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♪
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NARRATOR: Secrets are
like a ticking time bomb.
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00:00:07,466 --> 00:00:09,384
Especially the juiciest ones.
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00:00:10,177 --> 00:00:11,512
Especially in a college town.
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Eventually, secrets?
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They will explode.
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And that's exactly what
happened in Columbia, Missouri,
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on June 5, 2004.
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That's when, in the middle of the
day, Jesse Valencia is found dead.
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NEWSCASTER: Police found
Valencia's body on East Campus,
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neck wrung, throat slashed
by a serrated knife.
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JOHN WOHRLE: I just remember
thinking to myself, like,
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"It can't be true."
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♪ There is nothing I can do ♪
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NARRATOR: The murder
sends shockwaves
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through the town of Columbia
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and the University
of Missouri campus.
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Everyone is a suspect.
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RANDY BOEHM: Jesse's
throat is slit.
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That's very personal.
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So it's very likely
we're looking
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for a person who knows Jesse.
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♪
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- Investigators were brainstorming,
"What happened here?"
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♪
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NARRATOR: It's just the beginning
of a college crime conspiracy,
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filled with sex,
lies, corruption...
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OFFICER: Police. Open up.
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NARRATOR: and the secret
that forever changes
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the lives of everyone involved.
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♪
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WOHRLE: If Jesse had
something he needed to say
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he was gonna say it.
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But somebody will go to the
extreme to protect a secret.
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♪
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NARRATOR: But that
secret is also the thing
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that ultimately brings
Jesse's killer to justice.
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♪
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MAN 1: She solved her own
murder from behind the grave.
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MAN 2: The fitness
app on the phone,
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it was overwhelming evidence.
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♪ Haunted by the visions ♪
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♪ That I've seen
with my own eyes ♪
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♪ And the only way to find you ♪
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♪ Is to go beneath the lies ♪
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♪
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MAN 3: She did help
catch this killer.
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♪
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♪ You got something to hide ♪
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NARRATOR: Summer 2004.
Columbia, Missouri.
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♪ I see trouble ♪
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♪ I see trouble ♪
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♪
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♪ Hey ♪
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The University of
Missouri is rocked
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when a student's body is
discovered off campus.
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♪
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JEFF WESTBROOK: My
name's Jeff Westbrook.
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I was an investigator in the
Columbia Police Department
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in Columbia, Missouri.
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MAN: Jeff Westbrook, take one.
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[siren wails]
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WESTBROOK: I was actually the
first responding investigator.
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There were some residents
in one of the houses
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and when they walked out, they
saw the body and called 911.
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[shutter clicking]
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NARRATOR: The corpse is naked
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save for a pair of boxers.
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It's clear the
throat's been slit.
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- When the other
investigators arrived,
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we were brainstorming,
"What happened here?"
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[siren wailing]
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NARRATOR: With no clothes
or identification,
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investigators have
no way of knowing
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who the victim is
or how he got there.
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[police radio chatter]
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♪
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WESTBROOK: We started
knocking on doors.
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We had a picture
just of his face
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and we said, "Do you
recognize this person?"
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Is it someone that
you've ever seen before?
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And in talking to
someone, we discovered
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the young man's name was...
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♪
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Jesse Valencia.
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♪
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NARRATOR: Jesse was a
23-year-old history major
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going into his senior
year at Mizzou,
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the University of Missouri.
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He was openly gay and a vocal
advocate for social justice
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who dreamed of
becoming a lawyer,
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after leaving his small town
of Perryville, Kentucky.
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♪
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LUPE VALENCIA:
I'm Lupe Valencia
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and I'm Jesse's stepfather.
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It's been 18 years and, uh...
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[voice breaking] I just
can't really talk about it.
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Jesse did not deserve to have
what happened to him happen.
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Well, no one does, but he
sure didn't deserve it.
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[inhales and exhales deeply]
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Yeah.
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♪
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NARRATOR: Jesse's family and
friends were so proud of him,
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knowing that he came from
such humble beginnings.
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LUPE: Jesse grew up in
a barn much like this.
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He loved riding horses.
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Jesse, he was just full of life.
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Just go, go, go.
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If you'd met, Jesse
you would love him.
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Very proud of Jesse.
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♪ Don't go telling
anyone you saw ♪
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♪ I've got a mind to keep
you in the dark now ♪
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NARRATOR: When Jesse arrived
at the University of Missouri
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in the fall of 2002,
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he made tons of friends
both on and off campus.
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♪ Another day is over ♪
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♪ Another light is gone ♪
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♪ I feel the dark
side comin' on ♪
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♪
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NARRATOR: Jesse was loved.
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How could anyone
want to hurt him?
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And now with his murder,
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everyone in Columbia
wants this case solved.
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Everyone wants to know,
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"Is there a killer lurking outside
the university or on campus?
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Who is the murderer among them?"
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♪
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Turns out Jesse just lived
seven houses down the block
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from where they found him
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in a house that's been
converted into apartments.
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Investigators could tell
there had been a struggle.
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MAN: Take one.
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BOEHM: My name is Randy Boehm.
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♪
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And I'm the former chief of
the Columbia Police Department.
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We did find a neighbor who
was in the adjoining apartment
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who does remember something
going on that evening.
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[light buzzing]
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♪
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MORLEY SWINGLE: My
name is Morley Swingle.
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I was the elected prosecutor of
Cape Girardeau County, Missouri.
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The person that lived next door,
Christopher Kepner was his name,
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and he came home drunk
about 3:00 in the morning.
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And he said, "I went to bed.
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Sometime during the
night, I heard arguing."
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[indistinct yelling]
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Christopher Kepner said, "I got
up and I pounded on the wall
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and I said, "Shut
up over there."
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"And then it went deathly quiet
and I never heard any more noise."
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NARRATOR: It seems
a fight started
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in Jesse's apartment
and branched out.
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♪
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Because his body was
found down the street,
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his murderer
probably chased him,
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yet no one on the street
heard as much as a whimper.
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Jesse's apartment
offered more clues.
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[camera shutter clicks]
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- One of the things that we
discovered in his apartment
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was a used condom.
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[camera shutter clicks]
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And so that was collected
for DNA evidence.
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NARRATOR: Did Jesse hook
up with the wrong person?
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Or did he know his killer?
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Was this a lover's quarrel
that went violently wrong?
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♪
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[police radio chatter]
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The sergeant on the scene puts
officer Steven Rios in charge
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of guarding Jesse's apartment.
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00:09:00,457 --> 00:09:02,583
And medical examiner Valerie Rao
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has Jesse's body transported
to the coroner's office.
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It's clear from the autopsy that
Jesse put up a hell of a fight.
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♪
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- There was heavy bruising
across his collar bone area
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and there was significant
bruising in the middle of his back
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between his shoulder blades.
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♪
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They also took DNA from
Jesse's fingernails.
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Jesse had a shaved chest,
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yet they found arm hairs
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that were not Jesse's
lying on his chest.
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NARRATOR: The medical
examiner concludes
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that the knife used to
slice Jesse's throat
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had a serrated blade.
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The killer was so brutal,
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he severed both of
Jesse's jugular veins
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and nicked his vertebrae.
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♪
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BOEHM: Jesse's throat is slit.
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That's very personal.
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It's unusual for that to be
a stranger-related homicide.
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[camera shutter clicks]
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So it's very likely we're
looking for a person
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00:10:07,900 --> 00:10:08,984
who knows Jesse.
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♪ Little drops of
doubt dripping down ♪
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♪ From my brain to my heart ♪
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MAN: John Wohrle, A-B
camera marker take one.
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WOHRLE: My name
is John Wohrle.
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00:10:21,705 --> 00:10:24,248
I am childhood friends of Jesse.
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♪
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When I heard Jesse was dead,
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00:10:29,004 --> 00:10:32,131
I immediately thought to
myself, "Who did he make mad?"
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00:10:32,132 --> 00:10:34,091
'Cause if he had
something he needed to say
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00:10:34,092 --> 00:10:36,427
or a way that he felt,
he was gonna say it.
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00:10:36,428 --> 00:10:37,720
♪ Change my mind ♪
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00:10:37,721 --> 00:10:40,389
♪ Show me there's a way
we'll make it out alright ♪
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00:10:40,390 --> 00:10:42,141
NARRATOR: Someone
knows something.
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00:10:42,142 --> 00:10:44,936
Someone has a secret. But who?
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00:10:44,937 --> 00:10:46,020
♪ Vocalizing ♪
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00:10:46,021 --> 00:10:49,107
♪ Won't you show me something? ♪
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00:10:56,615 --> 00:10:59,116
And then...
[telephone ringing]
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00:10:59,117 --> 00:11:01,869
just hours after the
autopsy... [ringing continues]
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00:11:01,870 --> 00:11:03,621
investigators get a call.
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00:11:03,622 --> 00:11:05,831
♪
214
00:11:05,832 --> 00:11:07,959
It's about a party
a day earlier...
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00:11:07,960 --> 00:11:08,877
OFFICER: Police. Open up.
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00:11:08,878 --> 00:11:10,628
NARRATOR: and an
arrest that unlocks
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00:11:10,629 --> 00:11:15,007
a shocking secret that shakes
this small town to its core.
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00:11:15,008 --> 00:11:19,721
♪
219
00:11:22,724 --> 00:11:25,519
♪
220
00:11:29,273 --> 00:11:30,773
NARRATOR: Within 24 hours
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00:11:30,774 --> 00:11:33,234
of Jesse Valencia's
body being found,
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00:11:33,235 --> 00:11:37,656
a college friend of his named
Krystle Loyland calls investigators.
223
00:11:38,407 --> 00:11:39,532
Krystle informs them
224
00:11:39,533 --> 00:11:43,327
that Jesse had attended a party
at her house the night before.
225
00:11:43,328 --> 00:11:48,499
♪ But I never thought
of time like that ♪
226
00:11:48,500 --> 00:11:53,629
♪ It's marching on but
I'm standing still ♪
227
00:11:53,630 --> 00:11:55,923
SWINGLE: Krystle
Loyland had been
228
00:11:55,924 --> 00:11:57,216
hanging out with friends
229
00:11:57,217 --> 00:11:59,510
on that last night
of Jesse's life,
230
00:11:59,511 --> 00:12:00,720
and he had come by.
231
00:12:00,721 --> 00:12:04,307
♪
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00:12:04,308 --> 00:12:07,393
She had said he seemed
happy and carefree.
233
00:12:07,394 --> 00:12:09,645
♪ You got me beggin' for love ♪
234
00:12:09,646 --> 00:12:10,897
♪
235
00:12:10,898 --> 00:12:14,567
♪ Electronic music playing ♪
236
00:12:14,568 --> 00:12:16,819
- Jesse was always
the life of the party.
237
00:12:16,820 --> 00:12:18,779
He loved being the
center of attention.
238
00:12:18,780 --> 00:12:22,491
He loved being the one
generating good times for people.
239
00:12:22,492 --> 00:12:23,576
♪
240
00:12:23,577 --> 00:12:25,244
NARRATOR: Jesse
showed up with two men
241
00:12:25,245 --> 00:12:27,205
Krystle hadn't met before.
242
00:12:27,206 --> 00:12:31,627
A guy named Eric Thurston
and his roommate Ed McDevitt.
243
00:12:35,130 --> 00:12:39,009
Krystle says Eric left the party
around 2:30 in the morning.
244
00:12:40,052 --> 00:12:43,138
And Jesse left with
Ed around 3:00 a.m.
245
00:12:44,014 --> 00:12:47,600
♪
246
00:12:47,601 --> 00:12:51,604
- So we knew that around
3:00 a.m. that morning,
247
00:12:51,605 --> 00:12:52,940
that he was still alive.
248
00:12:53,690 --> 00:12:56,442
NARRATOR, Investigators
track down Ed and Eric,
249
00:12:56,443 --> 00:12:58,861
the two people who were
last seen with Jesse
250
00:12:58,862 --> 00:13:01,072
and bring them in
for questioning.
251
00:13:01,073 --> 00:13:03,533
♪
252
00:13:03,534 --> 00:13:05,868
WESTBROOK: We had 'em both
in separate interview rooms.
253
00:13:05,869 --> 00:13:08,621
We wanted to see what
each individually,
254
00:13:08,622 --> 00:13:12,501
independently had to say about
their whereabouts that night.
255
00:13:14,294 --> 00:13:17,129
SWINGLE: When they
brought Eric Thurston in,
256
00:13:17,130 --> 00:13:19,966
he gave one of the more
interesting interviews
257
00:13:19,967 --> 00:13:21,843
that the detectives
had ever had,
258
00:13:21,844 --> 00:13:23,970
because when they sat him down
259
00:13:23,971 --> 00:13:27,723
and told him that Jesse
Valencia was dead,
260
00:13:27,724 --> 00:13:31,060
his response was, "Well,
I could kill a person.
261
00:13:31,061 --> 00:13:35,648
♪
262
00:13:35,649 --> 00:13:37,234
But I didn't kill him."
263
00:13:37,693 --> 00:13:40,486
That is such a bizarre statement
264
00:13:40,487 --> 00:13:43,322
that immediately it
ratcheted him up higher
265
00:13:43,323 --> 00:13:44,992
on the list of suspects.
266
00:13:46,076 --> 00:13:48,035
NARRATOR: Eric also
tells investigators
267
00:13:48,036 --> 00:13:49,996
that he and Ed used
to be together,
268
00:13:49,997 --> 00:13:51,998
but had recently broken up.
269
00:13:51,999 --> 00:13:55,377
But now, Ed and
Jesse are dating.
270
00:13:57,754 --> 00:13:59,797
SWINGLE: They looked
hard at Eric Thurston
271
00:13:59,798 --> 00:14:02,216
'cause they thought, well,
maybe Eric Thurston was jealous
272
00:14:02,217 --> 00:14:04,511
because Ed was
seeing somebody else.
273
00:14:05,888 --> 00:14:08,557
NARRATOR: That somebody
else being Jesse Valencia,
274
00:14:10,267 --> 00:14:13,145
who appears to have been
killed in a crime of passion.
275
00:14:14,688 --> 00:14:18,941
Eric tells investigators that
after he left Krystle's party,
276
00:14:18,942 --> 00:14:21,986
he met a guy named Kevin and
they spent the night together.
277
00:14:21,987 --> 00:14:23,237
♪
278
00:14:23,238 --> 00:14:26,532
They're going to need
to track down this Kevin
279
00:14:26,533 --> 00:14:28,367
and confirm the alibi.
280
00:14:28,368 --> 00:14:30,912
[police radio chatter]
[telephone rings]
281
00:14:30,913 --> 00:14:33,206
♪
282
00:14:33,207 --> 00:14:35,209
Meanwhile, down the hall...
283
00:14:37,044 --> 00:14:39,588
investigators
question Ed McDevitt.
284
00:14:41,089 --> 00:14:42,548
SWINGLE: When they
interview Ed McDevitt,
285
00:14:42,549 --> 00:14:44,717
Ed was visibly distraught
286
00:14:44,718 --> 00:14:47,095
and was just the opposite
of Eric Thurston.
287
00:14:48,305 --> 00:14:50,432
WESTBROOK: He was
upset, crying.
288
00:14:52,059 --> 00:14:53,643
Ed said that he had met Jesse
289
00:14:53,644 --> 00:14:57,397
approximately two days
prior at a local night club.
290
00:14:58,065 --> 00:15:00,024
♪ Huh, just ride with me ♪
291
00:15:00,025 --> 00:15:02,193
♪ Go coast to coast
if you fly with me ♪
292
00:15:02,194 --> 00:15:04,445
♪ We ain't worried about
the hate or the rivalries ♪
293
00:15:04,446 --> 00:15:06,989
♪ We can dance to the night,
go slide with me, yeah ♪
294
00:15:06,990 --> 00:15:08,324
♪
295
00:15:08,325 --> 00:15:10,035
WOHRLE: Jesse, he was
a beautiful person.
296
00:15:10,786 --> 00:15:12,745
Guys would notice him,
girls would notice him,
297
00:15:12,746 --> 00:15:14,748
like, everybody was
always looking at him.
298
00:15:15,582 --> 00:15:17,625
NARRATOR: Ed McDevitt
was no different.
299
00:15:17,626 --> 00:15:21,963
One look, and they were hooking
up that night at Jesse's place.
300
00:15:21,964 --> 00:15:25,634
♪ Dance music playing ♪
301
00:15:29,972 --> 00:15:33,683
Ed confirms that the condom police
recovered from Jesse's apartment
302
00:15:33,684 --> 00:15:36,394
was from this first encounter.
303
00:15:36,395 --> 00:15:37,937
SWINGLE: And then
on Friday night,
304
00:15:37,938 --> 00:15:39,231
Ed saw him again at that party.
305
00:15:40,107 --> 00:15:42,900
NARRATOR: After Jesse and Ed
left Krystal's party together,
306
00:15:42,901 --> 00:15:45,820
they chatted on the
sidewalk outside her house.
307
00:15:45,821 --> 00:15:47,488
SWINGLE: Jesse wanted
Ed to come home with him
308
00:15:47,489 --> 00:15:50,575
but Ed said, "No, I have to go
to work at 6:00 in the morning."
309
00:15:50,576 --> 00:15:52,159
He was a chef.
310
00:15:52,160 --> 00:15:56,205
And so Jesse ended up
walking home by himself.
311
00:15:56,206 --> 00:16:00,084
♪ Don't let the sun go down ♪
312
00:16:00,085 --> 00:16:03,087
♪
313
00:16:03,088 --> 00:16:04,755
NARRATOR: Ed tells
the investigators
314
00:16:04,756 --> 00:16:07,134
that when he got home,
he went right to bed.
315
00:16:08,427 --> 00:16:11,846
And that's his alibi for when
they think Jesse was murdered.
316
00:16:11,847 --> 00:16:13,848
It's not a strong one.
317
00:16:13,849 --> 00:16:18,352
♪
318
00:16:18,353 --> 00:16:21,315
SWINGLE: The knife that cut
his neck had a serrated blade.
319
00:16:22,399 --> 00:16:25,234
So the one thing that worried
them about Ed McDevitt
320
00:16:25,235 --> 00:16:28,487
was he was a chef who had
access to a lot of knives.
321
00:16:28,488 --> 00:16:29,489
[camera shutter clicks]
322
00:16:31,283 --> 00:16:33,534
NARRATOR: Before they
release Ed and Eric,
323
00:16:33,535 --> 00:16:36,829
investigators ask for
and receive DNA samples
324
00:16:36,830 --> 00:16:38,707
that might connect
them back to the crime.
325
00:16:39,750 --> 00:16:42,586
That DNA could break
the case wide open.
326
00:16:43,754 --> 00:16:47,341
But it'll take several agonizing
weeks to get the results.
327
00:16:51,178 --> 00:16:56,766
Then, the police receive an anonymous call
that turns the investigation on its head.
328
00:16:56,767 --> 00:16:59,018
♪
329
00:16:59,019 --> 00:17:01,729
- One of the tips
that we get says that
330
00:17:01,730 --> 00:17:04,775
Jesse Valencia was
having a relationship
331
00:17:05,400 --> 00:17:07,528
with a married
Columbia police officer
332
00:17:08,320 --> 00:17:09,863
at the time of the crime.
333
00:17:10,614 --> 00:17:11,822
Whoever called mentioned
334
00:17:11,823 --> 00:17:14,742
that this Columbia police
officer was married
335
00:17:14,743 --> 00:17:16,119
and had a young child.
336
00:17:17,746 --> 00:17:19,789
SWINGLE: Making the
police department realize
337
00:17:19,790 --> 00:17:23,585
we have to look into the possibility
that maybe it's one of our own.
338
00:17:24,127 --> 00:17:27,214
♪
339
00:17:28,298 --> 00:17:31,885
BOEHM: We did not have any
openly gay male officers.
340
00:17:32,845 --> 00:17:37,682
And so it's a police officer
who may have that relationship
341
00:17:37,683 --> 00:17:40,101
on the side away
from his family.
342
00:17:40,102 --> 00:17:42,478
♪
343
00:17:42,479 --> 00:17:44,522
We can't discount the fact
that it might be someone
344
00:17:44,523 --> 00:17:46,858
who just has a beef with
the police department
345
00:17:46,859 --> 00:17:48,861
trying to cause a problem.
346
00:17:50,195 --> 00:17:52,489
But you don't know that
until you follow the lead.
347
00:17:53,115 --> 00:17:54,195
[siren wailing in distance]
348
00:17:58,620 --> 00:18:01,414
NARRATOR: The anonymous
tip gains more credibility
349
00:18:01,415 --> 00:18:05,961
when investigators bring 21-year-old
Andy Schermerhorn in for questioning.
350
00:18:06,461 --> 00:18:09,172
Andy is one of Jesse's
former boyfriends.
351
00:18:09,173 --> 00:18:12,925
SWINGLE: Andy Schermerhorn gave
some blockbuster information.
352
00:18:12,926 --> 00:18:17,555
He said, "I was at
Jesse's house on May 14th
353
00:18:17,556 --> 00:18:20,475
and we were in bed together
having sexual activity."
354
00:18:21,560 --> 00:18:24,563
Around 3:30 in the morning,
there was a knock at the door
355
00:18:25,814 --> 00:18:27,857
and Jesse answered the door
356
00:18:27,858 --> 00:18:29,942
and there was a police
officer in uniform.
357
00:18:29,943 --> 00:18:33,070
♪
358
00:18:33,071 --> 00:18:34,655
Andy Schermerhorn said,
359
00:18:34,656 --> 00:18:37,617
"I got frightened and
I stood up on the bed
360
00:18:37,618 --> 00:18:40,161
and I was afraid something
terrible was gonna happen."
361
00:18:40,162 --> 00:18:42,163
And Jesse said, "No,
it's okay, it's okay.
362
00:18:42,164 --> 00:18:43,331
"He's cool, he's cool.
363
00:18:43,332 --> 00:18:46,000
"And the police officer
took off his gun belt
364
00:18:46,001 --> 00:18:48,295
and put it on the cabinet
and joined us in bed."
365
00:18:53,217 --> 00:18:56,344
After it was over, the police
officer looked at Jesse and said,
366
00:18:56,345 --> 00:18:57,512
"This has got to be a secret."
367
00:18:57,513 --> 00:18:59,388
And he did not give his name.
368
00:18:59,389 --> 00:19:02,433
♪
369
00:19:02,434 --> 00:19:04,101
NARRATOR: They ask Andy
if he might be able
370
00:19:04,102 --> 00:19:06,854
to identify the officer
if he saw him again.
371
00:19:06,855 --> 00:19:08,648
♪
372
00:19:08,649 --> 00:19:09,899
SWINGLE: And Andy
Schermerhorn said,
373
00:19:09,900 --> 00:19:12,611
"I saw him out in the hall. It was
that guy we passed in the hall."
374
00:19:16,281 --> 00:19:20,577
♪
375
00:19:23,330 --> 00:19:26,083
♪
376
00:19:27,960 --> 00:19:31,463
NARRATOR: The day after Jesse Valencia
is found with his throat slit,
377
00:19:32,381 --> 00:19:35,968
one of Jesse's former lovers
has just stunned detectives.
378
00:19:36,510 --> 00:19:38,845
He told them that one
of their colleagues,
379
00:19:38,846 --> 00:19:41,806
a police officer who he
just passed in the hall,
380
00:19:41,807 --> 00:19:44,517
had a sexual encounter
with him and Jesse.
381
00:19:44,518 --> 00:19:48,396
♪
382
00:19:48,397 --> 00:19:51,524
♪ The light of the day ♪
383
00:19:51,525 --> 00:19:54,360
♪ After midnight ♪
384
00:19:54,361 --> 00:19:57,905
♪ All the bad things happen ♪
385
00:19:57,906 --> 00:20:00,117
WESTBROOK: That was a
shocking piece of information.
386
00:20:00,909 --> 00:20:04,454
And so we went back, "Well,
who did we walk past?"
387
00:20:04,955 --> 00:20:08,208
And we walked past an officer
by the name of Steven Rios.
388
00:20:10,252 --> 00:20:13,171
NARRATOR: It's the same
officer that was standing guard
389
00:20:13,172 --> 00:20:17,133
over Jesse Valencia's apartment
after his body was found.
390
00:20:17,134 --> 00:20:19,261
♪ Bad things happen ♪
391
00:20:20,888 --> 00:20:24,015
♪
392
00:20:24,016 --> 00:20:26,560
- Steven Rios was a married
Columbia police officer.
393
00:20:27,060 --> 00:20:31,064
Young, in his 20s with
a brand new child.
394
00:20:31,899 --> 00:20:35,318
Had only been on our department
two or three years at that time.
395
00:20:35,319 --> 00:20:38,571
And by all accounts,
doing a great job.
396
00:20:38,572 --> 00:20:41,324
♪
397
00:20:41,325 --> 00:20:43,159
NARRATOR:
Investigators discover
398
00:20:43,160 --> 00:20:45,453
that seven weeks earlier,
399
00:20:45,454 --> 00:20:48,415
Steven Rios had
arrested Jesse Valencia.
400
00:20:50,167 --> 00:20:53,336
- On April 18th of 2004,
401
00:20:53,337 --> 00:20:57,674
three of Jesse's friends, all
females, were having a party.
402
00:20:58,217 --> 00:21:02,721
And the police were called twice for
noise violations at that apartment.
403
00:21:05,807 --> 00:21:10,395
Jesse Valencia got between the
girls and Officer Steve Rios
404
00:21:11,605 --> 00:21:15,025
and said, "What's your probable
cause for arresting my friends?"
405
00:21:16,693 --> 00:21:18,110
NARRATOR: Rios arrested Jesse
406
00:21:18,111 --> 00:21:20,072
and wrote him a ticket
to appear in court.
407
00:21:21,323 --> 00:21:22,532
[police radio chatter]
408
00:21:22,533 --> 00:21:25,953
The charge, "obstructing
a governmental operation."
409
00:21:26,537 --> 00:21:30,873
♪
410
00:21:30,874 --> 00:21:33,460
When Rios showed up for work
on the day of the murder,
411
00:21:34,044 --> 00:21:35,754
he didn't hide that
he knew the victim.
412
00:21:36,380 --> 00:21:37,755
SWINGLE: He said,
"Yes, that's a person
413
00:21:37,756 --> 00:21:39,674
"I had arrested
six weeks earlier,
414
00:21:39,675 --> 00:21:41,802
for obstructing a
governmental operation."
415
00:21:43,595 --> 00:21:45,638
♪
416
00:21:45,639 --> 00:21:47,431
NARRATOR: But what
alarms investigators
417
00:21:47,432 --> 00:21:50,560
is that on the day
Jesse was found dead,
418
00:21:50,561 --> 00:21:53,312
Rios was assigned to stand
guard over Jesse's apartment.
419
00:21:53,313 --> 00:21:54,313
[camera shutter clicks]
420
00:21:55,983 --> 00:21:59,527
Is it possible Rios went
inside to tamper with evidence
421
00:21:59,528 --> 00:22:01,904
that might expose
him as Jesse's lover,
422
00:22:01,905 --> 00:22:04,992
or maybe even as Jesse's killer?
423
00:22:10,497 --> 00:22:12,164
BOEHM: On June 8th,
424
00:22:12,165 --> 00:22:15,460
now three days after the
fact, very odd thing happens.
425
00:22:17,045 --> 00:22:19,630
Steven Rios comes to
the police department,
426
00:22:19,631 --> 00:22:22,718
goes to the sergeant in charge
of the investigation and says,
427
00:22:23,510 --> 00:22:26,513
"Hey, sergeant, I've heard
about this tip that you got.
428
00:22:27,139 --> 00:22:28,681
"You might hear my name,
429
00:22:28,682 --> 00:22:30,122
but I want you to
know it's not me."
430
00:22:32,352 --> 00:22:35,021
SWINGLE: The detective, he'd
already talked to Andy Schermerhorn
431
00:22:35,022 --> 00:22:37,732
and so he said to Steven Rios,
432
00:22:37,733 --> 00:22:40,943
Andy Schermerhorn
said on May 14th
433
00:22:40,944 --> 00:22:43,905
that you came by in uniform
at 3:30 in the morning
434
00:22:43,906 --> 00:22:46,073
and joined them for
sexual activity.
435
00:22:46,074 --> 00:22:48,576
And he said... "Sex?"
436
00:22:48,577 --> 00:22:52,455
♪ Now it appears to be a point
you're trying to make clear to me ♪
437
00:22:52,456 --> 00:22:53,664
NARRATOR: Rios
eventually admits
438
00:22:53,665 --> 00:22:55,750
that he had sex
with Jesse six times
439
00:22:55,751 --> 00:22:57,293
since he had arrested him.
440
00:22:57,294 --> 00:22:59,378
♪
441
00:22:59,379 --> 00:23:02,882
The last time being a week
before he was found dead.
442
00:23:02,883 --> 00:23:05,134
- He said, "I didn't tell
anybody 'cause I'm married
443
00:23:05,135 --> 00:23:08,137
and my wife said she'd leave me if
ever had an affair with anybody."
444
00:23:08,138 --> 00:23:10,556
♪ What I heard about you
I ain't hear it from you ♪
445
00:23:10,557 --> 00:23:12,767
"We had sex, but no,
I didn't kill him
446
00:23:12,768 --> 00:23:15,603
and I have no idea who did
or what happened to him."
447
00:23:15,604 --> 00:23:18,481
♪
448
00:23:18,482 --> 00:23:21,527
NARRATOR: Rios is placed on leave
until he can be completely cleared.
449
00:23:22,152 --> 00:23:24,820
He cooperates fully
with investigators,
450
00:23:24,821 --> 00:23:28,282
giving them permission to
search his car and his house.
451
00:23:28,283 --> 00:23:30,994
They find no evidence that
links him to the murder.
452
00:23:32,037 --> 00:23:36,332
- Even though Steven Rios
admits to the relationship,
453
00:23:36,333 --> 00:23:38,813
it doesn't necessarily mean that
he's involved in the homicide.
454
00:23:43,006 --> 00:23:45,424
♪
455
00:23:45,425 --> 00:23:47,426
NARRATOR: Rios claims
he last saw Jesse
456
00:23:47,427 --> 00:23:49,137
a week before he was killed.
457
00:23:49,721 --> 00:23:52,306
So investigators return
their focus to the people
458
00:23:52,307 --> 00:23:55,561
who were with Jesse on the
very night of his murder.
459
00:23:56,103 --> 00:23:58,813
BOEHM: We did ask Erik
Thurston and Ed McDevitt
460
00:23:58,814 --> 00:24:00,314
if we could search
their apartment.
461
00:24:00,315 --> 00:24:02,233
Both of them agreed.
462
00:24:02,234 --> 00:24:04,443
NARRATOR: They're looking
for bloody clothing,
463
00:24:04,444 --> 00:24:05,779
or a serrated chef's knife.
464
00:24:06,572 --> 00:24:09,950
Any evidence that could potentially
tie them to Jesse's murder.
465
00:24:13,745 --> 00:24:16,205
- We did search and did not
find any type of evidence
466
00:24:16,206 --> 00:24:18,250
that we thought was
related to the crime there.
467
00:24:21,837 --> 00:24:24,463
♪
468
00:24:24,464 --> 00:24:27,466
NARRATOR: Investigators are
able to track down Kevin,
469
00:24:27,467 --> 00:24:30,720
the hookup who was Eric Thurston's
alibi for the night of the murder.
470
00:24:30,721 --> 00:24:32,221
[ringing]
471
00:24:32,222 --> 00:24:35,850
Kevin tells them that Eric
was with him the entire night,
472
00:24:35,851 --> 00:24:39,730
so Ed McDevitt's roommate is
removed from the suspect list.
473
00:24:40,731 --> 00:24:43,525
As for Ed McDevitt,
he still has no alibi.
474
00:24:44,109 --> 00:24:47,237
- Things were starting
to really narrow down.
475
00:24:48,030 --> 00:24:51,158
Ed McDevitt was a suspect,
along with Steven Rios.
476
00:24:53,243 --> 00:24:54,619
NARRATOR: The police
don't want news
477
00:24:54,620 --> 00:24:57,246
of the salacious
affair to get out,
478
00:24:57,247 --> 00:25:00,626
but someone leaks Steven
Rios' name to the media.
479
00:25:01,168 --> 00:25:03,377
- Being in the
LGBTQI+ community,
480
00:25:03,378 --> 00:25:05,421
I think sometimes
481
00:25:05,422 --> 00:25:07,340
we're looked at differently.
482
00:25:07,341 --> 00:25:10,218
We're looked at as a bad person,
483
00:25:10,219 --> 00:25:11,594
an immoral person,
484
00:25:11,595 --> 00:25:13,889
and I think the police
were embarrassed by that.
485
00:25:17,559 --> 00:25:20,978
NARRATOR: Rios' exposed affair
humiliates him in front of family,
486
00:25:20,979 --> 00:25:24,024
fellow officers,
and his community.
487
00:25:24,691 --> 00:25:29,112
And marks the start of a very
messy, very public meltdown.
488
00:25:30,447 --> 00:25:33,283
It begins when Rios buys
a shotgun at Walmart
489
00:25:34,409 --> 00:25:37,621
and contacts his colleagues to tell
them he's going to kill himself.
490
00:25:38,455 --> 00:25:39,956
SWINGLE: They put him
in a mental facility
491
00:25:39,957 --> 00:25:41,750
for mental health treatment
492
00:25:42,668 --> 00:25:45,045
'cause they considered him a
danger to himself or others.
493
00:25:46,255 --> 00:25:47,923
[ringing]
494
00:25:50,300 --> 00:25:51,801
WESTBROOK: The next day,
495
00:25:51,802 --> 00:25:53,428
we were called by the facility,
496
00:25:54,263 --> 00:25:56,556
and they said Steven
Rios has escaped.
497
00:25:56,557 --> 00:25:59,392
♪
498
00:25:59,393 --> 00:26:03,980
[police radio chatter]
499
00:26:03,981 --> 00:26:07,860
He's standing on a
parking garage ledge,
500
00:26:08,652 --> 00:26:10,027
threatening to jump off.
501
00:26:10,028 --> 00:26:13,739
♪
502
00:26:13,740 --> 00:26:17,034
[siren wailing]
503
00:26:17,035 --> 00:26:20,122
NARRATOR: Is Rios feeling
shame over having the affair?
504
00:26:21,832 --> 00:26:25,084
Or guilt over having
committed murder?
505
00:26:25,085 --> 00:26:26,044
[waling continues]
506
00:26:26,045 --> 00:26:28,088
♪
507
00:26:32,342 --> 00:26:34,594
♪
508
00:26:34,595 --> 00:26:37,014
NARRATOR: If your
deepest, darkest secret,
509
00:26:38,307 --> 00:26:40,559
the one you'd do
anything to protect
510
00:26:41,685 --> 00:26:43,187
was revealed to the world,
511
00:26:44,354 --> 00:26:46,356
how would you react?
512
00:26:48,734 --> 00:26:52,945
♪ There's something I've
been trying to hide ♪
513
00:26:52,946 --> 00:26:56,282
For Columbia, Missouri,
police officer Steven Rios,
514
00:26:56,283 --> 00:26:59,660
it's threatening to jump from
a four-story parking garage...
515
00:26:59,661 --> 00:27:02,121
♪ I am falling ♪
516
00:27:02,122 --> 00:27:04,832
in full view of TV news cameras.
517
00:27:04,833 --> 00:27:07,710
♪
518
00:27:07,711 --> 00:27:10,087
♪ I don't wanna be saved ♪
519
00:27:10,088 --> 00:27:13,299
♪
520
00:27:13,300 --> 00:27:15,551
NEWSCASTER: Steven Rios
threatened to commit suicide.
521
00:27:15,552 --> 00:27:17,261
The reaction of a killer,
522
00:27:17,262 --> 00:27:19,472
or a cheating husband who
knew his life was over?
523
00:27:19,473 --> 00:27:23,100
[police radio chatter]
524
00:27:23,101 --> 00:27:25,478
WOHRLE: I was like, "Come
on, you need to be a man
525
00:27:25,479 --> 00:27:28,898
"and stand up and
own what you did
526
00:27:28,899 --> 00:27:32,485
and not coward out and
do something like that."
527
00:27:32,486 --> 00:27:35,112
[siren wailing]
528
00:27:35,113 --> 00:27:39,200
- I was one of the officers assigned
to talk to Steven on that ledge.
529
00:27:39,201 --> 00:27:41,744
♪
530
00:27:41,745 --> 00:27:43,621
And I said, "You
don't wanna do this.
531
00:27:43,622 --> 00:27:45,957
♪
532
00:27:45,958 --> 00:27:47,583
Think about your son."
533
00:27:47,584 --> 00:27:50,002
NARRATOR: For two hours,
534
00:27:50,003 --> 00:27:54,632
Rios keeps officers at bay
and spectators on edge.
535
00:27:54,633 --> 00:27:56,551
WESTBROOK: Finally his
field training officer
536
00:27:56,552 --> 00:27:59,637
who was a close friend
of his talked to him
537
00:27:59,638 --> 00:28:02,265
and Steven came
down off that ledge.
538
00:28:02,266 --> 00:28:03,724
♪
539
00:28:03,725 --> 00:28:05,059
[bystanders cheer]
540
00:28:05,060 --> 00:28:10,357
And was subsequently transferred to
a more secure mental health facility.
541
00:28:12,234 --> 00:28:15,444
NARRATOR: Even with Rios
threatening suicide,
542
00:28:15,445 --> 00:28:18,197
the police have no probable
cause to arrest him
543
00:28:18,198 --> 00:28:19,867
for Jesse Valencia's murder.
544
00:28:20,701 --> 00:28:22,952
And he's not the only suspect.
545
00:28:22,953 --> 00:28:25,162
Ed McDevitt told police
546
00:28:25,163 --> 00:28:29,375
he was asleep by himself at
the time Jesse was murdered,
547
00:28:29,376 --> 00:28:31,002
so he has no alibi.
548
00:28:31,003 --> 00:28:32,628
♪
549
00:28:32,629 --> 00:28:34,131
But Rios does.
550
00:28:35,424 --> 00:28:39,261
- Rios said, "I got off work at
three o'clock in the morning.
551
00:28:40,512 --> 00:28:44,349
"I went upstairs and I drank some beer
with other officers on the rooftop.
552
00:28:46,059 --> 00:28:47,185
And then I drove home."
553
00:28:47,186 --> 00:28:52,273
♪
554
00:28:52,274 --> 00:28:53,482
- We talked to his
wife and she goes,
555
00:28:53,483 --> 00:28:56,819
"Yes, he came home between
5:15 and 5:30 a.m."
556
00:28:56,820 --> 00:28:59,197
♪
557
00:28:59,198 --> 00:29:00,865
And she remembered that...
558
00:29:00,866 --> 00:29:04,327
♪
559
00:29:04,328 --> 00:29:07,247
Because she'd been up with
their baby at that time.
560
00:29:08,040 --> 00:29:11,042
NARRATOR: When investigators
follow up on Rios' alibi,
561
00:29:11,043 --> 00:29:13,753
police dispatcher
Leah Wooden tells them
562
00:29:13,754 --> 00:29:17,883
she remembers Rios leaving the
rooftop at 4:47 in the morning.
563
00:29:19,510 --> 00:29:22,261
♪
564
00:29:22,262 --> 00:29:24,972
Swingle: We actually had
the police officers drive
565
00:29:24,973 --> 00:29:27,350
to see how long would it take
566
00:29:27,351 --> 00:29:30,520
to go from where Steven Rios
was drinking beer after work
567
00:29:30,521 --> 00:29:31,521
to Jesse's house.
568
00:29:31,522 --> 00:29:34,148
And then from there
to Steven Rios' home.
569
00:29:34,149 --> 00:29:36,484
♪
570
00:29:36,485 --> 00:29:39,238
NARRATOR: The entire drive
takes only seven minutes.
571
00:29:39,905 --> 00:29:44,201
If Rios got home between 5:15
and 5:30, like his wife said,
572
00:29:45,953 --> 00:29:48,871
that means he had
between 20 and 35 minutes
573
00:29:48,872 --> 00:29:50,499
of unaccounted for time.
574
00:29:51,458 --> 00:29:54,378
But is that a large enough
window to chase someone down,
575
00:29:55,420 --> 00:29:58,339
kill them, then dispose
of any evidence,
576
00:29:58,340 --> 00:30:00,175
including a murder weapon?
577
00:30:02,803 --> 00:30:05,972
BOEHM: We were not able to
ever recover the murder weapon.
578
00:30:05,973 --> 00:30:09,100
But we had several officers
say that they remember
579
00:30:09,101 --> 00:30:11,519
Steven Rios carrying a knife
580
00:30:11,520 --> 00:30:13,939
similar to the one that we
believe was used in the crime.
581
00:30:15,274 --> 00:30:17,650
NARRATOR: Ed McDevitt, a chef,
582
00:30:17,651 --> 00:30:19,819
also had access to
a lot of knives,
583
00:30:19,820 --> 00:30:21,988
but Ed's motive is unclear.
584
00:30:21,989 --> 00:30:27,451
♪
585
00:30:27,452 --> 00:30:29,453
Then, a week after the murder,
586
00:30:29,454 --> 00:30:35,459
Jesse's best friend comes forward
with a new and shocking insight.
587
00:30:35,460 --> 00:30:36,878
♪
588
00:30:36,879 --> 00:30:38,462
SWINGLE: Joan Sheridan said
589
00:30:38,463 --> 00:30:41,257
when Jesse went to court
on his first appearance
590
00:30:41,258 --> 00:30:44,218
on his case for obstructing
governmental personnel,
591
00:30:44,219 --> 00:30:47,471
that was May 25th, the
case did not get thrown out
592
00:30:47,472 --> 00:30:49,348
like he thought for
sure it would be.
593
00:30:49,349 --> 00:30:50,933
[siren wailing]
594
00:30:50,934 --> 00:30:53,436
♪
595
00:30:53,437 --> 00:30:54,770
NARRATOR: Jesse was certain
596
00:30:54,771 --> 00:30:57,440
that if he was sleeping with the
officer who gave him the ticket,
597
00:30:57,441 --> 00:31:00,485
he would of course pull some
strings to get it dropped.
598
00:31:01,236 --> 00:31:02,778
- He said, "If this case
doesn't get thrown out,
599
00:31:02,779 --> 00:31:05,156
"I've got a little secret the
chief of police might wanna know."
600
00:31:05,157 --> 00:31:08,910
♪
601
00:31:08,911 --> 00:31:12,914
And so, that leads you to
believe that it was possible
602
00:31:12,915 --> 00:31:15,708
that the next time Officer
Steven Rios rode up,
603
00:31:15,709 --> 00:31:17,752
Jesse confronted him
about, "Are you married?
604
00:31:17,753 --> 00:31:20,421
"I have a little secret that the
chief of police might wanna know,"
605
00:31:20,422 --> 00:31:23,424
and that confrontation might have
led to his throat getting cut.
606
00:31:23,425 --> 00:31:26,844
♪
607
00:31:26,845 --> 00:31:27,971
[groans]
608
00:31:33,894 --> 00:31:36,187
BOEHM: So we have a motive.
609
00:31:36,188 --> 00:31:38,689
Jesse Valencia had said
610
00:31:38,690 --> 00:31:41,234
that he was going to
come to our department
611
00:31:41,235 --> 00:31:45,405
and tell me about the
relationship with Steven Rios.
612
00:31:47,282 --> 00:31:50,911
- Steven Rios had given all
the power to Jesse Valencia
613
00:31:52,788 --> 00:31:56,123
for Jesse Valencia to ruin
him if Jesse wanted to.
614
00:31:56,124 --> 00:31:59,211
♪
615
00:32:02,714 --> 00:32:05,216
♪
616
00:32:05,217 --> 00:32:07,176
NARRATOR: The evidence
is compelling,
617
00:32:07,177 --> 00:32:08,929
but it's all circumstantial.
618
00:32:09,680 --> 00:32:12,807
What the police need is some
strong physical evidence
619
00:32:12,808 --> 00:32:16,018
that links Jesse's murder to
one of the prime suspects:
620
00:32:16,019 --> 00:32:19,188
Steven Rios or Ed McDevitt.
621
00:32:19,189 --> 00:32:22,609
♪ I know something
that they don't ♪
622
00:32:23,235 --> 00:32:26,404
Now, almost a month
after Jesse was killed,
623
00:32:26,405 --> 00:32:28,365
maybe they'll finally
get their answer.
624
00:32:30,534 --> 00:32:33,662
The results are back on the DNA
collected at Jesse's autopsy.
625
00:32:34,830 --> 00:32:38,082
Will they finally prove
who killed Jesse Valencia?
626
00:32:38,083 --> 00:32:41,336
♪ And I can't breathe ♪
627
00:32:46,133 --> 00:32:50,261
♪
628
00:32:50,262 --> 00:32:51,512
NARRATOR: A secret
without facts
629
00:32:51,513 --> 00:32:54,390
to back it up is just a rumor.
630
00:32:54,391 --> 00:32:57,018
♪
631
00:32:57,019 --> 00:33:00,897
Now, the science of DNA
testing will reveal the facts
632
00:33:00,898 --> 00:33:03,025
behind Jesse Valencia's murder.
633
00:33:03,525 --> 00:33:05,610
- One of the most
difficult times for us
634
00:33:05,611 --> 00:33:07,445
was the period of time
635
00:33:07,446 --> 00:33:09,655
where we don't have enough
to arrest a suspect,
636
00:33:09,656 --> 00:33:12,784
and so we're waiting
for the DNA information.
637
00:33:13,410 --> 00:33:17,289
In this case, it turned out to
actually be very critical evidence.
638
00:33:22,252 --> 00:33:23,878
♪
639
00:33:23,879 --> 00:33:26,172
NARRATOR: The condom
found in Jesse's apartment
640
00:33:26,173 --> 00:33:30,928
has Jesse's and Ed McDevitt's
DNA on the inside and outside.
641
00:33:31,595 --> 00:33:34,931
- Not surprisingly, it corroborated
with what Ed McDevitt had said
642
00:33:34,932 --> 00:33:37,184
about the sexual activity
that they had had.
643
00:33:38,185 --> 00:33:39,769
NARRATOR: But they
had also found DNA
644
00:33:39,770 --> 00:33:42,063
under Jesse's fingernails.
645
00:33:42,064 --> 00:33:44,065
Who did that belong to?
646
00:33:44,066 --> 00:33:46,859
♪
647
00:33:46,860 --> 00:33:49,654
- Underneath the fingernails
of the dead young man
648
00:33:49,655 --> 00:33:51,822
there was Steven Rios' DNA.
649
00:33:51,823 --> 00:33:55,034
♪
650
00:33:55,035 --> 00:33:56,744
NARRATOR: It's common
in a physical assault
651
00:33:56,745 --> 00:33:58,371
for the DNA of the attacker
652
00:33:58,372 --> 00:34:01,416
to end up under the
fingernails of the victim.
653
00:34:02,960 --> 00:34:06,922
- Rios denied that there was any
kind of a physical altercation.
654
00:34:07,422 --> 00:34:10,007
And so the fact that there
was DNA under the nails
655
00:34:10,008 --> 00:34:12,009
turned out to be very
critical information.
656
00:34:12,010 --> 00:34:15,429
♪
657
00:34:15,430 --> 00:34:17,014
NARRATOR: But there's more.
658
00:34:17,015 --> 00:34:21,018
The arm hairs the medical
examiner found on Jesse's chest?
659
00:34:21,019 --> 00:34:25,816
Only one in 57 trillion people
would match to those hairs.
660
00:34:26,733 --> 00:34:30,444
And they match to Steven Rios.
661
00:34:30,445 --> 00:34:32,321
♪
662
00:34:32,322 --> 00:34:35,658
SWINGLE: So that was
completely damning evidence.
663
00:34:35,659 --> 00:34:37,827
The only thing he
could not cover,
664
00:34:37,828 --> 00:34:40,329
uh, was the DNA that
he'd left on the body.
665
00:34:40,330 --> 00:34:43,166
♪
666
00:34:44,501 --> 00:34:49,755
♪
667
00:34:49,756 --> 00:34:50,966
BOEHM: I was so
angry about it.
668
00:34:52,009 --> 00:34:55,761
The last thing I wanted to do was
get in front of a camera and say,
669
00:34:55,762 --> 00:34:58,764
"We have arrested a Columbia
police officer for homicide."
670
00:34:58,765 --> 00:35:00,474
♪
671
00:35:00,475 --> 00:35:02,227
But that's what we had to do.
672
00:35:02,769 --> 00:35:05,230
I said, "I want y'all
to understand that
673
00:35:06,106 --> 00:35:09,193
we want this person
to be in prison."
674
00:35:09,651 --> 00:35:12,778
This person violated
everyone's faith.
675
00:35:12,779 --> 00:35:16,116
♪
676
00:35:21,163 --> 00:35:23,289
WOHRLE: Hearing that it was
a married police officer
677
00:35:23,290 --> 00:35:25,125
he was involved with was,
678
00:35:25,792 --> 00:35:27,669
like, just couldn't believe it.
679
00:35:29,463 --> 00:35:33,257
Anybody who's in a position to where
you serve other people, period,
680
00:35:33,258 --> 00:35:37,804
would utilize that power
to start the relationship
681
00:35:38,889 --> 00:35:42,600
and not being open and honest
about who he is as well,
682
00:35:42,601 --> 00:35:45,311
the whole thing just
feels gross to me.
683
00:35:45,312 --> 00:35:46,813
♪
684
00:35:49,316 --> 00:35:51,776
NARRATOR: Joan Sheridan
had told investigators
685
00:35:51,777 --> 00:35:55,363
that the first time Rios
showed up at Jesse's apartment,
686
00:35:55,364 --> 00:35:59,743
Jesse was seduced by the power
of his uniform, badge, and gun.
687
00:36:00,369 --> 00:36:04,705
Something Rios was counting
on, and had done before.
688
00:36:04,706 --> 00:36:07,542
♪
689
00:36:07,543 --> 00:36:09,460
SWINGLE: After I
had filed the charge
690
00:36:09,461 --> 00:36:10,461
against Steven Rios,
691
00:36:11,088 --> 00:36:12,506
three women came forward
692
00:36:14,049 --> 00:36:16,175
who said that Rios had also made
693
00:36:16,176 --> 00:36:18,220
inappropriate
advances toward them.
694
00:36:20,013 --> 00:36:23,349
So it did seem like Rios
was using his badge,
695
00:36:23,350 --> 00:36:25,643
not just on Jesse
Valencia for sex,
696
00:36:25,644 --> 00:36:28,188
but potentially
other people as well.
697
00:36:28,856 --> 00:36:30,773
♪
698
00:36:30,774 --> 00:36:32,358
NARRATOR: Steven
Rios goes to trial
699
00:36:32,359 --> 00:36:35,654
on May 17th, 2005.
700
00:36:36,697 --> 00:36:40,200
At this point, there are
no secrets left to hide.
701
00:36:41,577 --> 00:36:43,370
Along with presenting
the evidence,
702
00:36:43,996 --> 00:36:45,955
prosecutors want
the jury to hear
703
00:36:45,956 --> 00:36:49,417
Jesse's own words
from beyond the grave.
704
00:36:49,418 --> 00:36:51,961
♪
705
00:36:51,962 --> 00:36:54,547
SWINGLE: I went ahead and put
Joan Sheridan on the stand
706
00:36:54,548 --> 00:36:57,300
so the jury could hear that Jesse
had made those comments that,
707
00:36:57,301 --> 00:36:59,135
"The next time he comes
over, I'm gonna confront him
708
00:36:59,136 --> 00:37:01,804
"about the fact that my
ticket hasn't gone away
709
00:37:01,805 --> 00:37:03,139
"and that I have a little secret
710
00:37:03,140 --> 00:37:06,309
the chief of police might
wanna know... if it doesn't."
711
00:37:06,310 --> 00:37:10,646
♪
712
00:37:10,647 --> 00:37:13,150
NARRATOR: Rios takes the
stand in his own defense.
713
00:37:13,609 --> 00:37:17,862
He tells the jury that while he
may be a liar and an adulterer,
714
00:37:17,863 --> 00:37:19,448
he is not a murderer.
715
00:37:21,491 --> 00:37:23,327
But will the jury believe him?
716
00:37:24,036 --> 00:37:25,516
SWINGLE: Anytime a
defendant testifies
717
00:37:26,663 --> 00:37:28,873
all you have to have is
one jury member believe him
718
00:37:28,874 --> 00:37:32,169
and it would be a hung jury
or a not guilty verdict.
719
00:37:33,295 --> 00:37:35,546
NARRATOR: After four
days of viewing evidence
720
00:37:35,547 --> 00:37:37,173
and hearing testimony,
721
00:37:37,174 --> 00:37:38,842
the jury gets the case.
722
00:37:40,385 --> 00:37:43,889
They deliberate for 14 hours
before reaching a verdict.
723
00:37:45,641 --> 00:37:48,351
SWINGLE: Steven Rios testified
724
00:37:48,352 --> 00:37:50,479
and the jury did
not believe him.
725
00:37:50,979 --> 00:37:53,272
And they came back with
first-degree murder,
726
00:37:53,273 --> 00:37:54,690
which was life without parole,
727
00:37:54,691 --> 00:37:57,610
and another 20 years on
the armed criminal action.
728
00:37:57,611 --> 00:38:00,488
♪
729
00:38:00,489 --> 00:38:03,075
Steven Rios used
his badge for sex
730
00:38:03,659 --> 00:38:07,162
and then he used his knife to shut
the mouth of his lover forever.
731
00:38:11,333 --> 00:38:15,045
♪
732
00:38:17,589 --> 00:38:19,966
WOHRLE: The day that
the verdict was given,
733
00:38:19,967 --> 00:38:22,844
it was just a huge
sense of relief
734
00:38:22,845 --> 00:38:25,179
knowing that the
person who did that
735
00:38:25,180 --> 00:38:27,306
is not gonna be able to
do that to another person.
736
00:38:27,307 --> 00:38:30,601
♪ Would you catch
me if I fell? ♪
737
00:38:30,602 --> 00:38:32,186
♪
738
00:38:32,187 --> 00:38:34,897
NARRATOR: Every tip and
lead investigators received
739
00:38:34,898 --> 00:38:37,149
about Steven Rios came about
740
00:38:37,150 --> 00:38:39,695
because Jesse couldn't
stop telling his secret.
741
00:38:40,404 --> 00:38:43,114
And that's how he brought
his killer to justice.
742
00:38:43,115 --> 00:38:46,200
♪
743
00:38:46,201 --> 00:38:48,619
BOEHM: No one was
happier than we were.
744
00:38:48,620 --> 00:38:51,415
Not only did this person
commit a horrible crime,
745
00:38:52,082 --> 00:38:54,542
but they violated
everyone's trust
746
00:38:54,543 --> 00:38:57,629
because they're the person
you're supposed to go to for help
747
00:38:58,630 --> 00:39:01,175
and yet they're the person
who committed the crime.
748
00:39:07,848 --> 00:39:10,600
♪
749
00:39:10,601 --> 00:39:12,018
NARRATOR: Two years later,
750
00:39:12,019 --> 00:39:14,729
with Rios in the South
Dakota State Penitentiary
751
00:39:14,730 --> 00:39:16,522
in Sioux Falls,
752
00:39:16,523 --> 00:39:20,484
an appeals court rules that the
secrets Jesse told Joan Sheridan
753
00:39:20,485 --> 00:39:23,614
were inadmissible in court
because they were hearsay.
754
00:39:24,781 --> 00:39:27,159
They overturn Steven
Rios' conviction.
755
00:39:28,243 --> 00:39:31,537
Prosecutors now have to
try Rios a second time
756
00:39:31,538 --> 00:39:33,165
without that testimony.
757
00:39:34,082 --> 00:39:35,625
SWINGLE: This time
the jury came back
758
00:39:35,626 --> 00:39:37,084
with second-degree murder
759
00:39:37,085 --> 00:39:39,545
and they came back with
armed criminal action again.
760
00:39:39,546 --> 00:39:40,838
♪
761
00:39:40,839 --> 00:39:44,634
Steven Rios got life in prison
for the second-degree murder.
762
00:39:44,635 --> 00:39:46,052
The difference is, on
a first-degree murder,
763
00:39:46,053 --> 00:39:47,553
he never would have gotten out.
764
00:39:47,554 --> 00:39:49,514
♪
765
00:39:49,515 --> 00:39:51,715
With second-degree murder,
he could conceivably get out,
766
00:39:52,100 --> 00:39:53,477
as an old man someday.
767
00:39:54,186 --> 00:39:57,856
♪
768
00:39:59,900 --> 00:40:02,610
WOHRLE: I came out right
after high school at 18
769
00:40:02,611 --> 00:40:04,112
and Jesse followed suit.
770
00:40:05,364 --> 00:40:07,448
Our families were so supportive.
771
00:40:07,449 --> 00:40:10,326
I believe if Steven
would have had that,
772
00:40:10,327 --> 00:40:13,204
I think the outcome would've
been completely different.
773
00:40:13,205 --> 00:40:15,581
♪
774
00:40:15,582 --> 00:40:18,000
I hope now that
while he's in jail,
775
00:40:18,001 --> 00:40:21,880
he really thinks about hiding
that secret, who he was.
776
00:40:22,840 --> 00:40:24,757
And I hope that
that is something
777
00:40:24,758 --> 00:40:27,135
that's constantly on his
heart moving forward.
778
00:40:27,636 --> 00:40:29,721
Because you can't
change who you are.
779
00:40:30,389 --> 00:40:34,684
♪ I'm suffocating
on my own words ♪
780
00:40:34,685 --> 00:40:38,479
♪ Too afraid to let them know ♪
781
00:40:38,480 --> 00:40:41,357
NARRATOR: Jesse's out,
loud, and proud spirit
782
00:40:41,358 --> 00:40:45,236
is probably doing cartwheels
in heaven to know that today,
783
00:40:45,237 --> 00:40:47,739
at least in the Columbia
Police Department,
784
00:40:48,574 --> 00:40:50,324
there are fewer secrets.
785
00:40:50,325 --> 00:40:52,410
- For the first time,
I have a gay man
786
00:40:52,411 --> 00:40:57,290
who is our LGBTQ+ liaison
from the police department
787
00:40:57,291 --> 00:40:59,167
who is also our
SWAT team commander.
788
00:40:59,168 --> 00:41:02,045
That's not something
you would have expected
789
00:41:02,671 --> 00:41:03,713
even ten years ago.
790
00:41:03,714 --> 00:41:07,634
♪
791
00:41:09,887 --> 00:41:11,888
NARRATOR: It's a small step,
792
00:41:11,889 --> 00:41:13,431
but one that would
not have been lost
793
00:41:13,432 --> 00:41:16,809
on the big-hearted
social justice warrior
794
00:41:16,810 --> 00:41:19,854
that was Jesse Valencia.
795
00:41:19,855 --> 00:41:21,939
- If Jesse was still with us,
796
00:41:21,940 --> 00:41:23,860
I think he would've been
a really amazing lawyer.
797
00:41:24,651 --> 00:41:28,780
He would fight for you, he would do
anything he could to protect you.
798
00:41:29,489 --> 00:41:30,656
That's how he was.
799
00:41:30,657 --> 00:41:33,117
LUPE: That's what he
would be working on.
800
00:41:33,118 --> 00:41:35,536
Fighting for the little guy.
801
00:41:35,537 --> 00:41:37,121
♪
802
00:41:37,122 --> 00:41:39,541
That's what Jesse
would want us to do.
803
00:41:41,627 --> 00:41:44,588
♪
804
00:41:48,675 --> 00:41:52,345
♪ I don't know where
my head is sleeping ♪
805
00:41:52,346 --> 00:41:54,347
♪ Have I lost my mind? ♪
806
00:41:54,348 --> 00:42:00,354
♪
807
00:42:02,606 --> 00:42:06,108
♪ But I know that
I have a secret ♪
808
00:42:06,109 --> 00:42:08,569
♪ That is only mine ♪
809
00:42:08,570 --> 00:42:12,366
♪
810
00:42:16,203 --> 00:42:19,622
♪ And the only way to find me ♪
811
00:42:19,623 --> 00:42:23,709
♪ Is to go beneath the lies ♪
812
00:42:23,710 --> 00:42:26,713
♪
65255
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