KCAVP Acknowledges Efforts to Solve Murder of University of Missouri Student

Written by Doug Riley

Wednesday, 07 July 2004

Kansas City, MO – The Kansas City Anti-Violence Project (KCAVP), Kansas City’s only nonprofit organization solely dedicated to providing emergency and ongoing services to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault and bias crimes in the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community, commends the Columbia, Missouri police department for their continued efforts in the case of murder victim Jesse Valencia.

Former Columbia Police officer Steve Rios was charged on July 2 with first-degree murder and armed criminal action in the murder of Mr. Valencia. This case is also domestic violence because Rios had a personal relationship with Mr. Valencia. If convicted on the murder charge, Rios could face the death penalty or life in prison without parole. Armed criminal action carries a penalty of three years to life in prison.

KCAVP defines domestic violence as a pattern of behaviors (including physical, mental, or emotional abuse) used by one person to exercise power and control over another person regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity. Murder is the most extreme form of domestic violence.

“We extend our deepest sympathies to the Jesse’s family and friends,” commented Doug Riley, executive director of the Kansas City Anti-Violence Project. “Unfortunately, some would think that because the individuals involved in this case were men and one of them was married to a woman that this would not be a case of domestic violence. Domestic violence not only happens in the heterosexual community, unfortunately, it happens in the entire community…both the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community as well as the community as whole. We must continue to work to educate our community on what domestic violence is as well as sexual assault and bias crimes to prevent travesties such as this.”

KCAVP is a Missouri nonprofit corporation committed to providing services, advocacy and education for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and bias crimes within the five counties that encompass the metropolitan Kansas City area. For more information about KCAVP, visit http://www.kcavp.org/.