Ex-Officer Gets Life Sentence for Death of MU Student

Linda Valencia wipes aways tears Tuesday July 5, 2005 as she told the court how the loss of her son Jesse, 23, has affected her life. Former Columbia police officer Steven Arthur Rios, 28, was sentenced Tuesday to life in prison without the possibility of parole for the June 5, 2004 death of Jesse Valencia, 23, a gay college student with whom he was having an affair.

Steven Rios, 28, right, Tuesday July 5, 2005, stands with his public defenders Valerie Leftwich and Stephen Richey while telling Linda Valencia he is sorry for the loss of her son in court in Columbia, Mo., Tuesday, July 5, 2005. The former Columbia police officer will spend the rest of his life in prison for the June 5, 2004, killing of Valencia, 23, a gay college student with whom he had an affair.