(Columbia, Missouri) A married Columbia police officer who was having a secret affair with a gay college student is now the prime in his murder.

The body of 23 year old Jesse Valencia was discovered June 6 on the lawn of a home about a block from his apartment near the campus of the University of Missouri-Columbia._ An autopsy showed that his throat had been slashed. (story)

The last time anyone saw him was about 3:30 the previous morning as he left a party off campus.

Shortly after the investigation into the killing began friends of Valencia said he was having a secret affair with a police officer. The friends told homicide investigators that the officer had arrested Valencia on April 18 for interfering with officers responding to a peace disturbance in the area. The friends said the officer then started visiting Valencia’s apartment.

That officer was later identified Valencia's arrest report as Steven Rios.

Last week, investigators said they had ruled out Rios as a suspect. Now he is the prime suspect and this week, police armed with a search warrant searched Rios' home._

In an affidavit submitted to the court by Columbia police Detective Jeff Nichols, the investigator said he had reason to believe evidence of the homicide was "concealed" at Rios' house.

Investigators searched for any trace evidence, including blood, hair and fibers. But their main target was a clip-on style knife with a folding blade witnesses told investigators Rios commonly carried. No knife was listed on an inventory of items seized._

The inventory of items seized includes contents of his shower drain and trap, two pairs of khaki shorts, contents of another bathroom drain, a pair of black sandals and a gray Missouri State Highway Patrol uniform shirt.

Rios, meanwhile, has been confined to a state mental health facility for his own protection after twice threatening to commit suicide after his affair was made public.

The night of the murder the 27 year old Rios worked that morning until 3 a.m. Part of his beat included the campus area where Valencia's body was found.

Police say they are continuing the investigation but have not yet charged Rios with the killing.

http://www.365gay.com/newscon04/06/0...legeMurder.htm

Such a sad story. I think a lot of us know from personal experience how dangerous it is to get involved with married men who identify as "straight". Not because you could wind up dead, necessarily, but because situations like that never end up well. Regardless of what happens, it gets ugly.