,
713
00:36:46,870 --> 00:36:51,341
she got a phone call at 4:57.
714
00:36:51,343 --> 00:36:53,076
By that time, she told us
715
00:36:53,143 --> 00:36:54,744
Steve was already gone
716
00:36:54,812 --> 00:36:57,480
and she estimates that
he left about 10 minutes prior
717
00:36:57,548 --> 00:37:00,416
to that phone call.
718
00:37:00,418 --> 00:37:01,951
[narrator]
This new information
719
00:37:01,953 --> 00:37:04,020
places Officer Rios' departure
720
00:37:04,022 --> 00:37:08,024
from the garage at 4:47 am.
721
00:37:08,026 --> 00:37:11,427
Levy Rios,
the wife of Steven Rios
722
00:37:11,429 --> 00:37:12,762
had told the police officer
723
00:37:12,830 --> 00:37:15,432
he had gotten home
around 5:30,
724
00:37:15,499 --> 00:37:17,567
and so that gave
this window of time
725
00:37:17,569 --> 00:37:22,272
between 4:47 and 5:30.
726
00:37:22,306 --> 00:37:25,775
[Michael] Is it possible
for Steve to leave
727
00:37:25,843 --> 00:37:28,378
the top of the garage
at 4:47,
728
00:37:28,445 --> 00:37:30,980
drive to Jesse's apartment,
729
00:37:30,982 --> 00:37:33,583
have an altercation,
730
00:37:33,585 --> 00:37:35,184
kill him,
731
00:37:35,186 --> 00:37:37,387
and then drive back to his home
732
00:37:37,454 --> 00:37:41,458
by the time his wife
tells us around 5:30?
733
00:37:43,394 --> 00:37:45,194
[narrator]
Investigators do a test
734
00:37:45,196 --> 00:37:47,664
to see if Officer Rios
could have killed Jesse
735
00:37:47,731 --> 00:37:50,333
in that 43-minute window.
736
00:37:50,335 --> 00:37:51,935
We left the police department
737
00:37:52,002 --> 00:37:55,805
and we drove
to Jesse's apartment.
738
00:37:55,807 --> 00:38:00,076
And then we drove from
Jesse's to Steve Rios' home,
739
00:38:00,144 --> 00:38:03,546
and we timed all of that.
740
00:38:03,614 --> 00:38:06,549
The total time...
741
00:38:06,551 --> 00:38:08,351
was approximately 10 minutes.
742
00:38:08,419 --> 00:38:12,155
And that's enough time
to slit somebody's throat,
743
00:38:12,222 --> 00:38:14,490
so you did have a situation
744
00:38:14,492 --> 00:38:16,826
where Rios would
have had the opportunity
745
00:38:16,828 --> 00:38:19,829
to commit that crime.
746
00:38:19,897 --> 00:38:21,898
[narrator] Then a piece
of evidence comes in
747
00:38:21,900 --> 00:38:24,968
that cracks the case wide open.
748
00:38:25,035 --> 00:38:27,303
The DNA on the limb hairs
749
00:38:27,305 --> 00:38:31,808
found on Jesse's body
was Steven Rios' DNA.
750
00:38:32,977 --> 00:38:36,179
It was clear that Jesse's body
751
00:38:36,181 --> 00:38:41,184
had Steven Rios' limb hairs
across his chest.
752
00:38:41,186 --> 00:38:43,853
So all those pieces
come together
753
00:38:43,921 --> 00:38:47,457
and tell us that Steve Rios
754
00:38:47,524 --> 00:38:49,592
is in fact the murderer.
755
00:38:52,196 --> 00:38:54,998
[narrator] With this
final piece of the puzzle,
756
00:38:55,065 --> 00:38:56,933
detectives are able
to piece together
757
00:38:57,000 --> 00:39:01,004
Jesse Valencia's final 24 hours.
758
00:39:01,071 --> 00:39:03,406
Jesse would been going home
and going to bed
759
00:39:03,474 --> 00:39:06,142
at about 3:45.
760
00:39:06,144 --> 00:39:08,078
About 4:47,
761
00:39:08,145 --> 00:39:13,016
Steve Rios drives over to
Jesse Valencia's apartment.
762
00:39:13,083 --> 00:39:16,152
Arriving at Jesse's apartment
at 4:50 am.
763
00:39:18,622 --> 00:39:21,691
Jesse's upset about him
not taking care of that ticket
764
00:39:21,759 --> 00:39:23,826
that he received back in April.
765
00:39:23,828 --> 00:39:26,095
He's threatening Steve to tell
766
00:39:26,097 --> 00:39:28,498
about their sexual encounters
767
00:39:28,500 --> 00:39:30,100
and the fact that Steve has
768
00:39:30,167 --> 00:39:33,236
been performing some of those
encounters in uniform
769
00:39:33,303 --> 00:39:35,438
while on duty.
770
00:39:35,440 --> 00:39:38,908
Rios, this politically
ambitious officer,
771
00:39:38,976 --> 00:39:41,043
is feeling that his whole career
772
00:39:41,045 --> 00:39:42,378
is about to end
773
00:39:42,380 --> 00:39:44,447
and he's just not gonna
let that happen.
774
00:39:47,651 --> 00:39:51,521
[Michael] At this point,
Steve's mad.
775
00:39:51,588 --> 00:39:55,458
[narrator]
Officer Rios becomes violent.
776
00:39:55,460 --> 00:39:57,460
The neighbor heard
the young man saying,
777
00:39:57,528 --> 00:39:59,662
"Stop it, stop it."
778
00:39:59,664 --> 00:40:04,401
Jesse runs when he realizes
that Rios is dangerous.
779
00:40:04,468 --> 00:40:06,202
Rios chases him
780
00:40:06,270 --> 00:40:10,874
until Rios catches
him from behind,
781
00:40:10,941 --> 00:40:14,244
puts him in that Lateral
Vascular Neck Restraint,
782
00:40:18,081 --> 00:40:20,216
renders him unconscious.
783
00:40:20,284 --> 00:40:24,821
That whole encounter
can be done in minutes.
784
00:40:24,823 --> 00:40:28,892
[Michael] At this point,
Jesse is incapacitated,
785
00:40:28,959 --> 00:40:31,628
then Steve puts him back
down on the ground.
786
00:40:33,564 --> 00:40:35,298
He pulls out his knife.
787
00:40:35,300 --> 00:40:38,268
[ominous music playing]
788
00:40:41,905 --> 00:40:44,440
[Michael]
And he cuts Jesse's throat
789
00:40:44,442 --> 00:40:46,709
and killed him.
790
00:40:46,711 --> 00:40:48,778
It's such an aggressive cut,
791
00:40:48,846 --> 00:40:53,449
it literally nicks
his spinal column.
792
00:40:53,451 --> 00:40:55,852
This is a crime
that was motivated
793
00:40:55,919 --> 00:40:58,254
chiefly by ego and narcissism.
794
00:40:58,256 --> 00:41:01,457
Steven's reputation
and his ambition
795
00:41:01,459 --> 00:41:06,329
was more important
than this young man's life.
796
00:41:06,396 --> 00:41:08,197
[narrator]
Steven Rios is charged
797
00:41:08,199 --> 00:41:09,933
with first degree murder.
798
00:41:10,000 --> 00:41:12,402
He's found guilty and
sentenced to life in prison
799
00:41:12,469 --> 00:41:16,873
plus 23 years
for killing Jesse Valencia.
800
00:41:16,875 --> 00:41:19,075
I started out
my closing argument
801
00:41:19,142 --> 00:41:21,944
by saying that Steven Rios
802
00:41:21,946 --> 00:41:24,147
used his badge for sex
803
00:41:24,214 --> 00:41:25,948
and then used his knife
804
00:41:25,950 --> 00:41:29,619
to close the lips
of his lover forever.
805
00:41:29,686 --> 00:41:32,155
It's a despicable crime
806
00:41:32,189 --> 00:41:36,159
and he deserves every day
that he serves in prison.
807
00:41:36,227 --> 00:41:39,695
When you have a cop
who commits a crime,
808
00:41:39,697 --> 00:41:41,698
that's the worst of the worst,
809
00:41:41,765 --> 00:41:44,434
in my opinion.
810
00:41:44,468 --> 00:41:46,168
We're held
to a different standard,
811
00:41:46,170 --> 00:41:47,703
you know,
it's a higher standard.
812
00:41:47,705 --> 00:41:49,438
Bad cop's a bad cop,
813
00:41:49,440 --> 00:41:51,975
they need to be out of there.
814
00:41:52,042 --> 00:41:54,377
I'm so glad
that we got the right person
815
00:41:54,379 --> 00:41:56,445
and put him in jail.
816
00:41:56,447 --> 00:42:00,116
It'll never give back Jesse
to his family or friends,
817
00:42:00,183 --> 00:42:04,387
but hopefully
that's some type of solace
818
00:42:04,389 --> 00:42:06,923
to the family.
819
00:42:06,990 --> 00:42:09,392
[narrator] Jesse's loved ones
will always remember him
820
00:42:09,459 --> 00:42:11,394
for his carefree spirit.
821
00:42:11,461 --> 00:42:15,665
None more so than Jesse's
adoring mother, Linda.
822
00:42:15,667 --> 00:42:17,800
Just the thought of it,
just me talking about it,
823
00:42:17,868 --> 00:42:19,469
I'm getting
a little choked up here
824
00:42:19,536 --> 00:42:24,273
because that's a relationship
that is forever gone,
825
00:42:24,275 --> 00:42:26,275
you know, I can't even imagine.
826
00:42:26,277 --> 00:42:28,945
I don't wanna even imagine
what she's going though.