About this episode

The episode discusses the murder of openly gay student Jesse Valencia and the investigation that followed.

When a popular, openly gay University of Missouri student is murdered on campus, police interview his friends and lovers as well as looking at the murder as a possible hate crime. The entire time the detectives are digging into Jesse’s personal life, the actual killer is hiding in plain sight, much closer to the investigation than anyone expected. Sources: Davidson, Linda.  The Cop With A Secret . 2026. Arnold, Chelsea. “Steven Rios Seeks New Trial for 2004 Murder of MU Student | Local |  Columbiamissourian.Com .”  Columbia Missourian ,  https://www.facebook.com/ColumbiaMissourian/ , 9 Apr. 2011,  https://www.columbiamissourian.com/news/local/steven-rios-seeks-new-trial-for-2004-murder-of-mu-student/article_1cea6d2d-1eec-5f83-9883-ab198ab52d81.html . Dateline NBC . 1992. Dowling, Paul.  Forensic Files . 1996. “22-MO v. Rios: Leah Wooden & Zev Feintuch | Court TV Video.”  Court TV ,  https://www.facebook.com/courttv ,  https://www.courttv.com/title/22-mo-v-rios-leah-wooden-zev-feintuch/ . Accessed 1 June 2026. “DNA Evidence | Local |  Columbiamissourian.Com .”  Columbia Missourian ,&nbsp…

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