Hidden in a blue-collar neighborhood on Kansas City's east side, Anthony Rios plotted the last drug deal of his life. It was a Friday evening, December 20, 2002. The rugged, pudgy-cheeked 28-year-old had spent most of the day selling pounds of cocaine and marijuana from the kitchen of a modest ranch-style home on Hardesty that he shared with his girlfriend of three years, Olivia Raya.
Thousands of dollars' worth of drugs were stashed throughout the kitchen — in cabinets, grocery bags and a Diet Dr Pepper box. A Price Chopper sack with $20,000 inside was stored in the freezer. Also in the kitchen were all of the tools of his trade: a digital scale, plastic bags and a cutting agent to thin out his coke. His pockets bulged with a cell phone and a wad of cash — $1,890.
Rios had an alibi for family members wondering how he made his money. He told them that he rehabbed houses. But Rios had a history of dealing drugs. In February 1998, he pleaded guilty to felony possession of marijuana. A year later, in May, he pleaded guilty to felony distribution, delivery, manufacturing and producing of a controlled substance. In July 1999, Associate Circuit Judge Gregory Gillis sentenced Rios to 120 days in jail. The sentence was called "shock time" — the four months behind bars were meant to scare him out of dealing again.
Prison didn't scare Rios straight. Nearly three years later, Rios was still hustling cocaine and marijuana.
Friday was an especially busy day for Rios, who was wearing Air Jordans and track pants. At 6:16 p.m., he collected $4,000 for 7 pounds of pot that he had fronted to Desi Arnau, the boyfriend of Raya's youngest sister.
Rios also sold a kilogram of cocaine for $20,000 to a handsome, spiky-haired dealer and longtime friend named Paul Lupercio. Rios had been Lupercio's coke source since 1999, selling him about a kilo a week.
While Rios worked in the kitchen, Raya wrote thank-you cards in the living room. Six days earlier, the doe-eyed 26-year-old had graduated from Rockhurst University with a degree in organizational communication.
Rockhurst was only a 10-minute drive from the house. While studying for her degree, Raya worked full time in the marketing department of Blue Cross Blue Shield.
When Raya saw Lupercio, she handed him a thank-you card:
Paul and Danielle.
Thanks for the gift. Sorry you guys came when it was over. Will have to go out another time to celebrate.
Olivia.
Lupercio wanted to take Raya up on her offer. He invited her and Rios to join him later that night at a new sports bar. The idea of trying something new excited Raya and Rios. Lupercio told them that he'd call later to work out the details.
Lupercio was running late for a party. He didn't want the drugs on him in case police stopped him. Lupercio arranged to go back for his kilo on Saturday.
Before Lupercio left, Rios had a question for him. Rios was about to meet with a cocaine dealer named Dyshawn Johnson. Rios asked if Johnson and his brother, Bryant Burton, could be trusted.
"No," Lupercio told Rios, "I would not trust them."
Lupercio left, but his warning didn't stop Rios from calling Johnson at 7:21 p.m. The call — like 11 others between Rios and Johnson that day — lasted less than a minute.
Raya placed her final phone call. She talked to her mother, Sylvia Raya.
Sylvia and her husband, Louis Raya, were at home making Christmas gifts for their daughters. Olivia's younger sisters, Raquel and Sara Raya, had plans to meet Olivia for breakfast at 8 the next morning.
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I'd like to openly commend the author of this article for having the guts to FULLY explain the story. I knew two of the people caught up in the grand scheme of this entire ordeal, one of which being EXTREMELY close to me. Let me just say that just as much as we are offering prayers and love to the "victims" (when you sell drugs and involve yourself in thattype of lifestyle, you need to consider and think about all of the other lives that YOU have destroyed---either by actually selling it, or altogethor condoning it and looking the other way) let us ALSO remember that the "accused" (those that actually had to serve time for their "crimes")have family, too. And, they are hurting and missing their loved ones JUST AS MUCH as those that lost their lives. Let GOD judge the guilt and innocence of everyone---not man! I applaud the author for calling it exactly what it was-----another dead drug dealer! People want REALITY but they can't handle it when it hits them.
I'd like to openly commend the author of this article for having the guts to FULLY explain the story. I knew two of the people caught up in the grand scheme of this entire ordeal, one of which being EXTREMELY close to me. Let me just say that just as much as we are offering prayers and love to the "victims" (when you sell drugs and involve yourself in thattype of lifestyle, you need to consider and think about all of the other lives that YOU have destroyed---either by actually selling it, or altogethor condoning it and looking the other way) let us ALSO remember that the "accused" (those that actually had to serve time for their "crimes")have family, too. And, they are hurting and missing their loved ones JUST AS MUCH as those that lost their lives. Let GOD judge the guilt and innocence of everyone---not man! I applaud the author for calling it exactly what it was-----another dead drug dealer! People want REALITY but they can't handle it when it hits them.
Thats crazy I knew almost everybody in this articale even my best friend torrez and i think it is so sad the way that they portrayed deshawn and tony in this articale and use others names without there permission is wrong they were all good people that made very bad decisions in there life but who hasn't with that being said my prayors go out to everbody's family.
Thats crazy I knew almost everybody in this articale even my best friend torrez and i think it is so sad the way that they portrayed deshawn and tony in this articale and use others names without there permission is wrong they were all good people that made very bad decisions in there life but who hasn't with that being said my prayors go out to everbody's family.
Wow.The book is FINALLY closed on this. No, I do not know the people who were killed, but I do know the people that have been charged with the murders. I did not believe that my cousin could do something like this until I read this. -
I did read all of the rest of the comments, and I choose not to comment.
Let's face it- I never thought my couisin could do something like this- but he is a MURDERER, Just as much as Tony was a DRUG DEALER.
Thank you for this article.
Wow.The book is FINALLY closed on this. No, I do not know the people who were killed, but I do know the people that have been charged with the murders. I did not believe that my cousin could do something like this until I read this. - I did read all of the rest of the comments, and I choose not to comment. Let's face it- I never thought my couisin could do something like this- but he is a MURDERER, Just as much as Tony was a DRUG DEALER. Thank you for this article.
I am angered at a man who bases his article solely on factual evidence, but gives a twist to his point of view in the end towards his own personal benefit of publicity I mean yeah the guy sold drugs but the author of this article is just as greedy as the dealer while most believe that the young man's form of making a living was bad so do I believe the same about the media and most of the countries main money makers (large industy owners) in the end the only thing that saves them is their portrayal by the media and the media in today's world is a kill or be killed industry sounds like the young man was not the only one in a cutthroat bussines.
I am angered at a man who bases his article solely on factual evidence, but gives a twist to his point of view in the end towards his own personal benefit of publicity I mean yeah the guy sold drugs but the author of this article is just as greedy as the dealer while most believe that the young man's form of making a living was bad so do I believe the same about the media and most of the countries main money makers (large industy owners) in the end the only thing that saves them is their portrayal by the media and the media in today's world is a kill or be killed industry sounds like the young man was not the only one in a cutthroat bussines.
Justin: Thank your for writing this article. I too had seen the billboards and was concerned for the families and sadden by the loss of these two young people. You wonder about how two apparantly young and innocent people could be murdered without reason. Then the billboards disappeared and I never knew anymore about what happened, until I read your article today.
I fail to see, as so many have commented, how you sat in judgement of these young people. The facts are the facts. He was selling drugs.The commentors seem to project their anger for what occurred onto you, as if you were the shooter.
I hope to see more of your work in the Pitch. Thanks for bringing the details of this case to light for the general public, not just those in the barrio o la raza that seem to think they are so well informed.
Justin: Thank your for writing this article. I too had seen the billboards and was concerned for the families and sadden by the loss of these two young people. You wonder about how two apparantly young and innocent people could be murdered without reason. Then the billboards disappeared and I never knew anymore about what happened, until I read your article today.
I fail to see, as so many have commented, how you sat in judgement of these young people. The facts are the facts. He was selling drugs.The commentors seem to project their anger for what occurred onto you, as if you were the shooter.
I hope to see more of your work in the Pitch. Thanks for bringing the details of this case to light for the general public, not just those in the barrio o la raza that seem to think they are so well informed.
Justin: Thank your for writing this article. I too had seen the billboards and was concerned for the families and sadden by the loss of these two young people. You wonder about how two apparantly young and innocent people could be murdered without reason. Then the billboards disappeared and I never knew anymore about what happened, until I read your article today. I fail to see, as so many have commented, how you sat in judgement of these young people. The facts are the facts. He was selling drugs.The commentors seem to project their anger for what occurred onto you, as if you were the shooter. I hope to see more of your work in the Pitch. Thanks for bringing the details of this case to light for the general public, not just those in the barrio o la raza that seem to think they are so well informed.
Justin: Thank your for writing this article. I too had seen the billboards and was concerned for the families and sadden by the loss of these two young people. You wonder about how two apparantly young and innocent people could be murdered without reason. Then the billboards disappeared and I never knew anymore about what happened, until I read your article today. I fail to see, as so many have commented, how you sat in judgement of these young people. The facts are the facts. He was selling drugs.The commentors seem to project their anger for what occurred onto you, as if you were the shooter. I hope to see more of your work in the Pitch. Thanks for bringing the details of this case to light for the general public, not just those in the barrio o la raza that seem to think they are so well informed.
To "me"- Thanks for the short, absurd comment you left. Why don't you just learn how to write with correct punctation and proper grammer ? Why don't you just go back to elementary school ? I never said it was right for Tony to be killed. I live/grew up no where near the areas you mentioned, great job assuming. I may not "know a damn thing", but I do know how to produce intellegent sentences and I do know that editors don't write stories, they EDIT them. The author wrote the story. The victims were exploited, I don't think they cared to think much about the consequences of their actions on that Friday night, you reap what you sow in life. I'm not stomping on their graves nor am I preventing their families from moving on... stop making excuses, the "victims" are only victims of their own actions, regretfully, it ended in death. I never claimed to be better than anyone, you are pointing your finger at yourself. I do have a life, if I didn't, I wouldn't be capable of leaving a comment.
To "me"- Thanks for the short, absurd comment you left. Why don't you just learn how to write with correct punctation and proper grammer ? Why don't you just go back to elementary school ? I never said it was right for Tony to be killed. I live/grew up no where near the areas you mentioned, great job assuming. I may not "know a damn thing", but I do know how to produce intellegent sentences and I do know that editors don't write stories, they EDIT them. The author wrote the story. The victims were exploited, I don't think they cared to think much about the consequences of their actions on that Friday night, you reap what you sow in life. I'm not stomping on their graves nor am I preventing their families from moving on... stop making excuses, the "victims" are only victims of their own actions, regretfully, it ended in death. I never claimed to be better than anyone, you are pointing your finger at yourself. I do have a life, if I didn't, I wouldn't be capable of leaving a comment.
I think "Justin" the writer is a fucking prick. I think that he was still a person, and at one time or another your friend has either sold, or bought a joint, so if they were randomly shot by some fucking psychopath, well..oh, well.Just another dead dope dealer.FUCKING IDIOT.Show some compassion.Prick.
I think "Justin" the writer is a fucking prick. I think that he was still a person, and at one time or another your friend has either sold, or bought a joint, so if they were randomly shot by some fucking psychopath, well..oh, well.Just another dead dope dealer.FUCKING IDIOT.Show some compassion.Prick.
Here is another great example of The Pitch's intelligence. They support racial harmony, yet I see the word "Nigger" printed everywhere in this article. The Pitch is nothing more than a trashy, fictional reading! I just ask that they get their stories right before printing them!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Here is another great example of The Pitch's intelligence. They support racial harmony, yet I see the word "Nigger" printed everywhere in this article. The Pitch is nothing more than a trashy, fictional reading! I just ask that they get their stories right before printing them!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
A- Thanks for that long dumb comment you left. Why dont you just go to hell! It doesnt make it right for anyone to be killed just because it was wrong for what Tony was doing. What Ghetto did you or do you live in? Overland Park, Mission, Parkville, HMMM??? You dont know a damn thing! The editor wrote this story to exploit them, so what if it was fact, the victims were exploited!!! That is just wrong, Just let them rest in peace and let thier families move on! You and the other ignorant people that have left ignorant comments just get a life and get over yourself. You are no better than them!
A- Thanks for that long dumb comment you left. Why dont you just go to hell! It doesnt make it right for anyone to be killed just because it was wrong for what Tony was doing. What Ghetto did you or do you live in? Overland Park, Mission, Parkville, HMMM??? You dont know a damn thing! The editor wrote this story to exploit them, so what if it was fact, the victims were exploited!!! That is just wrong, Just let them rest in peace and let thier families move on! You and the other ignorant people that have left ignorant comments just get a life and get over yourself. You are no better than them!
As someone who knew this couple, I can say that there has been a lesson learned. Many in their world have changed their lives for the better, meaning that they don't sell drugs anymore. It was a tragic wake up call, but what happened has changed many lives. For most dealers, the worst thing they think will ever happen is to get busted by the cops. Now everyone is painfully aware of the additional ways that selling can hurt them. Snap & Liv learned the hardest and most permanent way possible- let's not forget the lesson their deaths taught us.
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